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A History of the Lodge at Covenant Harbor: Memories, Meals and Ministry

For more than 20 years, the churches of the Central Conference looked for a place to call their own where they could host camps for young people and conferences for adults. After renting different places in southeast Wisconsin, they determined that Lake Geneva was the optimal location. In the early 1940s, they explored an estate on the lake but found it unaffordable. They purchased a site a few miles away, but there was no enthusiasm for building a camp there. When the Conference found that the previously unaffordable Dodge estate on Geneva Lake was again available, things moved quickly. On September 20, 1946, delegates voted to purchase Snug Harbor, and the task of turning an estate into a Bible Camp began.

The estate included eight residences, including the ‘Big House,’ a boathouse by the lake, and enough equipment to be sure they could create a camp. Still, the immediate need was for a dining hall. In April 1948, plans were completed, and the building was to be erected during the following fall and spring. Permissions and building permits were granted, and on October 18, construction began. 

During that fall, Covenant volunteers from across the conference put in many hours of labor (349 work days). Volunteers built the exterior walls and roof before the work was put on hold until spring. Work continued in the spring of 1949, and the building was finished by the beginning of summer camp in June. It was said that “this is the building that coffee has built,” referring to the amount of coffee consumed by the workers. Construction was completed on time, and about 2,500 people attended the dedication service on May 30, 1949. There was now a large place where campers and conferees could gather.

The dining hall has had a rich and varied history. In the first years, even after the fire of 1957, it provided adequate space for meals and gatherings. In 1959, wings were added to replace housing lost from the ‘Big House’ and now ‘The Lodge’ became the center of activity by being very flexible. In 1965, the Lodge was winterized and reconfigured to serve year-round guests. At times, it also contained offices and the camp store.

As Covenant Harbor grew into a year-round facility, the shortcomings of an older building became apparent. The health department required upgrades to the kitchen and dining space, which became inadequate for larger youth camps and retreats. Construction methods used for a summer-only building began to show their age. In the late 1990s, a study determined that The Lodge had seen its best days and needed to be replaced, but other projects had a higher priority. After inspecting the foundation, it was determined that part of the foundation could be rebuilt, and repairs to the deck would help the situation temporarily. 

In the ensuing 25 years, other inspections revealed that the building had to be replaced rather than remodeled. After completing several other projects to prepare for this major change, the time has come to say thank you to The Lodge and move on.

The Lodge has served three generations of campers from Covenant families and many other groups: youth and adult retreats, outdoor education, band camps, the American Diabetes Association, and a multitude of rental groups. Thousands of people remember eating and sleeping in this storied building. Hundreds of workers, paid and volunteer, have passed through those swinging doors carrying delicious, home-cooked food to hungry campers and guests. Family camp dinners, Maplefest, Taco Tuesdays, even wedding receptions have been enjoyed by thousands of guests. It is estimated that more than 3,500,000 meals have been served over the life of the kitchen. The memories of sitting by the fireplace and admiring Werner Sallman’s charcoal sketch of Jesus remain imprinted on our minds. The summer staff’s autographed reminders from the past thirty years help us recall many important events. 

Thousands of campers and guests have memories of The Lodge. When you visit on Summer Sundays, reminisce with them. All of us can enjoy recalling what this iconic building has meant to us, but as an ancient philosopher said, “The only thing that is constant is change.” In order to continue relevant, Bible-centered, cutting-edge ministry at Covenant Harbor, a change in community space is needed. The Lodge met our needs for 78 years. Thank you, you old dining and sleeping rooms. You served us well.

 

Where Faith, Friendship, & Growth Meet

The night before camp started, Jack* didn’t want to go. He didn’t know any other boys who would be there, and he wasn’t feeling like meeting new people. As a 15 year old, Jack wanted his summer to be relaxed, lazy, and he wanted to stay connected to his friends. Camp’s “no phones” rule was creating some fear and anxiety, and the service projects seemed like they would be boring and way too much work.

With a little encouragement from a female cousin who would be there, too, Jack reluctantly showed up to camp. He saw friendly faces, turned in his phone, and his parents prayed with him as they said goodbye.  

During the 10-day Alpha session, Jack was fully present with his fellow Alpha campers. They smiled as they hauled wood chips, played card games during downtime, laughed together as they delivered camper mail, and opened up to each other about their lives.  

When they saw their son again, Jack’s parents noticed an immediate change. Gone was the sullen look they’d left 10 days earlier. Instead, they were greeted with huge smiles, a tight hug, and a teenager who didn’t want to leave his new friends. Over the next few weeks, Jack kept in touch with camp friends, taught his family new card games, and spent less time on his phone than ever before.  

“Mom and Dad,” Jack tentatively approached his parents as they were packing their car to leave for a family vacation, “Do you think we could all take a phone fast on vacation?” “What a great idea, Jack,” his dad responded. Their beach vacation included more family games, quality time together, and meaningful conversation as they unplugged and disconnected.  

Jack had the space at camp to break patterns and habits, to grow in his faith, and to rediscover that connection happens when we slow down and quiet ourselves.

Thank you for investing in our vision to create space for life change..  

*The camper’s name has been changed.

 

Summer Staff Perspective: Breaking Out of My Shell

Jessica came to Covenant Harbor all the way from Cape Town, South Africa, to serve as a summer camp counselor in 2025. Fresh out of high school, she arrived feeling both excited and uncertain. It was her first time traveling outside of her home country without her parents, and the thought of living on her own, adjusting to camp life, and caring for campers felt overwhelming. In the past, Jessica wrestled with self-confidence and often preferred to stay within her comfort zone.

Although Jessica grew up in a Christian home and attended church regularly, her faith had mostly been something she practiced on Sundays. Reading the Bible and praying weren’t yet part of her daily rhythm. “I felt weird about talking to people about Jesus,” she shared. “I was very comfortable inside my shell.”

That began to change soon after she arrived at Covenant Harbor. Jessica quickly noticed that everything at camp pointed back to God through Jesus Christ. From staff meetings to camper activities, faith wasn’t confined to a single time and place—it was woven into every part of the day.

“As the summer passed, I spent more and more time talking with God, reading the Bible, and sharing with others what I was learning,” Jessica said. She found herself turning to God for wisdom and guidance, especially as she navigated the challenges of caring for her campers. In the process, she began to grow—not only in her faith, but in her confidence. “I learned to depend on God through prayer rather than panicking in my own strength,” Jessica said, smiling. 

By the end of the summer, Jessica clearly saw the benefits of her summer camp experience. “Working at Covenant Harbor was more than a summer job,” she reflected. “I got to care for kids, tell them about Jesus, and make disciples—all while being discipled and nurtured in my own faith. God used this experience to break me out of my shell.”

We praise God for Jessica and for the way He worked in her life last summer. Her story is a testament to God’s faithfulness and to the impact of a Christ-centered camp community. We are also deeply grateful for the supporters who make summer staff scholarships possible, opening the door for young adults like Jessica to serve and grow.

Jessica is back at Covenant Harbor to counsel again for Summer 2026.

 

Dining Commons Campaign Enters the Home Stretch with a Matching Challenge

As Covenant Harbor enters the final phase of fundraising for the new Dining Commons, we are deeply grateful for the many donors and friends who have generously supported the largest capital project in Covenant Harbor’s history. Their faithful and often sacrificial giving has brought this vision close to reality. 

With groundbreaking scheduled for this fall, supporters have stepped forward with matching gift commitments to help us reach 100% of our fundraising goal by the end of the summer. Our $8.1 million campaign is now more than 97% funded, leaving less than $325,000 to reach the finish line.

This matching challenge provides a meaningful opportunity for donors to double the impact of their gift, as every contribution will be matched dollar-for-dollar through pledged funds. Gifts of $2,500 or more will receive permanent recognition within the new Dining Commons facility.

While we prepare to say farewell to the Lodge during a special celebration on August 2, we are equally excited to begin a new chapter with a Dining Commons that will serve campers and guests for generations to come—creating spaces for community, connection, and meaningful relationships around the table.

 

 

The 2026 Golf for kids event is Monday, September 21, and registration will open soon. Covenant Trust is this year’s tournament sponsor, which will be held at Hawk’s View Golf Club in Lake Geneva. Proceeds of Golf for kids keep camp accessible for kids and families of a variety of backgrounds. Last summer, Covenant Harbor distributed $92,982 in camper scholarships to help ensure that financial obstacles would not prevent kids from attending camp. For the upcoming summer season, Covenant Harbor has already committed more than $88,000 in scholarship assistance, and we anticipate total scholarship support will reach $100,000 by the end of the summer.