Welcome Home

Hello Friends of Camp Emmanuel,

There are just a few more weeks of camping season left this fall. Schedule your church picnic, outdoor Sunday, or fall retreat now!

As we near the end of another camping season and gear up for winter, remember to join us for our fall work day and camp closing on Saturday, October 22.

We have a long to do list and need as many helping hands as we can get!

Fall Work Day Projects

Move mattresses from cabins to storage
Fix gutter drainage pipes on manager's house
Level & smooth manager's yard
Painting in White Oaks
Tree trimming & clean up
Install outdoor shower at the Bath House
Remove cracked sidewalk & pour new
Clean & repair ceiling fans on the Porch
Grind stumps
Paint Gaga Ball frame

Camp is in need of lawn mowers.
If you know of anyone with a diesel zero turn mower that could handle camp's terrain, please contact our managers:
Don & Kelly Davis (309) 329-2291.

Camp Improvements

We've been busy!

Camp Emmanuel has seen several changes this year, and we continue to make plans to maintain and improve our facilities and camp offerings. This year we've completed a several projects:

Bridge work: reinforced poles to stabilize our swinging bridge
Boat dock repaired
Removed trees around boat dock
Added two new picnic tables
Planted memorial trees
Installed lights at the top of the Chapel steps
Repainted and repaired Camp signs
Added rock to our drive
Added concrete and worked on the spillway
Removed bath house chimney; ran water heater vents through the roof
Installed new projector and screen in the Chapel
Installed new washer and dryer in the equipment room
Power washed our decks
Replaced cabin doors
Reorganized and restocked the craft and equipment areas

About Camp Emmanuel

(What you need to know)

Camp Emmanuel is a church camp affiliated with the Illinois-Wisconsin District of the Church of the Brethren.

Our mission is to share God's message and love with children of all ages through the beauty and wonder found in nature. We host Christ-centered camps throughout the summer.
When camps are not in session, we are open to the public for events, camping, hiking, and fishing from early spring through late fall. We are closed during the winter.
We would love for you to visit! Contact our camp managers to check availability.
Click below to check out our Camp Emmanuel Guidelines.

Download Camp Guidelines

When does Camp Emmanuel close for the winter?

Work Weekend

We got a lot done this spring and summer! Join us this month for our work day on October 22nd as we prepare to close camp for the winter. Maybe our equipment room will still look like this!

New GaGa Ball Pit

A brand new *portable* gaga ball pit was installed this summer at camp. Thanks to the Hurricane Creek Church of the Brethren for sponsoring and building this great new addition to our recreation area. It was very popular this summer!

Leon Sweigart Prayer Garden

In recognition of the many years of service of our friend Leon Sweigart, a Prayer Garden has been constructed in his honor. This lovely spot along the trail to Vesper Hill has been set aside as an area for quiet meditation and prayer. The garden features two benches in a white-rocked circle surrounded by flowering plants that will appear each spring and provide beauty through the summer. Special thanks goes to the Brandenburg family for designing the garden and helping the managers carry out this project. The Leon Swigart Prayer Garden was dedicated at Family Camp.

75th Anniversary Fish Fry Announced

Please mark your calendar for the return of the Camp Emmanuel Fish Fry, celebrating the 75th Anniversary of our founding. The celebration is tentatively scheduled for September 30th, 2023.