Along with the excitement that comes with the opening of registration for Resident Camp each fall, there are five topics that Calumet wishes to make everyone registering informed about regarding Resident Camp 2024

Calumet has always tried to ensure the Calumet experience is available to all who wish to be a part of it, and offered financial assistance to those who need it, and this will not change based on our new tiered pricing system. As we assess our needs for summer 2024, the unanticipated external realities of inflationary pressures and rising wages, spurred by a tight job market, have continued to challenge our efforts to minimize the increases. Prudence demands fee increases for this coming summer, though we’ve kept them as minimal as we dared.

We are aware that Calumet’s recent tuition increases are a challenging part of overall inflation nationwide. At Calumet, we remain committed to the most competitive pricing we can reasonably offer.

We know families have different abilities to pay for a summer camp experience and that you know your family’s financial situation better than we do. It’s our hope that by sharing the true cost related to the camp experience, our families can select the level of payment most appropriate for their financial situation. We want to be present for your camper throughout their camping years even as your family’s circumstances may change. As always, we want every child to have the opportunity to experience camp, regardless of their financial situation. Financial assistance, as it always has been, will be available to any who require it.

Rather than raising rates and potentially pricing some families out of an opportunity to attend Calumet, Calumet is choosing to institute a tiered tuition system that recognizes each family’s ability to pay. Please take a moment to review the tier descriptions and select the tier which is most suitable for your family. This is an honor system and your family’s tier choice is strictly confidential.

Of course, regardless of the tier chosen, every camper will receive the same high quality camp experience.

Rate 1: This most accurately reflects the true cost of camp $1050/week

Rate 2: This rate is for those families for whom the full cost of camp is out of reach. This rate is partially subsidized by our generous donors. $925/week

Rate 3: This rate covers a portion of the true cost of attending a week of Resident Camp, and is subsidized by generous donations to Calumet by individuals and congregations, and does not reflect the true cost of operating summer camp. $800/week

As always, our campership fund is available to those who require additional assistance. Click below to download the application.

In an effort to help offset the cost of the system we use for camper registrations, we are introducing a $50 non-refundable application fee for Resident Camp, starting for the 2024 season. This fee will only be charged once per camper, per season. For example, if you register your child for Week 1 and Week 3, the $50 non-refundable fee would only be charged once. This fee can be paid at any time, and is not required to complete an application.

One week sessions for ALL weeks will be offered in 2024, which is a return to how sessions were structured prior to the pandemic. Campers can also once again sign up for Weeks 5, 6, and 7 as a three week session, or Weeks 6 and 7 as a two week session, in addition to the "normal" two weeks sessions (Weeks 1+2, 3+4, 5+6).

Music Camp will make its triumphant return to Week 7 for the first time since 2019! Mike Carnaroli, a music teacher in Rhode Island, and long time summer staff member will be our new director, taking over from previous director Dave Piper. All musical abilities will be welcomed to participate, both vocally and instrumentally. There is no pre-registration required to participate, but if your child is interested, please indicate so when asked during registration. The Music Camp concert will take place on August 16, 2024. Click below to see a more detailed description of the return of Music Camp.

For 2024, Calumet's leadership will be making a major step toward the direction of Resident Camp staff compensation that is more reflective of summer camp salaries at camps throughout the network of ELCA camps. It's been long-needed, and Calumet is serious about moving ahead with boldness.

Resident Camp positions at Calumet will be receiving a significant bump in compensation, and will ultimately be dependent on the person's certifications and ability to meet the requirements in terms of length of service. Also, all Resident Camp staff will be expected to participate in a variety of training experiences *BEFORE* their arrival to Calumet. Click below to see a more detailed description of these salary changes.