Imagine More
Imagine more joy. More people finding a place where they belong. More courage to grow, explore, and discover what God is doing in their lives.
At Camp Onomia, these moments happen every day, all year round. They happen when a camper discovers something new in Creation, when a stranger becomes a friend, and when someone realizes they are known, loved, and welcome just as they are. But these moments don't happen by accident. They take dedicated staff, welcoming spaces, well-cared-for grounds, and a community of people who believe this ministry matters.
As we look toward 2027, we are asking you to help us Imagine More. Our goal is to raise $50,000 to strengthen Camp Onomia's ministry, care for the place we call home, and create more opportunities for people of every age and stage to encounter Christ through Creation and Community.
The future of Camp Onomia is something we build together. Your generosity makes room for more joy, extends a deeper welcome, and gives people the courage to imagine what is possible.
Will you help us Imagine More? Give today and be part of what comes next at Camp
Gifts can also be mailed to the Camp Onomia Office, 14202 Shakopee Lake Rd. Onamia, MN 56359. You can also give to Camp Onomia through Donor Advised Funds, Qualified Charitable Distributions, or other tax-smart ways to give. Gifts are tax-exemptable to the extent of the law.
Joy
Programming: More moments of discovery, laughter, connection, and faith that campers and guests carry home long after Onomia.
Imagine sleep outs that meet campers where they are in tents or in a blanket fort with twinkle lights. Imagine Summer Staff forming deeper bonds with intentional experiences for them. Imagine a golf cart to add accessibility to our programming.
More Joy
She arrived at the Women’s Retreat a little hesitant.
The theme that weekend was centered on art and creativity, and she wasn’t sure that was really for her. She came willing to participate, but perhaps expecting faith to be something serious, reflective, and structured. Instead, something began to shift.
As she created, played, laughed, and tried things simply for the joy of doing them, she discovered something she hadn’t expected: faith could be serious and joyful at the same time.
She gave herself permission to play. To make something without needing it to be perfect. To enjoy the moment. At one point, she created a coaster using markers and then watched as it was set on fire to create the finished design. It was playful, a little unexpected, and completely outside the lines.
And somewhere in that experience, she experienced a different kind of freedom.
She didn’t have to choose between a deep faith and a joyful one.
She could create. She could laugh. She could play. She could delight in what God had given her.
That is the kind of joy we hope Camp Onomia makes possible: the joy that surprises us, frees us, and reminds us that faith is not only about what we believe. It is also about the life God invites us to experience.
Your gift helps create more moments like this. More spaces to play. More opportunities to create. More chances for people to discover that joy, too, can be a sacred encounter.
More Welcome
Sometimes welcome tastes like being remembered.
When a group of ministry leaders came to Camp Onomia for a retreat, they arrived with an above-average number of dietary needs. For some retreat centers, that might mean a series of substitutions, a few apologies, and meals that simply meet the requirements.
At Onomia, we wanted to do more.
Our hospitality team worked intentionally to make sure everyone had food that was not only safe, but nutritious, delicious, and thoughtfully prepared. No one needed to wonder whether there would be something they could eat. No one needed to feel like their needs were an inconvenience.
They noticed.
Months later, those leaders were still talking about the food. They were still talking about how welcomed and cared for they felt at Camp Onomia.That is the kind of welcome we are working to create: not simply meeting a need, but making someone feel seen.
And this story is becoming less of an exception and more of a pattern. Because of intentional investments in our hospitality ministry, we are increasingly hearing the same thing from retreat groups, families, ministry leaders, and guests of all ages: Camp Onomia made us feel welcome. That matters.
Because when people know they are welcome, they can stop worrying about whether they belong and start experiencing the reason they came. Your support helps us imagine more welcome.
Courage
Facilities: More opportunities to step outside what feels familiar, try something new, discover strengths, and encounter God in unexpected places.
That takes more than a good program. It takes safe cabins, well-maintained facilities, reliable equipment, and spaces where people can gather, explore, rest, play, and grow. Imagine a fully stocked volunteer tool bench. Imagine a wood chipper to remove debris. Imagine large accessories like a snow plow to keep the guest experience smooth.
More Courage
Sometimes courage begins with giving something a second chance.
Last summer, one camper came to Camp Onomia carrying some understandable nerves. The year before, an overnight experience had been difficult. Some of his physical needs had not been fully met, and by the end of the week, camp did not feel like a place where he could relax and belong.
So when it was time to come back, he was hesitant.
We talked with him about what he needed to feel safe and comfortable at camp. We listened. And together, we decided to give it another try. This time, things were different.
Because of improvements to our facilities and a deeper commitment to meeting the physical needs of every camper, he was able to settle in. He knew he was safe. He knew he would be cared for. And once he wasn't spending his energy worrying about whether his basic needs would be met, he had room to take other kinds of risks.
He offered to read from the Bible. He stopped needing to call home every night. He began to trust the people around him and fully participate in the life of his cabin.
When his grandmother came to pick him up, she nearly cried. He was smiling. And before he left, he said, “You need to take a photo of me with my cabin. I have friends here.”
A couple of weeks later, his youth director visited Onomia. When she returned to the congregation, she said, “He is like a different kid.” She noticed the difference in how confident and comfortable he was at their youth events.
And one adult from his congregation put it even more simply: “I understand now when you call camp life-changing. His life has changed because of his time at Onomia.”
That is why facilities matter.
A well-maintained cabin. A space that meets a camper's needs. A place where someone can sleep comfortably, eat safely, and know they are cared for. These things may seem ordinary, but they can make extraordinary things possible.
When we create spaces where people feel safe and cared for, they find the courage to take the next step: to try, to trust, to grow, and to discover who God is calling them to be.
That is more courage. And that is why we invest in Camp Onomia.
Imagine More Ways to Give to Onomia!
There are lots of ways to help Camp Onomia Imagine More. Become a sustaining donor and join the Evergreen Circle of monthly supporters who provide steady, reliable support all year long. Shop our "More Gifts" Catalog to meet a specific need at Camp Onomia, from the small things that keep ministry moving to larger investments that make a lasting difference. Or make your generosity go even further by supporting the matching gift for a new Gator, helping us put a much-needed piece of equipment on the grounds while doubling the impact of your gift. However you choose to give, you are helping make more Joy, Welcome, and Courage possible at Camp Onomia.
