We are thrilled to welcome Andrew Schroeder as our next Director of Summer & Youth Ministry. No stranger to Lutherhaven, Andrew has been involved with Camp as long as he can remember, and from a variety of perspectives.

Of course, Andrew was a longtime summer camper. (He started coming to camp as a kindergartner.) But he also saw the inner workings of Camp firsthand through his dad, Don Schroeder, who served on full-time staff at Camp Lutherhaven from 1994 to 2009. Now it’s Andrew’s turn to carry on the family legacy!

Andrew comes to us from Phoenix, Arizona, where he’s currently wrapping up his first year as a high school music teacher. A proud graduate of Concordia High School and Concordia University, Nebraska, Andrew holds a degree in music education and a Lutheran teaching diploma. While he’s loved sharing music and faith with his students, Andrew felt God nudging him back to Camp—a place he calls near and dear to his heart.

“Camp has played a huge role in shaping who I am today,” said Andrew. “It’s an amazing place, full of joy, community, and growth. I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to return and serve in this new way.”

Some of Andrew’s favorite camp memories include deep faith conversations with ReGroup campers, late-night laughs, and the simple joy of being goofy and free in God’s creation. While he loved all the fun that camp offers, Andrew admits that his positive camp memories have more to do with people than the activities themselves.

“Whether or not I realized it at the time, I now see that a lot of my memories are positive because of the people who were at camp at the time and the ways those people impacted me.”

As the Director of Summer and Youth Ministry, Andrew will continue that positive legacy by overseeing summer programming, supporting and mentoring seasonal staff, and helping Lutherhaven connect with Lutheran schools across Indiana, Ohio, and Michigan. He’s excited to help expand Camp’s reach and pour into the next generation of campers and leaders, using his musical gifts and passion for ministry in a fresh, outdoor setting.

When he’s not at Lutherhaven, you’ll find him running (he’s completed four marathons!), making music, fishing, or enjoying adventures with his wife Mary—like the time they got two flat tires in Mexico on a trip to the beach. (Ask him about it—it’s a wild story!)

Andrew plans to arrive at Lutherhaven shortly after school wraps up in Phoenix in late May. He can’t wait to dive into training and mentoring staff, meeting campers and families, and beginning this exciting new chapter in his life. Please join us in giving Andrew a warm Camp Lutherhaven welcome!