Outdoor Ministry of the Penn Central Conference (PCC) has had a rich history for churches and its members for decades. Through a variety of opportunities, events, and programs, people have grown in faith, discovered what it means to be a Christian, and have uniquely felt love and acceptance in the outdoors setting. Being in the woods, fishing in a pond, hiking, sleeping under the sky, climbing a ropes course, catching fireflies, cooking over an open fire, sitting around in a lodge, or singing around a campfire are special heartwarming memories of connecting with others and with God. Without question, outdoor ministry is an integral part of many people’s faith formation and church experience.
PCC has been fortunate to have had Hartman Center – our camp, conference, and retreat center – as the safe and sacred place to go and be filled by the Holy Spirit, feel confident in beliefs, and also respected (and encouraged) to ask questions. After 56 years of faithful outdoor ministry at Hartman Center, in June 2020, the PCC Board of Directors made the decision to sell the property.
So now what? To continue our strong legacy of outdoor ministry and in the spirit of what Hartman Center embodied, the Conference has partnered with Lutheran Camping Corporation (LCC) and the Lower Susquehanna Synod of the Lutheran church (ELCA). LCC has three retreat & camp facilities: Camp Nawakwa (near Gettysburg), Camp Kirchenwald (near Mount Gretna), and The Wittel Farm (in Elizabethtown). All three sites offer summer camp, retreats, events, and volunteer opportunities for all ages throughout the year.
In addition to the information provided here on this Penn Central website, more details can be found on the Lutheran Camping Corporation website: www.lutherancamping.org.
Upcoming Events
COMING UP AT NAWAKWA, KIRCHENWALD, & THE WITTEL FARM
SUMMER CAMP
programs from June-August
Use coupon code PENNCENTRAL2025 if you would like to use a Penn
Central Conference campership for 50% of your registration fees.To learn more about and to register for youth camp summer programs, visit:
https://www.lutherancamping.org/summer-camp/youth-summer-programs/To learn more about and to register for family camp summer programs, visit:
https://www.lutherancamping.org/summer-camp/family-camp/To learn more about and to register for elder camp, visit:
https://www.lutherancamping.org/summer-camp/elder-camp/Hartman Center Homecoming Camp
HC Spirit Week registration is open!
“Another Way” Hartman Center Homecoming Camp
July 27th – August 2nd
We will be gathering at Hartman Center Campground this summer for another wonderful outdoor ministry experience!
New this year: Interest Groups, 2 hours twice during the week, campers can spend time in specialized activities,
like art, music, sports, etcRegister and learn more at hcspiritcamp.org
Pastors and churches: download and print the brochure here.