Rock River Bible Camp is a Christian Camp and Retreat Center created by the Evangelical Congregational Church to pour the love of Christ into the kids and families of Northwest Illinois. We offer weeklong and weekend retreats for kids 1st grade-graduated seniors. We also rent our buildings and grounds for other local events, camps, and retreats. We'd love to get to know you and share our space with you!
We are a group of believers committed to creating opportunities for all kids, families, and individuals to experience Jesus in nature and in community, learning to laugh with and love one another along the way.
OUR VISION
To see every kid saved and every human imitating Christ.
OUR VALUES
We believe that God is the creator of laughter and fun, and we're invited to join in.
We believe grace-filled relationships focused on Christ help us grow into the people God made us to be.
OUR HISTORY
A Dream Made Reality
In 1946, leadership of the Western Conference of the Evangelical Congregational Church dreamt of creating a camp site for discipleship of future generations.
Beulah Beach in Ohio was the first home of EC camps from 1946-1950.
By 1950, Camp Director Robert S. Wilson organized the second EC camp, this time in Illinois on the south shore of Lake Geneva.
After bouncing through several locations, Rock River Bible Camp was finally ready to open by 1958.
Rock River Bible Camp held it's first camps in the summer of 1958. There were two camps, Senior Camp for 13-18 year olds, and Junior Camp for ages 8-12. The initial cost to attend was only $15.50.
By 1962, the ministry had expanded to six weeks including camps for kids as young as 8 through adults with 240 campers.
Additional retreats and family camps were added in 1977.
Our board has opened up applications for churches not affiliated with the EC church to join our camp board. Churches in Illinois may apply to have two full members on the Camp Board of Directors. All requests must be approved by the camp board. Use the button below to apply and ask any questions you have about our board.
