Outlaw Ranch

Family Camp at Outlaw

Come spend quality time with your family in a relaxed atmosphere, featuring great food and Christian community in a peaceful Black Hills valley. Outlaw Ranch welcomes families of all sizes and descriptions. Weeks include multiple generations, as parents, children, grandchildren, and singles come together for a week of family camp. During this week you’ll live in a community of grace surrounded by family and friends as you play, pray, worship, and grow together in faith.

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SUMMER 2025 SCHEDULE

June 22-27

“Psalm 23-A Farmer’s View.” (The Farmer’s Wife’s view, too.)

Arguably the most beloved psalm, the Twenty-Third is rich with images and promises that tend the drama of life toward “restoring the soul.” The psalm’s speaker assumes life in a system of relationships–the flock, the neighborhood, the community, the Creation, the Kingdom. It speaks with confidence in the power and passion of the Lord as Shepherd to guide the whole with grace and love. Join Jeff and Kathy Hawkins, who live daily life on a 99-acre Indiana farm with herds and flocks grazing right outside their back porch door, grateful to be immersed in “goodness and mercy all the days of our lives,” as they explore this familiar text in new ways.

RESOURCE LEADERS
Rev. Jeff and Kathy Hawkins

Jeff is a Lutheran pastor and small-batch farmer who is executive director of HOPE CSA, Inc., a ministry toward clergy well-being that makes use of his family’s small farm in North Manchester, IN. Kathy is a retired public school teacher, who now works as a substitute teacher in her former elementary school, where her grandchildren attend. Together they led adult Bible studies at Outlaw Family Camp from 1997-2006.

ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE
James Hersch

Songwriter and guitarist James Hersch has been a friend of Outlaw Ranch for over 30 years. James has recorded 12 albums, with songs we know by heart, like “La Mama,” “Paper Route,” and “Falling in Love at Sixteen.” Not to mention the dozens–and possibly hundreds–of songs, both funny and tender, that he has written with campers as artist-in-residence at Outlaw and other camps.
James has been nominated National NACA Coffeehouse Entertainer of the Year several times, has been a finalist at the international Kerrville Folk Festival, and is a “Telly” award winner for his original soundtrack for the 2009 PBS documentary, "Paving the Way: The National Park to Park Highway." But James won’t tell you any of that because he is too busy asking you about your life and your journey. More than a performer, James sees his mission in life to make music and encourage people. “The James Hersch Singalong,” which incorporates as many musicians and singers and songs as humanly possible–and then a few more–is one of our favorite parts of camp. James, his wife, Candy, and their children–and now grandchildren–have loved being a part of Outlaw Ranch over the decades.

June 29- July 4

Trusting the Story: A Guided Tour of Leviticus

You know me, I want to tell you a story. This will be my fifth year at Outlaw Ranch. If we keep this up, we can work our way slowly through the entire biblical narrative. So, I thought I would tackle that book that causes most people to stop reading from cover to cover: Book Three in the First Testament: Leviticus. What if there is something redeemable about these peculiar ancient expectations? Join me as we dive in to find out whether we can trust this story?

RESOURCE LEADER
Rev. Dr. Joy J. Moore

An ordained elder in the United Methodist Church, Dr. Joy is an Ecclesial Storyteller seeking to encourage theologically framed, biblically attentive, and socially compelling interpretations of familiar passages in order to understand the critical issues influencing community formation in contemporary culture (all that means is she tells community-forming stories from the Bible as a follower of Christ).
Dr. Joy focuses her research on understanding the stories behind the sound bites, examining how we use words to narrate the realities of our existence. Examining these interests in biblical studies, practical theology, homiletics, narrative hermeneutics and social media, she works with words to tell stories with a theological twist!
A native of Chicago, Illinois, Moore's desire to teach led her to earn a BA in Education and Mathematics from National-Louis University in Evanston, Illinois; a Master of Divinity from Garrett-Evangelical Seminary, also in Evanston; and a PhD in practical theology from London School of Theology/Brunel University, London, England.
Before joining the faculty at Luther Seminary in July 2019, Dr. Joy taught at Wesley Seminary at Indiana Wesleyan University; Fuller Theological Seminary, where she established the William E. Pannell Center for African American Church Studies and served as its first Associate Dean. Fuller Seminary recruited her to provide vision for the center from the Divinity School at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina where she served as Associate Dean for Church Relations, Associate Dean for Black Church Studies, and Visiting Professor of Preaching. Previously the director of Student Life at Asbury Theological Seminary and chaplain and director of Church Relations at Adrian College, she has held pastorates in the Michigan Area of the United Methodist Church. She has written for Sojourners magazine, Christian Century, WorkingPreacher.org and Good News magazine.
Moore has focused on cross-racial ministry in urban, rural, and suburban congregations. Her last parish served as a Help Center in Flint, Michigan during the Water Crisis. As a pastor, she has called local congregations to recognize their vocation of glorifying God as a peaceable community—practicing hope, hospitality, and honesty.
She became a John Wesley Fellow in 2001, and, is currently the president of the Christian Theological Research Fellowship and 1st vice-president of the Wesleyan Theological Society. Dr. Joy is an avid fan of books by David Baldacci and John Hart and, when she is not teaching, enjoys traveling, watching reruns of NCIS, and reading. Currently, she is reading the works of Octavia E. Butler, and rereading the works of John Wesley. Eventually, she intends to blog at www.joyjmoore.com.

ARTISTS-IN-RESIDENCE
Tangled Blue

Tangled Blue is the music of Aimée and Joel Pakan. It is a unique sound that incorporates Latin and electronic percussion, acoustic guitars, wind instruments, beautifully matched alto and baritone voices, and stories from their journeys delivered with humor and love.
Tangled Blue have been guest artists at Outlaw Ranch for over 20 years. In that time they’ve recorded numerous albums, traveled over one million miles of U.S. highways, and made three tours of Europe. Their more recent works have included a number of liturgical songs for Christian worship. In 2020 Aimée and Joel completed masters degrees at the Urban Theological Institute in Philadelphia. Aimee is an associate pastor at Brandon Lutheran Church, and Joel works on the Synod staff in Sioux Falls.

July 6-11

How Did We Get the Bible?

This week we will explore the history of the Bible itself. Though often called a book, the Bible is more accurately a library whose contents were developed over millennia by a multitude of mostly unnamed and unknown editors and authors. Participants will engage with the Bible as a complex compilation rooted in various manuscript traditions, languages, and cultural contexts, emphasizing that what we know as the Bible today has undergone numerous iterations. Despite its ambiguous and complicated history, the Bible remains immensely important to Christians. We will explore questions such as: What makes the Bible holy? In what sense is it sacred scripture? What is the relationship between the Bible and history? How can it be fruitfully read in a modern world when so many of our assumptions differ dramatically from those of the Bible and its creators? We will work together to uncover the rich literary, historical, and theological tapestry that defines biblical literature.

RESOURCE LEADER
Rev. Dr. Michael Chan

Dr. Michael Chan is the executive director for faith and learning at Concordia College in Moorhead, MN, providing leadership and support for the Office of Inclusion Diversity, Equity, and Opportunity; the Campus Ministry team; the Dovre Center for Faith and Learning; and the Lorentzsen Center for Faith and Work. Prior to that, he was associate professor of Old Testament at Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota. Michael and his daughters, Eden and Eliyah, have been coming to Outlaw for more than ten years.

ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE
Nate Bergengren

Guitarist and song-writer Nate Bergengren describes himself as “a second generation Swede/Gypsy.” A graduate of Gustavus Adolphus, Nate completed an M.A. Christian Ministry from Luther Seminary. “I grew up in diverse Southern California and moved to homogenous Cambridge, MN, in '92. I grew up in the Assemblies of God and Baptist flavors of the family of God, where the worship service is quite a bit “livelier” than the typical Minnesota ELCA worship service. I consider myself a California Charismatic who's landing Lutheran,” he says.
Nate is the Formation Leader for Teens & Families at Incarnation Lutheran Church in Shoreview, MN. He and Audrey and their kids, Vivian and Carl, are joining us for an eighth summer at Outlaw.

July 13-18

BILINGUAL FAMILY CAMP

This special week of camp brings together English and Spanish-speaking families for a week of intentional community in the Black Hills of South Dakota.

This year's theme is Navidad in July. We will have Bible study on the Christmas stories in the gospels of Matthew and Luke. We will have lay leaders share memories and cultural recipes from their own Christmas celebrations, including tamales, rosettes, and more! We will also learn more about the Posadas and St. Lucia. Whether you speak English or Spanish or both, all are welcome here. Bring your ugly Christmas sweater!

RESOURCE LEADER
Rev. Stephanie Espinoza

Pastor Stephanie and Pastor Jorge Espinoza live on a 140 acre farm with their two children in Cottage Grove, MN. Jorge works bivocationally as a farmer at Dodge Nature Center and as the mission developer/pastor of a new Latino church, Cristo Obrero, located in mobile home parks in Chaska, MN. Stephanie is the pastor of Cross of Peace Lutheran Church in Shakopee, MN. Between the two of them, they have served diverse congregations from Alaska to Central America.

ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE
Omar Mixco

From the capital of Honduras, Omar Mixco currently lives in Chicago, IL and plays with many bands like the Eleven-Eleven Band at his home church, Good Shepherd in Naperville, IL, his local church, Luther Memorial Church of Chicago, and for the ELCA where he leads worship in a national and international context since 2009. Mixco also performs with the Chicago-based pop band, Boy Band Review, which tours throughout the country and plays with international pop stars like Chris Kirkpatrick of NYSNC.
"The Glocal Musician-Educators endeavor to be part of the diverse voices that are renewing worship by gathering and sharing the gifts of the whole church. Renewed by global and local voices, worship can respond to the world we serve, and remember the diverse body of Christ. This community representing many countries, denominations and cultures celebrates the body of Christ by singing songs and stories that give witness to God in Christ, raises awareness and inspires advocacy". -Mission Formation, Global Mission, ELCA.
In addition, Mixco works independently in several churches in Honduras, Mexico and Chicago as a guitarist. From September 2007 to May 2008, Mixco also worked independently in many churches in New York City. In July 2009 and 2012, Mixco's guitar lead worship at the ELCA Youth Multicultural Leadership Event in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Special guest as a Musician with Cienaños Band at the Nobel Prize Peace Forum in Augsburg College, MN -2017
"With" Groove "of mixes of jazz, funk, reggae, rap and trova, imbricated to the Latin roots with the alternative purpose of being, at the same time, the representation of a collective voice, the existential needs of our history, through a The representation of our culture and connection with the receivers ". -Embassy of France -Tegucigalpa, HN 2016
Omar began playing guitar at an early age at his local church in Tegucigalpa and graduated to teach lessons at the age of 23 (UNAH Music Department). In 2003, with a group of local musicians, Mixco formed the rock band Antivirus and launched their professional music career. In 2006, Antivirus won a battle of band competition during which the band traveled through eight Honduran cities with the final competition held in San Pedro Sula, where Antivirus won a recording contract and the production of their first music video.

July 27-August 1

God’s Promises

“In his Small Catechism, Martin Luther defined God as that in whom or in which we place our ultimate trust. That tracks nicely with the First Commandment, in which God says that God is a jealous God. Also, says God, FYI: no other gods. As it is, though, we happen to live in a time where there are more gods than one can shake an Ebenezer at. It is paramount, therefore, that rostered leaders immerse ourselves and our congregations in baptism, which can’t be done without immersing ourselves in a deeper understanding of who God is.

In our time together, we will remind ourselves of who God is, and how that understanding informs what God promises us, what we promise God, and what in God’s name we renounce. Last, but not least, we’ll tap into our inner Luther and collectively ask, in a very practical way, “But What Does This Mean?” Our hope is that we leave not only refreshed and recentered, but also empowered to steward our time together within this time in history as people in and of the Church.”

RESOURCE LEADERS
Pastor Anna Madsen & Pastor David B. Zellmer

Rev. Dr. Anna Madsen is a theologian, past professor at Augustana University, author, and consultant living in Two Harbors, MN. Anna is the founder of the OMG: Center for Theological Conversation, where individuals and groups, both laity and clergy, can come together for conversation and study. Anna and husband, David Willis, run the Spent Dandelion Theological Retreat Center on their property in Two Harbors.
Rev. David Zellmer has served congregations in South Dakota for over 40 years, including as Bishop from 2007-20019. A long-time advocate of outdoor ministries, Dave has served as the interim executive director of Lutherans Outdoors in South Dakota since August, 2024.

ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE
Paul Tietjen

Paul Tietjen is a graphic designer and musician in Minneapolis, MN. A guitarist and song-writer, Paul has played at various festivals and gatherings, including the Michigan Adult Lutherans Gathering in Mackinac Island and the Lifest Festival in Wisconsin. Paul and Dani have three children, Noah, Caleb, and Ellie; they have come to Outlaw for nearly ten years.

Family Camp Pricing

PRICE: Adult (12 and up) - $525
Child (3-11) - $425
Child (0-2) - FREE