Phones Ringing, Hearts Full: Camp Ondessonk Lodge Members Power Spring Telethon to Bring Families Back to Camp
Six dedicated Lodge members placed more than 1,200 calls during the Spring Lodge Reunion on April 18, 2026, reaching out to families who have not yet registered for the summer of a lifetime.
There is something special about a phone call from someone who truly loves Camp. On Saturday, April 18, 2026, six Camp Ondessonk Lodge members gathered for the Spring Lodge Reunion and turned their passion for Camp into action, completing more than 1,200 telephone calls to camper families from the 2024 and 2025 seasons who had not yet registered for Camp Ondessonk Summer Camp 2026.
“Camp Ondessonk is not just a place you visit. It is a place that stays with you. Every call was a chance to remind a family of that.”
The telethon effort, woven into the heart of the Spring Lodge Reunion, transformed an annual gathering of loyal alumni into a high-energy recruitment campaign powered entirely by genuine enthusiasm. Armed with nothing more than phone lists, personal memories, and an infectious love for Camp, the Lodge team set to work with a singular mission: bring those families back to the Shawnee National Forest this summer.
Meet the Lodge Members Who Made the Calls
Each of the six volunteers brought their own story and connection to Camp Ondessonk, making every conversation feel personal rather than scripted.
| Hannah Dueker Lodge Member | Marley Kiefer Lodge Member |
| Janae Toennies Lodge Member | Lyla Koch Lodge Member |
| Kilian Riley Lodge Member | Kaylee Hauschild Lodge Member |
Why This Telethon Matters for Camp Ondessonk 2026
In the competitive landscape of youth summer programming, personal outreach remains one of the most powerful tools available. A mass email can be ignored, but a call from a fellow Camp Family or a Lodge member who has lived the Ondessonk experience carries real weight. Research across the summer camp industry consistently shows that direct, personal contact is among the top drivers for re-enrollment, and Saturday’s effort leaned into that truth in a big way.
The families targeted were not strangers to Camp Ondessonk. Every household on the call list had already sent a child to Camp during the 2024 or 2025 seasons, meaning the Lodge members were not selling an unknown experience. They were rekindling a flame, reminding parents of the friendships forged, the skills learned, and the growth witnessed in children who returned home from the Shawnee National Forest changed for the better.
With summer 2026 sessions filling quickly, the urgency of the outreach was real. Space at Camp Ondessonk is limited by design, a feature that keeps the community close-knit and the experience deeply personal. Each conversation the Lodge members had on Saturday was a genuine opportunity to secure a spot for a child who already knows and loves Camp.
The Lodge Tradition Behind the Effort
Camp Ondessonk Lodge members are among the program’s most committed ambassadors. Earning Lodge status is a mark of dedication, faith, and service, and the members who showed up for the Spring Lodge Reunion on April 18 demonstrated exactly what that commitment looks like in practice. Rather than spending their reunion weekend on ceremony alone, they rolled up their sleeves, picked up the phones, and worked alongside one another to grow the community they cherish.
That spirit of service is at the core of what sets Camp Ondessonk apart. Nestled in the rolling Ozark Hills of southern Illinois, Ondessonk has been forming young people in faith, leadership, and outdoor adventure since 1959. The Lodge program carries that tradition forward by empowering alumni and senior campers to give back, and the Spring 2026 telethon stands as one of the finest recent examples of that mission in action.
More than 1,200 calls in a single day represent far more than a number. It represents hundreds of families who now know that someone cares whether their child comes back to Camp this summer.
How to Register for Camp Ondessonk Summer Camp 2026
If your family received a call from a Lodge member this past Saturday, know that the invitation was sincere. Camp Ondessonk Summer Camp 2026 is open for registration, and spots are going fast. Whether your camper attended last year or it has been a season since their last adventure in the Shawnee National Forest, now is the time to secure their place around the campfire, on the trails, and in the community that will shape them for years to come.
Families who have not yet registered are encouraged to visit the Camp Ondessonk website, call the Camp office directly, or contact any Lodge member who may have contacted them. The team at Camp Ondessonk is ready to answer questions, walk through session options, and help find the right fit for every camper.
Ready to Register? Spots for Camp Ondessonk Summer Camp 2026 are limited. Visit ondessonk.com or call the camp office to secure your camper’s spot before the summer of a lifetime fills up. Hannah, Marley, Janae, Lyla, Kilian, and Kaylee are rooting for you.
