More than 220 campers made first-time decisions to follow Christ this summer as Eagle Lake counselors modeled Life-to-Life discipleship on Colorado’s mountain trails and in day camps across six states.
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo., (September 15, 2026) — The Navigators, a worldwide disciplemaking ministry since 1933, welcomed 5,632 campers to Eagle Lake Camps’s overnight and day camp programs this summer, the ministry announced today. Of those, 2,392 campers attended overnight camp on Eagle Lake’s mountain property west of Colorado Springs, and 3,240 attended day camps held in six states. Camp staff also modeled Life-to-Life® discipleship throughout the summer: 223 campers made first-time decisions to follow Christ, and 1,514 campers committed to sharing the gospel with a friend back home.
This summer’s ministry reached well beyond camp property. Eagle Lake fielded 185 young adults as summer staff, representing 88 colleges, universities, and schools across the country, and donor support helped send 277 campers to camp who otherwise could not have attended. In all, Eagle Lake’s ministry touched 21 locations this year.
Eagle Lake Camps was founded in 1953 as an extension of The Navigators’ discipleship ministry, after Billy Graham pointed Navigators founder Dawson Trotman to the mountain property west of Colorado Springs. More than seven decades later, the camp’s approach remains the same: pairing outdoor adventure for campers ages 6-to-8 with a trained counselor who invests in each camper individually. Eagle Lake’s college-age staff receive in-depth discipleship training before campers arrive, equipping them to build intensely relational, one-on-one connections with the campers in their care throughout the summer.
“Every cabin conversation, every hike, every campfire is a chance for a counselor to walk alongside a camper and introduce them to Jesus. This summer’s numbers represent thousands of individual relationships where a young person experienced the love of Jesus through a counselor who took the time to truly know them.”
— Jenny Dordal, Director, Eagle Lake Camps
Beyond this summer, Eagle Lake Camps continues to create opportunities for young people to grow in faith year-round, including:
- In-depth discipleship training for the college students who serve as summer staff, equipping them to lead cabins of campers through daily Bible study and mentoring
- Day camps held this summer in Colorado, Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, Illinois, and Tennessee, extending Eagle Lake’s model of counselor-led discipleship to campers across six states
- Mom Teen Trek and Dad Teen Trek wilderness experiences, which create space for parents and children to pursue their faith together on the trail
Parents, alumni, and prospective ministry partners can learn more about Eagle Lake Camps at eaglelakecamps.com, or contact the camp office at eaglelake@navigators.org.
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About The U.S. Navigators
The Navigators is a ministry that shares the gospel of Jesus and helps people grow in their relationship with Him through Life-to-Life discipleship, creating spiritual generations of believers. Since its founding in 1933, The Navigators has upheld the mission “To know Christ, make Him known, and help others do the same®.” Our Worldwide Partnership includes around 6,000 staff of 85 nationalities, serving in 123 countries. Navigators encourage spiritual growth across life stages, serving wherever people work, live, worship, and play: on college campuses and military bases as well as in urban neighborhoods, workplaces, churches, local communities, and hard-to-reach places. To learn more, visit www.navigators.org.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 15th, 2026
Contact: Angela Northamer, U.S Public Relations Lead,
719-594-2181, angela.northamer@navigators.org
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