Copyright ©2015-2025 - Camp Iakwe Culture Camp. All Rights Reserved.
Camp Iakwe
Share in a rewarding and positive experience at Camp Iakwe; a weekend culture camp designed for families with adopted Marshallese children. Our program provides a culturally rich experience through Marshallese-focused education, activities, and entertainment. Each year a new theme is established on which the curriculum and program is built. Our unique event includes Marshallese leaders joining us to teach and help lead the weekend.
Core Values
Camp Iakwe was founded on three guiding principles: Learn, Celebrate, and Connect.
Camp Mission
To foster heritage confidence and pride in our children by providing education of Marshallese culture, customs, and traditions.
To provide key tools to families to support and incorporate Marshallese culture into their daily lives.
To establish a philanthropic event during camp that provides aid directly to the people of the Marshall Islands.
Contact Us
If you have any general questions or need additional information, please email: [email protected]
Culture Camp Weekend
Each year, our weekend begins with an opening ceremony Friday evening, which includes a celebration of singing, traditional Marshallese dance performances, and the official welcome to families. We are honored to be joined by key leaders within the Marshallese communities, including Senators, Community Education Leaders, Youth Pastoral Leaders, and adult adoptees.
Throughout the weekend, families participate in breakout sessions to gain a deeper understanding of Marshallese history and culture. The weekend also includes informal time to play and connect as families. To close out culture camp, families participate in a philanthropic event to support children living in the Marshall Islands.
Past Camp Themes
2024
Lejmaanjuri
(Strong woman leader)
2023
Jitdam Kapeel
(Seeking knowledge)
2022
Kōñe Jubar
(Strongly rooted as ironwood)
2019
Jueele Iliju
(Navigation by sea and in life)
2018
Ainikiem
(Your Voice)
2017
Mõnõnõ
Ippen Dron!
Ippen Dron!
(Celebrate Together!)
2016
Jooj Ej
Juon Wot
Juon Wot
(We are all connected)
2015
Bar Jeplaak
Nan Majuro
Nan Majuro
(A return trip to Majuro)
Camp Dates
Location and Accommodations
Hosted at Saint John’s University, a beautiful campus located in Collegeville, Minnesota, just over an hour north of the Minneapolis/Saint Paul metro area. The campus setting allows us to be cost-efficient with affordable lodging and offers us many spaces to host all of our activities in one location. SJU grounds provide an up-north camp feel and include many indoor and outdoor spaces to accommodate our camp agenda, miles of hiking trails, gathering spaces for all of our families, and a private lake with swimming beach. Camp Iakwe housing will be in SJU Apartment-style dorms. Each unfurnished unit includes a kitchen area, living/sitting area, full bathroom, and separate bedrooms.
Saint John's University, 2850 Abbey Road, Collegeville, MN 56321
For a campus map and more, click HERE.
Weekend Schedule
A full agenda is provided to registered families prior to camp weekend.
For travel planning purposes the key itinerary is as follows:
Friday, July 11th
Check-in Time: 1:00pm-4:00pm
Followed by Opening Ceremony
Saturday, July 12th
Adult/Child Breakout Sessions, Activities & Evening Celebration
Sunday, July 13th
Jimjera Project and Closing Ceremony: 9:00am-12:00pm
After the Camp Iakwe official program ends, feel free to continue to enjoy SJU campus grounds, beach, and facilities throughout the afternoon in order to accommodate your individual return travel times.
Registration
Camp Iakwe is developed for school-aged children entering grades 1-12.
To manage our process efficiently, we use a rolling registration format. Families will be sent a personal link as we move from one group to the next until we reach capacity. If you haven't received your link and would like to attend camp, please e-mail [email protected].
Registration Rates
All-inclusive fee includes: Two nights lodging, all meals, bed linens and bath towels, facilities space rentals, curriculum, educators, activities, supplies and entertainment.
$370 for each Adult
$320 for your 1st & 2nd child
$270 for each additional child
A $100 non-refundable deposit per family is required when submitting your registration form. The deposit will be applied to total fees due. All registrations will close March 31st or earlier if we reach capacity. Invoices will be sent approximately 1 week after your registration is submitted and are due upon receipt. Invoices not paid by April 7th will be considered late.
Camp Iakwe is happy to cover the cost of t-shirts for all children 17 and under. We will ask for sizes and adult orders in June.
Cancellation policy
50% of the fees invoiced will be refunded if your cancellation is received prior to May 15th. Any cancellations received after May 15th are not subject to a refund.
Jimjera
In support of one of Camp Iakwe’s key missions, our organization will conduct a philanthropic event each year during culture camp that provides aide directly to the people of the Marshall Islands. In order to successfully grow these philanthropic efforts, we have established a partner program called The Jimjera Project. Jimjera translates to "friendship" in Marshallese and was chosen to communicate our view of Camp Iakwe’s relationship with the Marshallese community.
Each year, camp families help stuff backpacks with school supplies that are sent to children in RMI. Everyone at camp writes a note or draws a picture that is added to the backpacks as a way to send our jimjera and iakwe.
You will be able to select a school supply to purchase.
All purchases will be shipped directly to Camp Iakwe for families to assemble at camp this summer.
The backpacks filled with school supplies will then get delivered to children in the Marshall
Islands for back-to-school.
Donate
