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: to 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 RMI.

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 Majuro.

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!

(Celebrate Together!)

2016

Jooj Ej
Juon Wot

(We are all connected)

2015

Bar Jeplaak
Nan Majuro

(A return trip to Majuro)

Camp Dates

Friday, July 12 through Sunday, July 14, 2024

Culture Camp 2024

Theme details coming soon.

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. A 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 12th

Check-in Time: 1:00pm-4:00pm
Followed by Opening Ceremony

Saturday, July 13th

Adult/Kid Breakout Sessions, Activities & Evening Celebration

Sunday, July 14th

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

To manage our process efficiently, we have implemented 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.

$340 for each Adult
$290 for your 1st & 2nd kid
$240 for each additional kid

A $100 non-refundable deposit per family is required when submitting your registration form. The deposit will be applied to total fees due. The balance due will be invoiced in late April.

*Camp Iakwe is happy to cover the cost of t-shirts for all kids 17 and under. We will ask for sizes and adult orders in June.

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.

Please consider a one-time or recurring donation to ensure our program not only continues to offer families a fun and educational weekend but continues to grow. Donations will be used to offset costs that camp fees no longer cover and, eventually, to grow our program.

For transparency, we think it's important to share:

We are a 100% volunteer-led organization - the planning committee does not receive compensation and works year round to ensure a rewarding camp experience for all
Our Marshallese leaders volunteer their time and travel long distances to share their culture with us, for which we are very grateful
Since 2015 camp fees have remained the same - we hope to keep it that way as many families have the added expense of travel to join us each year
Since 2015 camp costs have doubled especially for travel, food, and shipping (school supplies)

Your one-time or recurring donations are fully tax-deductible! EIN 92-3235767