LVR is...
Lutheran Valley Retreat is a year round retreat and summer camp facility for all ages tucked away in the Pike National Forest. We are located 1.5 hours from Colorado Springs and 2.5 from Denver. Our mission is to share God’s grace and glory through His creation.
Focusing on Christ We value:
• The inerrant Word of God
• Loving all people as God Created them
• Relevant ministries that challenge, enrich, and encourage
• Fun safe outdoor activities for all
• Transformed Christ-like leaders who love the people in their community
Executive Director
Meet the team
Steve Johnson
Executive Director
Steve has been director of LVR since 2004. He is the husband of a wonderful wife, Angie, since June 2nd of 2000. Together they have four boys; Sam, Mason, Joe, and Bodie. This is Steve’s dream job where he gets to share Jesus through the wonderful tool of camp ministry. He is a visionary leader and LVR is blessed by his leadership and committment to LVR’s mission and vision.
Steve believes camp is the hope of the church, where children, youth, and families can thrive in their relationship with each other and with their Creator. This connection impacts all of us to live for Jesus!
Todd Kelm
Site Manager
Todd has been with the LVR team since December 2009. He is married to his beaufiul and outgoing wife, Tammy, and together they have five children: Marshal, Bowen, Ruby, Tucker, and Barrett. Todd’s entire family is a huge part of the ministry of LVR and if you’ve ever attended then you likely know them all.
Todd’s primary role is to maintain the site of LVR year-round. Despite the neverending and somewhat overwhelming job duties and requirements, Todd does a great job keeping up with everything that is requried of him. He is skilled in many ways that benefit the ministry and he is an invaluable asset to LVR. His skills keep the behind the scenes ministry of LVR alive and active.
Before LVR, Todd held similar jobs at Camp Lonestar in Texas, Camp Perkins in Idaho, and Lutherhaven in Idaho. We are so blessed to have Todd as part of the team at LVR.
Victor Matthews
Development Coordinator
You may know Victor, or Gazelle, from his time as summer staff in the kitchen at LVR between 2016-2021. Victor is such a vibrant character who is full of energy so we thought, “Who better to help lead our fundraising initiatives?” Victor was thrilled to join the team year-round at LVR in November of 2021 as the full-time Development Coordinator.
Victor met his wife in missionary school and they got married shortly after he returned from Vietnam. Victor has a deep passion and love for the outdoors and ministry. He has done mission work, was a youth pastor for two years, and his professional career has always involved leadership and communication. LVR has had an amazing impact on Victor’s life and he can’t wait to share the camp’s dreams, visions, and goals with everyone!
Michaela Regier
Business Manager
Michaela, AKA Goose, was hired to be a full-time Business Manager for LVR in November of 2021! Michaela has had various positions at LVR as summer staff from 2018-2021 and she’s so good that we just had to keep her on permanently. Michaela attended Concordia University and graduated with her Bachelor’s in Business & Accounting.
Michaela oversees registration, payroll, and bookeeping, in addition to many other day-to-day operations for LVR. We are very excited for the addition of Michaela to the year-round team at LVR!
Jolene Schauland
Marketing Manager
Jolene was excited to join the year-round LVR team in April of 2019 as the part-time Marketing Manager. Jolene is happily married to Eliot Schauland and together they have two children, Nathan and Lucy.
Jolene’s career background is somewhat diverse, including positions in customer service, higher education, and workforce development. Her focus with LVR involves increasing & maintaining communications, seeking new opportunites for marketing, and promoting LVR and everything it has to offer in various ways. We are excited to have Jolene on board to get the word out about LVR so we can reach more people with the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ!