A Renewing Place

Can you feel your mind, body and soul relaxing? This is Outlaw Ranch, and it will do that to you if you aren’t paying attention. I am fortunate in that Outlaw is only a 20 minute drive from my home. I’ve been here many times since my first church camp experience during my confirmation years and it’s always been an inviting place to spend time. Our church also hosts various celebrations here throughout the year.

There’s a sense of calm in this area. It exudes quiet, inner peace. Like a change in altitude, there’s a change in the air and the environment surrounding you, the moment you get out of the car.

South Dakota is fortunate enough to have five of these camps throughout the state. Outlaw Ranch, Atlantic Mountain Ranch, NeSoDak, Joy Ranch and Klein Ranch are part of Lutherans Outdoors.

Outlaw Ranch is a retreat center, a church camp, a great place to eat, a new place to worship, a wonderful place to rejuvenate and a fun place to take your daughter on a fall weekend. A few weeks ago my daughter and I stayed at Outlaw Ranch for their annual Mother-Daughter retreat.

There were many activities scheduled, IF you wanted to partake in or, you could do your own thing. The idea was to relax in a way that suited you and your daughter. My daughter and I did some of the activities, depending on what appealed to her. There were crafts, hiking, canoeing, and horseback riding. We spent most of our time doing our own hiking and spent time hanging out in our cabin. We participated in the group activities and games, low-key worship services with mother-daughter discussions, and singing.

Mothers and Daughters could choose to stay in the lodge or a cabin. This is the lodge. I’ve stayed here before on scrapbooking retreats with girlfriends and is a great place to stay, but my daughter and I opted for a cabin instead.

Hot chocolate is a signature staple at Outlaw Ranch, and was very popular with all the girls.

Over the weekend, both my daughter and I established new friendships.

The food that guests get to eat is also a signature of Outlaw Ranch.

Outlaw hosts many different events for various groups year round. To plan a reunion, retreat, conference, business gathering, or to attend one of the different camps at Outlaw or any of the other Lutherans Outdoors camps, visit the Lutherans Outdoors website for more information.