Spring 2025 Pioneer Post
Pioneer History
Pioneer on the Lake has a rich history! In the 1940s, our founding fathers came in person to check out the
current property. Their excitement gained momentum as those men of God engaged with the Lutheran
Laymen’s League. Dreams were shared about how 75 acres of prime lakeside real estate could become a
thriving camp for the people of God! On its Dedication Day, over 1,000 people gathered together near the
shores of Lake Erie where Rev. Dr. Walter A. Meier delivered an inspiring message… and Pioneer began its
ministry!
God has been faithful to Pioneer on the Lake over the years. The dream our founding fathers had is still our
dream today. It seems that a place like Pioneer is even more needed with all the noise, untruths, fears, and
unrest in our world today.… What a gift God still provides - a safe oasis like Pioneer where God’s Word can be
heard and His people can sing His praises, where nature surrounds us in a beautiful setting, and God ‘s
presence seems even closer and more real.
Thank you, God, for the gift of Pioneer and all you have done these past 80 years!!
Let us cheerfully and whole-heartedly join together in preserving it, caring for it, and thanking God for our rare
and beautiful treasure on the shores of Lake Erie! To GOD be the glory!!
Pioneer 80th Anniversary Celebration! Come Join Us for Pioneer Fest: July 20, 2025!!
Please make plans to join us July 20, 2025 for our FREE 4th Annual Pioneer Fest! We also will be celebrating
Pioneer's 80th year of Christian ministry on the shores of Lake Erie! We have so much in store for this day, a
donor reception, the Country Store will be open, bounce houses, face painting, touch-a-truck, and so much
more! Come, join us for a great day on the lake and be refreshed at Pioneer! Stay tuned for artist
announcements in our next Pioneer Post as well as online!
This is a FREE event! Bring a lawn chair and a friend!
Camp Weeks and Events
Registration for camping weeks is also now underway, so contact our office to reserve your place! Sign up
with your immediate family, your extended family, your grandkids, your friends, your fellow church
members….and come to enjoy a spiritually refreshing and relaxing time with God’s people at Pioneer on the
Lake!
May 2 Lakeside Car Cruise-In Fridays begin
May 16-18 Junior and Senior High Retreat
May 17 Clean-up and Work Weekend
June 29-July 5 Family Camp Week #1
July 7-11 VBS with St. John’s Lutheran Church, Angola
July 20 Pioneer Donors’ Reception
July 20 Pioneer Fest
July 20-25 Family Camp Week #2
July 21-25 Stronger Together Agape Camp
July 27-Aug 3 Music Week
October 4 Fall Work Day
Welcome Back, Leah Sallach!
We at Pioneer are thankful to God and thrilled to have Leah Sallach back as our 2025 Program Manager. As
many of you may know, Leah served Pioneer in this capacity for many years. She is now a preschool teacher
at Holy Ghost Lutheran Church in Wheatfield, NY, and has arranged her schedule to help facilitate camp
programs this year. Leah will be living in the Program House, at camp - a place she is very familiar with.
Welcome back, Leah! Your smiling face brings us so much joy!
Your Camp Improvements
Eighty years of wear, tear, and weather have taken its toll on our buildings, but we can proudly say that ALL of
our landmarks are still standing! Hickman Hall, Dallman Hall. Family and Founders Courts, Schroeter Circle,
Wendt’s Shelter, and the Schultz and Pohlman Dining Halls are as they were decades ago – but now they are
new and improved! With all the buildings remaining intact, there is a sense of nostalgia and gratitude as we
walk on campus. We can only imagine what it was like there 80 years ago!
Preservation is challenging though. Wood rots, water wreaks havoc – both inside and out - mechanical and
electrical systems break down and repairs are constantly needed. This year we are pleased to report the
following projects God has provided for us to do:
Wendt’s Shelter and the Program House roofs are slated to be reroofed with metal roofing this spring
The steps and railings down to the beach have been refreshed and painted
Hickman Hall men’s and women’s bathrooms are currently being remodeled thanks to a generous
donation from one of our donors
Wendt’s Shelter bathrooms are being repaired
Trees that pose a hazard have been slated for removal
The Kitchen floor structural foundation has been leveled and supported
Painting throughout camp continues to be an on-going project
Other Exciting Updates and New Additions:
We now have…
Two new ice cream freezers for our Country Store Perry’s Ice Cream!
A new charcoal grill for our events like Pioneer Fest!
Five new water fountains with a water bottle filling station (to be installed)
Eight new furnaces in all 8 Schroeter Circle cabins! This will enable us to expand our retreat
possibilities with late fall and early spring options.
We cannot thank our Pioneer Board Members enough -Debbie Prahst, Rachel Petrick and husband Jack, and
Tim Fink for arranging, organizing, managing, overseeing, and dealing with all the details of these projects. It’s
a lot of work!!! We thank the Lord for their willingness to serve and for their love for Pioneer!
Future Needs: Pioneer’s Wish List
Please consider donating for the following needs…
Pioneer on the Lake Signage
Paddleboards, canoes, boating equipment
Archery equipment
Sofa sleepers for the Woodland Cottages
A tractor with a closed cab for snow plowing, beach raking, and moving picnic tables and benches
$$$ to help frame and replace Hickman windows which are not structurally sound
Remembering Special Friends of Pioneer
† On September 24, 2024, God called to Himself Dr. Ralph Schultz. This humble and faithful servant of the
Lord was the longtime director of Pioneer’s annual “Music Week”. It was said of him, “Doc conducted music
throughout the world, sharing his faith in Christ with humility, reverence, patience and respect as he led many
to sing for joy.” We are blessed to have had him at Pioneer, and we rejoice that he is now singing with all the
heavenly host!
† On November 30, 2024, our Heavenly Father welcomed home Jay Pohlman. Jay faithfully served on the
Camp Pioneer Board of Directors for over 30 years. His behind-the-scenes wisdom and legal counsel were
invaluable as he carefully guided the Board in its transition to become “Pioneer on the Lake”. We thank the
Lord for giving Jay to us “for such a time as this” and we rejoice that he is now seeing his Savior face-to-face!
+ On February 2, 2025, the promise of heaven became real for Walt Schmidt. From 1981-1988 Walt was the
Director of Camp Pioneer. He was instrumental in leading Camp through some busy seasons. It was a family
affair, too, as his wife Lois and three teenage children were all on staff. We thank God for Walt’s service and
the lives he touched as teacher, principal, missionary, and Camp Director.
Donor Spotlight
Concordia Lutheran Ministries Foundation has been an invaluable partner to Pioneer on the Lake, providing
generous support through its Angel Tear Ministries Fund over the past four years. This funding has played a
vital role in improving the safety and quality of Pioneer’s facilities and enhancing outdoor programming through
the purchase of new equipment and supplies. Thanks to Concordia’s support, more participants have had the
opportunity to experience Christ in a Christian outdoor community. Notable projects made possible by this
partnership include renovations to the Wendt’s Shelter and Program House, new water fountains, and updated
equipment for the waterfront and archery programs. Friends of Pioneer is honored to operate the camp’s
programming, while Concordia owns the property, making this collaboration essential to Pioneer’s continuing
impact.
A Pioneer Story
"As the sun sinks below the horizon, and the sky turns from warm reds and oranges to cool blues and purples,
the air takes on a slight chill. Evening is coming. It is comforting to know that even though it is evening at Camp
and I will be returning home tomorrow, this is not the evening for Pioneer on the Lake. This is the dawn of
something new and amazing. God truly has other plans than for this land to be a housing development. This is
a place where the needs of His people can be met. I am eternally grateful for the partnership with Concordia
that Camp has that this mission of service can continue into the future.” – (Chris Schroeder 2024)
Opportunities to Help!
There are many ways you can lend a hand at Pioneer on the Lake. Please pray and consider how you
can help with:
Lawn mowing, leaf raking, outdoor maintenance, etc.
Volunteering your time to help with VBS week – July 7-11
Volunteering to assist with our “Stronger Together Agape Camp” – July 21-25
Your Involvement: An Opportunity to Bless the Ministry of Pioneer!
In honor of Pioneer’s 80th Anniversary, would you meet the challenge and consider donating $80?
If 200 people made a donation like that, think of what we could accomplish!! It would be amazing!
Our Board of Directors serves without any remuneration. They volunteer hours and hours of their time. They
also are 100% committed to making sure every penny gets used wisely. Pioneer on the Lake will NOT go into
debt. Upgrades and renovations happen only as the money to pay for them comes in. Please help us with a
special gift today!
George’s Trivia Corner:
Question: When Hap Schroeter inspected your cabin, what was he looking for under your bed?
Answer: That your shoes were pointing outward, not inward. Really!
