What is Big Sandy Camp?

Located on Big Sandy Lake in McGregor, Minnesota, Big Sandy Camp & Retreat Center has been a second home to Beltrami Community Church since 1987. Big Sandy has been central to our church’s mission and heart for community by offering an environment that is set apart from our daily chaos. Each year we road trip to Big Sandy Camp and experience the Holy Spirit in new and life-changing ways. Our weekends are centered on our Chapel Sessions and worshiping together. We strengthen, encourage, and build up each other in love from the overflow of a life lived with Jesus.

  • We’ll gather beginning at 5PM on Friday, May 23rd and will depart around noon on Monday, May 26th, 2025.

  • There will be a welcome session Friday night, morning and evening sessions Saturday through Sunday, and a closing morning session on Monday.

  • Beltrami Community Church reserves rooms with camp-stye bunks in Birch and Lakeview Lodge for retreat attendees. Rooms are assigned prior to the weekend. If you have any specific questions about lodging, reach out to us HERE.

  • Big Sandy provides group meals on Saturday and Sunday and brunch on Monday. No group meal will be provided on Friday as people arrive but camp will provide a fire pit to grill food over if you’d like to bring your own. If you have specific dietary restrictions, please connect with us so we can help you get the accommodations you need. For specific questions about dietary options at Big Sandy Camp, reach out to us HERE.

  • Even if you cannot attend the entire weekend, we’d love for you to still join us. We offer a discount for anyone who is visiting for a day-only but every attendee, no matter the length of their stay, will be required to fill out the retreat registration form. For questions on unique registration situations, please reach out to us HERE.

  • Amenities vary depending on seasonal but customarily include waterfront access including swimming, kayaking, paddle boarding and beach volleyball; access to the gymnasium including indoor volleyball, basketball and a climbing wall; access to an outdoor zip-line, ga-ga ball, basketball, 9-square and a playground; and access to the Big Sandy gift shop and cafe. We will keep you updated as these options become more clear closer to the retreat weekend.

  • Anyone interested in helping lighten the financial burden of registration fees can make donations to the Big Sandy Scholarship Fund through Beltrami Church by clicking HERE. If you have someone specific in mind you’d like to support, please include their name with your donation using the free text option on the donation screen. Unmarked donations or any surplus will be prayerfully distributed by the Beltrami Community Church board for the registration fees of those who may not otherwise be able to attend.

FAQ’S