The Board of Directors of Mar-Lu-Ridge is pleased to announce the selection of Diana Edelblute as the next Executive Director. Diana will begin her work in this position on January 1, 2026. We thank God for the ministry of Sarah Lefler, who will be retiring on December 31, 2025 after 16 years as Executive Director.
Diana brings an extensive background in outdoor ministry to Mar-Lu-Ridge. After being a camp counselor at Camp Nawakwa, she was a stewardship intern at the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy. Diana was entrusted with progressive leadership experience at Camp Seymour, ending as an Assistant Outdoor and Environmental Experience Director. Mar-Lu-Ridge hired Diana in 2022 as Associate Director, a position in which she has performed admirably.
During her time as Associate, Diana has developed strong relationships with retreat guests as she leads programming and cares for their needs. She has shared her environmental knowledge and passion for creation care with campers, staff, and retreat guests. Diana’s care and support for the summer staff is a great blessing not only for these young people, but for our campers and their families as well. She understands how to build community so that everyone feels acknowledged and loved.
Mar-Lu-Ridge is a Lutheran camp and retreat center serving a mission of, “Rooted in Christ, we welcome all to encounter God’s love through sacred hospitality, deepening relationships, and care for creation.” In this mission, we provide summer camp to 400 youth ages 6 to 17, family and confirmation camps, as well as training young adults to serve. MLR welcomes people and groups of all faith traditions year-round, serving 5,200 people annually.
As she begins, Diana shares the following, “Mar-Lu-Ridge is a beautiful place and a beautiful community with a legacy of important and impactful ministry. I am excited and eager to work alongside our community, congregations, camper families, and retreat guests to continue to spread our message of welcome and inclusion for all to the larger community.”
We are excited to have Diana on board as Executive Director and look forward to working with her to sustain this ministry into the future.
Thomas Wheeler, President
