In 1950 land on the east side of Lake Darling near Brighton, Iowa, was donated by the Steinbeck family for the construction of a youth camp. 

The campsite is located on a seven-acre lake shore tract that provides the most extensive view of the lake to be found along its shores. Also, several hundred acres of state-owned land adjacent to the camp are available for camp activities.

The LDYC facility has ten cabins that will accommodate 10 campers each, plus a counselor, and four staff cabins. A large main building houses the dining hall, kitchen, and crafts/activity room. The bath house is centrally located on the campus. There is an athletic field, a basketball court, sand volleyball court, tether ball court, roped-off swimming beach on the lake and a separate boat dock for boating and canoeing. In addition, there is an open-air shelter house, campfire area, chapel area and plenty of open green spaces.