Camp Firwood

Camp Firwood is an ACA approved Christian summer camp situated on Lake Whatcom, just southeast of Bellingham, WA. It is owned and operated by an organization called "The Firs."

"History"

The original founders of Camp Firwood were Otis and Julia Whipple who gathered together with 35 people for a five-day retreat at their property overlooking Lake Whatcom in July of 1921. This was the start of what would become a multi-site, multi-program organization now called "The Firs."

In 1954 a group of 30 Junior High campers paddling on Lake Whatcom landed on a camp site which they called "White Sands." With the permission of the property owner, the first week-long resident camp took place on this 80 acre property which soon become known as Camp Firwood. In 1955 Camp Firwood was purchased for $35,000.

Today Camp Firwood runs 10 weeks of camp for youth 7-18 years of age, and houses up to 260 campers a week. The camp now encompasses convert|118|acre|km2 of beautiful forest, convert|4500|ft|m of waterfront and their own private Island.

"Activities"

Although its main attractions are at the waterfront, Camp Firwood also hosts a variety of other activities including paintball, a 10-stage high ropes challenge course, a convert|20|ft|m|abbr=on. climbing center, archery range, soccer field, basketball court, 3 8 ft. skateboard ramps, and beach volleyball court. Water activities include a swimming beach, 2 aqua jump trampolines, an aqua swing, kayaking, canoeing, sailing, waterskiing, wakeboarding, and the Air Head.

"Mission Statement"

The Firs serves the local church and community by drawing groups and individuals to a camp and retreat setting where they will experience the Biblical message of Jesus through instruction, creative activities and significant relationships, resulting in changed lives.

From it’s beginning, The Firs has focused on developing and maintaining a ministry to God's glory. Primarily through offering Christ-centered camps, conferences and retreats, The Firs has sought to lead people to salvation in Jesus Christ, nurture Christian character, train individuals for worldwide Christian service, and strengthen family life.

The Firs' three facilities serve to support these efforts and provide a place for organizations and ministries of similar purpose to offer programs of their own.

"Statement of Faith"

Belief in the Bible to be the inspired, inerrant, only infallible, authoritative Word of God. Belief that there is one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Belief in the deity of Christ, in His virgin birth, in His sinless life, in His miracles, in His vicarious and atoning death, in His bodily resurrection and His ascension to the right hand of the Father, and His personal, bodily and pre-millennial return. Belief that, because of the fall of man and his consequent moral depravity, there is absolute necessity of regeneration by the Holy Spirit for salvation. Belief that God has called Christians to a life of sanctification through the Holy Spirit. Belief in the resurrection of both the saved and the lost; the saved unto eternal life and the lost unto eternal punishment. Belief in the spiritual unity of believers in Christ.

"Camp Names"

As a long and standing tradition, each and every staff member that works at Firwood is given a camp name within a week of their arrival. Receiving a camp name is a ritual activity that all staff must go through in order to become an official staff member. Camp names may bare little to no significance to their owner, or they can be directly relate to a specific instance or story from the persons life. Famous camp names include "Promenade," "Spray," "Shalanski," "Tantrum," "Woopski," "Caniak," "Sudoku," "Gonzo," "Diesel," "Katastrophi," "Frymeupsome," "Frankenberry," "Timbits," "Swiffer," "Gush," "Kankles," "Bina Bina," "Humina Humina," "Otang," "Kabuki," "Spokompton," "Rocksteady" and "Zordon." In order for a camp name to "pass" it must receive a vote from the majority of the current staff. This vote is cast by cheering and applause.

"The Honey Hut"There is a shack that you can buy candy, sodas, t-shirts, stuffed animals, hats, and more. This "shack" is called the honeyhut.

"Video"

http://thefirs.org/index.php?page=camp_firwood_video

"References"

http://www.thefirs.org/