Camp Firwood / 2014 /
Camp Firwood /
David Gaylord /
RCLS 300-01 Publicity/Promotions /

History of Camp Firwood

The idea of Camp Firwood came about in 1954, when a small group of Middle School campers spent several days camping within the heavily forested land on the shores of Lake Whatcom. They felt so powerfully about this piece of land that they all started to pray that one day this would be the location of a summer camp to minister to children. Their prayers were heard by a man named Glen Corning, who then purchased the property which was 2600 feet of Lake Whatcom shoreline bordering 80 acres of wooded acres. The Longhouse, the first permanent structure at Camp Firwood, was built in 1957. The first two summers, they offered only part-time camps, although they gradually were lengthened and had added programs. Camp capacity has continued to grow throughout the years. While it initially was at maximum capacity when they reached 98 campers during the 60’s, they added more cabins and renovated The Longhouse in 1990 along with purchasing more land around the camp. After all the renovations and additions, the camps maximum capacity has now reached 275 campers along with staffing close to 100 people. These are the numbers Camp Firwood wishes to maintain from a capacity standpoint, but they do wish to utilize the new surrounding properties by starting new camping programs.

Camp Firwood Philosophy

The Firs and Camp Firwood 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.

Operational Structure

Camp Firwood employs five year-round staff, three interns, and just about 100 volunteer summer staff. The reporting relationships of the staff are in order in the following:

Facilities, Programs, Products, and Services

Camp Firwood offers a number of fun programs and activities:

  • The Centerhouse: The Centerhouse is the food service area on the camp grounds or “mess hall”. This feature was just built in 2010 and it is a great building to dine in.
  • Challenge Course: consisting of 11 high elements leading up to a thrilling zip-line and 10 low elements used for teamwork skills. They also offer the Giant Swing, which your teammates pull you to a height off 45 feet then gravity takes over as your body hurls towards the earth at the pull of a pin. Available for campers ages 13+ as an Activity Class as well as to rent for your sports team, school group or youth group.
  • Skate Park: They have 3 half pipes, each at a different skill level. Also, on site is a skating staff member that will teach you how to drop in if you have never done it before. They also offer a number of various boxes, kickers, rails, and ramps to work on your street skating skills. Grab your board and head for the Skate Ramps. We have 3 half pipes each at different slopes to meet your skill level. Never dropped in before? Our trained staff will help guide you through the process. We also have a variety of ramps and boxes to practice your street skills on. Available as an Activity Class or during Free Time.
  • Climbing Wall: They offer a 30 foot climbing wall with 6 belay points, each with different routes to match the skill level of the camper. They also have a trained staff member on site to help the campers get going. The climbing wall is offered throughout the campers week stay as an activity class or during their free time.
  • Firwood Paintball: Camp Firwood offers a paintball program for either a single session or a week full of intense paintballing. On site will be a heavily trained staff to make sure all safety precautions are met and held. They campers will be provided with Tippmann 98 markers, masks, neck guards, compressed air tanks and paintballs.
  • Adventure Camping:This activity will take you all around the 120 acre property to learn the skills needed to survive in the outdoors. From building forts and shelters to learning how to tie knots and other wilderness skills, they will teach you the wilderness survival basics. This is an Activity Class.
  • Centerstage: Every night the campers meet at this centerstage to rock out to the camp bands worshipping tunes along with a testimonial from a staff member each and every night. This opportunity allows the campers to connect to God while amongst their peers. This times serves as the time allotted within the camp to reach out to the campers for the mission of Camp Firwood.
  • Honey Hut: The Honey Hut allows campers to fulfill their sweet tooth with candy and beverages. They also offer souvenirs like: T-Shirts, Hoodies, Water Bottles and Critters to show off the Firwood love. To do this the camper must deposit money into their account at registration and can be spent throughout the duration of camp.
  • Overnights: Foil dinners, sleeping under the stars and hanging out with friends is what Overnights are all about. On Wednesday nights, all the boys in camp invade the Island and South Cove to experience a true camping experience. The girls in turn, have the entire camp to themselves that night. On Thursday night, roles are flipped as girls head out for their overnights and boys take over camp.
  • Boat Beach:This is to provide the campers with an area to go out on kayaks and canoes around the camp areas with their friends. The campers can also go around the island across the channel with the company of one of the camp counselors. The Boat Beach also offers a splash boat for campers to see who can last the longest amongst their friends.
  • The BLOB: They offer a BLOB. Great for entertaining people with the love of high flying ways of entering the water to cool off. This is a great way to have fun and its perfect for an entertaining scene.
  • Big Field Games: They are a staple of Firwood’s Team Competition. Each of the 6 teams is assigned a position around the circle and participates in a wacky combination of games and relays. The event is capped off by any number of events include tubes, giant inflatable balls and of course fun.
  • Fishing: Fishing is a new addition to Camp Firwood. Campers will be fishing from several docks around camp, known for their schools of fish. Fishing is catch and release and they provide all the equipment and instruction needed to have a great time.
  • Sailing:Best Activity Class at Firwood, hands down. Camp Firwood offers 8 Hobie-cat catamarans to learn the arts of sailing with an on-site instructor.
  • Target Sports: They offer a number of great bow shooting activities the campers can participate in during their free time or they can also participate in the Target Sports Activity Class.
  • Water Olympics: This is a great team building event that is held at every single session at Camp Firwood. Every team has to compete in synchronized swimming, relays, and numerous games/competitions based around the water.
  • Boating Activities: Camp Firwood has 3 boats designated for the use of wakeboarding, tubing, knee boarding, and water skiing. All of these activities have people that can help out the campers become more comfortable on the water, also providing training for newbies.

Financial Status

Camp Firwood, since its existence, has been run and operated based on the generous gifts from friends whose lives have been affected by the camp. They also generate operating funds from the price to attend the camp. The summer staff is made up entirely of volunteers. This is a not for profit ministry camp and is ran purely on cost of attendance and generous donations. The remaining money is used to improve the camp with renovations and new attractions. They are a member in good standing of the ECFA (Evangelical Council of Financial Accountability) and go through a full audit every year.

Strategic Goals and Objectives

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

Current Marketing Materials

They mostly use social media as the main form for marketing. The following links are their sites;

  • (Promotional Videos)

Summary

After thoroughly researching and observing the outlay of Camp Firwood I absolutely love what they do, and who they are about, the kids. They do whatever they can to make sure the kids that attend their camp and are under their supervision, are getting exactly what is advertised, a strong ministry camp full of fun individuals that will have a prolonged impact in these children’s lives.

Although I loved the impact the camp tried to make on these children, and the overall mission they have, I feel like they could keep on expanding their capacity to touch even more lives than the limited to 275 they have set. Based purely on the land that they own and the money they use on other things to attract the children, they could completely add on to the camp to touch more lives. They own Reveille Island, a 12 acre island, just off the shoreline of Camp Firwood which I personally think is underused and could be beneficial in expanding the property along with building cabins near the south cove. By bringing in more children the cost to attend would reduce in time due to the running costs mostly being the equipment used and food. After learning how generous the donors are, I am sure they could easily generate the funds to add cabin space and to renovate to fit the new capacity.

Understanding that they are mostly targeting local populations, I get why their marketing methods are rather passive. The only advertisement I could get a hold of was from their social media accounts, which is a bit off because I would like to see them promote their camps more on their home website. The website was nice and easy to follow, but they could have put their incredible promotional video as soon as you arrive at campfirwood.org and the “wow” factor will leave you speechless and directly towards the paypal system they have set up to register for camps.

This camp is an incredible place to kids to go and gain lifelong knowledge and friends with a great spiritual insert. I love what they have to offer and it truly is a life changing experience. I hope that they continue to pour the message into the youths of Whatcom County’s hearts.

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Contact: David Gaylord
David Gaylord
Phone:360-733-6840
Fax: 360-555-0123
/ 4605 Cable Street
Bellingham, WA 98229 / David Gaylord /

Intern Opportunity

Need a summer internship or volunteer hours?

Have the best summer of your life servicing others!

Cheney, WAMay 27, 2014: Next week, Camp Firwood out of Bellingham, WA will be visiting the Eastern Washington University campus to promote their camps internship and volunteer opportunities for this upcoming summer. They will be presenting on June 3rd, 2014 starting at 9 A.M in the P.E. building room 108. You can stop by anytime during the hour. David Gaylord will be on hand to answer any questions you may have about this summer’s opportunities in beautiful Bellingham, WA. Camp Firwood is a beautiful ministry summer camp located on the shoreline of Lake Whatcom. Come join the fun!

David Gaylord, Phone: (360) 733-6840, Fax: (360) 555-0123,

*Put in release week of May 26-30. Thank You!

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