News & Updates

See & read about what is going on in the Warm Beach Camp & Conference Center community

Staff Alumni News

Kim (Dugard) Smelser, who worked in the Registration Department from ’00 to ‘03, and Brian Smelser, on Summer Staff from ’89 to ’94, and currently a member of the WBC Board of Directors, welcomed the arrival of their third child, Luke Joseph, born June 23rd, 2008. He was greeted by big brother, Wyatt, age 4 ½ and sister, Makenna, age 2 1/2. The Smelsers live in Stanwood, where Kim is a stay-at-home mom, and Brian works as a Forensic Scientist for the Washington State Patrol.

Lea (Sutherland) Coats, on summer staff from ’92 to ’95, and husband John Coats, summer staff from ’94 to ’96, celebrated their 11th anniversary this past June (another WBC romance that made good!). They had more to celebrate, though, because the day before their anniversary, they were delighted to officially adopt their daughter, Hillary Joy, on June 20th. She is 4 ½ years old and had been with John and Lea for three years. She joins 6-year-old daughter, Maija, and 2-year-old son, Caleb.

But there’s more – in September of this year, God surprised them with another little one, a 3 1/2 year-old little boy who arrived in their home through foster care. The Coats live in Everett, Washington, where John teaches middle school, and Lea is a fulltime mom.

If you have news regarding any of our former staff members, please drop us a line to let us know. We will share your news in The Sounder with all of our Staff Alumni. Mail it to the Camp’s address, and mark it “Staff Alumni News,” or e-mail it to Gary Kocher at the Camp.

Preparing Leaders through Horsemanship

Warm Beach Horsemanship fosters a wide array of hopeful young riders each year. The WIT (Wrangler in Training) program is designed to develop horsemanship, schooling, and teaching skills in a ministry-based environment. Within a WIT’s time at Warm Beach, they sharpen and practice skills in horse handling, schooling horses with specific goals in mind, riding with a strong basic balanced position, and finding connection with the horse. Through the dynamics of a relationship between horse and rider, a greater understanding ...

Hold on Tight!

Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near. Hebrews 10:23-25 NLT Have you ever been in a situation where someone told you to hold on tight? ...

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Warm Beach Camp is excited to welcome the new Assistant Horsemanship Director, Meg Rudy, and Barn manager, Aly Arnold! Meg Rudy Meg grew up at a camp near Spokane, Washington. Her parents were involved in the Horsemanship program, where Meg developed a love for horses and riding from a very young age. When her family moved to Idaho to run a ranch, she continued to ride horses and was involved in boarding and lessons. She is a CHA level 4 ...