warm beach camp

Youth today are bombarded by countless streams of entertainment and information. How are these young people supposed to find peace and purpose in their lives if they don’t have access to quiet and peaceful places to be refreshed? This past winter, 230 teenagers had the opportunity to visit Warm Beach Camp to escape the demands of everyday life and realized the power of deliberate living. Community Church of Seattle (CCS) hosted its NEXT Winter Retreat at Warm Beach Camp this ...

Sitting down with The Lights of Christmas Manager, Kayla Castiglione, she reflected on the event’s journey over the last several years, “When looking at the last 29 years of The Lights of Christmas there are many moments the event grew. Some of the moments were natural growth, like adding more lights every year or introducing new displays and activities for people to enjoy at the event. Other moments of growth were forced, like pivoting to a different format during a ...

Emma joined the Horsemanship program two years ago, at the age of ten. Like many children her age, she is still discovering who she is and learning what she is capable of. Middle and high school can be a challenging time, with constant pressure to compare oneself to others. Confidence and anxiety are major issues for kids today, and social media often keeps them indoors, limiting opportunities to develop real-world skills. What began as a simple love for horses has ...

Hay harvest is a highlight of the late summer season at Warm Beach Horsemanship (WBH). Haying season brings together members of past and present WBH team members, volunteers, family, and pony clubbers to achieve the ambitious goal of moving literal tons of hay from fields to the hay barn. This effort necessitates many moving parts from hay cutting, raking, baling, picking, stacking, driving, re-stacking and managing. All hands are needed, welcome, and valued. It feels natural to reflect on just ...

“Let me ask you this one question: Did you receive the Holy Spirit by obeying the law of Moses? Of course not! You received the Spirit because you believed the message you heard about Christ. How foolish can you be? After starting your new lives in the Spirit, why are you now trying to become perfect by your own human effort?” Galatians 3:2-3 NLT What is it with us? Why are we so willing to substitute ourselves in for the ...

In today’s fast-paced world, anxiety can easily overwhelm us, leaving us feeling depleted and disconnected. Between work pressures, family responsibilities, and societal expectations, finding a peaceful place to slow down and quiet the mind can seem nearly impossible. However, there are sacred spaces—places where the noise fades, and we can reconnect with God and find peace. Where God’s Presence Feels Near One of the Warm Beach Camp staff members shared, "For over three decades, one of my most cherished sacred ...

Here is what your generosity is going towards at Warm Beach Camp: The repaving of Cedar Lodge loop is finished and looks amazing! Four mountain cabins received new roofs in August. Landscaping plants are being purchased for the parking lot improvements. They will be installed this Fall and next spring. The Lights of Christmas began hanging lights right after Labor Day. Creative projects for the festival have been on-going all year. As we head into fall, our staff are wrapping ...

By Jeannie Patterson Grateful. This is the first word that comes to mind when I think about the Kids 2 Camp Benefit Day. Grateful for those who donated such fun and amazing items. Grateful for all the volunteers and staff who contributed time and energy to make this day happen. Grateful for generous bidders.  Most of all, grateful for a God who brings so many together to work and give for the sake of His Kingdom. It was a beautiful ...

There he was, all 40 or so inches of him, heading up to the stage determined to be the first one to share at open mic time at Camp. This is a time where campers can share about their experiences during the week in front of the entire camp. In our English as a Second Language (ESL) classes, Eric was a good student – bright and very accomplished with his English as a 4th grader. He stepped on stage and ...

Warm Beach Horsemanship offers Equestrian Vaulting instruction through camps, classes, and even a competitive club team. Equestrian Vaulting is essentially gymnastics and dance on a moving horse. Many who participate in vaulting instruction are horse enthusiasts but have never tried the sport. As you can imagine the first time sitting on a horse with no saddle and being asked to let go and stretch your arms to the side can be rather unnerving. Ginger Reitz, Assistant Horsemanship Director, describes the ...

“Warm Beach Camp has always changed my life for the better.” When I sat down with Bee to talk about how God has been working in her life this summer, these were the first words out of her mouth. Bee, known to the outside world as Hannah, is currently a Cabin Guide down at W-Bar-B Youth Camp. Bee and I go back five summers when we both started volunteering at Warm Beach Special Friends Camp. Bee truly encountered God that ...

Summer projects are in full swing: Cedar Lodge Loop is now repaved. New double pane windows are being installed in three retreat houses providing them with much improved winterization. A new ticket booth for The Lights of Christmas has been finished. Fresh water well controls are being replaced for Well #4 As an extra safety precaution, an emergency bypass is being installed to a section of the wastewater treatment plant where a main pipe to the treatment plant runs above ...

  Cascadian Lodge is 57 years old! With many years of service since the last renovation, it was time to update and preserve this lodge for years to come. Renovation work was started on Cascadian Lodge a year and a half ago and was recently completed in June 2019. The renovations were funded through room memorials made by families who wished to commemorate family members and other loved ones while also contributing to the ministry here at Warm Beach Camp ...

  “Life changes here”…a phrase you may have heard. This phrase doesn’t just apply to our campers and guests, but also our volunteers and staff. Often volunteers come to Warm Beach Camp to be part of something bigger than themselves, to help with programming, labor and other tasks. Little do they know the experience is often just as life changing for them as it is for the campers they serve. This was exactly the case for Marcus Petterson, “Fred” here ...

By Ben Hagglund How do you say “thank you” to a place and ensure that others have the same opportunities for life-changing and life-saving experiences? As a boy, I was hooked at Father & Son Retreat. And Day Camp sealed the deal. As a second and third grader, my initial experiences at Warm Beach Camp were beyond comparison. The following year, I spent two weeks in a row at camp: Family Camp and then Chinook Camp, with my birthday in the ...

By Nancy Nelson, Development Director It was down to the wire at 11:30 am on December 31, 2009, when the last commitment came through enabling Warm Beach Camp to claim the $490,000 M.J. Murdock grant for the renovation of Cedar Lodge. And yes, I did dance on my desk, as promised. There’s a picture hanging in my office as proof. The Cedar Lodge project is part of the “Embracing the Vision” Campaign begun in 2006. It means that public restrooms ...

Memorial Day Working Weekend is an event where volunteers come and help the Camp prepare for its busy summer season. Volunteers paint, garden, clean, roof, sew, chop wood, power wash, help with crafts and The Lights of Christmas projects, or help in child care. It is a great opportunity for individuals, civic, school and church groups, to get involved. This year, the event is May 28-31. Volunteers who are staying on grounds arrive and get settled in on Friday night. ...

Faced with a looming deadline, it was down to the wire when the last pledge came in on December 31, 2009 to reach the goal and complete the funding for the first three phases on renovation work to be done on Cedar Lodge. This has allowed the Camp to submit the paperwork to claim the $490,000 completion grant from the M. J. Murdock Charitable Trust. We praise God for His faithfulness, and we are very grateful for all of the ...