Camp Firwood

Camp Firwood is an American Camp Association approved Christian summer camp situated on Lake Whatcom, southeast of Bellingham, Washington. It is part of "The Firs", a Christian camp and retreat ministry that is in good standing with the Christian Camp and Conference Association.[1][2]

Overview

History

Camp Firwood was founded by Otis and Julia Whipple, who gathered 35 people for a five-day retreat at their property overlooking Lake Whatcom in July 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 (32 ha) property, which soon become known as Camp Firwood. In 1955, Camp Firwood was purchased for $35,000.[3]

Today, Camp Firwood runs ten weeks of camp for youth 7–18 years of age, and houses up to 260 campers a week. The camp now encompasses 118 acres (48 ha) of beautiful forest, 4,500 feet (1,400 m) of waterfront, and its own private island.[3] They host day camps and resident camps, both of which are co-ed.[4] In 2010, they opened a new 12,000-square-foot (1,100 m2) dining hall, dubbed the Centerhouse, to more adequately accommodate the growing number of campers.[2]

Also in 2010, the camp finished in the Top 5 for "Best Fun Place for Kids in Western Washington" by King5's Evening Magazine.[5]

Activities

Although its main attractions are at the waterfront, Camp Firwood also hosts a variety of other activities including paintball, arts and crafts, a 10-stage high ropes challenge course, a 20 ft (6.1 m) climbing center, archery range, soccer field, basketball court, 3.8 ft (1.2 m) skateboard ramps, and a beach volleyball court. Water activities include a swimming beach, two aqua jump trampolines, an aqua swing, kayaking, canoeing, sailing, waterskiing, wakeboarding, and tubing.[3] They also have a "blob."[6]

References

  1. ↑ "The Firs Overview". The Firs. Retrieved 2011-04-15.
  2. 1 2 Cox, Kira (June 30, 2010). "Camp Firwood on Lake Whatcom enjoys spacious new dining hall". The Bellingham Herald. Retrieved 2011-04-15.
  3. 1 2 3 "History". Camp Firwood. Retrieved 2011-04-13.
  4. ↑ "Camp Firwood ratings". CampRatingZ. Retrieved 2011-04-15.
  5. ↑ "Best Fun Place for Kids". King5. 2010. Retrieved 2011-04-15.
  6. ↑ Kinsey, Joan (August 30, 2010). "The Blog at Camp Firwood". King5 Evening Magazine. Retrieved 2011-04-15.

External links

Other

Coordinates: 48°42′50″N 122°18′43″W / 48.713944°N 122.311842°W / 48.713944; -122.311842

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