Can't Stop. Won't Stop.

Joey lifeguarding during swim lessons.

Camp Koinonia was very much impacted by the pandemic. I am certain you were as well. Our lives have changed. Our camp has changed. Camp ministry unlike congregational ministry relies heavily on participation in on-site programs and user group attendance. Covid-19 eliminated a lot of our income and devastated our planned schedule. This is how we responded.

In the early months of the pandemic it was kind of pleasant. We slowed down, knocked out small projects and enjoyed some quiet. We received multiple grants and several large donations allowing us to bring in our wonderful summer staff early to help with special projects. We worked together and were able to get to know each other too. We made a huge dent in a long list of projects and preparing to open the camp after winter. In June, we received news that all of our summer schedule had been canceled and any hope of normal income was now lost. Melissa (Food Service Director), Kent (Board President), Juliana (Camp Assistant), Donna (Summer Staff Director) and myself met in the camp office and began laying out the options. We shared ideas and brainstormed possibilities for people to still come to camp. (For about 1/10 of a second, we thought about shutting our doors and laying off our team until this was over.) Together we came up with a plan. We were going to offer RV/Tent Camping, swim lessons, private swim sessions and cabin rentals for families.

Melissa, Ahnna and Juliana working on sack lunches for our Mountain Harvest Weekends.

“It was the first time my wife and son visited a summer camp and they both loved the experience. All the campers were diverse and friendly. The free dinner and outdoor movie (popcorn and home baked cookies) blew our minds. By the cleanliness of the rest rooms, pool, and the general area, it was obvious that your crew takes pride in keeping the camp an absolutely lovely place for everyone. Please share our sincere appreciation for making our Labor Day weekend under COVID-19 pandemic a delight. ”

— Ben - RV Camper

We couldn’t stop. We wouldn’t stop.

One of our trout heading to a better place. Caught by one of our guests this summer.

Melissa quickly transitioned into registrar. Donna began prepping swim lesson curriculum. Juliana and the summer staff began setting up the camping/RV park and opened the pool. We made sure to start slowly and implement best practices for a safe stay at camp. One at a time we rolled out each idea. Our first weekend we took 8 in RVs. Our second weekend had 12 and so on. Our plan was on the right track. We added BBQ dinners on Fridays and Saturdays and offered some of our camp programs such as slingshots, kayaks, fishing, and an escape room. We sold firewood, cleaned bathrooms like crazy and met hundreds of people. We began to feel more like a community center than a summer camp.

Swim lessons, adult swim sessions, and private pool time were next. We set fair prices and trained our instructors and added swim lesson assistants. Our lifeguards were very busy. The kids loved their new skills and we saw tremendous progress.

“I’d say swim lessons were worth it considering a week ago he wasn’t swimming [and now he is].”

— Chelsea - Swim Lesson Parent

Camp Koinonia was very blessed. Not only were we able to keep most of the staff on all summer, we were also able to meet an entirely new group of people who loved camp. Our small communities of Cle Elum, Easton and Roslyn have become regulars ,and our friends from Washington and surrounding states now have a place to consider for future family trips. While we hope to be back to normal soon, we won’t forget the lessons we learned this summer. We worked very hard and gave a lot of our time and energy.

RV Family enjoying some treats from our snack shack!

Now that we have had our first snow, camp is quiet again. As I look back at the past 8 months, I realize how lucky we were. We had a great team. We had wonderful, understanding guests. We got to know our own community and met dozens of new friends. This isn’t an accident and we know that there are difficult days ahead. I want to remind our camp family that we exist and work hard not for the compliments and fun times at camp, but because we are stewards of God’s creation and we take this job seriously.

In Christ’ Service, Kevin Eichhorn | Director of Camp Koinonia

Somehow.

The 2020 season has been very unique. We officially cancelled all youth summer camps for summer 2020 and began to pivot to a new model. While our future is still very uncertain, we have a lot to be thankful for. Here is a quick update.

We hired 18 people back in January for the busy summer season ahead. When everything changed, we lowered our team size to 10. We still had no plans for income and decided to honor our commitment until we couldn’t afford to do so. God was good and provided a plan. We promised 20 hours per week and they are averaging 30-40.

The new model is survive. When summer camps cancelled, we gathered our core staff and developed a plan. We did a trial week of RVs/Camping sites for the public. It took off and in 1 month we received 122 requests for campsites and RV spaces. We began opening our cabins as well which are filling up fast. We also connected with 10 long-term guests who will help our monthly bottom line for the foreseeable future.

During the main stay-at-home time of Covid-19, we received the PPP loan, EIDL Grant, and almost $45,000 in donations. We put our team to work immediately on projects we never would have had time to complete. We finished the commercial kitchen upgrade in June. We built a commercial playground by the pool in July. We added irrigation lines, sand volleyball, full basketball court, new fencing, new grass and new benches to the Fun Zone Pool Area. We worked hard, paid our staff and made the camp even better.

In late July, we began offering swim lessons, private swim sessions and community swim slots. We have met hundreds of people that didn’t know there was a beautiful camp on the mountain in Cle Elum. Everyone is doing a great job staying in family units and staying a safe distance apart. Donna and her team of lifeguards have been exceptional in providing safe, quality time in the pool.

With all this being said, we are still very nervous for the future. There is a lot of uncertainty and with the new changes to Phases in Washington, we fear the unknown. As always, if you are able to help us continue to operate at a high level and provide a space for generations to come, consider supporting us financially or with your time and talents. God Bless everyone and stay safe.

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June 15

We have been so fortunate to receive donations during this time. We have been so grateful to live in a country that supports small businesses with the PPP Loan. We are continuously going back to our faith in God who ultimately sets the path in front of us.

With all this in mind, I am beginning to look at June 15. A typical month we serve groups and receive payment for services. Since March 8 our only income has been donations and government aid. What happens after these begin to run out or slow down?

Camp Koinonia is unique. We have families and individuals who deeply care about our staff and facilities. They care about the kids who come to camp and learn about Jesus and the fun and life changing experience.

While June 15 is just 6 weeks away, we are confident that we will survive this crisis. In reality we have been making a huge impact on our buildings and grounds. We have added basketball hoops to our sports court, added fish to our pond, renovated our commercial kitchen, added hooks to every bunk bed for towels, organized our shop, renovated a staff apartment, built new sets of stairs, added sprinkler systems and built new fire pit meeting areas. We have put 9 staff members back to work and they are just GETTING IT DONE!

June 15 may be around the corner, but each and every day I thank God for a job where I can spend time working alongside my boys, my wife and such amazing staff and volunteers. Thank you.

PPP

We are thrilled to announce that we have received a Payroll Protection Program Loan for April 15-June 15. This helps our year round staff continue to operate as close to normal as possible. This is a bandaid to our budget but it is a huge help. We must bring back 3 staff we furloughed making our total7 for the next 8 weeks.

Our plan is to finish up a lot of existing projects and plan for the future of our camp. We hope to call all if you over the next 2 months and see how this has impacted your life.

Thank you for all the prayers.

An empty camp provides opportunity

Over the next 8-12 weeks we anticipate a very different season of camp. We won’t be serving all of our usual groups and we won’t have a full summer of kids running around the property.

With an empty camp, we have already begun updating our facilities including renovating our kitchen, clearing downed trees, preparing firewood, spreading mulch and deep cleaning areas of camp. Projects only last for so long.

Instead of sitting back and waiting for this to be over, we began making contacts with local, state and federal agencies. We offered our camp and all if it’s buildings and services to those in need. We have a few leads and are excited to begin the process.

Please join us in praying for our staff, our campers and any future plans that may be in front of us we look forward to serving ANYONE that comes through our gates

WHY WE ARE COMMITTED TO OUR SITE RENTAL CONTRACT FOR THIS SUMMER.

The letter below was written by Judy Elbert. Judy is a member of the Cascade Camp Cedarbrook board as well as a director for the girls camps. She has shared this letter with me and other CCC members and campers. I am forwarding it to the Koinonia community as communication and encouragement.

WHY WE ARE COMMITTED TO OUR SITE RENTAL CONTRACT FOR THIS SUMMER.

Dear Camping Colleagues, 

This season has been a season of disappointment for many as one after outstanding opportunities has been cancelled by our fight to mitigate the effects of COVID-19. Many of us have had to face cancelling our spring retreats and some have cancelled camping programs.

I wanted to take the time now to share why we, at Cascade Camp Cedarbrook, have not cancelled our site contract for our three-week camping program at Camp Koinonia this summer. 

First, we believe in what we do as a unique calling and benefit to children.  Children will need the opportunity to step out into the outdoors and away from the four walls of their homes more than ever.  If our state and federal health officers deem it is appropriate to resume activity, we want to be ready with our plans, our curriculum, our materials, and our trained staff. We can adapt to provide more physical distance, more sanitization procedures, more health screening and more hygiene. If we can resume activity this summer, we want to be ready because what we do for children and families and our world is important.

Second, our future depends on having a camp site to use.  Camp sites are difficult to find.  There are a limited number for a growing population. Camp sites depend on rentals to survive.  When there are no campers, maintenance needs abound as the natural world is hard on camps.  Our camps have harder winters, hotter summers and unique water and electricity needs, all of which require year-round maintenance.  Without user income, camps cannot care for these basic needs. We are continuing our contract to contribute to the camp site our program will need next year and the years to come. We are reaching out to our donors to encourage them to contribute directly to Camp Koinonia.

This is a time when we do not know what our summer will hold.  In the meantime, we are reaching out to campers more frequently than before.  They need their connection to their camp family!

Whatever your camp’s course, please consider supporting your rental site to the best of your ability in the months ahead.  It’s a tough time for retreat and camp sites as the cancellations roll in.

Your colleague in camping, Judy Elbert

Cascade Camp Cedarbrook - Serving Christ. Loving Others. Growing strong in God’s creation.

If you would like to support Cascade Camp Cedarbrook directly, please click here.

If you would like to support Camp Koinonia directly, please click here.