About US
Mission
Welcome to PNW Camps – the United Methodist Camp and Retreat Ministries of the Pacific Northwest Annual Conference. Our dedicated mission is to provide enriching experiences as sanctuaries of Christian hospitality, renewal, and learning nestled within the embrace of God’s splendid natural world. These exceptional natural sanctuaries stand as a testament to our celebration of diversity, igniting inspiration for love and service. Our unique commitment involves a close partnership with local churches, fostering a nurturing environment for disciples and future spiritual leaders to grow and thrive.
Camp Directors and Conference Staff
Rev. David Collins
Camp Indianola Director
Phone: (360) 207-1519
Email: [email protected]
As a native of South Carolina, growing up I always loved camping and the outdoors, especially with Boy Scouts, but never imagined my own path would lead to serving full-time in our United Methodist Camp and Retreat Ministries. My wife, Romana Abelova, and I have two school aged daughters – Veronika and Viktoria – and over the course of the last four years, we visited 27 national parks and countless national monuments and historical sites. After serving as a local church pastor for the past 17 years, this was truly inspiring. Camp Indianola is equally inspiring as a place where the beauty, goodness and grace of God’s Creation can be not only seen, but experienced first-hand as we look to grow our faith in Christ. I look forward to continuing this journey. We are so excited to be calling the Pacific NW our new home!
Dave Burfeind
Lazy F Director
Phone: (509) 962-2780
Email: [email protected]
It has been a great run here at Lazy F! This is year 24 in this incredible place, and I look forward to the continued improvements and challenges yet ahead. My wife Heather and I were fortunate to raise our two kids, Chris and Megan, now both adults, at Lazy F. It has been a blessing to see the thousands of campers, guests, and staff who consider Lazy F to be their “home away from home.” God truly has called us to this place!
I am proud to have grown up in Minnesota and still follow all sports teams from Minnesota and still waiting for that elusive Viking Super Bowl victory. After graduating from Oregon State University, I moved around to different college campuses working in student affairs before returning to our summer camp roots by coming to Lazy F in 1996. In my free time I like to bicycle, hike, snowshoe, flood our ice skating rink, and cook.
Greg Clensy
Ocean Park Director
Phone: (360) 665-4367
Email: [email protected]
My wife, Eva, and I have been working in camping for over 20 years. We both grew up in Montana, but fell in love with the Pacific Northwest since we started living here in our twenties. It is home. It is a great place to read books, sew and play board games when it’s rainy and an even better place to explore the wilderness when it’s not. Molly is young, but she’s a veteran summer camper and lover of all things furry, crawly, swimming or flying.
We believe that camps and retreat centers like Ocean Park are here to create community and facilitate discovery by maintaining peaceful, beautiful, healthy spaces and displaying radical hospitality by being welcoming, safe and affirming for every person.
Alan Rogstad
Executive Director
Phone: (206) 870-6807
Email: [email protected]
As a native of North Seattle, I grew up having many adventures in the local wilderness through Boy Scouts and with my family. Attending Camp Parsons on the Hood Canal every summer was a highlight of my year. Even then, I knew there was something very special about the camp experience. I still feel a unique and important connection to that place, as well as other camps I was fortunate to attend as a kid.
My first camp job took me to North Carolina as the Program Director of a high-adventure camp in the Appalachian Mountains. After two seasons of leading climbs and hikes on the AT, I knew what I wanted to do with my life! I returned to the PNW to direct Camp Lutherwood in Bellingham from 1993 though 2002. Following that, I served as the Executive Director of Mt. Cross Camp in the Santa Cruz Mountains of California. After a detour to attend seminary, in 2008 it became clear my true calling was still in Camping Ministry. I am grateful ever since to be back in the NW serving our United Methodist camps
It has been such a blessing the past 15 years to have been working with our talented and dedicated team of Directors. We have four of the finest camps and team of leaders found anywhere! When I am not doing camp stuff, I likely can be found hiking, camping, working on an old wood boat, skiing, or on some adventure somewhere with my wife Karen and dog, Cora.
Camping Board of Stewards
The Camping Board Of Stewards (CBS) is an incorporated agency of the PNW Annual Conference, which owns, shares ownership, leases or rents sites upon which camping and retreat ministries are conducted. The Camping Board of Stewards is responsible for the employment of staff, the acquisition, development, operation and maintenance of these sites and for developing and conducting the camping and retreat ministry programs which, in a variety of additional settings, undergirds, enhances and extends the local congregational ministry. This includes the establishment of standards and policies to be observed in these programs.
For questions or more info contact:
Peter Fraser
[email protected]