Chumstick
Area
Mennonite
REtreat
Center
CAMREC’s Mission
At Camp CAMREC, in thanks for all the gifts we receive from God, we will:
- Nurture children in the love of God, the love of others, and the love of Creation.
- Welcome adults to a place and spiritual framework for rest and restoration.
- Care for this beautiful part of creation and the extended landscape around us.
- Embody Anabaptist/Mennonite values of peacemaking, simple living, service, and community.
The CAMREC Story
The Mennonite Churches of the State of Washington have held yearly retreats for young people since 1920. In 1921, the organization was named “The Open Door Sunday School and Christian Endeavor Convention of Washington”. Each year the young people’s retreat was held at a different campground, since the convention did not have a campground of its own. Retreat dates were set by availability and long range planning was difficult.
The organization name was changed several times (1935, 1952, 1963) before eventually becoming Washington Mennonite Fellowship (WMF). The vision to purchase our own retreat was born in 1961, and on February 5, 1965, WMF purchased 200 acres. A development committee worked through 1966 and 1967 to drill a well, build a main lodge, ten cabins and a service building. Finally, a camp dedication ceremony happened on June 24, 1967. On August 15, 1977, prior to our tenth anniversary, 40 more acres were purchased on our southern boundary.
At a meeting on May 23, 1966, the following benefits of our church camp were set forth:
- A central meeting place for inspiration and fellowship.
- A place for joint retreats.
- A place to extend the mission of the church.
- A place for individual church retreats and picnics.
- A place for wholesome renewing experience for people under the pressures of our urbanized society.
Today, CAMREC is still owned and operated by the Washington Mennonite Fellowship (WMF), a corporation of Mennonite churches in Washington State (Menno Mennonite Church, Seattle Mennonite Church, Evergreen Mennonite Church, and Shalom Fellowship). In addition to summer camp programs offered for children from grades K-12, WMF holds retreats and various other events at Camrec throughout the year.
When not in use by WMF, CAMREC is available for rental by other not-for-profit religious, educational, cultural, and public service groups who have interests compatible with Christian principles.