The Firs

What The Firs does

The Firs is a 501(c)(3) Christian camping and retreat ministry headquartered in Bellingham, Washington, founded in 1921 by Otis and Julia Whipple and originally incorporated in 1927 as the Lake Whatcom Bible & Missionary Conference. The organization operates a portfolio of faith-based programs across multiple Bellingham-area facilities, serving children, youth, families, young adults, and church groups in the Pacific Northwest. Its core offerings include Camp Firwood (overnight youth camp for grades 3-12 on a 100+ acre Lake Whatcom site with a private island), Fircreek Day Camp (day camp for grades 1-6), Firs & Fiddleheads Forest School (nature-based learning for preschoolers and homeschoolers), Radicle + Rooted (a 9-month Christian living community for ages 18-26 with housing and discipleship), The Firs Chalet (an A-frame lodge near Mt. Baker Ski Area accommodating up to 100 guests), and The Firs Retreat Center (group retreats for 25-220), the last of which was placed on furlough beginning October 2025. The organization is governed by a board structure, led by Executive Director Kelly Ellis, accredited through the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA), and audited annually.

The Firs generates revenue through three primary streams: program fees from camps and retreats (approximately 93% of operating budget), donations and fundraising (approximately 7% of operating budget plus nearly all capital projects), and retreat/event hosting fees. Pricing varies by program — Radicle + Rooted operates on tiered monthly subscriptions of $785-$1,085 over nine months, while camp and retreat pricing is set per program or by inquiry. Go-to-market is sales-led via direct website inquiry forms, Campbrain-powered camp registration, and community-driven word-of-mouth referrals from churches, families, and alumni networks in the Pacific Northwest. The technology stack is entirely composed of third-party SaaS tools — Campbrain for registration, Mailchimp for email marketing, Twilio for SMS communications, and Make.com for workflow automation — with no proprietary platforms or AI/ML capabilities identified.

The organization maintains service and recruitment partnerships with Western Washington University, Whatcom Community College, Bellingham Technical College, Open Hands Whatcom, We Care Whatcom, Kauai Habitat for Humanity, Hawaii Food Bank Kauai, and Samaritan's Purse, which collectively support Radicle + Rooted enrollment, mission trip programming, and community service placement. After adopting a sharpened mission statement in 2023 focused on youth and young adults, The Firs is in a strategic repositioning phase, evidenced by the Retreat Center furlough, expansion of younger-age programming, and continued investment in the Radicle + Rooted young adult community.

Name

The Firs

Legal name

The Firs Camps & Retreats

Website

https://thefirs.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1921

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Firs is a 501(c)(3) Christian camping and retreat ministry founded in 1921 in Bellingham, Washington, operating Camp Firwood, Fircreek Day Camp, Firs & Fiddleheads Forest School, Radicle + Rooted, and The Firs Chalet to serve youth, families, young adults, and church groups in the Pacific Northwest.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Christian Camping and Retreat Ministry

NAICS

RV (Recreational Vehicle) Parks and Recreational Camps (7212), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Multi-Activity Enrichment Camps (Academic + Arts + Sports) (EDAMALAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Family & Recreation Campgrounds (Amenities/Activities Focus) (THAMAJAJ), Life Skills & SEL Camps (Confidence, Executive Function, Social Skills) (EDAMALAO)

Keywords

• Christian camping programs
• Youth retreat ministry
• Forest school education
• Church retreat facilities
• Christian living community

Headquarters

HQ city

Bellingham

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Program Fees: Registration and program fees from Camp Firwood (overnight youth camp for 3rd-12th graders), Fircreek Day Camp (day camp for grades 1-6), The Firs Chalet retreats, and the Radicle + Rooted Christian Living Community (9-month program for young adults 18-26).
2. Donations and Fundraising: Voluntary contributions from donors supporting summer staff, camp scholarships, and Camp Firwood expansion projects. Approximately 7% of operating budget and nearly all capital projects funded by donations.
3. Retreat and Event Hosting: Fees for church retreats, family camps, and group events at Retreat Center (25-220 capacity), Camp Firwood, and The Firs Chalet facilities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Firs is a Christian camping and retreat ministry that operates multiple programs including overnight youth camp (Camp Firwood for grades 3-12 on Lake Whatcom), day camp (Fircreek for grades 1-6), nature-based forest school (Firs & Fiddleheads for preschoolers and homeschoolers), a 9-month Christian living community (Radicle + Rooted for young adults 18-26), group retreat facilities (The Firs Retreat Center and The Firs Chalet near Mt. Baker), and church retreat hosting services. The organization delivers faith-formation experiences through adventure-based outdoor programming combined with spiritual development activities.

Product overview

The Firs operates as a multi-site Christian camping and retreat ministry offering a portfolio of programs for different age groups and purposes. The core offerings include Camp Firwood (overnight youth camp for grades 3-12 on Lake Whatcom), Fircreek Day Camp (day camp for grades 1-6), Firs & Fiddleheads Forest School (outdoor learning for preschoolers and homeschoolers), and Radicle + Rooted (9-month Christian living community for young adults 18-26). Retreat facilities include The Firs Retreat Center (group retreats for 25-220 guests, currently on furlough for overnight stays) and The Firs Chalet near Mt. Baker Ski Area (year-round facility for up to 100 guests). All programs are designed to help people encounter Jesus and experience God's love while enjoying Pacific Northwest natural settings.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Camp Firwood A high-energy, multi-activity Christian youth overnight camp for students in grades 3-12, located on the shores of Lake Whatcom with a private island. Offers wake sports, sailing, ropes courses, mountain biking, and other outdoor adventure activities in a screen-free environment.
• Fircreek Day Camp High-energy day camp for children entering grades 1-6, featuring all-camp games, engaging Bible studies, and waterfront activities. Offers 10 weeks of summer adventure with a brand-new theme each week on private waterfront property.
• Firs & Fiddleheads Forest School Forest school program for preschoolers, kindergarteners, and homeschoolers that enables children to explore nature, climb, discover, and learn through hands-on outdoor experiences in God's creation.
• Radicle + Rooted A 9-month Christian living community (September through June) for young adults ages 18-26 offering intentional community living, discipleship, worship, service opportunities, and outdoor adventure in the Pacific Northwest. Includes housing, weekday meals, and Life Groups.
• The Firs Retreat Center Retreat facility accommodating groups of 25-220 with private cabins, lodge rooms, meeting rooms, dining services, and waterfront activities on Lake Whatcom. Hosted church retreats, pastors' conferences, family reunions, and spiritual formation events. Currently on furlough for overnight bookings beginning October 2025.
• The Firs Chalet Year-round A-frame lodge facility near Mt. Baker Ski Area with capacity for up to 100 guests. Ideal for camps, retreats, and group events with hiking nearby in spring and summer and skiing in winter.

Quantifiable outcome

• Record-breaking $216,000+ raised for camp scholarships at single fundraiser event
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Kauai Habitat for HumanitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRadicle + Rooted students partner with Kauai Habitat for Humanity on annual mission trips. Students serve alongside local families who face economic challenges in the tourist-driven Kauai economy, participating in construction and community strengthening projects.
• Open Hands WhatcomcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal ministry partnership providing service opportunities for Radicle + Rooted students. Open Hands feeds over 600 kids weekly and The Firs students help with food distribution and community support.
• We Care WhatcomminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity service partnership for volunteer opportunities including sorting and hanging clothes, providing hands-and-feet-of-Jesus service experiences for Radicle + Rooted students.
• Samaritan's PurseminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerExample mission trip partner. In 2025, Radicle + Rooted students traveled to Los Angeles to serve with Samaritan's Purse assisting families in wildfire aftermath, helping homeowners sift through ashes and engage in worship.
• Youth DynamicsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAdventure trip partner for whitewater rafting experiences as part of the Radicle + Rooted program adventure activities.
• Hawaii Food Bank KauaiminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerService partnership during Kauai mission trips where students helped distribute fresh food to 294 individuals in a single day, working alongside food bank staff.
• Christ Church BellinghamminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVolunteer group that serves at Camp Firwood on weekends, helping with property maintenance including fence rebuilding, trail clearing, and campsite preparation.
• Western Washington UniversityminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRecruitment partnership for Radicle + Rooted program targeting WWU students and young adults in the Bellingham area.
• Whatcom Community CollegeminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRecruitment partnership for Radicle + Rooted program targeting Whatcom CC students and young adults.
• Bellingham Technical CollegeminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRecruitment partnership for Radicle + Rooted program targeting BTC students and young adults.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Young Life: National Christian youth ministry organization operating summer camps, club programs, and discipleship initiatives for adolescents. Highly comparable to The Firs in mission (evangelistic youth development), program model (overnight summer camps plus year-round engagement), and donor-dependent nonprofit funding.
• Kanakuk Kamps: Network of Christian summer overnight camps serving K-12 youth, founded in 1926. Directly comparable to Camp Firwood in target audience (grades 3-12), multi-activity program model, faith-based mission, and century-plus operating history.
• Pine Cove: Operates a portfolio of Christian summer overnight and day camps in Texas serving grades K-12. Comparable to The Firs in multi-property camp operation, faith formation programming, and integrated overnight/day-camp portfolio.
• Trout Lake Camps: Christian summer camp in the Pacific Northwest (Washington state) offering overnight camp programs for grades K-12. Direct geographic and program competitor to Camp Firwood in the Pacific Northwest Christian overnight camp market.
• Tall Timber Ranch: Pacific Northwest Christian camp and retreat center in Washington state offering summer youth camps and year-round retreat hosting. Direct peer on geography, programming mix (youth camps plus group retreats), and Christian nonprofit structure.
• Forest School at the Conservation Center: Forest school programs offering nature-based outdoor education for preschoolers, kindergarteners, and homeschoolers. Direct peer to Firs & Fiddleheads Forest School in pedagogical approach, target age group, and nature-immersion learning model.

Regional players

• CRISTA Ministries: Pacific Northwest-based Christian nonprofit family operating camps (Camp Casey, Miracle Ranch), retreats, radio, senior living, and education. Highly comparable geographically and structurally, with similar multi-program Christian nonprofit model serving the Seattle/Bellingham region.
• Camp Cedar (Camp Cedar Inc.): Pacific Northwest-area Christian summer camps operated as part of Cedar Mill Bible Church in the Portland metro region. Comparable to Camp Firwood/Fircreek as regional Christian overnight/day camp provider serving Pacific Northwest families.

Broad incumbents

• Cru (Campus Crusade for Christ): Large-scale interdenominational Christian ministry focused on college students and young adults with discipleship, missions, and residential programs. Comparable to The Firs on young-adult faith formation programming (similar to Radicle + Rooted) and overall mission orientation.
• YMCA of the USA: National nonprofit operating day camps, overnight camps, and retreat facilities nationwide. Comparable to The Firs on multi-program family/youth camp operations, day and overnight camp mix, and nonprofit community service orientation (though secular rather than faith-based).

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/TheFirsRetreat
• Instagraminstagram.com/thefirsretreat
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/thefirsconference

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Firs