2024 | Year-in-Review

Message from Kevin Eichhorn

Year-End Message from the Executive Director

Every year my family travels back to the mid-west to spend time with family and friends. During this time, there are always questions about camp and what were the highlights from the previous year. Every year I share passion projects, site developments and fun stories from our staff. I am filled with joy when I speak about our camp and I am always eager to share the highlights.

Our summer daycamp program had an incredible first year with over 270 registrations and 140 unique campers. Our homeschool programs offered families a space to learn and grow. We offered a Bible study prior to the program for kids to learn about Jesus too!

Our main source of revenue is from our user groups who rent our facility, and we provide housing, food and programs. This year we had over 10,000 unique people attend camp through 60 organizations and 190 bookings. Our annual income surpassed $1,000,000 for the first time in existence.

Summer is the heart of almost every camp and ours is no different. This year we welcomed 30+ summer staff to our team and they shared stories of transformation, skill building and faith formation. The relationships formed during the summer brought great pride in how our team is organized and maintained through love and grace while equipping them to be the best employee they can be.

My personal favorite part of 2025 was watching our year-round team grow stronger. In January we welcomed Lexie Parrott to our team. She brought energy (a lot of energy) to our team at a point where we were beginning to slow down. She organized our human resources, strengthened our risk management policies and developed amazing programs through daycamp and outdoor education. In September we welcomed Chuck Woods to our staff in a newly formed position of Site Director. This role will expand past facilities and pass of a lot of responsibility including volunteer development, enhanced procedures, and site development projects. Several of our other year-round staff have stepped up and tackled housekeeping, bookkeeping, guest relations, program management and midweek programs. Every Tuesday we meet as a team and pray and plan together about the week ahead.

Proverbs 3:5-6 - Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

Looking ahead at 2025, I am excited to continue our programs and fine-tune what is already working so well. I am excited to welcome new groups to our camp and share spaces for them to teach about Jesus. I am thrilled to welcome over 400 new outdoor education students to our new program that will allow public schools to learn about nature.

While we are increasing our income, user groups, and programming, we are also spending more money on staff, site maintenance and on-going projects. At the conclusion of our financial year, we will narrowly be in the black.

Everyone is able to support camp in their own way and we welcome gifts of time, treasure and talents. If you are able to make a year-end gift to camp, please see the options below. If you are able to volunteer this year, consider joining us at camp for special projects throughout the year. If you would like to utilize your talents, share them with us so we can bring them into our ministry.

I am praying that we continue to use God’s resources to bring Him all of the glory. We are so blessed to be stewards of Camp Koinonia and trust that will bring joy to everyone who steps foot on our property.

In Christ,

Kevin Eichhorn | Executive Director of Camp Koinonia

Mail Donations to

Camp Koinonia

850 Camp Koinonia., Cle Elum, WA 98922

My Life at Camp - A Staff Story

Life at Camp Koinonia by Taylor Snyder

Working at Camp Koinonia has been amazing! I worked in many different areas. I became a certified target sport instructor, where I was able to help lead archery, hatchet throwing, archery tag, and slingshots. Through leading in these areas it would bring a smile to my face watching campers find something new and fun that they enjoy! My main area of focus was working in the camp kitchen. Many walk into this job not wanting to work in the kitchen, but in the time that I worked, the kitchen was my favorite spot to be! The atmosphere is always so welcoming and exciting, music is constantly playing, smiles are brought out and you can hear nothing but laughter! It was working in the kitchen that led me to creating such amazing friendships because of the welcoming atmosphere and a safe place to just be me. It’s always a blast to be able to spend time with those you work with outside of working hours too. Whether its just getting dinner, or sharing gifts at a Christmas party, singing karaoke at a staff night, or even just going out to see a movie together, it will always be a blast!

Camp Koinonia is amazing at welcoming everyone! Not in one moment did I feel judged or looked at funny for just being me. Instead the community around me welcomed me with open arms and joined in on the wacky fun! Camp Koinonia has opened so many doors for me, one of them was creating friendships that I will last a lifetime! One of my most favorite memories from working at camp was getting the chance to share my talent involving music. Last winter we held a snow camp for families to come stay at camp and enjoy winter fun including bingo night, sledding on our sledding hills, and more. That Sunday morning we held a little church service for the families staying that weekend where I was asked to help lead in worship. I’ll never forget the feeling of warmth and joy it brought me to be able to help lead everyone in worship. Not only did it help me rest in the lord and feel his joy and love to me while leading, but as well to the families who where there.

Through times of change and hardship, a verse to always help calm the storm, to help show and share peace: “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:4-7

Raising Kids at Camp | Jackie Eichhorn

Raising Kids at Camp | by Jackie Eichhorn

 Many people tell me on a regular basis how lucky we are to be raising our children at a summer camp, and we could not agree more! Although they sometimes strut around the property like they own the place, we know that they are experiencing childhood in a completely different way. Kevin and I both grew up in the Chicago suburbs, riding bikes and playing outside until the streetlights came on. While we don’t have paved roads or streetlights at camp, our kids are raising chickens, fishing at the pond, walking to the lodge for hot cocoa, going on horseback rides, working at the shop with Dad and meeting hundreds of new friends each year! They get to experience nature in all its glory as they participate in camp activities year-round.

 While the pandemic brought on new challenges for Camp Koinonia, we were fortunate enough to be “locked down” in a 111-acre camp. In the summer of 2020 Kevin had reinvented the camp as a family experience since we weren’t allowed to have summer camps. We spent a lot of time at the pool, pond and playground, and I remember one time Miles came home very sad after spending time at the basketball court. I asked him why he was upset, and he said something like “I keep making friends at the playground, and then they leave.” We talked about how lucky he is to make new friends each week from different cities and states, and since then he has turned into quite the young camp director, greeting campers and telling them about his favorite camp activities.

 This past summer our two sons had the opportunity to attend overnight camp through Cascade Camp Cedarbrook for a week. I thought we were crazy to send our 6-year-old to sleep in a cabin for 6 nights without us, but since I could see his cabin from our kitchen window, I knew we would be okay. And when our 8-year-old would see me at a meal at the lodge he would barely take the time to say, “hi Mom!” I knew he was having a blast. The boys learned how to build rockets, survive in the outdoors, make new friends, build a fire, and most importantly strengthen their relationship with God. They came home singing songs and talking about Bible stories that they had learned at camp. What an awesome experience for them and for us.

 Our kids also had the chance to attend a few weeks of our new summer day camps this past summer. They loved meeting new friends and spending time with old ones, and of course hanging out with their favorite counselors Moose, Goose, Rooster and Toucan. They came home completely exhausted each day, and usually missing a sock or lunchbox. They enjoyed swimming lessons, making ice cream, the bounce house and crafts and the yurt, but their favorite part of the day was morning chapel. Each morning the counselors would sing songs, perform a skit, and teach a Bible lesson. Once again, my kids came home each day singing a song and talking about what they learned at camp.

 I could go on and on about how our children are so lucky to live at a camp and enjoy the freedom of the outdoors, but I think our favorite part has been watching them strengthen their bonds with each other and with God. We are able to spend a lot of time together as a family, which gives us more opportunities to help them in their faith (and ours too). We go to church each Sunday, pray before meals, and blast Christian music as they rollerblade around the house (when you have gravel roads you get creative). We are truly blessed to call camp our home. The next time you visit feel free to ask our children what they love most about camp- they will probably talk your ear off! 

Staff and Guests are Family to Me

A message from Melissa “Honeybee” Hinton about her exciting new role at camp:

“I have worked in many areas at Camp Koinonia. I worked as a lifeguard in charge of waterfront, directed youth camps, coordinated crafts and activities, camp counseling, and most recently as the Food Service Director. I started working in the kitchen at Koinonia when I was 15. I have always loved serving the groups that come to Camp! I moved away as a young adult, but in 2011 moved back to the PNW and started working at Koinonia during summers and weekends. I took over as the Food Service Director in 2017 when my mentor and good friend Nancy O’Cain retired after 29 years!

Nancy (and Mike) taught me to love the staff I work with and the people that come to stay at camp. They taught me how to accommodate dietary needs and how to cook large quantities. I am proud of my accomplishments as Food Service Director, while upholding traditions of Camp Koinonia like serving family style and cooking our scones! I’ve also created new menus and procedures while serving a record number of guests this year! I love the young adults I have worked with over the years. Staff and Guests of Koinonia are family to me (sometimes literally!). I treasure the opportunity my job has given me to connect and show hospitality to those we serve and mentor those who serve alongside me.

I am excited to announce that in 2025 I will be officially transferring into a new position at Camp Koinonia as the Guest Services Manager. I look forward to continuing to enjoy serving our guest groups and staff through hospitality and administration in this new position. Some of my duties will be communicating with retreat leaders before, during, and after their stay. I will also be marketing to new groups and scheduling our resources and activity options. I will provide a level of hospitality to our guests that will feel like a homecoming! I will strive to advocate for both guests and staff in order to create the best retreat experience possible.”

Thank you, Melissa, for all the ways you’ve served camp over the years. Join us in congratulating Melissa in this new role!

Open House for Summer Day Camp

Join us on Sunday, June 9, 2024 for an open house for our summer day camp program. This will be a chance for parents/guardians to see the facilities, meet some of the staff, observe the check-in/out procedures and familiarize their campers with our program.

There is more information you can find and prepare for online // click here

Brethren Volunteer Service

Brethren Volunteer Service (BVS) is part of the service ministry branch of the Church of the Brethren, matching volunteers of all ages with domestic and international nonprofit organizations for a year of service. BVS holds two to three orientation sessions annually, where volunteers gather to build community and prepare for their year of service ahead. This year, fall orientation took place from September 24 through October 4. Nine volunteers were joined by three orientation leaders – Chelsea Skillen, BVS Director; Virginia Rendler, BVS Volunteer Coordinator; and Benjamin Hoffman, BVS alumnus and photographer. Of the nine volunteers welcomed by Camp Koinonia and BVS, six were sent to BVS by EIRENE, a partner volunteer organization based in Germany. For some, Cle Elum was their first experience of the United States! From Camp Koinonia, BVS sent volunteers to Colorado, Washington D.C., Oregon, California, and Arkansas to serve at summer camps, food pantries, shelters, and more.

Volunteers loved utilizing the space at Camp Koinonia while getting to know each other and adjusting to a new experience. They participated in archery tag, hiking, hatchet throwing, an escape room, and endless hot chocolate. The BVS group also participated in a service project on site with the assistance of the lovely camp staff. They were also able to spend a day exploring Seattle, chauffeured and facilitated by Kent Verbeck, a friend to Camp Koinonia and whose brother, Grant Verbeck, volunteered with Brethren Disaster Ministries.

Orientation was also joined by Ed Groff, member of the Peace Church of the Brethren in Portland, Oregon, who filmed a short segment for his community television program, Brethren Voices. You can watch the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jFXjvjRZnbo BVS is grateful to Camp Koinonia for their flexibility and gracious hosting. Orientation is sure to return to Camp Koinonia, and camp itself is both a BVS project site and site for FaithX.