Something special is happening at Ponderosa. This place has always been full of life, but lately it feels like the hills themselves are buzzing. We have never been busier with camps all summer and church retreats the rest of the year. Looking ahead, our calendar from June 1 through October 1 is already packed, every single day with camps and church groups.
Once October arrives, we shift our rhythm to mostly weekend events through the winter and spring, and those are filling fast. We close the reservations for the week of Thanksgiving and again around Christmas to New Year’s for our staff to have some much-needed time away. Other than those weeks, however, we have church groups every week of the year. If there’s a season where we can still grow, it’s winter and spring, and we’re watching that expand more and more.
But busyness isn’t the real story here.
The real story is what God is doing.
Since 1960, this property has been set apart as a place for spiritual growth, and every year the Lord uses it to transform lives. In 2025 alone, we recorded 157 salvation decisions and 104 individuals called into ministry right here at Ponderosa. Numbers like these are humbling, and when you imagine them multiplied year after year since 1960, it’s overwhelming to consider the impact God has made in this place.
Our program camps, Peak and Summit Summer Camps, are the CBGC summer camps for the state and are in a period of growth. This is our second year to offer 3 weeks of Summit Youth Camp, and they all sold out in about 2 days. Clearly, it’s time to start planning for a fourth! Our Peak Kids Camp sessions are nearly full too, and we couldn’t be more excited.
Much of this growth is thanks to the energy and leadership of our new Program Director, Tammy Bachman, who has brought meaningful improvements to our camp programs. If you want to learn more about Peak or Summit, visit our website or reach out to Tammy directly at [email protected].
Even as camp registrations surge, we’re committed to improving our grounds and facilities so that every guest can focus on what matters most, the Gospel, without distractions. Through the generosity of churches and individuals, we’ve been able to continue enhancing the guest experience while looking ahead to future projects that still need support.
A detailed list of upcoming projects and sponsorship opportunities is available on our website. We’re praying that God will move in the hearts of those who can help us continue this important work.
Take a look at www.visitponderosa.com and see how you can partner with us.
Andrew Clark serves as the Executive Director as Ponderosa Retreat & Conference Center.
