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Pilgrim Firs has filled all weekends during 2025

While Mark Boyd, managing director of Pilgrim Firs, is on sabbatical from Nov. 16 to Feb. 16, Zac Norenberg, assistant director, has been in charge of the camp.

Zac Norenberg, assistant director at Pilgrim Firs, finds a vine of cherry tomatoes in the PRIDE Garden. Photos provided by Pilgrim Firs

Mark is on-site but focusing on getting his poetry and photography published as a book, with some breaks spending time in Ocean Shores, a favorite spot for him and Julie.

Zac has been at Pilgrim Firs since 2022, coming after working seven years at Pilgrim Point, the UCC camp in on Lake Ida in Alexandria, Minn. where he spent weeks in the summers from kindergarten through high school.

“Growing up in UCC camps, I discovered who I was, and I see that happening for adults as much as for children,” he said.

While working on a bachelor’s degree in global studies and human rights, he started working with the Minnesota Conference as camp registrar and stayed to work year round with the associate conference minister on faith formation.

Wade Zick, former managing director of Pilgrim Firs, was from Minnesota and let Zac know about the opening for assistant director there.

Zac noted that for 2025, Pilgrim Firs weekends are filled for 50 weeks.

The other two weekends are part of the two months at the end of December for down time and camp maintenance.

Our Whole Lives training camp participants gather at Pilgrim Firs.

The Our Whole Lives (OWL) training for facilitators to offer training in their local churches in Nov. 22 to 24 trained 50 facilitators for all age levels.

“OWL is a curriculum that helps participants make informed, responsible decisions about their relationships, health and behavior in the context of faith,” Zac described. “It equips participants with accurate, age-appropriate information across several subject areas,” Zac said.

Pilgrim Firs hosts and co-sponsors the camp for the United Church of Christ and Unitarian Universalist Association, led by Amy Johnson and Tandi Rogers.

PNC churches participating were First Congregational UCC Bellevue’ First Congregational UCC Walla Walla, United Churches of Olympia, University Congregational UCC and Broadview UCC Seattle and Westminster UCC Spokane.,

PTSD sufferers embraced after walking the Pilgrim Firs labyrinth. Each carried a stone representing the weight they carry with they every day. At the center they let it go and leave it behind.

The last of 12 weeks of the 2024 Warrior Pathh programs was held in early December.

“The program is here with eight first responders—police, fire fighters, medics, veterans and others—and eight staff of the PTSD Foundation in Gig Harbor for a full week, using the camp exclusively for three months of the year,” he said, noting that they pay extra for the exclusive use of the site.

“What drew me to camp through my life is to see how transforming camp experiences are, but in the Warrior Path camps I really see lives changing. Those who come are suffering the worst of PTSD. Many were ready to take their own lives,” he said.

The week at Pilgrim Firs begins 90 days of intensive training, most of which is online, staying in touch, meditating and taking care of themselves.

“Pilgrim Firs is the first time for many to have three meals a day,” he said, as representing how they do not take care of themselves.

Zac said he las learned a different view than he had of police in Minnesota.

“These are actual people who need care,” he said, “telling of one firefighter who came to the scene of a car accident and pulled out the body of his brother.

This last year, four of the groups were just women, because some experienced sexual assault.

“Warrior Path camps are a lifesaving, healing ministry,” Zac said.

“We continue to be humbled by the stories they share, the songs they write and the life-changing ministry we are able to provide,” he said. “In exit surveys, 99 percent of the students indicated that had they not attended the transformative week at Pilgrim Firs, they would have decided to depart from this world in the near future.

“We are beyond grateful to be engaged in this ministry that is not only life changing but also directly saving lives.”

For those coming to Pilgrim Firs, it is a place people come to be inspired and while they are here they experience a new version of themselves, he commented, referring to artists and musicians who come to camps and practice their art in community, inspiring each other and gaining a new passion, a more authentic version of themselves than they have chiseling stone alone in the garage or practicing music alone.

“The serenity of the site lends to people healing. One church retreat was here the week after the elections. Folks come for AA group retreats. The energy of their healing is infused in the site,” he continued.

Zac appreciates, too, the healing that comes from groups who come to the site for retreats and return to their work to alleviate poverty, advance disability rights or pass on their language and culture to a new generation.

“Through the year of retreats, I see people are able to put their faith values into action to make meaningful change,” he said. “I’m drawn to the UCC as an amazing avenue to bring change in the world.”

PNC churches that used Pilgrim Firs for retreat in 2024 were Fox Island UCC, First Congregational UCC Bellevue, United Churches of Olympia, Suquamish UCC, and the following Seattle churches, St Paul’s UCC, University Congregational UCC, Taiwanese Christian Church UCC, Alki UCC, Liberation UCC and Fauntleroy.

Zac gave an overview of PNC and other camps scheduled in 2025 at Pilgrim Firs.

The Conference Men’s Retreat is Thursday to Sunday, Jan. 30 to Feb. 2.

The Mid-Winter Youth Retreat is Friday to Sunday, Feb. 7 to 9.

The March Work Camp is Monday to Wednesday, March 24 to 26.

The Post-Easter Clergy Retreat is Monday to Wednesday, April 21 to 23.

The Free Community Picnic with Kitsap Pride is Sunday, June 8.

Samuel Martinez Memorial Work Camp for family and friends of former youth camper Sam Martinez is Friday to Sunday, June 27 to 29.

You and Me Camp and Kids Camp will both be Sunday to Wednesday, July 6 to 9.

Weekend retreats are on the books for 2025 include University Congregational UCC, United Churches of Olympia, St. Paul’s UCC, First Congregational UCC Bellevue, Fauntleroy UCC Seattle, Fox Island UCC, Spirit of Peace and Suquamish UCC.

Zac said that others on staff with him are Michael Staser, facilities manager, and cooks Ashley Harrington and Andrea Austin, plus other part time camp staff.

“Aside from our PNC church events, Pilgrim Firs continues to be dedicated to advancing a just world for all,” said Zac. “We actively prioritize hosting outside groups that work to alleviate poverty and houselessness, that advance racial equity, disability rights and LGBTQ+ inclusion and cultural preservation, and that seek personal enlightenment.

“We work to put the faith values of the PNC into action to create meaningful change

For information, call 360-876-2031 or email zac@pilgrim-firs.org.

 

Pacific Northwest Conference United Church News © December 2024

 

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