About Camp Elkanah

Mission & Vision

Mission Statement: 

To use the camp setting to foster spiritual growth in the lives of individuals and the local church.

Vision Statement:

We want to see the gospel transform lives, churches and communities as a result of time spent at Camp Elkanah.

Affiliations

Camp Elkanah is proud to belong to Church Venture Northwest (formerly known as CB Northwest)

Church Venture Northwest is a covenant community of more than 240 Conservative Baptist Churches and Church Plants in the states of Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington. Camp Elkanah is owned and operated by 18 of these churches known as the Blue Mountain Association.

Camp Elkanah is a member of the Christian Camp and Conference Association

CCCA is an organization that exists to maximize ministry for member camps and conference centers.

Our Staff

  • Joe Wing

    EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

    As the Camp Director, Joe oversees rentals and booking, personnel, summer camp, the camp budget, church connections, donors and donor development, and the overall development of camp.

  • Eric and Karen Harrison

    GUEST SERVICES AND MAINTENANCE

    Eric is part of our maintenance team and our guest services coordinator, managing our rentals and guest experience and managing our infastructure.

    Karen has many years of experience as an accomplished baker and cook.

  • Tyler and Hero McElrath

    RECREATION MANAGER AND PROGRAM COORDINATOR

    As our recreation manager Tyler manages the challenge course and as part of the maintenance team keeps the grass green.

    Hero is our programs coordinator, and plans all of our camp programming which includes summer camp, and retreats throughout the year.

  • Joy Farris

    EDUCATION COORDINATOR

    As part of the program team Joy helps to coordinate our programs but focuses on Outdoor School and reaching out to volunteers for ODS.

  • Chelsea Davenport

    OFFICE MANAGER AND BOOKKEEPER

    Everything Chelsea does allows everyone else on staff to do their jobs more efficiently!

History

A Short History of Camp Elkanah

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Camp Elkanah has it’s roots in the Mt. Emily Lumber Company, which was established in 1924. As the company began logging, they set up camps for their employees to live and work out of.

The camp was moved to several locations before it ended up on it’s present site on Meadow Creek in 1930. By September of that same year, there were approximately 150 people who resided year-round at the lumber camp. Our particular camp served as the Mt. Emily Lumber Company’s headquarters camp, the base of operations for the area, and was the final one ever built.

In 1955, the camp was shut down when the Mt; Emily Lumber Company became a subsidiary of the Valsetz Lumber Company. On November 12, 1956, the Mt. Emily Division of the Valsetz Lumber Company donated twelve acres of land, plus the existing buildings to the Blue Mountain Conservative Baptist Association of Eastern Oregon (BMCBA).

The purpose behind the generous donation to the Association was that the site and facilities be used to benefit the young people of Eastern Oregon. Since then, the camp has served various schools, civic organizations, and religious groups from all over the state. Shortly after the Association obtained the property, a contest was sponsored to give the camp a name. The winning name chosen was Elkanah, which is a Hebrew name meaning “God has acquired for Himself”, “God has redeemed”, and “God has created”.

Camp Elkanah operates as a year-round facility offering summer camps, hosting events, and renting our facilities to others.

Read more about our history here!

NOTE: We are always interested in collecting photos and memories of Camp Elkanah's past. If you have a photo from the past or a story to share. Please email us: elkanah@campelkanah.com