2025 Summer Camp Series

Volunteer helpers are an asset for camps

 

N-Sid-Sen, the camp and conference center of the Pacific Northwest Conference of the United Church of Christ (UCC), has turned to volunteers to fill the gap during a transition in its staff management leadership.

For the summer and fall, former managing director Randy Crowe and his wife, Linda, a retired UCC minister, are volunteering to manage the facility.

In March and at a June work camp, volunteers recruited by the PNC Outdoor Ministries Committee did much-needed maintenance, repairs and cleanup to the buildings and grounds to prepare it for the summer's full program of youth and family camps.

"N-Sid-Sen is a sacred place for community building, training up our children and adults in the faith, and providing an oasis and missional outpost of extravagant welcome in rural Idaho," said Phil Hodson, designated conference minister of the Pacific Northwest UCC Conference.

Randy, who first went there as a camper in 1951, served as managing director 22 years, from 1990 to 2012. From 1994 to 2012, Linda was pastor of Veradale UCC. They retired in 2012.

"I'll be doing what I know best, overseeing the operation, supervising staff and providing a warm dose of hospitality," said Randy. "In doing that over the years it was incredible to see how youth and adults, in church groups and nonprofit groups have powerful, life-changing experiences here."

N-Sid-Sen, located on the eastern shore of Lake Coeur d'Alene, also relies on volunteers to lead its summer camps as directors and cabin counselors.

This summer the kitchen will be run by a catering service and there are four college-age youth coming to do the cleanup and grounds maintenance.

The 2025 schedule includes intermediate camp and junior high camp sharing the site from July 13 to 19, and senior high camp, which is July 20 to 26, sharing the site with You and Me camp for an adult and first-to-fourth grader July 20 to 23, and Kids Camp, July 23 to 26. Family Camp is July 27 to Aug. 2, and Camp Together is Aug. 2 to 8.

In addition, every week of the summer and into the fall is full.

Randy is collaborating with Mark Boyd, managing director at Pilgrim Firs, the PNC camp at Port Orchard, to invite groups to fill the camp year-round.

"Outside groups fill the camp and pay the bills," Randy said.

N-Sid-Sen opened as a camp in 1935, so 2025 is its 90th year. Randy said he will be announcing plans for a celebration.

For information, call 208-689-3489 or visit n-sid-sen.org