Pilgrim Firs Camp & Retreat Center

05/23/2026

Meet one of our You & Me Camp Directors - Lauren!

Hi everyone! I'm Lauren, and I am thrilled to be back at camp and co-directing You & Me camp at Pilgrim Firs. I was born and raised at Northshore UCC in Woodinville, where I am still a member. I have had a variety of roles over the years. Everything from working in the nursery to being a facilitator for V.B.S., confirmation, O.W.L., and assisting with policy-making. At Pilgrim Firs, I went to camp for years as a camper. It's some of my fondest memories, and today, my closest friends are from my time there. I went on to become a leader at Pilgrim Firs and N-Sid-Sen Camp & Retreat Center over the past 15 years. During the week, I work at Leadership Eastside, a Bellevue-based nonprofit, as their Event and Operations Manager. It's such a privilege to be co-directing with Kristen; she's always been an amazing leader, and I'm so excited for us to share camp with y'all!

You & Me Camp is July 5-8, 2026 at Pilgrim Firs in Port Orchard, WA. It's for children enter grades 1-4 to attend together with an adult guardian. Get all the details -- there is still time to register! https://camp.pncucc.org/ucc-summer-camp/

05/20/2026

Hi! I’m Mark and I’m delighted to be assisting You and Me camp at Pilgrim Firs this summer with Kristen and Lauren. I'm especially excited to be sharing this time with Kristen and Lauren as they both introduced me to Jr High Youth years ago. Kristen was one of the most resourceful leaders I had met and Lauren was a camper who never failed to impress. These 2 were my introduction to Pilgrim Firs youth camp and that began my path that led to my current role as Executive Director for both our camps, N-Sid-Sen and Pilgrim Firs. It will be great to be back in a more hands-on role as we share the message that God has for us as we venture into the "In the Wilderness" curriculum this summer. I hope to see many of you at your home on the lake.

You & Me Camp is being held July 5-8 at Pilgrim Firs in Port Orchard, WA. It's designed for children enter grades 1-4 to attend together with an adult guardian. Get all the details and register today: https://camp.pncucc.org/ucc-summer-camp/

04/28/2026

Meet one of our You & Me Camp Directors - Kristen Miller:

Hi! I’m Kristen and I’m so excited to be co-directing You and Me camp at Pilgrim Firs this summer (with my amazing daughter Charlotte as a camper too!) I’ve been attending camp since I was 8 (we won’t say how many years) and only missed a few here and there since then! I started directing about 15 years ago with Junior High and then Senior High Camp with a mishmash of Midwinters too! My family and I are members at Fauntleroy Church in west Seattle and I grew up attending the Everett church! For my daytime job I am a Senior Manager of Donor Development at March of Dimes and I’ve been there for over 11 years now! I love everything about camp and the relationships campers can build there - so I’m genuinely excited to be co-directing with one of my past campers and one of the folks I learned how to direct from! See you at camp!

You & Me Camp is being held July 5-8 at Pilgrim Firs in Port Orchard, WA. It's designed for children enter grades 1-4 to attend together with an adult guardian. Get all the details and register today: https://camp.pncucc.org/ucc-summer-camp/

04/26/2026

We would like to thank the amazing (and hilarious!) women from Quimper Unitarian Universalist Fellowship for bringing us some amazing weather this weekend. It was so good to have you here — your energy, laughter, and spirit made it truly special. Until next time.

04/13/2026

Big thank you to our WONDERFUL VOLUNTEERS who were out this past weekend for ecological restoration.

Together, we removed truck load after truck load of invasive Holly from our natural forests. It’s made a noticeable difference and will improve the healthy of the forest.

We had a large group so we also tackled some other camp projects, including:
• New Planter Boxes in the parking lot
• Repainting yellow stripes on walking ledges
• Retaining wall for a new outdoor grill area
• Work on a guide pamphlet for an arbor appreciation walk around the site

For this and more, THANK YOU 🌲❤️

03/24/2026

Something special happens when a child steps away from screens and schedules and into the woods, onto the water, around a campfire with new friends. At Pilgrim Firs and N-Side-Sen, our two Pacific Northwest UCC camps, that something special has been happening for generations — and this summer, it's waiting for your family.

Whether your family has a rising 2nd grader or a high school senior, there's a session designed for them. Pilgrim Firs in Port Orchard, WA hosts You & Me Camp and Kids Camp in early July; N-Sid-Sen on Lake Coeur d'Alene, ID runs a full slate of sessions from mid-July through early August:

• You & Me Camp | For kids entering grades 1-4, attended with a parent, grandparent, or guardian
• Kids Camp | For kids entering grades 2-4, a multi-day adventure of their own
• Intermediate Camp | For youth entering grades 5-6, a full week of growth and discovery
• Jr. High Camp | For youth entering grades 7-9, building community and character
• Sr. High Camp | For youth entering grades 10-12, a meaningful week for older teens
• Family Camp & Camp Together | Open to All Ages -- family groups, couples and kids, singles welcome!

Days are filled with canoeing, swimming, hiking, campfire worship, silly skits, team challenges, and plenty of unscripted moments that become lifelong memories. This summer's theme — In the Wilderness — invites campers to explore how God meets us in the unfamiliar, the challenging, and the beautifully unknown. It's a theme that feels especially timely right now.

Our camps are rooted in UCC values: every person is welcomed exactly as they are, regardless of background, identity, or faith tradition. Mixed-gender cabin options may be available for Jr. High and Sr. High camps based upon the number of requests.

For Full Session Details, Pricing, and Registration Information, visit our website: https://camp.pncucc.org/ucc-summer-camp/

🐦The April 1st Early Bird deadline is coming fast. The wildness awaits, and God will meet us there

03/21/2026

We love our Sufi group ❤️

One week of silence. One forest full of teachers.

On their final day, the silence broke into laughter, tears, and a joy that filled our main hall. They emerged transformed, deeply reconnected with Mother Earth.

This is our work. 🌿

03/07/2026

Join us for a free, hands-on volunteer opportunity to give back to the site and grounds that sustain us — we'll be focused on clearing invasive species (such as holly), building wildfire barriers, and restoring trails together.

No experience needed. Just bring your love for this place and a willingness to get your hands dirty. Maybe a friend or two.

More info & RSVP: https://camp.pncucc.org/event/pilgrim-firs-april-giving-back-camp-aka-work-camp/

02/24/2026

So excited to share a great video from one of our partner groups. Warrior PATHH does incredible lifesaving transformative work and Pilgrim Firs gets to be a part of that.

“Coming Home” is more than a film — it is a story about what happens after the uniform comes off.It explores the invisible battles many veterans and first re...

02/22/2026

Such a joy sharing our site this weekend with The United Churches of Olympia as well as Richmond Beach Congregational United Church of Christ and St Paul's United Church of Christ, Seattle - Ballard, WA 🌲❤️