​Post-Fire Update—11/2022
 
Since the Beachie Creek fires of 2020 we have kept our work and our prayers firmly focused on our Camp Mission; providing year-around, Christian-based, recreational and educational activities for our campers with diverse-abilities.  
 
In January of 2021 we were faced with the decision of whether or not, to offer camp sessions in the summer.  There were so many barriers to overcome; burned debris covering nearly the entire 18 acres of our property, no indoor facilities for sleeping, eating or activities and, the unknown of COVID. Understanding how important camp is to our campers, particularly during a time of isolation due to COVID, we prayed for direction and discussed the options and prayed some more. It wasn’t long before we understood that our job was to figure out HOW to provide camp rather than asking IF we should offer camp.  
 
So, that is exactly what we did; starting with what we needed to do to make camp happen.  To offer camp in the summer of 2021 we had to figure out how to feed people, provide showers and toilets, places to sleep, to play and a place to worship.
 
We had about 6 months before camp was to start, limited funds, one director, one grant writer and a small board of directors, none of whom had any real experience with the kind of work required to return a camp to functionality after a catastrophic fire. Looking back on it we see that our greatest resource was the strength of our faith. We trusted God to provide us with the support we needed to get this momentous project done.  
 
The campus was a, literal, disaster.  There were many burned-out trees, a great deal of blackened ground and plenty of ash and debris to be removed from the property. All of this was our first and foremost job in preparing to host campers, but there was no way we could do it ourselves.  So, we asked for help and sure enough, it came.  Through the support of hundreds of volunteers, who invested thousands of hours cutting down trees, clearing debris and leveling ground we managed to create a beautiful activity meadow, a walking path and clear the ground for a tent circle. 
 
We had one last property clearing hurdle to jump. As of April, we still hadn’t gotten the burned building rubble off the property. We were relying on the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Oregon Department of Transportation to remove the remains of the fire damaged buildings from the site, but they had yet to get to us.  We called, we wrote letters, we begged, and we pleaded with them to get the work done, but to no avail.  Finally, we talked to some of our elected officials and got the attention of a Portland television station and the folks at ODOT/FEMA finally came.  We got that wreckage moved off the campus and in the nick of time.
 
While all the heavy lifting work was happening we received more than $80,000 in grant funding to support the purchase of the tents, furniture and activity supplies and by the middle of June we were, by the grace of God and a lot of help from our friends, ready for campers! 
 
As of today, we have two summers of camp, in temporary facilities, under our belts.  The Old School House, built in 1923 and which remained intact after the fires, has been named the Most Endangered place in Oregon. In the spring of this year we were able to get power, water and septic re-established to the building, giving us an indoor space for meal preparation and service as well as a cool place to gather during the summer.  We are also able to offer day camps for local campers during the off season.  Fundraising for the restoration of the Old School House is slow but steady.  We have a master plan for the rebuild of the camp, donated by Fletemeyer and Lee out of Colorado, thanks to the folks at the Christian Camp and Conference Association.  We anticipate that we will be back in permanent activity and bunkhouse buildings by the summer of 2024. 
 
We have much to celebrate on this journey of rebuilding and restoring and yet, there is still much to do.  Feeling the weight of the work that remains, we humbly ask for your continued financial, volunteer and prayer support. We, the Board and Staff of Upward Bound Camp, are beyond grateful for each of you who has been with us in person and in spirt. 
 
In faith and with much love,
 
All of us at Upward Bound Camp

We have many options for you to be able to make a donation:

1. Donate via Paypal Giving Fund
2. Mail your donation to our office
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4. Click the "Donate" button below

​Also, if your employer matches charity contributions, check to see if Upward Bound Camp is eligible.  We are registered with Benevity.org.
If you would like to make a donation by check or money order, you can mail it directly to our address (below).
If you would like to donate materials goods or property, contact our office to help coordinate getting them to camp:  camp@upwardboundcamp.org

Property Pay-Off Goal Reached!

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UBC has has received many generous donations toward the payoff of our property mortgage.  The property was purchased from the Santiam School District in 2014 and with our successful fundraising campaign, we have been able to fully pay off this loan!

​We are grateful to the Staples Foundation and a handful of anonymous donors who have come together to provide the majority of these funds.  Thank you!

Upward Bound Camp is a Private, Non-Profit 501(c)3 Charity.

There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them.
There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 
There are different kinds of working, but in all of them
and in everyone it is the same God at work.
 ~ 1 Corinthians 12:4-6