I’ll never forget the morning I met the founder of Camp Timberline, Bill Darrough. In the Spring of 1997, my wife Becky and I were standing in line at 4:00am in the freezing cold snow at the Backcountry office of Rocky Mountain National Park. Right behind us, also awaiting the opportunity to apply for permits for the following summer was Bill Darrough. Getting permits is way more civil these days, thankfully. You don’t have to camp out to be the first in line.
VISION OF CAMP TIMBERLINE
Camp Timberline is a Christian camp with an outdoor adventure program called Beyond Timberline. their vision is to reach and strengthen kids for Christ through sports and mountain adventures.
BRIEF HISTORY OF CAMP TIMBERLINE & BEYOND TIMBERLINE
Bill and Dana Darrough had been sending their four sons to various Christian camps out-of-state for several years. They saw their boys grow in their relationships with Christ, make new friends, and have amazing memories from camp. God planted a dream in their hearts to start a Christian sports and mountain adventure camp in the beautiful Colorado Rockies. They were willing to give up their home of 20 years in Fort Collins to go wherever God led them to start this ministry. After looking at over 60 different properties, and after much discouragement, tears, and ups and downs, God provided the opportunity for them to purchase the old Circle C Camp in Estes Park, Colorado. On October 16, 1996, they became the owners of what is now Camp Timberline.
The summer of 1997 was Camp Timberline’s inaugural summer. That summer God did many amazing and wonderful things with the 250 campers that came to camp. Since Camp T. opened, it has grown steadily through the Lord’s goodness and guidance, and the summer of 2012 marks the highest registered camper group with “wait lists” on every session. Camp has the current capacity to host 1,500 campers for the summer.
Camp Timberline exists to share the knowledge and love of Christ with every camper that comes through our gates. Our desire is for every camp to feel deeply Known and Loved for exactly who they are as a perfect child of God.
WHAT IS A SUCCESSFUL TRIP FOR BEYOND TIMBERLINE’S WILDERNESS PROGRAM?
One of their trips is considered successful if; they have shared the gospel in a clear and relevant manner and given each participant a chance to make a decision, the group has overcome obstacles as a team, and the participants accomplished their personal and group goals.
DURATION OF TRIPS
Beyond Timberline’s trips are usually 6-7 day expeditions.
COST
$300-$400
HOW CAMP TIMBERLINE INVESTS INTENTIONALLY IN THE SPIRITUAL HEALTH AND GROWTH OF THEIR STAFF & GUIDES
Their two week staff training is an intense time of soft skill training along with focusing all of our hearts and minds on the reason we are all here at camp, God. Their training is filled with times of worship and study of scripture to help build up each of their staff members to prepare to pour themselves out for the kids. While they are on trail they are encouraged (very strongly, kind of ordered) to spend time alone each day in quiet for prayer, reading, and journaling.
