Executive Director Report 2025

by Kurt Robertson

Entering 2025, we faced some uncertainty. Over the past year, many of our experienced, older staff members had moved on, which meant we needed to fill numerous important leadership positions throughout the camp. Additionally, for myself personally as the Executive Director, I felt the onset of burnout as I approached my 14th summer serving at camp. At the same time, we were in the midst of updating our insurance coverage and, after review, came to the difficult conclusion that we would need to decommission our current climbing wall and construct a new one to meet safety standards. Along with these challenges and several others that I haven’t mentioned, there were moments early in the year when I struggled to believe that God would provide. You would think that after 14 summers serving here, I would know by now that God will provide for our needs. What I proceeded to witness this past summer was incredible. I truly hope that as you read this report, you feel encouraged and inspired, and that you share in the excitement of seeing how God continues to work powerfully at West Bank Bible Camp.

Campers

   This summer was filled with a lot of excitement as we had yet another increase in our camper number from 2024. We grew from 418 campers in 2024 to 450 campers in 2025. We saw a signifigant increease in attendance for our Youth Retreat with 55 campers. This made for an exiting weekend camp with those kids.

Staff

When I became the Executive Director in 2023, we began to actively work towards implementing meaningful changes in our staff culture at camp, with the goal of fostering a more healthy and supportive environment for all involved in our ministry. We continue to see this change effect our ministry for the better and bring such an amazing staff culture. We saw a signifigant increase in Bible school students hearing about our ministry and wanting to come serve. We had 15 staff members which current or prior Bible School experience. This created such a great leading of the younger staff. There is excitement right now for people to come serve at camp and we hope to continue building on this momentum to host many more campers in the future summers. We still had our fair share of ups and downs throughout the summer, but as I look back now, I am genuinely so grateful for all our staff and their service this summer. Their hard work and commitment made a significant difference in our camper lives.

Disciples In Training (DIT Program)

This year we were blessed as a camp to have Aaron Rampold, Jayden Volk, Alex Kimpinski and Emma Peters as our DIT Directors. This summer, 20 young volunteers participated in the program. During the three-week program, they learned to strengthen their faith, practice it, and share it with others, both at camp and at home. I look forward to seeing how God will use them both at camp and in their church and community to grow His kingdom.

Program

We were blessed to have Josiah Bourne step into the role of program director this summer. With him came new excitement and a restructering of the position to put more focus on the day to day program elements with the Executive and Assistant directors taking on more of the staff leadership. Jo came up with so many new great ideas that I think will be staples at West Bank for years to come. Such examples are new theme meals like the dress up meals, glow meals, and new fun spins on wide games. Jo also helped lead the chapel band for the summer with Rylie Anderson. The chapel band was such an encouragement to me seeing the new energy they brought to it and the way that camper encaged in true worship.

Office Manager

I was personally so blessed by the work of Payton Little as our office Manager this summer. She brought professionalism and great organization to the many different areas that job covers. She helped me remember and keep track of the many important things I sometimes forget amidst all the directions and tasks I receive throughout the busy day. (apologies Payton for all the times I said I would be back in 20 minutes and ended up out dealing with stuff for over 2 hours)

Maintenance

I am truly so thankful and appreciative that we had Kylon Pawlukanderson serving as our Maintenance Director throughout this past summer season. His quality of work was so high and I was able to just tell him what needed to be done and then forget about it because I knew he would get it done and do it well.

New Assistant Director

  This past year we hired Aaron Rampold as our first ever full time Assistant Director. Aaron has been such a blessing to me. Having someone to work with and bounce ideas off of and manage the various areas of camp has been amazing. Aaron also does such an great job at connecting with the staff. During the off season he texts all the staff regularly to get updated prayer requests that we pray for together every morning. Aaron also oversaw the DIT program and I think did an good job bringing in the new leaders and guiding them for the program to succeed. I must not forget to mention that he also got married in May at the start of spring staff and I am very thankful for Faith and her patience and care for Aaron during what can be a very heavy summer of ministry.

Capital Project (New Climbing Wall)

 Our Main goal for capital projects this past summer was building a new climbing wall. We reached the decision to decomission our old climbing wall in January and proceeded to begin conversations on designing a new climbing wall with Challenges Unlimited our of Ontario. We were able to raise $68,000 towards our climbing wall. Having Challenges Unlimited do this project was a great decision. Their crew came in a built the wall start to finish in only six days. It was built up to all current standards for the association of challenge course technologies (ACCT). All we had to do was clear and prepare the site for them to come build it. They also supplied all proper equipment as well as a training day for our spring staff team. This has been such a great new addition to the camp. We are able to have six campers climbing at time at different difficulties. this wall is great for new climbers and experts alike.

Thoughts on the Future

So despite some of the challenges we faced entering this summer. I once again find myself amazed at how God provides and guides this ministry. We saw so much growth in our staff team that I am so excited to see how this effects our ministry in 2026. I believe that we will continue to reach even more campers with the message of the Gospel next year, and we are truly on the cusp of some exciting years ahead. It is my vision that in two years we will be in a place where we are reaching 600+ campers and have a year round office manager as a third full time staff member on our team. I think there are more an more opportunities we have to connect better with our churches and continuing to grow our rental program for people to come and enjoy the beautiful site we have. This past summer we had 22 different rentals over doubling our rental revenue from the previous year. Most of these rentals were church groups which is really exciting to be able to have churches come and use our site. We have so much to be excited about and I hope you are excited to. We have seen God guide some significant growth in our ministry these past years and I believe there is so much more to come and look forward to being apart of it.

Additional Thanks

   I also need to acknowledge and thank a few more people for their roles in the camp's success this past summer. Thank you to Rylie Anderson for once again being our amazing First Aid Attendant and her leadership in the chapel band. Thank you to Anna Morrison for also being a secondary First Aid attendant to better manage the needs of our campers. Thank you to Jenice Ens for leading the horsemanship program along with Trenace Browning and Thaliya Tatlow. Horsemanship was once again a huge hit, thanks to all your hard work. Thank you to Charmayne Martens for managing the kitchen and groceries for all our camps. She stepped into a big role with alot of element that I am useless to be able to help and she ensured our kitchen was ready and new cooks had everything they needed to make excellent meals for all the campers. Last but certainly not least, thank you to all our wonderful volunteers who came and helped in the kitchen and with work projects. Thank you for coming and serving this ministry with joy

My Upcoming Sabbatical

  Despite how amazing this summer was and how encouraged I am, I still cannot deny and ignore that this was a more difficult year for me personally. It was 10 years ago at our fall banquet that the Director at the time Jerry Dennil signed me up to be the program director. Since then I have spent a lot of summer working through alot of different problems, projects, people, conflicts and emotions that I have reached a point were my brain and my body are both pretty run down. I became aware of this pretty heavily back in April and began conversations with the board about planning a sabbatical to rest, reset and rewire myself to be healthier to Lord willing continue to serve in this ministry for many years to come. I have been so thankful for the boards support this past summer in being able to have conversations and feeling supported when I have struggling. My sabbatical is from November 8 to January 18. I have grown so excited these past months planning my sabbatical with Darren Kennedy to ensure I get the proper rest I need, and also how to use this time to work on myself to be a healthier person that can lead this ministry for many more summers. During this time Aaron Rampold and Isaac Ritskes will be managing most of the off season parts of camp with the board assisting when needed. Please pray for me as I enter this time.

Additional Thanks

   I also need to acknowledge and thank a few more people for their roles in the camp's success this past summer. Thank you to Rylie Anderson for once again being our amazing First Aid Attendant and her leadership in the chapel band. Thank you to Anna Morrison for also being a secondary First Aid attendant to better manage the needs of our campers. Thank you to Jenice Ens for leading the horsemanship program along with Trenace Browning and Thaliya Tatlow. Horsemanship was once again a huge hit, thanks to all your hard work. Thank you to Charmayne Martens for managing the kitchen and groceries for all our camps. She stepped into a big role with alot of element that I am useless to be able to help and she ensured our kitchen was ready and new cooks had everything they needed to make excellent meals for all the campers. Last but certainly not least, thank you to all our wonderful volunteers who came and helped in the kitchen and with work projects. Thank you for coming and serving this ministry with joy. 

Closing Remarks & Prayer Requests

I am so thankful for the opportunity I have been given to help lead the ministry of West Bank Bible Camp this past year. I am thankful to my wife Anna and her support and love for this ministry and the people, and the amazing mom she is to Tessa. I would not be able to do this without her.  

      I look forward to seeing how God will continue to grow this ministry over the following years and how He will continue to provide for our needs. 

       Please continue to pray for our ministry, for our campers, staff, and our board. Pray that God will give us wisdom and guidance as we plan for 2026. Pray for me as I go on Sabbatical these coming months and our team that will hold the fort down in my absense.  Pray that God will provide for us financially so we can accomplish our needs for next year and continue to run this ministry that impacts so many kids lives. Most importantly pray that God’s will be done at West Bank Bible Camp.

All Glory To God