Stepping into leadership at Camp Indianola has been both a homecoming and a holy adventure for its newest director, Rev. David Collins. After years of discernment and a deepening call to camping and retreat ministry, he and his family made the cross-country journey from the New York Annual Conference to the shores of the Salish Sea (Puget Sound). In the months since, they’ve discovered surprises both delightful and challenging, embraced a community of dedicated volunteers, and poured heart and energy into strengthening the camp’s hospitality, facilities, and relationships with United Methodist congregations across the region.
In this conversation, Collins reflects on the journey so far—the joys of summer ministry, the realities of maintaining a beloved but aging site, the power of partnerships, and the hopeful vision guiding Camp Indianola into its next chapter.
What drew you from the New York Annual Conference to Camp Indianola and the Pacific Northwest, and how has the transition been for you and your family?
I was discerning a call to a camping and retreat ministry with a spiritual director for over two years, starting in 2021. Part of the allure of Camp Indianola was its unique setting and proximity to a metropolitan area, as well as the need for a site director. The transition from Long Island to Indianola was, of course, challenging, but not insurmountable, especially for a clergy couple used to moving and serving in different settings. The kids adjusted much quicker than we anticipated, enjoying smaller schools and a slower pace. And after they experienced their first-ever summer camp session, they never looked back. For myself, it was moving from the hustle and bustle of the center of camp to a director’s residence after we finished renovating it this past spring. We are now able to enjoy a bit more privacy, have more space, and one of the best views we could ask for.
What have been the biggest surprises—good or challenging—about settling into life on the Puget Sound?
In the summer of 2023, our family visited the North Cascades, Seattle, and Mt. Rainier on a ten-week renewal leave. It was hot—we must have been here right in the middle of a heatwave. I assumed that WA summers were just as warm as NY summers. Little did I know! I still cannot get over how much cooler the summers are in Indianola.
Before living here, my only experience on a ferry was the Staten Island Ferry, so planning trips around a ferry schedule and the possibility of hours-long waits versus driving around really came as a surprise.
And I kept the best for the last! We experienced the PNW when we traveled the country in 2023, but now, actually living in Indianola, I am constantly amazed at just how beautiful God’s creation really is. From regular sightings of wildlife to the mountains and mature-growth forests, and of course, the clear waters of the Salish Sea, I am continually impressed.
Stepping into the director role in March of 2024, what were your priorities, and how have they evolved over your first 18 months?
I knew that bringing meal service back as an option for guest groups would be one of my main focuses, especially since food is such an essential part of Christian hospitality. So much of Jesus’ ministry took place around meals. We aim to cultivate this and ensure that our guests have a positive experience, so they can leave refreshed and eager to return. We have grown from two meal services in 2024 to 24 in 2025. Even though 2025 has been an incredible year for meal service growth, we would need to double our current meal services before needing a dedicated kitchen staff person.
Another one of my immediate priorities was decluttering and organizing storage spaces, the camp office, and the so-called Rustics. Tidy, neat, and organized spaces are yet another way to show hospitality to our campers and guests. Our efforts have been recognized by returning guest groups, so maintaining this standard is crucial for us and remains at the forefront of what we strive to achieve.
Similarly, one thing that I noticed about retreat centers is their lack of comfortable mattresses, and Camp Indianola was no different. Within nine months, a donation from a local United Methodist congregation enabled us to replace over 100 mattresses with new, water-resistant foam mattresses that are easier to handle and maintain. Many of our returning guests have expressed their appreciation for this upgrade.
Camp Indianola is a breathtaking setting that takes an extraordinary amount of work to keep the grounds and buildings well-maintained and cared for. Cleaning around the lodges and removing years of leaf buildup helps guests to see that we are good stewards who love and care for the outdoors and for our buildings. Creating a schedule for when tasks need to be accomplished is essential. Still, it can be challenging at times, especially in the spring and fall when the weather is more erratic, resulting in numerous fallen trees, branches, and debris being washed up on the beach. We have an outstanding volunteer from town who typically comes out once a week and spends an entire day working outside, mowing, weed-eating, and raking. Again, well-kept grounds remain at the forefront of how we strive to show our campers and guests that we care for them just as much as we care for this sacred slice of God’s creation.
What aspects of Camp Indianola have stood out to you as its greatest strengths?
By far, the volunteers are the most notable, as they make summer camp happen out of genuine care for the children and youth. Additionally, the volunteers and donors who support Camp Indianola year-round are also greatly appreciated. And the support has been profound! Volunteers have been an integral part of Camp Indianola’s history, and we strive to uphold that legacy as we work to reinvigorate relationships with the surrounding churches, so we can continue to offer a camp experience that is not only fun but also meaningful and transformative.
Can you share a moment or story from this past year that captures the spirit or vitality of the camp?
We are a space that operates year-round, welcoming schools, different religious traditions, 12-step programs, churches from other denominations, United Methodist congregations, family reunions, pastoral retreats, non-profits, and volunteers. When the buildings and grounds are bustling with campers or retreat guests, we celebrate as we put forth the best Christian hospitality we can offer.
However, it all comes down to the summer months. Summer is a truly special time at Camp Indianola— seeing our campers (and their leaders) grow, learn, try new things, step out of their comfort zones, make new friends, and have fun is truly priceless and a privilege for which I give thanks to God every day.
Specifically, at each camp check-in session this past summer, it was a true gift to see many returning campers and hear from parents and guardians that their children had been looking forward to coming back all year— how affirming to the mission and ministry of Camp Indianola!
We were also able to offer our first Rainbow Camp, with a couple of campers from our immediate community, thanks to local advertising. It was intentionally a smaller camp, but one that has made a tremendous impact on our campers, volunteers, and staff.
Similarly, we welcomed 98 volunteers (some new and some seasoned) between five different summer camp sessions and the bioluminescence kayaking: Deans and co-deans, cabin leaders, leaders in training, healthcare volunteers, camp pastors, kitchen teams, and the support staff for music, arts, crafts, programming, and spiritual direction. Two different UMC congregations served meals to our campers and volunteer staff, and the other three sessions consisted of the volunteers from several different churches. Two of our nurses came from a congregation in Central Washington, and some traveled to volunteer here all the way from Oregon.
And then the campers! Seeing them step up and mentor the younger ones, or share their stories at the campfire—if all this does not capture the spirit of Camp Indianola, then I am not sure what else does.
What are the most significant challenges Camp Indianola is currently facing, whether operational, financial, or programmatic?
Maintaining the buildings and grounds while also making improvements to both has been a challenge. Thankfully, the volunteer response has been strong and encouraging as we address the camp’s needs. This may or may not be surprising, but much of the equipment and utilities on site are either original or have outlived their service expectancy. We are not yet at the point where we can replace them as part of regular and preventative maintenance, but instead must do so as they break. And as it happens, they typically break at the most inconvenient times when our finances are already strained. Like other camps and retreat centers, we continue to rely on the generosity and kindness of those around us.
How has the camp continued to navigate the longer-term impacts of the pandemic era on attendance, staffing, or resources?
Outside the summer season, guest groups that book retreats every year have typically become smaller in numbers, renting a lesser number of lodges, and at times even joining their sister organizations for combined retreats in different areas. Continuous outreach, networking, and forming new partnerships are thus crucial for us to sustain our ministry to campers and guests.
From your perspective, what opportunities exist to grow or diversify the camp’s ministry in the coming years?
I am hopeful about the prospect of expanding our ministry field by offering camp-sponsored youth events in non-summer months, as well as ensuring that there are retreat opportunities for adults within the United Methodist connection to help support and enhance the mission and ministry of a local church. Camp can be a wonderful setting for congregations in geographical proximity to explore their mutual partnership and see where sharing their resources can be beneficial as they walk side by side with those in their respective communities. My spouse and I served in a couple of larger cooperative parish contexts within the New York Annual Conference. We experienced the transformative aspect of shared ministries in ways that have formed us into who we are today as Christ servants at Camp Indianola.
Similarly, being able to hold United Methodist confirmation and youth retreats at Camp Indianola would be a dream come true for me. The camp and church partnership was instrumental in answering my spouse’s call to ministry. If we can offer this kind of experience to our youth throughout the year, not just in the summer months, then why not?
I have dedicated the last 20 months of my ministry here at Camp Indianola to forming relationships with the clergy colleagues and congregations in the surrounding area, and I pray that these efforts will bear fruit. I say this often and will gladly repeat it: I am available to come and preach or speak about the camp and retreat ministries in any of the United Methodist churches in the area. I would love to worship with and get to know as many communities of faith as possible.
Looking ahead, what is your vision for Camp Indianola in five years from now, and what do you hope people experience when they come here?
There is always a tendency to come up with lofty and rather abstract goals when dreaming about the future of our ministry settings (nothing against lofty goals, of course – after all, we worship the God of miracles!). However, at this moment, my vision for Camp Indianola in five years is rather down-to-earth. We need more beds to accommodate more campers and host two different guest groups simultaneously. That way, none of our lodges and buildings sit empty and underutilized. Following the current renovation efforts, I hope to refurbish our shower house and rustic cabins, which are currently unused by our guests. However, I am especially hopeful that in the next few years, we will be deep in planning and implementing the next phase of building growth, which will increase our bunk count from 104 beds to 150 beds. And most importantly, as I mentioned on multiple occasions, I hope and pray that we will be able to offer camp experiences for children and youth outside of summer camp, in collaboration with churches from the Puget Sound area. Personally, I wish that everyone who stays at Camp Indianola leaves with a desire to return because they have had a transformative experience that has helped bring them closer to God and God’s beautiful creation.
