Join us in
celebrating
80 years of
westminster
woods
“My experience here was life changing. Being around your wonderful staff and all these awesome young adults has changed my perspective on life. I will leave here a better person. ”
For nearly eight decades, Westminster Woods has been a place where memories are made, lives are transformed and belief is deepened. Whether through the laughter, wonder and discovery during a school field trip, the life-changing encounters with Christ and community during summer camp or the peaceful retreats experienced by guest groups, every moment here is an extension of the vision that began in 1946.
We want this rich history of transformation and connection to live on for years to come. But, in order to do so, we need your help to enhance our infrastructure. We lovingly refer to our campus as ‘rustic’ and if you’ve visited in the past few years you might’ve noticed that there are big projects that we need to tackle in order to ensure that rustic doesn’t become ‘disrepaired’. Maintaining our forest and infrastructure is a vital part of ensuring that we can continue our terrific programming.
This year, as you consider your end-of-year giving, we invite you to reflect on the legacy we’ve built together and dream with us about what the future holds. By donating today, you are helping us preserve the cherished memories of our past while planting seeds for an even brighter future.
All donations to Westminster Woods are tax-deductible.
If you have questions about donations, please contact us at 707-874-2426 or info@westminsterwoods.org.
Ways to support the Woods
Become a Redwood Sustainer
Redwood Sustainers are donors who commit to making a monthly donation to The Woods. This program is beneficial to both donors and the Woods alike. For donors, it allows you to donate a small amount at a time so you never have to plan for a large sum coming out of your bank account. For the Woods, monthly gifts help us plan for the whole year with a greater knowledge of how much income to expect from donations.
Choose “Donate Monthly” on our donation form to become a Redwood Sustainer today!
Make an In-kind donation
We use a lot of stuff at the Woods and gladly accept donations of new or used tools, equipment, and supplies. Our most pressing need at the moment is camp vehicles which help us respond to maintenance calls, move material around the property, shuttle people up the hill, and respond to emergencies. Having working vehicles is a vital part of ensuring that our programs run smoothly! Click below to view a partial list of items that we need.
If you are interested in making an In-Kind donation, contact Chris Rhodes at
chrisr@westminsterwoods.org or (707) 874-2426 ext. 632
Make a donation
All donations make a difference
Whatever you are able to contribute benefits The Woods impacts us in more ways than we can express!
So thank you!
Thank you for supporting Westminster Woods!
Scroll to see just where your donations could be going when you donate to our general mission!
Share your woods story
“Absolutely met all expectations & exceeded them. Always impressed with the staff’s ability to deal with adversity & redirect.”
Westminster Woods serves thousands of participants each year. Whether they come as part of a school field trip, with their church for summer camp, on their own, or with a conference group, we know the memories of their time here live on in their hearts forever. Our programs are rooted in a rich history, and we are honored to accompany our participants through various life stages—from their first camp experience to finding community later in life. We provide a sanctuary for transformation and a home away from home for generations of campers.
We know the experience you have at Westminster Woods is truly powerful—and so are your words. If you're unable to contribute financially, we invite you to share your Woods story with others. Visit our Facebook and Instagram pages to share our fundraising posts. Add a short note about how the Woods has impacted you and ask that your community supports Westminster Woods with a donation.
Where do your donations go?
When you donate to our general fund, your money goes where it is needed most. With a camp as old as Westminster Woods, our facilities and grounds are in need of consistent tending. Financial contributions or donations of tools, supplies, and time help us complete much needed repairs and improvements to our site. Learn more about the projects that donations helped us complete in 2024 and our planned projects for 2025 below.
Fire Fuel Reduction Work
Westminster Woods is nestled in the heart of the California redwoods, which means we're constantly mindful of the fire risk and the importance of maintaining the forest to protect against wildfires. Year-round, our B&G crew clears fallen trees from the roads. During the summer months, they focus on cutting down and removing dead and diseased trees. Fallen trees are bucked up and turned into woodchips for our roads. Trees with the girth of an arm are cut into firewood-sized pieces and stored for later splitting. The remaining slash is either burned during the rainy season or chipped to keep the forest safe and healthy. While much of this work is done in-house, funding from the Bohemian Collective has allowed us to bring in professional sawyer crews. These crews provide additional staff and equipment, enabling us to work more efficiently and care for larger sections of our forest. When you donate to the Woods, you help our Building and Grounds crew ensure the long-term health and vitality of this beautiful forest.
Infrastructure Improvements
The majority of our buildings were constructed in the 1970s and 1980s, and they continue to serve our community almost every day. Donations play a crucial role in allowing us to make necessary repairs and improvements, ensuring these aging buildings continue to meet the needs of our guests.
What did donations help us accomplish in 2025?
Cabin Upgrades:
This year, our biggest focus was restoring and improving our beloved cabins — and your donations made it happen!
Cabin 1 was fully revitalized — with two new bathrooms, a brand-new roof, fresh paint inside and out, new windows, and new siding around each window.
Cabin 7 and Cabin 12 both received new roofs and fresh exterior paint, protecting them from the coastal elements and extending their lifespan.
Cabins 18 & 19 got a complete exterior repaint, brightening their look and helping us inch closer to our goal of repainting every cabin on site.
These types of larger scale improvements are only possible with donations.
Homestead Improvements:
Our Homestead building received some much-needed attention this year! Thanks to generous giving, we replaced the entire roof, added two skylights to bring in natural light, and are in the process of adding two covered entry porches to protect from rain and weather. These updates make the Homestead more functional for staff, guests, and community gatherings year-round. Having a dedicated pool of donations allows us to make these necessary repairs and strengthen our infrastructure without taking funds away from our core programming.
New Community Cabin:
This year, Cabin 0 was fully remodeled into a community gathering space — transforming one of our oldest cabins into one of our most used! The new layout now serves as a flexible meeting area for groups to debrief, reflect, and connect under the redwoods. This project was 100% made possible through your donations.
Campus-Wide Bathroom Upgrades:
We took on one of our biggest challenges yet: upgrading every bathroom stall on camp! Our team hand-built new stall doors and walls using plywood, plastic, and aluminum rails — a creative and cost-effective solution that saved thousands while dramatically improving quality and appearance. Because of your gifts, every camper now enjoys cleaner, sturdier, and more private facilities.
Outdoor Spaces:
Because of you, we’ve continued to expand and enhance our outdoor recreation areas! This year we upgraded our beloved Gaga Pit, offering campers and youth groups another fun, active, and inclusive game area to enjoy! Over by the our outdoor education center, the Fish Patio, we also installed new removable panels, allowing for better protection during rainy seasons while maintaining our beautiful forest views.
What will donations help us ACCOMPLISH in 2026?
Because of your continued generosity, Westminster Woods has been able to make huge strides in restoring and strengthening our campus — and we’re not stopping now. In 2026, we’ll be focusing on projects that ensure the safety and longevity of The Woods for years to come. From vital infrastructure repairs to creative outdoor learning spaces, every improvement helps us keep this sacred space thriving for future generations.
Bridge House Deck Restoration
One of our top priorities for 2026 is rebuilding the Bridge House deck, which has become unsafe and unusable over time. This space is a central part of camp life — a place for gathering, reflection, and connection — and restoring it is essential for both safety and community. Your donations will directly help us rebuild this deck so it can once again be a safe, welcoming space for all.
Cabin 3 Remodel
Following in the footsteps of our Cabin 1 transformation, Cabin 3 is next in line for a complete remodel. This project will include installing two new bathrooms, rebuilding the foundation, adding new walls, and essentially reconstructing the cabin from the ground up. These deep renovations are vital for keeping our cabins functional, comfortable, and safe for all guests — and they’re
Picnic Table & Bench Replacements
After years of weather and use, many of our picnic tables and benches are reaching the end of their lifespan. This project will focus on replacing them with durable, sustainable options to keep our outdoor gathering spaces safe and welcoming for meals, reflection, and community time.
Cobb Bench Reconstruction
Our iconic Cobb Bench, originally built over 20 years ago using ancient natural building techniques of sand, clay, and straw, sadly collapsed this year after water seeped into its cracks. In 2026, we’re rebuilding it from the ground up — honoring the same sustainable methods where every element returns safely to the earth. This time, we’ll be maintaining it regularly to ensure its longevity and safety for all who gather there.
Window Replacements Across Camp
Many windows around camp are old, drafty, and in need of replacement. Thanks to donor support, we aim to install energy-efficient, insulated windows throughout our cabins and buildings — improving both comfort and sustainability while reducing long-term maintenance needs.
Outdoor Low-Energy Lighting
To keep The Woods bright and safe after dark while caring for our environment, we’re installing new low-energy outdoor lighting around key pathways and gathering areas. These upgrades will make campus navigation safer for guests at night and reduce our overall energy use — another small but meaningful step toward a greener Woods.
Small But Mighty Repairs: Beyond our major projects, there are countless small repairs, from our gaga ball pit that has a permanent tilt to our cobb bench that needs resurfacing, that we have on our list to tackle in the upcoming year. Many of these projects are on hold only because of the material cost. Your donation will go directly toward helping us provide a safe, welcoming environment for each guest!
You can make a difference in so many ways:
$50 can provide native plants and soil for a habitat restoration project led by students in our Outdoor Education program.
$100 can supply new nature journals and field guides for campers to use while learning among the redwoods.
$250 can help fund Challenge Course gear — like helmets and harnesses — keeping campers safe as they climb and zip through the trees.
$500 can contribute toward a new roof or wall panel for one of our aging cabins, protecting campers and retreat guests from the elements.
$1,000 can help install low-energy lighting and water-saving systems across camp, making Westminster Woods more sustainable for generations to come.