Extraordinary Gift Allows Christian Youth Camp to Grow on Site of Ex-Rajneeshee Commune

"This is without doubt an unprecedented gift to the mission of Young Life and a cause for celebration. It will allow us tremendous flexibility as we look to the future growth of our ministry to kids in the Northwest."

(Antelope, OR)—A great testament to how God can turn things around for the good of His Kingdom; the former site of the Rajneeshee cult in central Oregon has since been rehabilitated to house one of the 19 Young Life youth camps scattered throughout North America, and based in Colorado Springs.

The youth camp was reportedly doing well in its location, however, upon recently receiving an extremely generous gift, the facility will be able to grow exponentially, and will "without a doubt be [the] largest" of its kind, according to Young Life spokesman Terry Swensen.

The $30 million gift reportedly came from the Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation of Missoula, Montana, and is the largest in the foundation’s 20-year history, said CEO and president Deborah McWhinney.

Denny Rydberg, president of Young Life, told The Oregonian, "This is without doubt an unprecedented gift to the mission of Young Life and a cause for celebration. It will allow us tremendous flexibility as we look to the future growth of our ministry to kids in the Northwest."

The Washingtons had bought the property at an auction after the commune dissolved in 1998. They turned around and gave it to Young Life, who opened the Washington Family Camp the next year. Since then reportedly tens of thousands of young people have spent time there experiencing a fun week or weekend with a nondenominational Christian emphasis.

With the recent gift, plans are underway to add dorms, a wave pool, and an activity center among other facilities.