The camp in Mokins Bay began as a YWCA Camp in 1928. Camp MiVoden was founded in 1940 with a 60-acre purchase from the YWCA, and has operated as a youth camp and retreat center ever since. In the early 1980s we began having conversations with Chuck Sowder, our neighbor who owned the property directly behind the camp and operated a tree farm there. Chuck’s goal for the future of his property was to do a land swap with the U.S. Forest Service in order to keep the property as natural as possible for generations to come. After several years ofcommunication Chuck realized that the Forest Service was not interested in a land swap. That’s when he came to Camp MiVoden and asked if the camp would be interested in purchasing the property. Chuck said he had always appreciated the camp’s purpose and the positive impact it had on the lives of children. In 1987 the camp purchased the 480 acres from the Sowder family and carried on their goal to protect the property from over development and use it to enhance the lives of the children and families who visit Camp MiVoden. The new property made possible a lot of fun activities that guests still enjoy today, including hiking trails, an equestrian center, small outpost camp sites, and mountain bike trails.