Timber Bay Brainerd / Crosby Community Group

Timber Bay Brainerd / Crosby Community Group includes activities such as a weekend retreat to Timber Bay Camp & Retreat Center, the Fall Kickback, Winter Blast, Summer Camp, and WorkCrew Camps. Participants also take part in outdoor trips that can include the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, canoeing down the Mississippi River, and Summer Lake Activities.

• Ages: 10–18 years old
• Schedule: Weekly after-school community group meetings during the week

Serving in the Brainerd Lakes community since 1984, Timber Bay Brainerd / Crosby Community Group is part of Timber Bay, which has used camping retreats and community group gatherings throughout the upper Midwest since 1970. Timber Bay is a collection of community groups focused on youth in the upper Midwest, and each community group has a weekly gathering for middle school and high school students in its area. After teens return from camp, the program continues with long-term mentoring relationships with them and their friends in their Brainerd Lakes hometown. Timber Bay, a ministry of Youth Investment Foundation, is described as an organization of dedicated youth workers committed to personal, ongoing mentorship with young people and as a seasoned Christian organization of professional youth workers who care about youth and accept them just as they are, no strings attached. Its mission is to share the hope and love of Jesus to help youth create deep, healthy connections with their creator, peers, and mentors through community programs, camp, and adventure trips.

The Brainerd / Crosby leadership team includes Dave Bennett as Brainerd/Crosby Area Director, Wilhelmina Horn as Brainerd Outreach Staff, Anna Jordan as a Brainerd Volunteer, Paul Johnson as Brainerd WorkCrew Coordinator, and Wednesday Bennett as Brainerd Administrative Assistant. One testimonial states, “Serving in the Brainerd Lakes community since 1984, Timber Bay is a seasoned Christian organization of professional youth workers who care about youth and accept them just as they are, no strings attached.” Timber Bay Camp & Retreat Center is described as the “home away from home” for teens and as “the Camp that comes home with the kids,” and it is also available for rental by outside groups. Outdoor experiences for the community group include travel to Timber Bay Camp and other outdoor adventure trips together, and the program describes itself as offering a safe, fun home away from home that can help ease this transition in life. All students must have a completed Activity Form in order to participate in Timber Bay activities, and this form is returned to the Community Group Director.

Last updated February 21, 2026.