“To glorify God by developing godly leaders through Christ-centered camping”
Among the greatest calls a person can answer is to be an instrument that God uses to unlock a young person’s potential. To that end, Northern Frontier provides programs that enable mentors to guide groups of boys and young men through adventure-packed, action-filled experiences that draw young people closer to God… and equip them to be leaders of tomorrow. In addition, through programs designed specifically for them, Northern Frontier seeks to nurture and develop the relationship between fathers and sons.
Northern Frontier Brigade camp Association is a Christian wilderness camp where boys and men are inspired spiritually through God’s beautiful creation, instructed on how to live Biblically, and strengthened mentally and physically through activities and challenges that come with outdoor living. We want to partner with families and local churches (fellow Christians who are disciple makers of Christ) to build boys and men, including our staff and alumni, into godly leaders through Christ centered outdoor activities and camping. Northern Frontier envisions a world where mature, Christian leaders are willingly employed by the Holy Spirit to transform individuals and society for Christ, and want to be part of that world.
Northern Frontier facilitates programs for boys and men to teach and equip them with outdoor skills, develop and encourage them as men that love and serve God, and instruct them in servant leadership and godly character development. This is done through wilderness activities, skill work, Bible exploration, service, and camping in order to bring about internal, permanent change that enables boys and men to stand strong in Biblical conviction (Galatians 2:20). Our mission is accompanied through partnership with other members of “the Body of Christ” (believers in Jesus Christ and His infallible word) to make disciples and disciple makers of Christ (Matt 28:19-20).
Northern Frontier provides opportunities for teaching, practicing, and working with our campers and staff members in situations where these principles can be put into practice and internalized through our dynamic, Christian camping ministry.
Campers are surrounded by well-trained staff members who foster healthy relationships, teach attainable outdoor skills, instruct campers in God’s Word, and model Christian leadership through godly living.
Northern Frontier’s character lies in the Lordship of Jesus Christ and the Word of God, and responsibility for Northern Frontier’s operation is vested in its Board of Directors. Northern Frontier is non-denominational, comprised of believers in Jesus Christ, and is subject to no ecclesiastical body. Northern Frontier is a non-profit corporation and, as such, does not contemplate pecuniary gain.
Northern Frontier seeks to embody, to model and to proclaim the following character traits as necessary goals for Christian leaders:
- Love : unselfish loyalty and benevolent concern for the good of another
- Conviction : a strong persuasion or belief: the state of being convinced
- Integrity : incorruptibility, soundness, completeness
- Wisdom : insight, discernment, good sense, good judgment
- Self-control : restraint exercised over one’s own impulses, emotions, or desires
- Passion : a strong devotion to some activity, object, or concept: i.e. – God and His work
- Humility : not proud or haughty: not arrogant
- Faithfulness : firm in adherence to promises or in observance of duty; steadfast in affection or allegiance
- Competence : having requisite or adequate ability or qualities
- Confidence : a feeling or consciousness of one’s powers or of reliance on one’s circumstances
- Courage : mental or moral strength to venture, persevere, and withstand danger, fear, or difficulty
- Communication : ability to transmit information effectively to others
We believe that the Bible, composed of the sixty-six (66) books of the Old and the New Testaments, is inspired of God by verbal, plenary inspiration (2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21), inerrant in the original writings, and that they are of supreme and final authority in faith and life. (Matthew 5:18; Isaiah 40:8)
We believe in one God (Deuteronomy 6:4), eternally existing in three Persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. (Matthew 28:19; Luke 3:22; John 14:16-17; 2 Corinthians 13:14)
We believe in the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ (Colossians 2:9), in His virgin birth (Luke 1:34-35; Luke 2:7), in His sinless life (Hebrews 4:15), in His miracles, in His vicarious and atoning death through His shed blood (Galatians 4:4-5; 1 Timothy 2:5-6), in his bodily resurrection (Luke 24:46), in His ascension to the right hand of the Father (Luke 24:51; Hebrews 10:12), and in His physical return in power, and glory (Matthew 24:30-31; 1 Thessalonians 4:16).
We believe that all people were created in the image of God (Gen. 1:26-27); that they sinned and thereby incurred not only physical death (Genesis 3:19), but also that spiritual death which is separation from God (Romans 1:18; Romans 3:23; Romans 5:12); and that all human beings are born with a sinful nature and are sinners in thought, word and deed. (Ephesians 2:1-3; Genesis 8:21; Psalms 51:5; Ecclesiastes 7:20)
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ died for our sins, according to the Scriptures, as a representative and substitutionary sacrifice; and that all who believe in Him are justified on the ground of His shed blood. (Romans 6:23; Romans 3:23-26; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Romans 5:8-9)
We believe in the resurrection of the crucified body of our Lord (Luke 24:46), in His ascension into Heaven (Luke 24:51), and in His present life there for us, as High Priest and Advocate (Romans 8:34; Hebrews 4:14-16).
We believe that all who receive by faith the Lord Jesus Christ are born again of the Holy Spirit, and thereby become children of God (Ephesians 1:13-14; John 1:12; Romans 8:16).
We believe in the bodily resurrection of the just and the unjust, the everlasting blessedness of the saved and the everlasting punishment of the lost (John 5:28-29; Daniel 12:1-2; 1 Corinthians 15:12-32; Revelation 20:11-15).
If you have any questions about Northern Frontier’s Statement of Faith or where Northern Frontier stands positionally on certain topics please inquire with our camp director.
We believe that in order to keep Northern Frontier’s mission and integrity we must follow the inspired and infallible Word of God (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
We believe the Bible is the final supreme authority in faith and life for all mankind (Matthew 5:18; Isaiah 40:8). All board members, employees and volunteers must agree to abide by the following statement concerning marriage, gender, and sexuality adopted by the Board of the Northern Frontier Brigade Camp Association; we will not knowingly hire someone who does not believe and abide by this statement.
We believe that God wonderfully and without mistake creates each person as male or female. These two distinct, complementary genders together reflect the image and nature of God. (Genesis 1:26-27) After creating man male and female Genesis tells us that on the sixth day of creation ‘God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.’ (Genesis 1:31) His original creation and design was perfect in His eyes (Psalm 139:13-14, Genesis 5:1). For one to reject, alter, or disassociate with one’s biological gender sex at birth is for one to disbelieve in God’s Word and an omnipotent, omnipresent, and omniscient Creator, thus rejecting God’s design, His purpose, and Him.
We believe that marriage is defined as one woman and one man being united in the single exclusive union called marriage. (Gen. 2:18-25) Sexual intimacy before marriage is prohibited, as it is only intended by God for those that are married. Sexual intimacy is allowed within the union of marriage between the husband and the wife exclusively, thus preserving the sanctity of marriage ordained by God. Any form of sexual activity entered into outside of a monogamous heterosexual marriage is sin and is not an acceptable alternative lifestyle. (Matthew 15:18-20; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, 18-20; Leviticus 18:22, 20:13,15)
We believe that God’s design for the gift of sexuality is that it is to be exercised and enjoyed only within the covenant relationship of marriage between one man and one woman. It is God’s intention that those who enter marriage shall seek, in mutual love and respect, to live, one man and one woman in Christian fidelity as long as both shall live (Genesis 2:24; Hebrews 13:4; 1 Corinthians 7:2-5).
We believe in a forgiving and merciful God who is able to forgive and redeem all who confess Him with their mouth and believe in their heart (Acts 3:19-21; Romans 10:9-10; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11). We pray that every camper and staff member realizes their need for Christ’s love, grace and mercy and understands their access to it through a relationship with Jesus (Mark 12:28-31; Luke 6:31). While we want to extend the love of Christ to all, even with those who do not share such core beliefs, but in view of our mission as identified above, we must not jeopardize that mission by having board members, employees and volunteers who believe and live in a manner inconsistent with those beliefs.
Members of the Board of Directors and all Staff members shall subscribe to the following Standard of Christian Living
The life of trustees and staff should be positive. A hesitant, uncertain Christian testimony will greatly weaken the effectiveness of the Gospel appeal to boys. They should be certain of their relation to Christ and joyful in it. Their lives should be without question. All leaders of boys need to be reminded, “Don’t look now, but you’re being followed!” The serious responsibility of shaping young lives demands high standards of personal conduct. Christian leaders cannot be too careful. The personal habits must be such that the boys who listen to them at the Brigade meeting on Thursday can observe them on Friday without losing respect for their testimony.
There is no question about the teaching of the Scriptures concerning standards for honesty, self-control, humility and cleanness of speech and thought. However, there are certain practical problems of conduct, which sometimes cause confusion and disagreement among Christians. Such matters cannot be settled by superimposing commandments that go beyond the Scriptures, but must be determined by the individual’s own communion with the Lord based on the Word of God and the witness of the Holy Spirit. God had not given a “thou shalt not” in regard to some things, because Christians are greatly strengthened as they seek an understanding of the will of God for themselves. When Christians face squarely the matter of their daily personal conduct, they have an obligation to obey those standards which they believe God has given them. The Word of God clearly teaches; “Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins.” (James 4:17) All who are sincerely determined to live according to God’s standards will find positive guidance from Romans 12 and 13.
Christian leaders have the additional responsibility of maintaining those habits of conduct, which young fellows can safely follow. It is impossible for them to have one way of living before boys and another when they are presumably away from them. In practice, leaders should weigh their personal habits in the light of whether or not they would be satisfied for boys to do the same. Boys can hardly be expected to achieve a higher standard of Christian conduct than their leaders.
In view of the great responsibility of boys’ leadership, Northern Frontier requires its staff members to take a decisive stand on all habit-forming practices generally acknowledged to be detrimental. The enslaving tendencies of these habits are clear justification for this stand, especially where the training of youth is involved. Just as men may separate and condition themselves for a particular responsibility or occupation, so leadership in Christian boys’ work calls for abstinence in these areas except for medicinal purposes.
The Lord’s service requires clean vessels, and He has promised the grace necessary to be such. The Savior calls for men who can stand before boys with a positive, clear-cut Christian testimony and in turn have the joy of watching young men follow them into a similar life.
Our History
Northern Frontier was founded in 1946 by men working in Christian Service Brigade groups in their local churches. They banded together to form this corporation first known as The Brigade Camp Association of Metropolitan New York and Northern New Jersey. It was built on the concepts, methods and Biblical principles adhered to by the corporation Christian Service Brigade and retained those distinctive by design and purpose.

Note: A more substantive history of NF is currently being written. Once it is ready, it will be posted here.