© Mennonite Heritage Centre, Winnipeg, Manitoba

(Last updated 24 March 2009

• Conference of Mennonites in Manitoba -- Camps With Meaning

Retrieval numbers: Volume 743, 2600, 2601, 2837, 3968, 4219, 4308, 4939, 4940, 5358, 5420

Series Title: Camps With Meaning
Dates: 1949-2007
Extent: 82 cm of textual records

Historical note

There was considerable need to develop a summer camp for the young people. At its 1948 sessions Conference of Mennonites in Manitoba gave Ältester Wilhelm Enns the moral support to organize a society that would facilitate the purchase of Sunnyside Beach, a 150 acre lot along the Assiniboine River. A society was organized on May 21, 1948 and three days later took possession of the Beach which Enns named Mennonite Youth and Sunday School Park.

By the summer of 1949 the park had been renamed Assiniboine Mennonite Mission Camp (AMMC) and was used for retreats, camps, school festivities, and concerts. Financial support came from camper fees, church member fees, offerings raised at concerts, special offerings in congregations, contributions from individuals, women's groups and youth groups.

In 1956 a commission made recommendations to the Manitoba Conference to further develop the camp. It also suggested planning for a minimum of two additional camps, one in the western and one in the eastern part of the province. In April 1957 Conference of Mennonites in Manitoba took over responsibility of the Assiniboine Mennonite Mission Camp with a committee made up of Frank K. Isaac, A.A. Teichroeb, Ernest Wiebe, William Loewen and Menno Klassen.

A site along Moose Lake appealed to a number of business people from the Gretna-Altona-Plum Coulee area. They formed the Moose Lake Fellowship and bought 37 lots along the shore. The Conference of Mennonites in Manitoba was reluctant to build another camp on a lakeshore site but voted in favour of the idea at it's sessions in 1957. Initially the Moose Lake Fellowship took full responsibility under the leadership of Menno Klassen of Gretna who was also on the camp committee. They invested time, labour and money. The Conference support was inconsistent.

In 1964 the Conference of Mennonites in Manitoba approved the beginning of a 'second' camp at Lake Max and also took administrative responsibility for Moose Lake as a 'third' camp. Camp Koinonia, on Lake Max, was dedicated on Jun 20, 1971.

In 1968 the names of the camps changed from AMMC to Camp Assiniboia, from Camp Lake Max to Camp Koinonia and from Moose Lake to Moose Lake Mennonite Camp. A revised and more independent Camp Committee structure freed the Education Committee in 1969 and in 1970 CMM approved the hiring of a full-time, year-round camp director.

The responsibility of all three camps and the option of a fourth continued to cause conflict and tension among the Conference of Mennonites in Manitoba members. Regional committees worked in cooperation with the Development Committee and contributed to the efficient functioning, maintenance and a sense of camp ownership.

Camp Assiniboia offered horsemanship, ropes course and trampoline activity. Camp Koinonia emphasized intentional wilderness camps, mountain biking and sport climbing. Camp Moose Lake emphasized family programs. Archery, nature and swimming activities were part of all camps. The major feature uniting all camps was a Bible program.

Henry Enns director of Disabled People's International and member of the Camp Committee helped integrate disabled people into the regular camp programs. Conference of Mennonites in Manitoba also committed to remove all attitudinal, architectural and employments barriers. These efforts resulted in the operation of numerous Canadian Association of Community Living camps every summer.

By the late 1970s the camps went from an entirely voluntary staff to salaried staff, and in 1977 counselors were remunerated by their congregations.

As the years went by camp philosophy shifted away from an effort to convert each child. Instead nurture and the invitation to faith, role modeling, the Holy Spirit's working, prayer, and aids like stories and symbols were considered important components in the invitation to follow Christ.

Full time executive directors for the camping ministry have been:
1976-1985 Terry Burkhalter
1986-1987 Monica Wiebe
1989-1991 Cliff Derksen
1991- Bob Wiebe

Scope and content note

This series contains minutes, correspondence, reports and administrative records from all three camp committees. These records would be of interest to anyone researching the history and development of a church-based camping program in southern Manitoba during the 1970s through the 1990s.

Index terms

Creators

• Conference of Mennonites in Manitoba -- Camps With Meaning

  Adjunct descriptive data

  Finding aids

  Inventory file lists available.

  Related material in this repository

  Jacob J. Martens fonds (Volume 1680)
  D.H. Loewen fonds (Volume 1730)
  Menno Klassen fonds (Volume 2404)

  Notes

  Language

  Material in English, some German.

  Restrictions on access

  There are no restrictions on access.

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  Inventory file list for Camps with Meaning records

  
  Volume 743
  Volume 2600
  4. Camp Assiniboia regional committee minutes. – 2001.
  5. Camp Koinonia regional committee meeting minutes. – 2001.
  6. Camp Moose Lake regional committee meeting minutes. – 2001.
  7. Camping ministry volunteer group meeting minutes. – 2001.
  8. Camping facilities operations committee meeting minutes. – 2001.
  
  Volume 2601
  6. Camp Assiniboia Regional committee meeting minutes. – 2002.
  7. Camp Koinonia Regional committee meeting minutes. – 2002.
  8. Camp Moose Lake regional committee meeting minutes. – 2002.
  9. Camps with Meaning facilities committee meeting minutes. – 2002.
  21. Camp Assiniboia Regional committee minutes. – 2003.
  22. Camp Koinonia Regional committee minutes. – 2003.
  23. Camp Moose Lake Regional committee minutes. – 2003.
  24. Camp facilities committee minutes. – 2003.
  25. Camp operations minutes. – 2003.
  
  Volume 2837
  8. Camp contact persons/slide script. – 1974.
  9. Assiniboine Mennonite Missions Camp programs, schedules, staff meeting minutes, etc. – 1964.
  
  Volume 3968
  3. Camp Task force and East Braintree committee minutes. – 1980.
  6. Camp Regional committee minutes. – 1979-1980.
  7. Camp Task Force minutes and reports. – 1980.
  8. Camp Think Tank/East Braintree committee minutes and reports. – 1979-1980.
  
  Volume 4219
  1. Camp Koinonia committee and administrative records. – 1966.
  2. Camp Koinonia committee and administrative records. – 1967-1969.
  3. Camp Koinonia committee and administrative records. – 1970.
  4. Camp Koinonia committee and administrative records. – 1971.
  5. Camp Koinonia committee and administrative records. – 1972.
  6. Camp Koinonia committee and administrative records. – 1973.
  7. Camp Koinonia committee and administrative records. – 1974.
  
  Volume 4308
  1. Camp Committee minutes. – 1964-1965.
  
  Volume 4939
  14. Camping Ministries Commission minutes. – 1998-1999.
  15. Operations (Camping Ministries) minutes. – 1999.
  16. Camp Assiniboia Regional Committee minutes. – 1999.
  17. Camp Koinonia Regional Committee minutes. – 1999.
  18. Camp Moose Lake Regional Committee minutes. – 1999.
  
  Volume 4940
  2. Camping Ministries Volunteer Group. – 2000.
  3. Camp Assiniboia Regional. – 2000.
  4. Camp Koinonia Regional. – 2000.
  5. Camp Moose Lake Regional. – 2000.
  6. Camps With Meaning Operations meetings. – 2000.
  
  Volume 5358
  1. Camp Program Committee. – 1980.
  2. Camping Ministries. – 1981.
  3. Camping Ministries. – 1982.
  4. Camping Ministries. – 1983.
  5. Camping Ministries. – 1984.
  6. Camping Ministries. – 1985.
  7. Camping Ministries. – 1986.
  8. Camping Ministries. – 1987.
  9. Camping Ministries. – 1988.
  10. Camping Ministries. – 1989.
  11. Camping Ministries. – 1992.
  12. Camping Ministries. – 1993.
  13. Camping Ministries. – 1994.
  14. Camping Ministries. – 1995.
  15. Camping Ministries. – 1996.
  16. Camping Ministries. – 1997.
  17. Camping Ministries. – 1998.
  18. Camping Ministries. – 1999.
  19. Camp Operations Committee. – 1982.
  20. Camp Operations Committee. – 1984.
  21. Camp Operations Committee. – 1985.
  22. Camp Operations Committee. – 1987.
  23. Camp Operations Committee. – 1988.
  24. Camp Operations Committee. – 1989.
  25. Camp Operations Committee. – 1994.
  26. Camp Operations Committee. – 1999.
  27. Camp Assiniboia Regional. – 1980.
  28. Camp Assiniboia Regional. – 1981.
  29. Camp Assiniboia Regional. – 1982.
  30. Camp Assiniboia Regional. – 1983.
  31. Camp Assiniboia Regional. – 1984.
  32. Camp Assiniboia Regional. – 1985.
  33. Camp Assiniboia Regional. – 1986.
  34. Camp Assiniboia Regional. – 1987.
  35. Camp Assiniboia Regional. – 1988.
  36. Camp Assiniboia Regional. – 1989.
  37. Camp Assiniboia Regional. – 1993.
  38. Camp Assiniboia Regional. – 1994.
  39. Camp Assiniboia Regional. – 1995.
  40. Camp Assiniboia Regional. – 1996.
  41. Camp Assiniboia Regional. – 1997.
  42. Camp Assiniboia Regional. – 1998.
  43. Camp Assiniboia Regional. – 1999.
  44. Camp Koinonia Regional. – 1980.
  45. Camp Koinonia Regional. – 1981.
  46. Camp Koinonia Regional. – 1982.
  47. Camp Koinonia Regional. – 1983.
  48. Camp Koinonia Regional. – 1984.
  49. Camp Koinonia Regional. – 1985.
  50. Camp Koinonia Regional. – 1986.
  51. Camp Koinonia Regional. – 1987.
  52. Camp Koinonia Regional. – 1988.
  53. Camp Koinonia Regional. – 1989.
  54. Camp Koinonia Regional. – 1993.
  55. Camp Koinonia Regional. – 1994.
  56. Camp Koinonia Regional. – 1995.
  57. Camp Koinonia Regional. – 1996.
  58. Camp Koinonia Regional. – 1997.
  59. Camp Koinonia Regional. – 1998.
  60. Camp Koinonia Regional. – 1999.
  61. Camp Koinonia Fundraising. – 1998-1999.
  62. Camp Koinonia Fundraising. – 1998-1999.
  63. Camp Koinonia Golf Tournament. – 1999.
  64. Camp Moose Lake Regional. – 1980.
  65. Camp Moose Lake Regional. – 1981.
  66. Camp Moose Lake Regional. – 1982.
  67. Camp Moose Lake Regional. – 1983.
  68. Camp Moose Lake Regional. – 1984.
  69. Camp Moose Lake Regional. – 1985.
  70. Camp Moose Lake Regional. – 1986.
  71. Camp Moose Lake Regional. – 1987.
  72. Camp Moose Lake Regional. – 1988.
  73. Camp Moose Lake Regional. – 1989.
  74. Camp Moose Lake Regional. – 1993.
  75. Camp Moose Lake Regional. – 1994.
  76. Camp Moose Lake Regional. – 1995.
  77. Camp Moose Lake Regional. – 1996.
  78. Camp Moose Lake Regional. – 1997.
  79. Camp Moose Lake Regional. – 1998.
  80. Camp Moose Lake Regional. – 1999.
  81. Camp Assiniboia, Camp Koinonia, Camp Moose Lake. – 1990.
  82. Camp Assiniboia, Camp Koinonia, Camp Moose Lake. – 1991.
  83. Camp Assiniboia, Camp Koinonia, Camp Moose Lake. – 1992.
  
  Volume 5366
  1. Camp Review Committee Report. – 1993.
  2. Operations Committee Meeting. – 1993.
  3. Operations Committee Meeting. – 1995.
  4. Operations Committee Meeting. – 1996.
  5. Operations Committee Meeting. – 1997.
  6. Operations Committee Meeting. – 1998.
  
  Volume 5420
  1. Camp Koinonia kitchen and lodge project. – 1997-1998.
  2. Camp Koinonia kitchen and lodge project. – 1997-1998.
  3. Camp Koinonia Gold Tournament. -- 2000-2004.