Camp Mini-Yo-We
 | |
| Named after | Bible verse John 4:14 |
|---|---|
| Formation | January 28, 1947 |
| Legal status | Non-profit organization |
| Headquarters | Port Sydney, Ontario, Canada |
| Leader | Rich Birch |
Key people |
Rich Birch (Executive director), Jez Bell (Lead director, outdoor center), Cynthia Hiedman (Finance director), Jon Welch (Shared services director). |
| Website |
www |
Formerly called | The Fountain of Living Waters |
Camp Mini-Yo-We is a Christian camping and outdoor center founded on January 28, 1947 and located in the district of Muskoka in Central Ontario, Canada. The name Mini-Yo-We means "spring" or "fountain of living water" in the Dakota Sioux language. The Camp provides outdoor programs for young people from 5 to 18 years old. Camp Mini-Yo-We focuses on leadership development and spiritual growth of young boys and girls. Rich Birch, a long time ministry leader, is the camp Executive director.[1][2]
History
Camp Mini-Yo-We has more than 70 years of history.[3] Sunday school teachers and superintendents from various Brethren churches in Toronto wanted a place for children where to escape from the city, experience nature and religious teachings. The first camps were held in 1946 using rented facilities from the Fair Havens Bible Conference in Beaverton, Ontario.[4]
Originally, the Camp was named The Fountain of Living Waters after the Bible verse John 4:14. Its success prompted the committee to seek for land for a permanent summer camp. In 1946, the Brethren Assemblies purchased a property on Mary Lake in Muskoka. On January 28, 1947, the organization was officially incorporated and its name changed to Camp Mini-Yo-We.
In 1947, Camp Mini-Yo-We required boys to come in July whereas girls would come in August. This gender separation camp would continue until 1992 when "parallel camping" was introduced. Over 10 years, many construction initiatives at South Camp included the first aid centre (1949), lodge (1951), staff house (1956), gatehouse (1958), and waterfront (1960). By 1960, the Camp was organizing programs for more than 750 children each summer.[5]
The District of Muskoka in Huntsville, Ontario, awarded a prize to Camp Mini-Yo-We in recognition to its exceptional partnership and leadership in providing a camp experience to children.[6]
Programs
Camp Mini-Yo-We operates six programs at four camp sites organized around gender and age groups: Girls Camp (South Camp, 10 to 15), Discovery Camp (Chemawa, 5 to 9), Boys Camp (Edgewoods, 10 to 15), Youth Camp (Northwoods, 14 to 18),[7] Leadership Camps (14-17) and Day Camps (5-12). A Camp site includes a lodge and is made of a section of cabins. For example, the Leadership program aims to teach teenagers how to handle house chores, survival skills and what a role model is.[8][9] Campers engage in communal, sports and recreational activities, games, instructional periods, and Bible studies. Camp Mini-Yo-We can accommodate at most 400 campers per week and focuses on their physical, mental and spiritual development.
See also
References
- ↑ "At Mini-Yo-We, faith and friendships grow strong: Fresh Air Fund". Toronto Star. July 25, 2015.
- ↑ "Summer camp a 'rite of passage' for Canadian kids". Toronto Star. June 6, 2017.
- ↑ "Four generations of Mini-Yo-We campers in Toronto family". Toronto Star. July 1, 2011.
- ↑ "The changing face of summer camp". MuskokaRegion.com. April 6, 2016.
- ↑ "Our History". Mini-Yo-We.
- ↑ "District committee honours those making a difference in Muskoka". Toronto Star. October 23, 2016.
- ↑ "Camp Mini-Yo-We". Toronto Star. July 28, 2014.
- ↑ "Faith, fellowship as important as fun at Camp Mini-Yo-We". Toronto Star. July 28, 2014.
- ↑ "Even chores are fun at Camp Mini-Yo-We". Toronto Star. August 1, 2011.