Camp Mini-Yo-We
Camp Mini-Yo-We is a Christian camping and outdoor center founded on January 28, 1947. It is located in the district of Muskoka in Central Ontario, Canada. 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]
 | |
| 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 (Year-Round Director), Cynthia Hiedman (Finance Director), Spencer Tamming (Operations Director). |
| Website | www |
Formerly called | The Fountain of Living Waters |
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 to escape from the city, experience nature, and receive 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 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 Camp Mini-Yo-We's early years, boys attended in July and girls in August. This gender separation camp would continue until 1992 when "parallel camping" was introduced. Over 10 years, there have been many construction initiatives at South Camp, including 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 many programs at three camp sites organized around gender and age groups: Girls Camp (South Camp, for ages 10 to 15), Discovery Camp (Chemawa, for ages 5 to 9), Boys Camp (Edgewoods, for ages 10 to 15), Enterprise (ages 14 to 15),[7] Leaders in Training (LIT, 14-17), and Day Camps (ages 5 to 12). A camp site includes a lodge and is made up different sections of cabins separated by age group. More specialized programs for older age groups aim to teach campers specific skills. For example, the LIT 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.
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. Archived from the original on 2017-07-26. Retrieved 2017-07-11.
- "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.