A History of the Mennonite Brethren Church, Ja Toews

an Camping in the United States In the United States the Pacific District has perhaps developed its camping program more fully than the other districts. The Hartland Christian Association was organized in 1945 by members of the M.B. and K.M.B. churches in the Reedley area. The association owns and operates the Hartland Bible Camp, located approximately ten miles east of Badger in Tulare County, providing a full range of camp activities for all age groups. A special "camping committee," elected by the Pacific District Conference, is responsible for the camping program with its spiritual ministry. In the Southern District a camp program was begun in the early 1940's. At first attendance comprised only young people, but later the program was expanded to serve all age groups, including married couples. Camp facilities are usually leased from camping associations in the area. Since 1965 the Mennonite Brethren have become directly involved in the operation and financial support of the Deer Creek Christian Camp, Pine, Colorado, owned and operated by a group of Christian businessmen. In 1969 camp director Richard Heinrichs reported the following statistics to the Southern District Conference: "We have operated four Southern District camps (this year) with two at Deer Creek, Colorado, and two at Red Rock Canyon, Oklahoma. . . . Approximately 311 youth have enjoyed 1860 camper days in the Southern District planned camps." 6 ' In addition, the youth committee also encouraged and worked with regional camping programs. The camp program of the Central District Conference has been in operation since 1949. Earlier camps were conducted at various places. In 1960 the camp was held at Lake Metigoshe, North Dakota. Since the early sixties Byron Bible Camp near Huron, South Dakota, has become the established camping center of the conference. 61 TEACHING THEM TO OBSERVE 237 2. Christian Camping in Canada Several factors contributed to the widespread interest in Christian camping among Canadian Mennonite Brethren after World War II. Rapid urbanization, growing affluence, and a concern for the physical, social, and spiritual welfare of children and young people combined to give an impetus to the establishment of "summer camps" throughout the country. Perhaps because of the brief summer season, the Mennonite Brethren in the prairie provinces pioneered in this area. In Manitoba the Mennonite Brethren established two camps. The Lake Winnipeg Mission Camp located near Ames on the shores of Lake Winnipeg, was established in 1948 by a group of brethren from Winnipeg. Abram A. Kroeker and David Redekop spearheaded the movement. Through the years the brethren have emphasized the missionary character of the camp. Of the 252 children attending the three camps in 1954, for example, ninety-seven were "mission" children. Seventy-six decisions for Christ were recorded. 63 At present the camp offers facilities and services thr