PREECEVILLE — Ketchen Lake Bible Camp campers enjoyed a great, successful season at the lake. There were many campers who took advantage of the summer camps.
“It was so great to see so many campers of all ages join us this summer,” said Elaine Brewer, camp director. “We hosted a full season of camping. The weather also co-operated with us, which was great. Camp is a great way to enjoy summer and explore the lake and what we have to offer. The facilities we have are so great, and hopefully we can attract more to come out,” she said.
The camp offered both overnight and day camps. The overnight camps were available for teens, junior teen camp, intermediate camp and squirt camp.
“Camps started off on July 8 and ended at the end of August for campers aged six to 18. The family fun day encouraged everyone to come out to have some fun games and activities with the campers. We also hosted a combined worship service at the conclusion of camp. Day camps have proven very popular with more campers than usual.
“We were faced with the main issues that had come up, which were the lack of senior male staff, which unfortunately caused the cancellation of two camps, Sport and 24/7 camps this year.
“Which is very sad, as we have a motto of not turning any camper down. We are going to work hard this year and over the winter to get more staff and regroup to focus on next year and how to overcome staffing issues. We are also exploring the issue of possibility of whether or not to continue offering a family day on July 1. Attendance has been decreasing for a few years now.”
This year, the camp focused on building two new cabins — a girls’ cabin and a boys’ cabin. It also introduced laser tag and a Jungle Jim inflatable water bounce.
“The laser tag is something we would like to expand upon by adding a more challenging course and opening it up to school students,” said Brewer.
“As camp concluded for another season, we are looking forward to next year with our spring banquet and hamburger barbecue sales. We are always looking at fundraiser ideas as the costs for operating the camp are always increasing, and we try to keep camp fees low as everyone can afford to send their children to camp. We have never turned a child who wanted to attend camp away,” Brewer said.
The main fundraisers for the camp are the spring banquet and selling lunch at the Preeceville Christmas craft sale. The camp also relies on donations.
The camp was founded in 1941, and its mission is to help families, especially youth and children, by leading them in a week of fellowship in a Christian setting.
Ketchen Lake Bible Camp’s supporting churches include Endeavour Fellowship Chapel, Gateway Community Church (Canora), Living Waters Christian Fellowship (Hazel Dell), Pelly Fellowship Chapel, Pineridge Fellowship Chapel (Hudson Bay), Preeceville Evangel Tabernacle and Weekes Evangelical Chapel.
