Mini-Yo-We
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Camp Mini-Yo-We, translated fountain or spring of water, is a Christian camp dedicated to introducing the message of Jesus Christ from the Bible to children and young people. The camp operates four camping sites located on Mary Lake, each site for a specific age group or gender. It is currently being overseen by Executive Director Michael "Smokey" Ankenmann and is staffed by over 150 volunteers during the summer months.
[edit] History
The idea originated in 1945, when several Sunday school teachers and superintendents from Brethren churches in the Toronto area saw the need to take children out of the usual city environment, allowing them to get closer to God in the beauty of the outdoors and learn about the gospel of Jesus Christ. A committee was appointed, and in 1946 the first summer program was held in rented facilities at Fair Havens Bible Conference. The camp was first called The Fountain of Living Waters. The tents were erected and two camps were held that summer, one for 50 boys and one for 50 girls. It was successful, so the following year property was purchased on Mary Lake in Muskoka, the name was changed to Camp Mini-Yo-We, and the camp was incorporated. It is still running today, with much success, especially in the amount of children attending at the Boys' Camp property.
With the addition of year-round programs in 2002, it has been rumoured that the camp is losing money in 9 of the 12 months of the year, more money than is gained in the other 3. This might affect the way the camp is run in the future, but as it stands, the camp is still running year-round.
[edit] Timeline
1946 - "Fountain of Living Water" founded, summer camps for 100 children on rented site at Fair Havens
1947 - South Camp property purchased on Mary Lake; camp renamed to Camp Mini-Yo-We
1955 - Chemewa and Edgewoods (originally called Northwoods) properties were purchased; Deadman's Island given to the camp
1959 - Northwoods property purchased; Former Northwoods renamed "Edgewoods"
1961 - First campers at Northwoods site; Boomerang cabins built at Edgewoods
1966 - Chemewa Lodge opened
1973 - Edgewoods Lodge opened
1981 - Junior Camp begun at Chemewa site; Suspension Bridge built; South Camp Zipline built
1987 - LIT program begins
1988 - Additional land between Edgewoods and the Port Sydney road donated
1990 - New Northwoods Lodge built
1992 - Parallel camping introduced, allowing boys and girls to attend Camp simultaneously most weeks of the summer
1994 - Official decision made to use South Camp as Girls' Camp and Edgewoods as Boys' Camp
1995 - High Ropes and Mountain Biking courses added to the Camp program; Plains section completed at Edgewoods
1998 - Tamarack and The Plunge built; Edgewoods lodge expanded
2000 - Edgewoods First Aid Center built
2001 - Two winterized cabins built at Chemewa
2002 - Chemewa fully winterized
2006 - Edgewoods Lodge redone
