COTW News

Camper & Volunteer Story - Emma

Wed, 29 Apr 2026 23:03:04 GMT

Emma's Camp Experience

Although I grew up at Camp of the Woods and was a camper for many years, being on staff has really impacted my life. I didn’t fully understand what a special place Camp was because it has always just been home to me. The first year I staffed I was expecting the summer to go exactly the same as previous summers, but it was totally different and changed my relationship with Christ. I experienced Christ and his presence in a way I never had before and grew in my relationship with Him. I learned how faithful he is and saw him working in the lives of the campers and staff around me which was amazing. I was able to share the gospel for the first time which was scary but the more I did it the more I learned to trust that the Lord was in control. It is such a joy to see how God can work in so many hearts throughout the summer. One of my favourite parts of being on staff is the morning devos. It's a great way to start the day and I was challenged and encouraged in a way that I hadn’t been before.

Having grown up at camp I have done many different tasks over the years. One of my favourite things about those tasks is that whether you are washing dishes, stacking wood, leading games or cabin leading you are surrounded by people who want to serve the Lord. This makes even the hardest task so much more fun. Another one of my favourite things about camp is how you are able to make lasting connections with campers and staff. We have had some amazing staff throughout the years and it's always cool to see who God brings each summer. Being on staff has definitely shaped my relationship with Christ and have been some of the best summers of my life.

Camper & Volunteer Story - Meagan

Fri, 20 Mar 2026 15:30:19 GMT

Meagan's Camp Experience

Camp of the Woods is a place I can call my second home or my home away from home. It has been a place where I can be one-on-one with God and strengthen my relationship with Him. I have been attending Camp of the Woods since I was 2 years old with my family. I remember for years being my mom’s little shadow while she was the camp nurse, or following my dad while he worked in the shop, or getting rides in the camp vehicle with him. I have been volunteering at camp for as long as I can remember.

When I was 8 years old, I could not wait to be a camper for the first time. The thought of being a camper the same week as my brothers was something I could not wait for. I always enjoyed meeting new kids in my cabin, my cabin leaders, and just enjoyed worship during chapel and all the activities. I was a camper every summer up to the age of 15, and the memories of canoeing in the rain with my friends, team games, specialized activities, memorizing Bible verses, and devotion before bed were always my favourite things out of 8 years of being a camper. Leading up to each summer, the one thing that was always on my mind was Camp of the Woods, as it meant I could learn more about God and how to grow in my faith through the Bible story on the hikes or in chapel.

The summer I was 15 years old, I was old enough to be a summer staff member. Even though I was on summer staff most of my life with my family, this time was different. I would be staying in the girls' staff cabin and be at camp without my family. That week, I was put in as a team captain and kitchen helper. That week was spent learning how to be patient with the Jr campers and learning how to help the campers know Christ through encouraging them to memorize Bible verses for the team. In the summer of 2021, I was able to work out at camp the whole summer and be involved in so many activities like wood stacking, specialized activity leader, being team captain, kitchen help, and even cabin leading for the first time. Being a cabin leader has taught me so much about my relationship with God and how important it is to rely and trust in Him if we want to maintain a strong relationship with Him. Each time I was a cabin leader or on support staff, I learned more about who I am as a Christian and a follower of Christ. I have learned how to build or strengthen the skills that God gave me to use towards the campers, either by teaching them about the gospel or leading them further in their faith by helping them memorize verses.

Each time I am out at camp, either in the summer, winter, fall, or spring, I realize why I do what I do and why God keeps bringing me out each year. Not only do I do it because it is fun and I create so many memories, but I do it for God. One thing that one of the staff members said that always stuck with me was the phrase "we do everything for God". Cabin leader, team captain, kitchen help, and even cleaning the washhouse, I do it for God. Camp of the Woods is a special place in my heart, as it taught me how to live as a disciple of Jesus and taught me how to guide kids to Jesus. Camp of the Woods has been an important part of my life for 18 years, as it has allowed me to learn the importance of camp ministry, continue to grow in my faith, and overcome any challenges that came my way. Camp always reminded me of why I chose to be a Christian and attend Bible camp and it gave me the courage to step into the new adventures of Bible College.

Camper Parent Story - Kara

Fri, 27 Feb 2026 17:31:27 GMT

Rye and Sully's Camp Experience

Camp of the Woods has quickly become a highlight of the summer for our boys.

My oldest son, Rye, went to camp for the first time in 2023. He was a timid, but eager 8-year-old, excited to experience his first-ever summer camp. New to the area, Rye had not yet made any friends his age before attending camp.

“How are you feeling?,” I asked him, driving down the camp road on the way to his first week at Camp of the Woods.

“Excited…” he smiled, “and a little nervous.”

I was excited for him too (and a little nervous) but prayed that the Lord would give him good friends, good cabin leaders, keep him safe and draw Rye to Himself.

When we came to pick Rye up from camp after his first week, we couldn’t wipe the smile off his face if we tried. He introduced us to new friends, cabin leaders and eagerly filled us in on everything he had done the past week.

This summer will be Rye’s third year at camp and his younger brother’s second year and they’re already talking about it! They love paintball, archery, team games, camp food (dessert ��), staying up later than normal, meeting new friends and having a week of non-stop FUN!

As a parent, I love that Camp of the Woods staff is sincere and intentional in the ways they love our kids. They send birthday and Christmas cards addressed to each boy– their faces light up as they read them. My heart lights up too as they read the cards – it’s comforting to know that others are pouring into my kids and showing them love.

I also love seeing my kids open their bibles and flip to the highlighted passages that they learned while at camp. They still remember verses from last summer and the one before that!

Investing in our kids by sending them to Camp of the Woods is, yes, investing in fun (and maybe investing in a little more quiet around the house ��), but more importantly, it’s investing in things that are forever – that last for eternity – their faith. My main hope and prayer is that my children will know the God I know and love so much – and I think Camp of the Woods is a place where they can learn more about God and develop their own relationship with Him, as they see other people they respect who know and love God too.

Huge thank you to Camp of the Woods for providing a fun and safe place for our kids to be independent from us, learn and try new things, make new friends and learn about who God is and what he is like.

Kara, Camper Mom of Rye and Sully

Heart For Missions Story - Carol

Fri, 23 Jan 2026 18:05:28 GMT

Carol's Camp Experience

As I reflect on 2025, I can’t help but think of my very first (finally!) trip to Camp of the Woods! I was able to participate in a work trip in June to help prepare for the summer camp season. I was not expecting to be affected the way I was. It brought back so many memories and emotions as well as new experiences and connections.

During my college years, I spent a summer on staff at a Bible Camp in the Santa Cruz mountains in California. Throughout the summer, “My Campers” ranged from older elementary-aged kiddos to special needs adults. There were amazing times of bible study, sharing, games, skits, food and fellowship. Relationships were formed, one of which was with my future husband, but others with fellow staffers and campers. It was a very special time.

Jump ahead almost 45 years to Summer 2025… finding myself back “at camp”, in another beautiful setting, with old friends and making new ones. I had no idea how much I needed this change of scenery, this time of retreat, refocus, and renewal. There were quiet mornings listening to the birds sing (and occasionally spotting a new one), times of sitting in the chapel contemplating scripture or a devotion, as well as preparing the lodge and other areas for the onset of campers arriving in a few weeks, with games and fun in the evenings. I think the thing that impacted me the most was something Johnnie shared at morning devotions one day, based on Prov. 27:17 “Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.” He challenged us to ponder, “Are other people better for being with you?” Part two of that was another question, “Am I surrounding myself with people who do the same for me?” There was a lot to consider in those two questions! I do hope and pray that I am a blessing to others, and that the light I shine reflects Jesus! I still think on those questions as they pop into my head!

I must admit, when our week was up, I was not ready to leave, but I knew I was better for spending that time away. I would encourage others to take advantage of any opportunity to get away from their day-to-day responsibilities and enjoy a change of scenery and time of ministry while surrounding yourself with a beautiful part of God’s creation at COTW! You may be surprised to see how God meets you when you set aside your expectations and open yourself up to His possibilities!

Volunteer Story - Will

Mon, 15 Dec 2025 16:26:30 GMT

Will's Camp Experience

This past summer I had the opportunity to help at the camp for two weeks. When I first signed up I had some concerns that they would have a little trouble finding roles were I could be helpful, because of some physical limitations that I have. When I had the interview with Mr. Kane, it really helped to ease a lot of the concerns I had and realize that they had lots of experience and I'd be in good hands. This positive interaction was one of many I had with the staff and volunteers. Everyone was so friendly and I had opportunity to work with and meet a bunch of new people.

I specifically was involved in the canoeing specialized activity. This was not something I had much experience in, but Johnnie and Aubrey were great instructors and very patient as I started to catch on a bit. One of the other highlights for me was the opportunity to be involved with the worship. This was great to be able to worship with new friends.

While I was there, there were times I fell into comparing myself with others, and felt like maybe, in comparison, I didn't have much to give. At one point somebody shared about godly motivation, and that what you do should be done for God. This helped remind me that my worth and satisfaction can only be found in Christ and that God's power is made perfect in weakness. This reminder has been something I have been able to look to over the time I've been home since then. I look forward to the next opportunity I have to return to the camp!

2 Corinthians 12:9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Volunteer Story - Scott

Thu, 13 Nov 2025 21:42:26 GMT

Scott's Camp Experience

I had first heard about Camp of The Woods in 2022 through my church’s youth group. Our Pastor PJ had been connected with camp for a number of years , and asked if we would be interested in going for one of the mission weeks the following summer. After taking it up with our church we secured funding and a vehicle to get to camp.

That week at camp was big for my journey with Christ. Getting to see the Lord working through people whether it was the camp staff or other mission campers was what I needed to take the next step in my faith. It left me and others from my group with a longing to go back to camp so we tried to make plans to staff the following summer. But our schedules didn’t allow us to go for a few weeks or even for a week other than the youth group trip.

When our youth group got to camp for mission 3 in 2024, it was just as good as the previous summer. We had more opportunities to connect with the summer staff and some of the permanent staff as well. Meeting some of the staff and getting to hang out with some of them gave us a little more insight on how things worked at camp. After talking to people at camp God continued to put staffing on my mind.

After months of going back and forth if I wanted to go, I sent in my application to staff for 10 weeks. When I heard that camp would have me I was ecstatic. I quickly found someone that could drive me to camp, and we were on our way a few months later.

Arriving at camp I was greeted with open arms from everybody. As I settled in I got to learn more about how camp worked and started learning the different jobs at camp. When camper weeks started it was a bit of a shock to me, because of how different it was to the mission and training weeks. However, different camper weeks were great to get to know the campers and share the gospel with them.

One of the best parts of staffing was getting to make friends with the other staffers. Meeting other Americans and Canadian staffers will have a life long impact on me. Some of these people have helped improve my prayer life and helped me to get back on track with the Lord in certain areas. Thank you, Camp of The Woods!

Intern Story - Kaden

Tue, 28 Oct 2025 16:22:34 GMT

Kaden's Camp Experience

I have been coming to Camp of the Woods for as long as I can remember. My parents first took me with them to camp when I was very little and I have been coming ever since. I love camp and, although I have never been a camper, I have always enjoyed being involved there in some capacity. My first summer as Summer Staff was in 2023 and it was one of the best summers of my life. I went back during the summer in 2024 and 2025. Each summer I stayed for a longer period of time. For a long time the possibility of serving as a Ministry Intern at camp had been on my mind. Finally, after a lot of thought and prayer, I believed that God had opened the door for me to do a year-long internship out at Camp of the Woods. Before Summer 2025, I began raising support for this internship and God graciously provided me with the support I needed to start my internship in the fall.

Camp has impacted me in many ways over the years. It has helped me learn how to work hard, do a good job, interact with a variety of different people, and, most importantly, it has helped show me how to share God’s love with others through the good news of the Gospel. Before coming to camp, I had never really done anything like sharing the Gospel with a bunch of kids. It was unfamiliar to me. I was much more comfortable with the maintenance side of things at camp. I could mow lawns, stack wood, clean washhouses and work in the shop no problem. I enjoyed those things. Sharing devotionals in front of a group of campers, however, was not in my comfort zone. The amazing, and sometimes scary thing about camp, however, is that it is all about breaking down those comfort zones and causing us to look to God for strength. Since coming to camp and attending camp’s Staff Training, I have not only gotten to share the Gospel with kids, but I have learned that I actually enjoy it. I love spending time with and getting to know the campers during the camp weeks and I am excited that I get to be a part of sharing God’s Word with them.

While one of camp’s main goals is to share the Gospel with kids, camp is also a great place for the individual believer to learn and grow in his/her own personal walk with Christ. I have greatly appreciated the time I have been able to spend growing in my own walk with Christ while at camp. Morning and evening devotions, personal Bible reading, and simply sitting quietly and talking with God, are all things that have impacted my Spiritual walk while at camp.

I can feel God working at Camp of the Woods and it is really encouraging. I have really enjoyed being able to work alongside so many incredible people on the Summer Staff Team. It is truly amazing to me how so many people from so many backgrounds and situations are able to come together and work as a team in order to accomplish God’s purposes. Camp will always hold a very special place in my heart and I hope God will give me the freedom to keep coming back.

Intern Story - Hayden

Tue, 28 Oct 2025 16:04:57 GMT

Hayden's Camp Experience

I grew up in a small town in Northwestern Ontario 3 hours south of camp. I attended a camp near where I lived ever since I was old enough to go and dreamed of one day becoming a staff at the camp. However, due to a variety of factors, the camp had to sadly shut down right before I was old enough to staff. Despite this, God allowed me to serve in other ways in my community, but I had a longing and a desire to serve and to give more.

My youth group came to camp in 2023 for a winter retreat. During this retreat I got to see the facilities at camp and to see the people. At the end of the retreat, the camp staff played a summer staff promotional video, and after the video I said that I was going to come as summer staff. However, it wasn’t until 2024 that I decided to come for a week as a staff.

To me camp is a place where God is very obviously present and working, and when I came for a week, God placed it on my heart to come back for two more weeks that summer. The 3 weeks of camp that I spent here changed my life. What I got to experience, and what I saw at camp changed my perspective and encouraged me to take further steps to deepen my faith.

I got to experience love from people who had no idea who I was, and how to show love to others. The spiritual theme at camp that summer was love, and I haven’t seen an atmosphere like that before, where everyone was cared for, everyone was checking in on each other and when they weren’t okay, people would run to them and make sure they were okay.

After that summer, I left feeling wishing that I could give more. I had one camper give his life to Christ, but I wanted to help him with his faith, but I did not live near him. I wanted to pour out into his and other campers' lives. So I looked into options at camp to see how I could do that, this led me to become a camp intern. I could live at camp and pour into campers and other staff year round. So a week after I graduated, I moved to camp. Camp is amazing, God is visibly at work in everyone’s lives. The staff at camp want everyone who comes to camp to get one step closer to Jesus. Whether that is their first step, or one of their many steps with the Lord. I got to see 7 campers give their lives to Christ, and I’ll get to see where they go with their new faith. Camp is a pretty sweet place, but you’ll only understand what I’m talking about if you come check it out yourself!

September 2025 Newsletter

Sat, 04 Oct 2025 23:32:34 GMT

September 2025 Newsletter

Family Camp Story - Amanda

Wed, 10 Sep 2025 15:10:40 GMT

Amanda's Camp Experience

We had always heard such great reviews about Camp of the Woods, but it still felt like a big thing to send our kids to a new place by themselves. So when Family Camp was offere d in 2021, we were excited to have our first COTW experience together as a family.

Family Camp gave us a chance to see what camp was all about. We participated in the staff-led activities like hikes, archery, the rock-climbing wall, and sling shot course. It was so hot that week, I'm pretty sure we spent about half the time swimming in the lake! When we told the staff we were considering sending our kids to camp the next summer, they talked about the camper schedule and showed us inside camper cabins. Our time there as a family confirmed in our minds and really made the kids excited to come back the next summer as campers.

Since then, our kids have gone to Camp of the Woods every summer and have made so many great memories. For the past few years, some of our nieces and nephews from Thunder Bay have joined our kids at camp as well, and always have a great time. I didn't want to miss out on the fun, so I have volunteered in the camp kitchen the same week that our younger kids go as campers. I always look forward to my time there, and it is truly a blessing to serve at Camp of the Woods!

COTW has so many wonderful staff and willing volunteers who rotate jobs and help each other so the work is fun to do. It really is such a great example of how the body of Christ is - we all have different skills and talents that God has given us. We are better together!

Watching two of my children get involved as volunteers at camp this summer was the icing on the cake! Both of them enjoyed helping out so much that they are already talking about doing it again next year.

Camper Story - Savannah

Mon, 02 Jun 2025 21:04:24 GMT

Savannah's Camp Experience

I’ve been attending Camp Of The Woods since around the age of five or six. Each summer my family would take about three weeks to help out and volunteer at camp. At that age I was not able to be a camper, so I did what I could to help my parents and others with chores around camp and participating in camp activities. I was eagerly waiting to become a camper myself. I have many great memories of being out there with my family, and surrounded in a welcoming, loving, and Christian environment.

My very first year as a Camper was when I was seven. It was a bit challenging being apart from my family for so much time each day, even though they were helping at camp. I remember how understanding, kind, and thoughtful the staff were, welcoming each camper with open arms including myself. They were able to help me have an amazing experience at camp and create long lasting memories. Now, each year I look forward to attending camp as a camper. Every year I have a blast, and I have made many new friendships throughout the years at camp. I enjoy the activities at Camp, but most importantly learning more about God, and His love for us.

Now I’ve reached the age to serve as camp staff. The opportunity to be able to serve at camp, be immersed in God's love, and contribute to tasks around camp has been amazing, and I am extremely grateful. I look forward to sharing Christ's love with the campers, and sharing how wonderful God is. I want to help future campers to have just as much fun or more as I did when I was a camper. Camp Of The Woods has been an important part of my faith journey. The lessons I’ve learned, the memories I’ve gained, and the friendships I’ve created at camp have helped shape who I am today.

Camper & Volunteer Story - James

Wed, 07 May 2025 15:24:47 GMT

James' Camp Experience

My first time going to camp as a camper was back in the summer of 2014. I found out about camp because the Bates family attends our church. That first summer, I had so much fun that I kept returning for as long as possible. I remember one or two summers when I even did multiple weeks.

One thing that I enjoy about camp each year is the team games that we do. It brings a competitive atmosphere but also an opportunity to get to build relationships with the people that are on your team. Another thing that I looked forward to every year was the amazing and loving environment camp brought. The people who volunteer there always show genuine care for the kids and a desire to share the Gospel. Going to camp as a kid helped show me the love of Jesus Christ, and I was able to learn more about his plan and what he had done for me. This gave me the desire to want to go and serve at camp and show the same love of Christ that I experienced to the kids that would be coming in the future. So, as I got older and wasn’t able to go as a camper anymore, I started to volunteer.

I remember my first year there was 2021, so it was during COVID. Everything was a bit thrown off, and the weeks were shorter, so it was a bit of a different experience, but I enjoyed every second of it. From then on, I volunteered there every year I could. I got the chance to be a cabin leader and team captain, and it was awesome getting to connect with the kids and show them the love of Christ that I experienced as a camper. It was also amazing to see how the staff built each other up and were always so happy to serve. While being there, I realized how important it was to find rest and energy in the LORD. Although volunteering at camp can be such a joy, it can get tiring too. As the weeks went on and it was harder to keep on, I learned to lean into the LORD and trust in him to give me strength and energy.

Volunteer Story - Ben

Fri, 11 Apr 2025 16:05:34 GMT

Ben's Camp Experience
My family and I have been connected to Camp of the Woods for a number of years. I first heard about it back in 1996, when people from my local church were going up, getting on-fire for Jesus, and then coming home to both serve locally and surrender their lives to full-time ministry service. From the first time I heard about it, I knew there was something special about the ministries of Camp of the Woods.

I first went to camp in 2011, after meeting the Bates family at our church’s missions conference in Alabama. I was there to speak to the staff as they prepared for the summer. I had my wife and two small children with me, and we had a truly incredible week serving the Lord, rubbing shoulders with the wonderful staff, and enjoying the beauty of Northwest Ontario in June. We worked together, learned together, and had a whole lot of fun doing it. We did not really know what to expect, but discovered joy in just serving the Lord with the wonderful people He called to that place. I returned a year later during one of the camp weeks with a group of college students in tow. Each of them got immersed in the ministry- some as counsellors, some as kitchen workers, one as a photographer chronicling the week, and some bounding around doing random jobs. Some spent their days cleaning, others cutting and stacking wood at the woodpile. No matter how hard they worked, every one of them, when we returned home, spoke of the great experience they had at camp. We could see what God was doing, and how He was using the camp to change lives and call people to Himself. And so, we knew it was a worthwhile venture to travel 1,500 road miles to the middle of the Canadian wilderness.

In 2023, my children and I returned with a group from a church where I was serving in California. This time we brought teenagers from the church for mission week. My children, who were 5 and 3 when they first went, were now 17 and 15 respectively, facing a very different set of duties. Once again, we immersed ourselves in cutting wood, repairing and preparing cabins and facilities, decorating for camp, and a host of other duties. Again, we could see that God was at work, this time bringing our group together with the other groups from other states, connecting His people for His work. My children could not stop talking about how much fun they had, and how eager they were to go back. The families we brought with us fell in love with the camp and with the people they met, leading the way for our church to begin supporting the ministry financially. One member of our team even got under conviction that he needed to use his skills and abilities to go back and rebuild the sound system in the chapel to set the camp up for years to come. For me, it was amazing to see how God used our partnership with Camp of the Woods to grow our people, to build their faith, and to expand their view of God’s Kingdom work. In 1996, I heard about how special it was, in 2025, I know from experience.

Camp of the Woods is one of those “thin places” you go to hear from the Lord, where it seems like He speaks louder and clearer, where His direction seems stronger. Over the years, we have returned because we know that God is at work. As Henry Blackaby has said, “look to see where God is working and join Him.” That is why I love Camp of the Woods. It is a place where God is working, and when we go there, we get to be part of His work.

Family Camp Story - Coby

Fri, 28 Mar 2025 16:07:29 GMT

Coby's Camp Experience

My family and I first experienced Camp Of The Woods by attending their Fall Family Fun Day which was advertised at our church. It was so well organized with amazing activities for the whole family. We got the opportunity to explore the property with a beautiful hayride and had incredible interactions with the many friendly staff members.

Since then, as a family, we were fascinated with their ministry. My husband and I have two children and looked forward to the day they were old enough to attend Summer Camp. When our oldest turned 8, she was so excited! She came home with so many stories and new friendships and we loved being able to see what she learned. At the end of the week of summer camp, parents and families are invited to attend the last chapel. Here, our daughter played drums to a song she learned during the weekly activities. We also got to see a slideshow of all the fun and learning that took place over the week. Since then, our children look forward to attending summer camp each year.

The other aspect of Camp of the Woods that we all regularly look forward to is their Family Camp. My parents, and their foster children, along with two of my brothers, and our whole family thoroughly enjoy the chance to spend quality time together. The cabins are incredible and offer all the comforts of home. Family Camp is three days of the most rest and relaxation we get. Normally, you go on vacation and come home feeling like you need a week off from your getaway. Staying at COTW is peaceful and secure. We never have to worry about the kids being in danger as everything from the trails to the activities to the roped off swimming area are safe. The staff offer multiple activity options throughout the stay which you can participate in or not. Every activity is well-led!

Families may choose to spend time in their cabin or explore the many amenities camp has to offer: hiking, canoeing, swimming, beach games, water trampoline, frisbee golf, archery, and so many more. There are activities for all ages. The lodge offers ping pong and games, there is a playground for children, rock climbing wall and riflery, paddleboards and a slingshot course for the older ones and those young at heart. No matter the weather, we are never bored at Camp of the Woods.

Family Camp is such an incredible experience where we can enjoy time with family but others as well if we choose. We have met new families and old friends each summer. Camp offers the opportunity to build relationships as well as grow closer to God. Wonderful chapel services are offered every evening which one may choose to attend or not. There is never any pressure.

There is also a meal service option that families can purchase where they gather in the lodge to receive a delicious supper and eat as a family group or mingle with others. It is another fantastic way to relax and simply enjoy time together and not have to worry about cooking at the end of the day. The meals are family friendly - kid approved - and incredibly filling. There is always so much food that they encourage you to go back for more. You truly can’t get that kind - or amount of food - for their ridiculously low price. Our kids have their favourite camp dishes that they look forward to both at Summer Camp and at Family Camp. Having volunteered at camp, I can attest to the amount of time, effort, and detail that goes into the menu planning as well as the love that goes into the food and desserts!

We are counting down the days to summer and being back at Camp again. Kids are registered for Summer Camp and we have already booked a cabin for Family Camp. We love all that Camp of the Woods has to offer!

We are inspired by their ministry and love to give back whenever and wherever we can. Camp has recently introduced a tiered payment system for their summer camps. I highly encourage anyone who can give a little more, to do so; your investment will be put to good use. The Camp grounds and facilities always look amazing but it takes time and money to upkeep. Join Camp of the Woods mailing list and you can learn about the amazing things they offer as well as their needs to make it all happen. Lastly, because times can be tough and it’s not always feasible to give financially, consider volunteering your time during Camp Clean Up Days for instance, or for their incredible other ministry opportunities. Camp of the Woods offers free activities throughout the year that allow campers to continue to hear the gospel and maintain friendships.

Volunteer Story - Jon & Sara

Mon, 03 Feb 2025 19:20:22 GMT

Jon & Sara's Camp Experience

Jon and Sara have been coming to Camp of the Woods for many years now. They started coming as teenagers and have spent lots of time at COTW over the years. We love getting to visit with them and watch their daughter experience camp! We asked them to share a little bit about their time at camp and the impact it has had on their lives. Here's what they had to say!

We first came to COTW when we were 15. Jon came during missions camp with his youth group and Sara during work teams with her family. COTW became a huge part of our lives and spiritual journeys. God used COTW and the mentorship of Johnnie and Becky Bates to ignite a passion for missions and display a tangible faith in action. The friends and relationships we have developed over the years have weathered the test of time and distance. If you’re looking for a place to serve and grow in your walk with Christ, COTW is for you!

2025 Fundraising Project

Thu, 23 Jan 2025 00:33:29 GMT

Partner with camp to raise $200,000 for Lodge Renovations

As we come into 2025, we’d invite you to financially partner with COTW and make a donation as we raise funds for a major renovation of the lodge , our busiest building at camp!

In 1987 the original lodge was destroyed by fire on a cold night in February. It was a tragedy but also an opportunity to trust God and his plans for camp. This became an important story shared by our founder, Garland Cofield for years afterward.
It hardly seems possible looking back today, but through an incredibly generous and faithful group of churches and individuals, the ruins were cleared, funds were raised, and a brand new building (our current lodge) was completed in time for summer camp that year. The lodge is 36’x68’ with a fully furnished commercial kitchen (26’x44’) and wrap around porch.
Over the years the building has experienced significant shifting from the annual frost that heaves up the piers that support the structure. As a result, the floor is often unlevel, doors and windows stick in their frames, and the porch slants a bit.
To build a new building would be $500/sq ft plus significant costs for site work and utilities. A renovation is a much more cost effective solution than new construction.
In addition to the foundation work , we anticipate upgrading some of the kitchen equipment that is as old as the building, possible window upgrades , and a new floor for the main lodge. Much of the work could be accomplished without a disruption to the summer season, which is really important for continuing programs.
The total cost for renovating the lodge is estimated to be $200,000. This is a significantly larger fundraising project than camp has pursued before, so we are looking to raise this money over two years. Generous partners have already given toward this expense, but we still need to raise $91,943 .

Giving Tuesday was December 3 and many generous partners donated to get us closer to our goal! Camp of the Woods is a great charity to invest in and your gift will help us keep campers, families, and staff fed, entertained, and encouraged for years to come! 2025 is camps 60th anniversary, so consider a donation in honour of this milestone!

Visit www.cotwcanada.com/donate to find out how you can send your gift and receive a tax receipt for both Canada and the US. We appreciate your generosity and partnership as we impact families and youth here in Northwestern Ontario!

Volunteer Story - Mandy

Thu, 02 Jan 2025 21:52:57 GMT

Mandy’s Camp Experience

When I first moved to Sioux Lookout, one of the first things I noted was everyone’s Camp of the Woods (COTW) merch. T-shirts, sweaters, hats, cups, and aprons; COTW was everywhere! I soon learned it was a ministry that many locals were involved in or had been campers there themselves. Being from a non-Christian family, being invited to places like camp by friends was where I first learned the gospel. At camp I could ask questions, worship with others, and develop my faith - all of which led to my eventual acceptance as Christ as my Saviour. Since moving away from home, I hadn’t been to camp in a long time, but I took the opportunity one day to visit COTW during the fall church potluck.

When I arrived at camp there were no cars in sight, nor were there any parked outside the lodge. I figured I was early so I parked my car and waited for others. As I waited, I took the time to gaze out to the sunny waterfront and the camp buildings. What a beautiful place God had provided for this ministry and community! I felt a sense of peace and familiarity, much like how I felt when I was a camper back home. Eventually more people came and I met some welcoming staff. I was encouraged by their camp testimonies and intrigued by the camp nurse position. By the end of the potluck I knew God was calling me to volunteer and I was determined to make it happen!

As an emergency room (ER) department nurse, I knew that my role as camp nurse was going to be very different. Firstly, less adults and more kids, and secondly unlike the ER, I could not send these kids home until the end of the week! For better or for worse, all I could do was pray for their safety and hope they wouldn’t mind that I was fixing their “boo-boos” instead of their parents! My day usually started with preparing scheduled home medications for the campers. Despite the rush of breakfast, I enjoyed the brief moments I had with my scheduled campers. During our exchange, we would talk about how camp was going and what they were looking forward to. It was a cheerful way to start the day before activities! Afterwards, I would trail behind the group during a hike, observe specialized activities or monitor the waterfront with the lifeguards to make sure campers were safe. Whether it be a bug bite, sprained ankle, or upset stomach, I had my nursing backpack to respond to campers when they needed me. I made sure each camper felt like their concerns were addressed and they received the medical attention they needed so that they could return to enjoying their time at camp. After all the activities were done, I prepared the evening scheduled medications and did a last call for any campers who might need my services before they went to bed.

In some cases, there were campers who needed special attention. Whether it be a cold that wouldn’t go away or a recurring stomach ache, it became an opportunity to get to know the camper better. We talked about hobbies, friends, life at home, or anything that came to their mind. Through these conversations, sometimes it was revealed it wasn’t a physical matter that was bothering the camper, but something on their mind and heart. I really cherished these opportunities to come alongside the camper and their counselors to talk about what was going on. Together, we leaned on God's Word and the lessons taught to prayerfully support the campers through whatever they were experiencing. God heals in all sorts of ways! Sometimes that was all it took or they would return several more times, but I did my best to make sure they knew I was there for them and most importantly, so was God!

When campers show up for their week at camp, we as staff can imagine (for the most part) what their week is going to look like. Evening messages, swim time, specialized activities, and delicious meals are only the highlights! Though for what things are like outside of camp; we might not be as clear. A non Christian home (like myself), trouble in school, and problems with friends might just be the beginning of the minefields campers are navigating outside of camp. Camp is not only a physical retreat, but a time away from the busyness of life. It is time to fellowship with brothers and sisters, reconnect with Christ our creator of the beautiful scenery around us, and have some fun! That is the peace I experienced when I first arrived at camp, and I am sure it is felt among every camper, as well.

It is amazing how God has brought together such a dedicated team of servants willing to be passionate ambassadors and witnesses of Him in Northwestern Ontario. COTW truly strives to ensure that no matter how long campers stay for the summer, or even throughout the year with Wilderness Bible Club and camps, that God’s presence, love, and grace is felt in every interaction. I am so grateful to have been able to serve here last summer, and I hope to return (with others) for many more to come!

Camper & Volunteer Story - Joella

Wed, 11 Dec 2024 21:43:02 GMT

Joella's Camp Experience

I first attended COTW in 2017 when I was 10. I loved it there, the people and environment is incredibly friendly and decided I wanted to go as much as I could. I ended up going every year except 2021 and 2024.

I remember that I had been asking people how old I had to be to staff from year 2. I wanted to be able to help out the people that did so much for me throughout the years.

In 2023, I was old enough to staff so I signed up for a week, which turned into 4. Initially I was against being in a cabin because I didn’t think it was something I’d be good at but after my first week I decided to try it out and I loved it. My experience was amazing and I decided to go back in 2024. I was in a cabin again and loving it.

Camp of the Woods is a wonderful environment and being there as both camper and staff I have learned so much and been able to grow in my relationship with Jesus more than I thought I could. COTW is a great place to make friends and learn more about God. I would recommend it to everyone!

September 2024 Newsletter

Wed, 18 Sep 2024 17:27:13 GMT

September 2024 Newsletter

Volunteer Story - Stephanie

Fri, 31 May 2024 23:17:37 GMT

Volunteer Story - Stephanie

Camp can mean a lot of different things to a lot of different people. To me, camp has always been a place of adventure and fun. A place where I could be challenged in my faith. I grew up in a small Northwestern Ontario town 3 hours south of Camp of the Woods, which up until a few years ago I had never heard of. I was very involved with the camp in my area. We rented a facility for two weeks every year: 1 week of junior camp and 1 week of teen camp. As soon as my friends and I were old enough to go to teen camp we’d spend the first week volunteering at junior camp and then stay for teen camp. Eventually I was too old for both and volunteered both weeks. Unfortunately, due to many different factors, the facilities we rented were no longer an option and we no longer had a place to host overnight camp. Thankfully we have found creative ways to still reach the children of our area but I felt very sad to not have a camp I could still help at. God saw my sadness though, and provided an opportunity for me to hear about Camp of the Woods!

As I reflect on my many years of camp ministry, many different people come to mind. Speakers, cabin leaders, cooks, lifeguards, nurses, and campers to name a few. What seems true for many camps is the community and family that is built in and around them. Relationships are built, memories are made, mistakes are learned from, and challenges are overcome, all while living in community with others who have a heart for camp ministry. I often get asked “why do you spend all year teaching 4 and 5 year olds and then spend your summer serving at camp? The answer is simple –Jesus, community, and opportunity. As a follower of Jesus, I am called to share his love with others. This can be done in so many ways, but I love getting to be a part of this larger community that has an amazing opportunity to reach so many children in fun and special ways. We may hold to different views or opinions, but one thing connects us all – to make Jesus known to these precious children and teens.

So then how did I end up at Camp of the Woods? Well, the years of COVID are not something that most of us like to look back on, or even talk about, but it was because of the restrictions we were all facing that Nathan reached out to me that first year. Because of the border being closed, COTW needed volunteers for camp. Nathan, being from the same area as me, knew that I had helped for many years at my camp and that it wasn’t running anymore so he asked if I would consider coming to help at COTW. So the summer of 2021 I came for the first time to Camp of the Woods, and I am so glad I did!

I always get super nervous the first time I do something or go somewhere and going to Camp of the Woods for the first time was no different! It didn’t take long, though, to feel that sense of community in this new place. One thing that has been very clear to me from the beginning is how the leadership team at COTW truly cares for not only the physical needs of those who serve with them, but their faith and heart as well. You can tell when someone is truly listening to you and these people do!

I could go on and on about how amazing COTW is, but I think it’s better for you to find out for yourself! If you are considering camp for your child or teen – know that when you send them to COTW they are seen. They are heard. They are welcomed into the COTW family with open arms. And if you are an older person who has a desire or passion to share the love of Jesus with children and teens, it’s the same for you. You are seen, heard, and can become part of this wonderful family too.

Summer Staff Story - Kevin

Wed, 01 May 2024 16:11:00 GMT

Summer Staff Story - Kevin

If someone asked you to travel 1800km away from home (19 hours worth of driving), to a bug infested, remote camp, without any Wi-Fi or cell service, 45 minutes to the nearest town, to spend 3 weeks supervising kids with loads of energy, all as a volunteer, most people I know would say no. Me, having just graduated university, wanted to take some time off after my many years of schooling, to relax and decompress. My sister, who had worked at the hospital in Soux Lookout the previous year, wanted to volunteer as a member of the Summer Staff at Camp of the Woods, as she felt so welcomed by the community during her time there, especially by one of the churches, who had ties to Camp of the Woods. She asked if I wanted to go with her, and since I didn’t have many plans for the summer, I agreed!

I didn’t really know what to expect, though I had been camping before with my family many times, and to overnight camp once when I was younger. I knew that there would be bugs, I’d get messy, and maybe not sleep the best, but I was excited to go, and to see the town that had been so great to my sister! I had also volunteered at a VBS in my hometown while I was in high school, so I wasn’t nervous about supervising kids throughout the day.

During my time in university, I never really made it a priority to include God in my everyday, or even weekly life, or to grow in my relationship with him. I had been raised in a Christian home, and had gone to church my whole life, but it seemed like that was simply out of routine, or the fact that someone was telling me I should do it. In university, I could always use the excuse of school and my classes to say that I didn’t have time to go to church, or say that I didn’t want to go since I hadn’t found one in the city where I was (since I moved away from home for school). I also found myself focusing a lot on the things I was doing wrong as a Christian, and not about how great God is, and how wonderful and vast his love is for me, and for everyone. This made me feel very discouraged, and didn’t have me wanting to learn more about God, since I thought that I’d just feel worse about myself.

After my three weeks at Camp of the Woods, my entire perspective on God changed, and a newfound desire to learn more and grow closer to him had been found! Not only had my time at camp allowed me to tell others about God, how great he is, and all the wonderful things he has done, but it gave me a new chance to have a relationship with Him. I no longer only focused on all of the things I was doing wrong, but looked at all the ways he had blessed my life and those around me, and worked on being a better Christian through telling others about Jesus and the ultimate sacrifice he made.

Regardless of the age group, many of the kids at camp asked some very interesting, and often funny, questions. I had never before been in the position to be answering questions about the Bible, since usually a pastor or someone who had spent many years studying the Bible would be around and willing to answer them. While most of the questions were relatively simple, some were more abstract, as a child’s mind is constantly thinking about the “why” and “what if”. These really tested my knowledge of the Bible, and the truths that it teaches and holds, but it also revealed to me the importance of the core messages from the Bible. It can be really easy to get caught up with complex situations that we encounter in our everyday lives, and become discouraged by them, but if you hold these core messages from the Bible at the center of your life, you will be securely grounded, and you will feel the blessings that are mentioned so often in the Bible. These core values are extremely relevant in my life today, a full year after being at camp, and they have allowed me to form numerous relationships in my life that I treasure dearly.

I only spe nt three weeks at camp, but I made memories that will last a lifetime. Not only did I get a hole-in-one in disk golf, become the camp champion of Ping-Pong, and eat some of the most delicious meals, I met so many fantastic people, all with such an intense love and passion for God. Camp was nothing short of life changing for me, and I don’t take the lessons that I learned there lightly; they will follow me for a very, very, long time. If you have thought about going to camp as a camper, I’d 100% recommend it! It will be the most fun week you’ve ever had, you’ll make so many new friends, learn new skills, and learn about God’s love for you! If you’re considering volunteering at camp, for any amount of time, I’d recommend it even more! Words do not do my experience at Camp of the Woods justice, just like God’s love for us; you won’t truly know what it’s like unless you experience it for yourself. Like I said before, I didn’t really know what to expect when I went to Camp of the Woods, but my expectations were exceeded tenfold.

April 2024 Newsletter

Wed, 17 Apr 2024 20:58:22 GMT

April 2024 Newsletter

Heart For Missions Story - Rebekah

Tue, 02 Apr 2024 20:46:31 GMT

Heart For Missions Story - Rebekah

My first experience with camp was when the Bates family came to my church to visit and speak in October of 2016. I honestly don’t remember much of what Johnnie talked about, considering that I was only 9. But in the summer of 2017, my older sister Rachel became apart of the summer staff team. She had caught the “camp bug” and of course wanted me to go as soon as I had the chance. I told her I would probably never end up going since the week that our church group always spent at camp was the same week as our family vacation. Well, eventually it worked out that I did end up getting to visit camp! Because of scheduling complications my Pastor Brad, my youth pastor, ended up switching which week we went to camp. So my first time actually going to camp was mission week 2 in 2023.

During that week I served in a variety of ways, including chopping and stacking wood, painting the newly rebuilt Beavers cabin, and laminating the theme verse sheets that would be hung around camp. We also spent some time throughout the week in chapel, worshipping and hearing testimonies from different staff members. There was also set aside time to spend by ourselves each morning to do our own devotional/bible reading and study. I don’t often get to spend time in quiet reflection but that week offered the opportunity to learn how to just sit and reflect which I will be forever thankful for.

Another highlight of my time at camp during the summer was getting to meet people from all over the United States and Canada. During our mission week we had groups from California and Illinois there with us. The friendships that I made that week will forever hold a special place in my heart.

After our week at camp in the summer my sister, Rachel, her roommate, Anna and I were looking for opportunities to come to camp again. We decided that we wanted to come visit for winter camp since we’d never been in the wintertime. I got to work in the kitchen during our teen overnight camp with Becky Bates and Billie Kane which was so much fun! I never thought that working in a kitchen chopping vegetables could be fun but I suppose who you are spending that time with really does make all the difference. During junior day I got to be a team captain for the first time which was a little nerve wracking but more importantly exciting! We got to spend a lot of time getting to know the kids, playing games with them, sharing meals together and learning together in chapel.

If you ever get the chance to visit camp please take it! Needless to say I’ve caught “the camp bug” and will be spending as much time at camp as I can.

Camper & Volunteer Story - Josh

Thu, 07 Mar 2024 18:17:26 GMT

Camper & Volunteer Story - Josh

Being born and raised in Sioux Lookout, Camp of the Woods has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. Some of my earliest memories happened at camp, first as a “staff kid”, then as a camper, and eventually as camp staff. I distinctly remember being at camp as a young child while my parents were volunteers. Some of us staff kids were helping to water the flowers, and as I poured the watering can on one of the flowers it strangely started to buzz… that’s where I learned to be afraid of bees.

I learned more important and long-lasting lessons at camp too. As a camper, I first learned how to be away from my parents, and how to be homesick. I learned how to overcome my fear of heights on the high dive. I learned how to do canoeing, archery, and paintball. I learned to never look a Canadian Beaver directly in the eyes. And most importantly, I learned that God created me and loved me, enough to send His Son to the cross to pay for my sin problem.

I learned even more as a staff. I learned how to take intentional time to spend with God. I learned how to live in service to others around me. I learned how to share the Gospel and my testimony simply so kids could understand. I learned how to rely on God when I came to the end of my own strength and all I wanted desperately more than anything was a nap.

Camp of the Woods is unlike any other place I’ve been. I’ve come to think of it as a “thin place”; a place where the things that so often distract us from connecting with God go away, and it becomes easier to connect with the Creator. I first heard the term from Pam Kiper, a volunteer who affectionately refers to herself as “the camp grandma”. Away from all the distractions of work, school, and cell service, surrounded by untouched nature and people who love Christ with all their being, it is almost hard to not find yourself in deep prayer and meditation. This environment became so formative in my faith journey, as I became closer to the God I was there to serve.

Over the years camp became a second home for me. I know there are so many others who feel the same way about COTW that I do. It is an incredible ministry reaching out to the youth of Northwest Ontario with the love of God and the hope of the Gospel. Even though I don’t live in Sioux anymore, I am still encouraged as I hear stories from my brother who has joined the staff team the past few summers. Camp has been a staple in the community and touched so many lives, across generations.

As I think back on these things, I resonate with Paul’s letter to the Philippians: “I give thanks to my God for every remembrance of you, always praying with joy for all of you in my every prayer, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. I am sure of this, that he who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”

2023 Year End Fundraiser Update

Tue, 20 Feb 2024 20:35:32 GMT

We reached our goal!

Thanks to the generous donations of our supporters we were able to reach our fundraiser goal to replace mattresses for our campers, volunteers and summer staff! We so appreciate everyone who made reaching this goal possible! Altogether we raised $46,086.94, surpassing our goal of $46,000! Praise God!

Now we ask that you would pray we would be able to purchase mattresses that are comfortable, rugged, and easy to clean as well as covers to help protect and extend the life of these new mattresses. Camp is a home away from home for many who come for a week or two each year. The schedule is very full so when it comes time for sleep, it is important that everyone be comfortable and drift off to sleep right away!

Camp of the Woods is a great organization to invest in as we provide an amazing summer camp experience in Northwestern Ontario. You can receive a tax receipt for your gift as we are a registered charity in Canada and in the US. Click here to see how you can make a donation today and help us shine the light of the gospel in our communities-- www.cotwcanada.com/donate .

Camper & Volunteer Story - Danielle

Fri, 16 Feb 2024 17:14:51 GMT

Camper & Volunteer Story - Danielle

Camp of the Woods is really a place like no other. My first time going to Camp of the Woods was as an 8 year old camper. It was a super fun time where I made new friends and learned more about God and His love for me. I continued to attend camp off and on as I grew up, and at the end of every week I could hardly wait for the next summer to come around!

When I was finally old enough, I became a summer staff member. Being on staff at Camp of the Woods really changed my whole perspective. I finally understood why Jesus told his disciples to have faith and receive the Kingdom of God like a child. As a cabin leader, it was amazing to see how much of an impact God had on those girls’ lives. Seeing that impact inspired me to come back for another year of summer staffing!

My second year on summer staff was similar to my first, as I was a cabin leader, team leader, and specialized activity leader! I really enjoyed those jobs, especially because they gave me a chance to connect with lots of the kids! They also taught me how to overcome obstacles and rely on God when plans change quickly! Camp of the Woods really is an amazing place where you are able to have a good time, and really connect with God.

October 2023 Newsletter

183:899381453 (Adam Kane) — Fri, 27 Oct 2023 18:31:28 GMT

October 2023 Newsletter

Camper and Volunteer Story - Sarah

Mon, 01 May 2023 17:27:23 GMT

Camper and Volunteer Story - Sarah

Camp of the Woods.

On paper, Camp of the Woods is a youth summer camp. I attended as a camper from age 8 to 16. I was on seasonal staff for many weeks (with a few gaps) when I was 15 to 23 years old, then here and there in my late twenties. And, like many young adults who have lived nearby, this extended far beyond the summer for me: I took many opportunities to join in for fall events and winter camps, Valentine’s banquets and March day camps, and visits in between. That’s my timeline.

But, as for many, Camp of the Woods is a place near and dear to my heart. It’s another home in Northwestern Ontario. I grew up in the area and watched my older sisters go to camp before me, just waiting for my turn to live the stories they came home with. Over the years, it became the place I would visit when I was home from university (or elsewhere) to see my family. It still is.

I count the current staff as dear mentors and friends.

My time at camp began as an experience.

I was a Robin, an Eagle, and a Heron, and somehow also a Beaver?

I raced to the flagpole after hearing the bell.

I crunched along the gravel on the chapel walkway where I then sang hymns and action songs (irretrievably off key, for sure).

I got teary during archery at 8 years old where I was the only girl and the only one younger than 10 and felt like the only one who just didn’t get it.

I temporarily regretted signing up for rock-climbing and paintball then later been thrilled both to rappel and see my yellow paint splattered on an intimidating 12-year old boy.

I played many variations of Steal the Bacon, Canadian Beaver, and Kickball on the ball field.

I enviously watched other kids ring the bell while not quite working up the will or the guts to compete for my own turn.

I learned I am terrible at Staff Hunt, at least as a hunter.

I clicked through disposable cameras and SIM cards capturing memories.

As I grew up around camp and moved through the decades, my experience grew up too.

I was given opportunities to watch and listen and learn, then eventually to lead.

I did front dives and back dives and synchro routines around the dock where I would later be a lifeguard.

I learned to J-stroke a canoe in the bay I would eventually swim across in the early mornings (with Adam’s go-ahead of course).

I played broomball on the ice where I would one day dive down to anchor the water trampoline to its cement block.

I hiked what felt like forever to Sundown Point with little 9-year-old legs, only to realize as a teenager that it’s not actually all that far?

I have heeded and called directions from the megaphone.

I saw friends injured in games, then dealt with wounds and mishaps years later as the nurse.

Over the years, I have had friends ask why I am still involved with camp ministry. Why go back in your twenties? And your thirties? Why still visit when you go home to see your family? Sometimes this has the underlying tone of: Haven’t you grown out of it yet?

The lasting legacy of my connection with Camp of the Woods lies in its impact on my spiritual life. It is the first place I remember hearing that Jesus lives outside of old Bible stories.

I learned that his narrative could change mine.

I saw this modelled just as I heard it told.

I learned what it means to pray.

I emailed with older summer staffers when I had spiritual questions in high school.

Staff became steadfast friends and mentors through my young adult years.

I have seen staff disagree and muddle through before finding resolution.

I have witnessed tough conversations and hard “no”s.

I have seen patience wear thin and conflict boil over.

I have seen competing worldviews as I worked alongside people who see things just a little (or a lot) differently than I do.

And particularly in these recent years, I have watched the staff at Camp earnestly and prayerfully navigate hard things. It has been a privilege to glimpse people working through how to best respect and contribute to the surrounding communities.

How to keep providing a safe “bubble” and haven for youth while not insulating from the world.

How to offer a place to get away but remain engaged both up and down the Sioux highway.

How to build an environment for summer staff to grow in ways that translate into everyday lives and real-life needs.

How to keep helpful camp traditions while actively making space to rightly honour new ways of life.

I will not pretend that Camp is a perfect place with perfect systems run by perfect people.

But I will forever be grateful for it.

Summer Staff Story - Timmy

Tue, 11 Apr 2023 20:39:53 GMT

Summer Staff Story - Timmy

I heard about Camp of The Woods a long time before I went. We lived next door to the Kane family for five years before they moved to Camp of the Woods full time. Every summer they would leave for longer and longer periods of time. During the summer I always wanted to go. Our parents talked about going for a week or two, but we never did. Then when the Kanes moved, suddenly going to Camp of The Woods was a lot more likely.

The first time I went to camp was in March of 2017. I was 14 years old. Camp season was still three months away and the lake was still frozen enough to ride snow machines on. We met the Bates and did pretty much nothing while our parents worked on the Barnhouse, which was the house the Kanes were moving into.

We came a few months later in July for two teen weeks and one junior week. I was 15 and stayed one week longer than my family for the junior week as staff. I was a team captain and from then on, I knew I wanted to come back for more junior weeks. Since then, I've been back twice. I have been a counselor, team captain, and maintenance guy. Out of all of them my favorite job is probably being counselor. But honestly, I just like being there.

Everything about camp gets me excited. I like the location, the people, and my favorite food there is probable the perogies or the mashed potatoes with roast beef. I enjoy everything from cleaning bathrooms with my friends to leading a cabin of kids with somebody I've never met. However, I especially love working with kids. I feel like God has called me to minister to them and I'm looking forward to coming back to camp this year

March 2023 Newsletter

Fri, 31 Mar 2023 22:07:39 GMT

March 2023 Newsletter

Heart For Missions Story - Jessica

Thu, 02 Mar 2023 17:23:06 GMT

Heart For Missions Story - Jessica

Hello Camp of The Woods friends! My name is Jessica. I first heard about COTW through my relatives. My aunt and uncle, Joe and Kally Remiger, had been there several summers with their kids, Payton, Sarena, and Thayne. They always shared about how much fun they had and how beautiful it was up there. My cousin Payton was also on summer staff one year and loved it. Later on I also found out that one of my distant relatives, Loraine Gonnerman actually lived at COTW a long time ago too, so I definitely have some family history there.

I first came to COTW in August of 2017 for the Heart for Missions week with my youth group from Grace Church in Mason City, IA. This was the week after the camp had their last campers for the summer. We spent the week helping the camp clean up and get ready for winter by taking down decorations, cutting and stacking firewood, organizing storage sheds, picking blueberries, taking apart the dock and bringing it and the water trampoline onto shore, deep cleaning the lodge kitchen, cleaning cabins, and whatever else they needed help with. It was nice to be able to serve the camp by helping out with these various tasks, but it was also a good week to be able to relax and have fun as well. The camp really was great about encouraging and serving us too. They challenged us through chapels after breakfast and dinner, going into quiet time following morning chapel, and just through working together in the mornings and afternoons as well. I appreciated having free time in the midafternoon and evening to get out on the lake, go hiking, play games in the lodge, etc. One thing that makes this camp unique are the families that live there. Besides being very kind, authentic, and genuine people that love God, they also work hard every year to create a place for kids to come to learn about Him and make fun lasting memories.

My favorite thing about COTW is just the atmosphere and location. It just helps me to see God’s beauty in nature–all of the trees, the lake and its incredible clearness and cleanliness, and the sounds of the birds and insects. My favorite time at camp was quiet time because I felt like I could really connect with God then. I loved to go down to the two benches beside the lake behind the lodge to read my Bible, meditate on the chapel teachings, and to pray there while listening to the waves of the lake, the wind in the trees, and the sounds of nature. I just found this so peaceful and relaxing, like there were no troubles in my world at this time to worry about. My favorite activity to do during my free time was being on the lake including swimming, tubing, paddle boarding, or canoeing. My next favorite thing to do was canoeing across the lake and hiking Bear Track Trail, especially in the evening because once you got to the top of the trail you could encounter a pretty brilliant sunset.

I loved and missed COTW so much that I came back for the Missions Week in August the next 2 years. I came with my aunt and uncle, John and Sarah Remiger, their baby Paisley, and Jon and Sara Dubon in 2018. This week was different from my last experience in that I got to meet and hang out with their summer staff more which was a blast. In August of 2019, I came with a hodgepodge of family, including my grandma and grandpa, Mike and Kathy Remiger, my brothers Grant and Joel, again John, Sarah, and Paisley, Jon and Sara, Dawn Brock, and cousins Sarena, Thayne, and Nolan. This year was probably my favorite just because so many of my relatives were able to come. There’s nothing better than being able to serve, grow, and have fun with your family at the same time! It was also a pleasure that week to reconnect with everyone and meet new people there as well through working and doing activities together.

I’ve had some really grand times at COTW and have made some priceless memories there, which is why it will always be my happy place. I highly encourage anyone that’s interested to sign up and participate in a Heart for Missions Camp. It’s a spectacular experience that you don’t get just anywhere. It’s a good opportunity to serve others and grow in your own faith. It may even change your perspective on missions and how God wants to use you in His mission field.

2022 Year End Fundraiser Update

Wed, 18 Jan 2023 00:30:21 GMT

We made it!

Camp of the Woods would like to thank all of our generous supporters who helped us to reach our goal for the fundraiser to replace camp's Acadia that was totalled in an accident with a moose last spring. Altogether we raise $40,822.40, surpassing our goal of $40,000! Praise God!

Now we would ask that you would pray we would be able to find a great vehicle. We are looking for something 7 or 8 passenger with AWD or 4WD. We'll also be purchasing winter tires to keep us safe on snowy roads! Camp vehicles are used to transport Summer Staff, in emergencies to transport campers, and for our full time staff to use as we promote camp outside of summer. It's really important that we get something safe and dependable that will last for several years.

Camp of the Woods is a great organization to invest in as we think we provide the best summer camp experience in Northwestern Ontario. You can receive a tax receipt for your gift as we are a registered charity in Canada and in the US. Click here to see how you can make a donation today and help us shine the light of the gospel in our communities-- www.cotwcanada.com/donate .

Volunteer Story - Stan

Fri, 16 Dec 2022 22:05:05 GMT

"My Home Away from Home" - Stan

My first experience with Camp of the Woods was in 1995. Our home church was looking to send a team on a short-term mission project. With help from C.S.I. (Christian Service International) I led a team to this beautiful camp. If I remember correctly, we helped build the “Bears” cabin on that trip. The camaraderie we had with the wonderful staff made for such an enjoyable time that we all wanted to return.

I remember that on another trip we helped finish the shell of the new office building. Of course, it wasn’t long before that building needed drywall, so one snowy week in February I brought another fun team, a talented bunch of guys that knew how to install drywall, drink coffee, and play in the snow (in that order!)

God blesses every team that my wife, Cindy, and I bring. Everyone has unique gifts and abilities that always seem to match the needs of the camp. I am always amazed at the beauty of creation at latitude 50, but what brings me back is the loving staff and the call to serve, to “lighten the load” in any way I can. I am a bit of a gearhead, so I tend to gravitate to the shop and turn wrenches. But there is always a way to smile and serve, wherever your talents may lie. You just have to give God the wheel and let Him steer!

Since 1965 the work of training and discipling young lives has been led by incredibly gifted and caring staff. God’s guiding hand upon Camp of the Woods is palpable. The entire staff loves the Lord, and have become family to us. It is always a joy to visit with campers and volunteers too!

Intern Story - Lauren

Tue, 22 Nov 2022 23:26:58 GMT

Intern Story - Lauren

I first came to Camp of the Woods as a mission camper when I was fifteen. My youth group came at the end of the summer to help out with taking down the decorations, picking blueberries and cutting and stacking firewood for the winter months. That week was really special to me. As we were traveling back home I just remember trying to figure out how and when I could go back. Throughout that year I kept coming back to the thought that I would really love to serve at camp. Summer 2016 I came back for my first summer on staff and I loved it! While working behind the scenes has always been my favourite, I did spend one week as a cabin leader that summer and I enjoyed it and grew a lot from that experience.

Camp has been a place where I have grown and been encouraged in my relationship with God. It's a place where I have made so many friends and so many memories. I love that people from all over come together for the common purpose of serving God and showing His love to others. This past summer was my sixth summer on staff and I have volunteered for a few winter camps as well.

For a few years now I have thought about becoming an intern. Summer 2021 I came with the thought that this might be the year that I would become an intern. It was a really big decision and one day I was praying and told God that I really wasn't sure what He wanted me to do. That night Becky was leading the girls staff devos. She was sharing about Rahab and how she wasn't trying to be a hero, she was just trying to do the next right thing. She was obedient and God used her. We talked about God opening and closing doors and how when we are obedient God will do amazing things in our lives. God just gave me a peace about coming and I felt like this was the next right thing. So in April I left my home in southern Ontario and moved to Camp of the Woods for a sixth month internship.

In October my internship was extended for another year and I took on planning and coordinating digital media and advertising. As an intern I have been given many different opportunities to work and serve here at camp and in the community. Around camp somedays that looks like helping in the kitchen, working on maintenance projects, cabin leading, planning events, sending emails, taking photos of camp events, or preparing the cabins for visitors. One of the main reasons I wanted to become an intern was to build relationships with the campers beyond just a week in the summer. During my internship I have been able to connect with the youth in the area through Wilderness Bible Clubs, community events, and the youth group at Calvary Baptist Church in Sioux Lookout.

I have really enjoyed my time here as an intern and I'm excited about this coming year! I am so thankful for this opportunity to live and serve at Camp of the Woods!

Fall Family Day is October 22

183:899381453 (Adam Kane) — Mon, 03 Oct 2022 17:16:28 GMT

Join us for this FREE event at Camp of the Woods!

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Volunteer Story--The Decorating Lady!

Tue, 04 Jun 2019 21:22:41 GMT

Volunteer Story-- T he Decorating Lady!

Nick and Tracey Sarris are from Terre Haute, Indiana. They’ve been coming to Camp of the Woods for nine years and have been doing the camp decorating for seven of those years. We asked Tracey about decorating for this year's theme, Light the Night, and this is what she had to say!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

It happens every single year. I start to plan around January and just know I’ll be completely ready and prepared before we arrive in June. We are not. We have this big pile of stuff.

We have ideas in our heads. We have dreams of a camp transformed into something new and exciting. This year the challenges have been multiplied. My sweet husband, Nick, started a new business. My daughter, Alia, will be staying at COTW all summer. My job increased my work hours. So while I hoped to have star maps drawn and planets painted, what I do have is this pile of materials. The same kind of pile God provides each camp season. He will show up in the creative minds and talented hands that will take part in the decorating process. Our efforts to show love with paper and paint and lots of staples will be honored. This year strings of lights and night skies will reflect his glory. We will be blessed to hear the reactions of the children second-hand. It’s not about the kudos and affirmations. It’s not about the ooohs and aaahs. It’s about sharing the love of Jesus and the light that his good, good news.

Keep watching for the “afters” and see what God is going to do!

Much love, Tracey, The Decorating Lady

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Here are some photos from previous summers.

2018- The Amazing Race

2017- Treasure Island

2016- COTW Labs

2015- Digging up the Past

2014- Deep Sea Discovery

Do you have a favourite theme year? Let us know! 2019 Light The Night photos coming soon!

Pack it up!

Tue, 14 May 2019 21:59:58 GMT

Pack it up!

One of the key preparations for coming to camp this summer is getting a packing plan ready. COTW provides a simple packing list every year (see below), but here’s a little more “unpacking” of that list to help you plan!

Weather is one of those things that is out of our control, but I’m really thankful we can trust God to send just the right amount of sunshine and rain each week! Campers should plan for days that are cool and rainy by bringing a jacket and a sweater or two. Warm days are when you’ll want to have some shorts and t-shirts. It’s a good idea to pack two pairs of shoes—runners are best for games and hiking. Having two pairs will be helpful if one gets wet! When the sun gets hot it’s important to have sunscreen (and we encourage a shirt/rashguard to wear at the waterfront), and your camper might want a hat too. I’m guessing you don’t like bug bites, so come prepared with insect repellent. The waterfront is a favourite location each day, and we have several wet/messy games, so be sure to pack a swimsuit appropriate for active activities. Don’t forget a towel to dry off with! Wet clothing can be hung up to dry on the cabin clothes line.

After long days of awesome activities, we want your camper to be able to rest well. Comfortable bedding like a sleeping bag and a pillow can lead to a better sleep! Showers are available, so don’t forget a towel and toiletries for cleaning up. Many campers bring a flashlight or headlamp to make that walk to the washhouse a little easier at night.

There are just a few other essentials as the bags fill up! If your camper has a Bible, they are welcome to bring it. Some campers bring inexpensive cameras (digital or disposable are fine) to help capture some of the memories. Camp will take LOTS of pictures, so don’t worry if you’d rather not send your camera with your camper! If your camper takes regular medications, our nurse will be able to hold and administer those during the week. Just come prepared with detailed instructions so that we can accommodate your camper’s needs. At the end of every week, we collect all the leftover clothing that is found around camp and do our best to locate the owners. This is WAY easier when we find the camper’s name on the tag! We recommend writing your camper’s name on everything they bring to camp! We want all those clothes to return home to you at the end of the week. If you realize after camp that something is missing, we may have it in our lost and found, so feel free to message and ask. We hang on to everything (except socks and gitch)!

As a final note, there are a few things that don’t belong at camp. All electronic devices should be left at home, including phones, ipods, video games, etc. We also recommend that you leave expensive or special jewelry at home so that it doesn’t get lost in the lake or on a hiking trail. To help protect our campers with food allergies, please do not send snacks. Our Tuck Shop offers lots of treats every day to satisfy the craving for chips, pop, or candy. We want all campers to have a great time enjoying the games and activities while being with friends, so absolutely no tobacco, drugs, or alcohol will be tolerated.

Packing a bag together can be a great experience for families and may help build anticipation for your camper. (It may also help them to recognize and claim lost clothing items!) We hope your packing goes smoothly! If you have any questions about the packing list, please feel free to contact us!

Volunteer Story -Pam

Tue, 07 May 2019 22:19:39 GMT

Pam

Can I tell you the amazing story of how we got to Canada?

Phil went to Camp of the Woods with his church in 1971 & 1972. In 1973, he was able to spend the summer there on staff.

Jump forward 32 years…

Phil and Pete Van Dyken decided to go to Canada to fish, and they decided to fish in the area around COTW because Phil loved it so much. Each year Phil took time to wander around camp to reminisce and take pictures. He did the same for the next four years.

Pete became mission leader at our church and determined to find John Cofield, one of the members of the family who founded the camp. John is our age and went to Tennessee Temple with us. Pete found John & family in MacDonald, Tennessee, and arranged a meeting for us all. It was an immediate connection. John invited us to come to camp for a couple of weeks is the spring.

We went to camp for Phil to fish and for me to help prepare for camp in May of 2010. The theme of camp was “The Amazing Race,” and I was able to help develop the race, since I have created several “races” through the years. We had a wonderful time and felt very much like we had found a ministry to be a part of.

In 2012, after we retired, we began spending the entire summer at Camp of the Woods. Phil continued to serve through taking people fishing, helping with kitchen duties, and assisting in the camp program. I made a strong connection with Adam Kane, the program director. He and I were both teachers, and we had similar teaching styles. I began helping with game times, leading the morning hikes, telling Bible stories, as well as helping with kitchen duties and other activities around camp. It felt clear to me that everything I had done up to that point in my life had prepared me to do what was needed at Camp of the Woods. This is why Ephesians 2:10 resounds with me and is one of my favorite verses in the Bible. It says “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

There are many reasons Phil and I love Camp of the Woods. We treasure the beauty of the place. The magnificence of God’s creation is on display all around us. Another reason we love it is that it gives us a purpose in our lives. Sometimes people can struggle in retirement with having meaningful work to do, and camp fulfills that for us.

But the most important reason we love Camp of the Woods is the connections we have made and the relationships we have built. The Bates and the Kanes have become dear friends over the years, and now we add the Jurrens too. There are so many good and faithful supporters of camp that come year after year, and they too have become people we love very much. And finally, there are the young summer staffers that we have had the pleasure of introducing to camp and working with there. We think that the ministry we do with these young people who come to serve for the summer is the most important work that happens at camp. To be able to sit with young adults at such a formative age is a privilege and a joy.

And so, this summer will be our tenth summer to be connected to Camp of the Woods. We are looking forward to the work, and seeing what God will do in our midst. Once a visitor came to camp and in talking to us said, “It’s a really great thing that you and Phil come up here and give up your summer to work at camp.” We both reacted the same way. We replied, “We never feel like we’re giving anything up. We can’t believe that God lets us be here and has made Camp of the Woods such a beautiful part of our lives.”

How the Waiting List Works

Tue, 23 Apr 2019 21:50:54 GMT

How the Waiting List Works

Camp weeks are filling up! So what are the options if you haven’t gotten your camper application in yet, and you don’t want your camper to miss out on all the fun this summer at Camp of the Woods? ACT NOW to get your camper application in—visit www.cotwcanada.com ! But if your first choice is full, then here’s how our WAITING LIST works:

All camp weeks are on a first-come, first-served basis beginning when the camper application is released.
Campers receive a confirmation after a completed application AND camper fees have been received.
Space in cabins is limited, and so weeks frequently fill up. We keep the camper application on our website updated so families can see which weeks still have space available.
There are almost always spaces available in other camp weeks if their first choice is full. And even if campers don’t have a friend to sign up with them, we can guarantee they’ll have the opportunity to make a lot of new friends, no matter which week they attend!
If there is a specific week that is the only option for your camper, and it is full, we do offer a WAITING LIST which you may request to join by contacting the camp office— office@cotwcanada.com , (807)938-6469, or on Facebook @COTWCanada.
WAITING LIST spots are also first-come, first-served. If there is a cancellation or a spot opens in a week that is full, we start with the campers who have made the earliest requests and continue down the list until we find a camper who is willing and able to accept the open spot. We will attempt to contact families by phone and email.
Once a spot has been filled, the list is then updated to start with the next camper who has not yet been contacted. In other words, if a camper declines an open spot, they are removed from the waiting list.
Due to scheduling conflicts, changes of plans, illness, and a variety of other factors, spots often open for weeks that are full. We love to contact families on the waiting list to let them know that their camper can come! It feels a little like helping make a child’s dream come true!

A week of summer camp at Camp of the Woods is an amazing and awesome experience filled with fun, friends, food, and God’s love. We hope to see your camper this summer!

Intern Story-Bekah

Tue, 16 Apr 2019 21:37:01 GMT

Intern Story--Bekah

My story with Camp of the Woods actually starts back in the middle of my high school days, when I was taking summer trips up to Sioux Lookout with my youth group from Kishwaukee Bible Church in DeKalb, IL. We would come up for the week of Blueberry Fest to help run a VBS and do service projects with Calvary Baptist Church. Each year, we would spend a night out at Camp of the Woods; spending the evening tubing, swimming, eating, and just hanging out. After the trip of my senior year, I remember having a conversation with a couple of the other girls about how cool it would be to spend more than just a week serving in the community of Sioux Lookout, how great it would be to get really invested. The conversation came at the end of an amazing week, and though it was fun to think about, I wrote off the idea as a sort of mission trip emotion high. God had a very different plan though!

Fast forward two months, to about the middle of October, and I found the majority of my waking thoughts focused on Northwest Ontario. Honestly, I was pretty confused. I was finishing out school at our community college that semester, and was trying to find a sort of gap year program to leave home for a while. Sioux Lookout was just a town in another country to which I had minimal connection and definitely didn’t have any sort of gap year opportunities. Sure, I could serve at church, but I would have to find myself an apartment and a means of income; which as a U.S. citizen is virtually impossible. But the idea had been constant in my head for way too long, so I reached out to Ron and Jen Keres. The Keres’s are a missionary couple sent from my home church to a First Nations community north of Sioux Lookout. At the time, they were still in Sioux preparing to make the move even farther north. When I reached out and asked the simple question of, “Is there any sort of opportunity or possibility here for me,” they were immediately very enthusiastic about moving me up there. And I was a little bit shocked! I had expected the conversation to be the “no” I needed to remove the thoughts bugging me and get me to move on. Yeah that didn’t happen. By December, I was planning on moving to Canada to spend at least a year serving and relationship building in the community of Sioux Lookout and with CBC.

The biggest issue, however, was getting me across the border for an extended period of time. And that’s where COTW came into the picture. It was suggested to me that because camp had a great relationship with the border, I should summer staff and get a work permit through them. Honestly I do not remember how that grew into a full on internship, but it did very quickly and I am so incredibly grateful it did!

Up to the day I moved, my experience with camp included two evening visits during our summer trips and several phone calls as I prepared to move. Here I was, a person who took forever and a day to build relationships, never having been away from home for more than 2 weeks, up and moving to a different country to a camp with a handful of people I had met twice and did not remember at all and even more people I had never met…….yeah I have no idea what I was thinking. I can say without a doubt it was all God getting me up here, because there is no other way I would have dropped my life in the States for a brand new one here with as much peace and confidence as I did.

One evening Chapel, Summer 2018

From about two days after I moved, I knew COTW was going to be home. The Bates family and Kane family immediately welcomed me as their own, and it miraculously only took a couple weeks for them to become my new comfort zone. The summer was spent cabin leading, team captaining, and settling into the place I would spend the next stage of life. As fall rolled around, I quickly learned that the “off season” of camp is not an off season at all, but one that provides countless opportunities to engage with campers in town and outside the structure of summer camp. Camp was not all that I jumped into, though. My original desire to serve in Sioux was not forgotten, and as soon as the schedule allowed, I jumped in with the youth group at CBC.

Helping at Vacation Bible School with Calvary Baptist Church during Sioux Lookout's Blueberry Festival

As I write this, I’m a month shy of living at camp for two years now. The first year was full of very new experiences; from leading a cabin full of 10 year old girls to grocery shopping for one; from writing devos to welding; from jumping on keys for worship to plowing snow. The second year has been full of much of the same, but also a lot more relationship building and leadership skills development. I extended my original one-year plan for simply that; to continue the relationships I had with certain campers and a lot of the youth group girls; and it has turned into learning how to run camp events, being the person who takes initiative, and being ok with a role of leadership

Wilderness Bible Club

Three years ago, if you had told me I’d be spending the next big stage of my life interning at a Bible camp in Northern Ontario and getting invested in the community of Sioux Lookout, I would have probably laughed. But thank goodness God knows so much better than we do what we need and where we’re going, and He definitely directed this one! I’m so thankful for the challenges, opportunities, growth, and relationships He’s given me over my time here. I can’t imagine life now without my camp family; and as I prepare to move back home in the fall, I’m excited to learn life with a very different perspective. I can’t wait to see the final adventures God has in store for me over these last several months!

With campers Summer 2018

COTW Lingo

Tue, 02 Apr 2019 21:09:06 GMT

COTW Lingo

Most summer camps have a lot of things in common such as energetic cabin leaders, fun games, and lots of time spent outside. Every camp does things a little differently though. Each camp has their own “lingo” to talk about things that happen at camp. If you, or your child, is a first time camper, we hope this post helps clarify some of our special vocabulary.

Tuck - Some other camps call this “canteen” or “trading post.” Our Tuck shop has candy, ice cream treats, pop, chips, and COTW souvenirs like hats, shirts, and sweatshirts. We encourage campers to wait until the end of the week to purchase camp merchandise, so there is a less chance of misplacing it before they go home, but they are able to purchase snacks each afternoon during the week. For our teen campers and mission campers, Tuck is also open in the evenings. Junior campers are limited to two items during tuck time. All snack items in the Tuck shop are $1 or less. If campers want to purchase items from the Tuck during the week, they are to turn in their Tuck money at registration. The Tuck shop will keep a record of purchases throughout the week, and any remaining money will be returned on Friday after our closing programs.

Pla ying games and eating snacks during Tuck

Slop Bucket - At each meal slop buckets are placed on each table. In order to help clean up go more quickly in the kitchen, everyone is asked to scrape any leftover food on their plate into the slop buckets before stacking their plates and cleaning up their tables. This makes clean up go much faster, though we don’t recommend spending much time looking in the slop buckets if you get squeamish about foods mixing together!

Devos - COTW is a Bible camp so each camp week we do our best to clearly communicate who Jesus is and how we can learn more about him. One way we talk about Jesus and the Bible is through our evening chapel times, where everyone comes together as a camp to sing songs, watch a skit, and hear someone speak about Jesus and why He matters. Another way we do this is through our nightly devotional times, or “Devo” times. When the day is almost done, and everyone has gotten ready for bed, cabin leaders lead a discussion relating to the evening chapel and give the campers opportunities to ask any questions they may have.

One evening Chapel, Summer 2018

Specialized Activities - At registration on Monday, campers are able to pick four specialized activities that they want to participate in for an hour on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday morning. Some of these activities are canoeing, archery, rock climbing, ping-pong, Frisbee golf, crafts, paint ball! If campers aren’t able to sign up for all the ones they want, they may have the opportunity to do these activities with their cabins during cabin free time in the evenings.

Rock Climbing

Paintball

These are some of our most asked about terms. If we missed any, let us know!

Intern Story--Isaac

Tue, 26 Mar 2019 21:44:54 GMT

Intern Story--Isaac

I have grown up always wanting to serve God through the avenue of missions and so I have always loved hearing stories from others serving God in missions. This being the case, my first interactions with Camp of the Woods were through stories. I am from the same church as the Kane family, so I remember hearing them, after they would return from serving at Camp in the summers, share stories at church about their experiences.

Isaac at COTW in 2017

After graduating college in 2015, I spent the next couple of years working but knew that God wanted to me to pursue opportunities to serve Him in a missional context and so I as I was thinking and praying about what that would look like, God brought Camp of the Woods to mind and then provided the opportunity for me to come and serve on summer staff for two weeks during the summer of 2017. At the end of those two weeks, I knew that there was something special about Camp of the Woods and returned home knowing I wanted to return for a longer period of time.

During the next several months, through prayer and with conversations with people here at camp and back home, God confirmed the desire I had to return to Camp of the Woods. I knew it was a place where I could serve, learn, and grow in wisdom and knowledge about how to practically do ministry but also be challenged and gain more maturity in my faith. So I applied and was accepted into camps internship program and now have been serving here at Camp since May of this last year.

Isaac leading games, Summer 2018

As an intern, I have been given many opportunities to work and serve in a lot of various roles here at Camp and in the community. From cooking and serving in the kitchen, to working on various maintenance projects and daily upkeep of the camp facilities, to leading games, to being a cabin leader, to helping plan and lead events and programming, as well as being able to become involved in ministry with my local church.

Through my internship, I have been able to do a lot of learning and growing. God has definitely over this time has given me a deeper understanding of His Gospel and the importance of living it daily and letting influence every aspect of my life and daily realizing that everything that I am doing, whether big or small, reflects Him and is for His glory. Also, as someone who tends to prefers to work behind-the-scenes, this internship has allowed me to be challenged and has given me opportunities to learn and grow in my leadership abilities, whether that is in leading games, work projects, or groups. And I have been able to learn practical hands on skills when it comes to maintenance, such as how to properly load and keep woodstoves in working order as just one example.

Mailing newsletters, event invitations, and Christmas cards is always a group effort!

I am so grateful for the opportunity that God has provided for me to be part of His ministry here at Camp of the Woods and serve as an intern over this last (almost) year. I am excited to see what He has in store for these future months here at Camp!

The Wonders of Sola Granola (Camp Granola)

Tue, 19 Mar 2019 21:58:39 GMT

The Wonders of Sola Granola (Camp Granola)

One of the special treats of breakfast at Camp of the Woods is granola. About once a week in the evening you may smell a wonderful sweet aroma floating around camp. As the baker that is one of my favorite times. The granola cooks long and slow and the smell fills the room and out the window. You have already seen the step by step of another popular breakfast item, buttermilk syrup! If not, it is here on the blog, look it up!

Here is the step by step of making granola:

The first step is to mix all the dry ingredients together. Melt and stir together butter, honey, brown sugar, and vanilla. Pour over dry ingredients, mixing well .

Next spread on a baking sheet or two and cook at 275 for one hour. Be sure to stir it every 15-20 mins.

Cool and eat! Or store in a container with lid.

We always serve Sola’s granola with yogurt. If you are really ambitious you can add some fruit and make a fruit/yogurt/banana bowl! YUM!

Sola’s Granola

4 c. Old Fashioned Rolled Oats

5 c. Quick Oats

1 c. Coconut

½ c. Whole Wheat Flour

½ c. Wheat Germ/Bran

½ c. Sesame Seeds (optional)

1 c. Sunflower Seeds (optional)

1 c. Almonds or Pecans

1 tsp. Cinnamon

1 ½ c. Butter or Margarine

1 c. Honey

½ c. Brown Sugar

2 tsp. Vanilla or Almond extract

Mix together oats, coconut, flour, wheat germ/bran, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, almonds/pecans, and cinnamon. Melt and stir together butter, honey, brown sugar, and vanilla. Pour over grain and seed mixture and cook on a cookie sheet at 275 degrees for one hour. Stir every 15-20 minutes.

Summer Staff Story--Rachel

Tue, 26 Feb 2019 21:28:53 GMT

Summer Staff Story--Rachel

Each summer we pray for a minimum of 12 male and 12 female summer staff to help run our summer camps. These volunteers come from all over North America. In 2018 we had local volunteers, from Sioux Lookout, as well as volunteers from Vancouver, Colorado, Tennessee, North Carolina, Indiana, and several other states.

Rachel Titel shares a similar story with a lot of our Summer Staffers; she came as a mission camper with her youth group and fell in love with this place and the mission!

My experience with COTW started in 2015. Our church has sent groups for many years to help get the camp ready for the summer. That year however was the first time our youth group came.

Within the first day or so of being at c amp I fell in love. There’s something so peaceful about the entire place. Part of that, I think, comes from being surrounded by God’s creation.

In 2016 I convinced my best friend Kelly to come along. While we were there the staff encouraged people from our group to pray and consider becoming summer staff. I thought about it, but I really didn’t feel like it was something I could do.

In October of 2016, the Bates family came to visit our church. Johnnie spoke during our Sunday service and we shared a slideshow of pictures from our trip. It wasn’t long after that Kelly brought up the idea of coming on as summer staff. I had all types of questions plus reasons why it wouldn’t work. What about my job? How am I going to afford this? Can I really be of any use up there?

The more I thought about it, prayed and the more Kelly and I talked it became very clear to me, I was supposed to come on as summer staff. Let’s fast forward to June of 2017. We planned to come to Canada for a total of a month and stay through the two weeks of Teen Camp.

I’m a bit of a homebody so being gone for an entire month was quite intimidating. That was the longest I’d ever been away from home and it was a huge step out of my comfort zone.

I remember the first few days were hard for me. When we started, I didn’t really know anyone other than Kelly. We had a lot to learn in a short amount of time, but we ended up having a lot of fun too!

One of the things I don’t think I expected was the friendships that I found along the way. Making friends has not been easy for me. Part of that is because of my personality, but also because of situations I’ve walked through in the past. However; when you meet people who are looking to deepen their relationship with the Lord and who are stepping out to serve others, it’s amazing how quickly you begin to feel like family. And that’s what happened with the summer staff.

We spent a lot of time together that first week. I specifically remember how the other summer staff girls included those of us who were newcomers. Even though they already had established friendships, they were quick to include us. The whole staff was friendly and genuinely interested in getting to know us.

Within the first week of being at camp as official summer staff, I felt so welcome. The staff families were so encouraging and welcoming. Camp quickly began to feel like home. The staff and summer staff began to build friendships. Through quiet time, reading my bible, worship and conversation with others, my relationship with God became even more real to me.

The Lord used different people and situations to stretch me and grow me during my time at camp in 2017. That made the decision to come back in 2018 even easier.

There are so many stories I could tell about God’s faithfulness through each and every situation we experienced. I never imagined how my life would change through summer staffing. Looking back on it I think it was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.

Counseling forced me to think about my relationship with God in a different way. One particular thing that He used to stretch and grow me was nightly devotional time. Every night before lights out, the counselors would gather with their campers and have a short devotional time to talk about what they learned in chapel. I had some experience with something similar thanks to working as a youth leader at home, but this was different.

We shared the responsibility with our co-counselors, but still had to prepare a short lesson and be comfortable explaining it. In order to teach something, you need to know it yourself. There were times that I questioned my ability to know what to say. Public speaking of any kind has always made me incredibly nervous. I discovered that experiences that I’ve learned in my own life helped me to relate and engage in conversation with the campers. Those conversations are something I treasure. Getting to know the campers and be able to both learn and have fun with them is such a gift.

Something the Lord has taught me, and continues to teach me, is that when your identity is rooted in Christ and what He says about you, you have no reason to fear. Even though my gifts and talents may not be the same as others, he can still use me to impact people.

So, if you have the chance to come to Camp of the Woods, I would highly encourage you to do so. Whether that be as a camper, summer staff, serving with your family during summer camp or simply visiting for a day. Believe me, you won’t regret it. The Lord has used COTW, and those who serve there, to change my life. I will forever be grateful for the time I’ve been able to spend at camp.

Rachel is a twenty-one year old from Eldorado, Wisconsin, USA. She has lived in the Fond du Lac area her whole life. She is the oldest of four kids.

Rachel has a wide variety of hobbies including: dance, blogging, baking, listening to music, reading & spending time with family and friends. She also enjoys photography and runs her own photography business.

Rachel is involved in various ministries at her ho me church Grace Evangelical Free Church. She also works there part time as the Communications & Media Coordinator. She has a passion for missions and has served as summer staff at Camp of the Woods Ministries for two summers.

Volunteer Story--Leah

Thu, 14 Feb 2019 21:32:47 GMT

Volunteer Story--Leah

Each year, hundreds of volunteers come to Camp of the Woods from all over North America. They fill roles as cabin leaders, team captains, kitchen staff, activity leaders, and on the cleaning and maintenance crew.

Leah Hollins, sandwiched between her sisters in the photo, is from North Carolina and has grown up coming to COTW to volunteer with her family. Here is her story!

Camp of the Woods has always held a special place in my heart. I’ve known about the camp for as long as I can remember. My parents have been serving at the camp since 1996, and I have been coming to camp since 2008. Every summer since 2009, except for 2017, I’ve spent at least one week at camp with my family. I can recount countless stories from different points of view. I remember when the A-frames were re-roofed Missions 3 of 2010. I remember getting the worst sunburn the Sunday before Junior 2 in 2011. I remember Kayleigh Bates breaking the verse record and the Herons cabin winning in 2012. I remember doing kids club for the first time in 2013. I remember getting eaten alive by the bugs in 2014. I remember being a team captain for the first time in 2015 and my co-captain counting me as one of the campers. I remember staying in the Jaeb (the girl’s staff cabin) for the first time in 2016. Of all the years I’ve been coming to camp, 2018 was one of my favorites. It was the first time since 2010 that we were there during a Missions week. My mamma, little sister, and I flew up Thursday of Junior 3 and flew home Thursday of Missions 3. I think it was the shortest amount of time that I’ve spent at camp, but it was one of my favorite trips by far.

This year I had the opportunity to take a step back and enjoy the beauty of the camp. During camper weeks, everyone is always so busy that sometimes you forget to take a moment to step back and take it all in. All the trees, all the stars, the sunsets, the flowers, the lake, the storms rolling in from the lake, the calm before and after the storm, the animals and bugs, and the kids, just pause for a second to take a mental picture of that moment because nothing will ever be exactly the same as that moment. That is why 2018 was so special for me. I arrived at camp during swim time on Thursday. Everyone was going a hundred miles an hour. The lifeguards and the campers were at the lake, the rest of the summer staff were rehearsing their lip-sync to perform during snack that night, and even the kitchen staff was starting to prepare supper for later on that evening. I didn’t have any assigned responsibilities yet, so it was refreshing for the next 24-hours to view camp from the outside. I got to see all the different areas of camp working together so that the daily activities stayed on track. I also was able to purposefully spend time alone with God in His creation, and that helped prepare me for the following week and even the following year. I will always cherish the time that I have spent at camp. From hiking to canoeing to tubing to lip-syncing to star-tipping, I’ve made countless memories and friends at and through camp, none of whom I will ever forget. I am very thankful for the time that God has allowed me to spend at camp, and I look forward to the many more memories and friends that I will make at COTW!

Interested in becoming a volunteer at Camp of the Woods? Contact us at office@cotwcanada.com to find out more information.

How to Make Buttermilk Syrup

Tue, 05 Feb 2019 21:37:01 GMT

How to Make Buttermilk Syrup

A favorite staple at Camp of the Woods is our famous Buttermilk Syrup. Yum! Making buttermilk syrup is an art; an art that we would like to share with you all in order to get more of this goodness out into the world.

First off, you’ll need a large pot, the largest pot you have; ideally a stock pot. This syrup will foam to 5 or 6 times it’s original size, and if it over flows it will be a very sticky mess to clean up. (Trust us.)

Once you have your pot, you’ll also need:

1 ½ cup of sugar

¾ cup of buttermilk

½ cup of butter or margarine

2 tbsp of corn syrup

1 tsp of baking soda

2 tsp of Vanilla

First melt your butter on medium heat.
Next, add your sugar and stir, or whisk, until it dissolves. Add buttermilk and corn syrup.
Once those ingredients are blended nicely, add baking soda. (This is where you’ll start to see foam.) Stir constantly and set a timer for 7 minutes. When your mixture has started to boil, lower the temperature. (If you boil for 7 minutes straight, you’ll end up with caramel!)
After 7 minutes, remove from heat, add vanilla, and whisk together.
Serve warm over pancakes or dessert dishes and enjoy!

The Bates Family

Tue, 29 Jan 2019 21:13:47 GMT

The Bates Family

The Lord brought Johnnie and I together while attending Bible College in Florida, which is where we heard about the summer staff opportunities at Camp of the Woods. I was sure my friend Crystal and I would volunteer that summer, however long story short Johnnie was the one who spent his summer serving at COTW. The summer was 1997 and it was quite an unforgettable one for him. Johnnie returned after spending eight weeks as cabin leader and maintenance staff and could not stop talking about Canada. He returned for winter camp that December and stayed on till March to help with several projects around camp. One thing I need to mention is that he ask me to marry him the day before he left for winter camp, I said “YES” of course! Johnnie returned in March and went back to work for the family construction business and our wedding was that June. All through our relationship we had been praying about where God would have us serve Him, both of us knew God was leading us to be missionaries, we just did not know where. After we were married, we worked for the family business (Johnnie full-time, me part-time) and also helped with the youth programs at our church while continuing to pray about our future. Johnnie constantly talked about his time at COTW and wanted to go there as a couple for a week in the summer or fall to help where needed. In July, we received a phone call from the Director of COTW asking us to pray about coming and helping for several months that fall. We prayed about it and felt the Lord leading us to go. This would be my first time in Canada and Johnnie was excited to be going back and taking me with him to meet the staff and experience camp. That trip changed our lives! While at camp we both helped out in various activities and camp ministries and connected with many people in the surrounding communities. God was definitely at work in our hearts and we fell in love with this place and the people of this area. It was a beautiful fall that turned into winter and I had never seen so much snow in my life! December came and it was time to head back to South Carolina. When we returned to the states, we still were not sure where God wanted us serve Him. Should we continue to work and serve in the town Johnnie grew up in or was there somewhere else we should be? We reflected back on our time at Camp of the Woods and also prayed about joining a mission where we could travel and help other ministries with projects and short term staffing. The answer came in February. The Director at COTW contacted us and asked us to join the full-time staff that summer. We prayed and knew that this was where God was leading us. He confirmed that answer when He provided the necessary financial support and prayer partners through various churches and individuals. In May of 1999 we moved to Ontario and joined the staff here at camp. That was 20 years ago this year. There have been many adventures and amazing memories made during our time here at COTW. All four of our kids were born here and have grown up living in the bush and love it too! The stories are too many to tell in this post. So you will just have to come visit and experience it for yourself.

Becky Bates

The Bates Family 2016

From Left to Right: Emma, Aubrey, Becky, Johnnie, Luke, Kayleigh

Kanes Up In Canada

Tue, 01 Jan 2019 21:01:40 GMT

Kanes Up In Canada

Billie and I met while serving on Summer Staff in 1994. After that summer, we didn’t return to camp for many years, but we had fond memories of our time spent serving the Lord in Northwest Ontario. I became an elementary teacher which meant that our family had time in the summer for traveling to visit family, working in the garden, and picking up odd jobs. One spring I was thinking about what our family should do for the upcoming summer, and God brought Camp of the Woods to my mind. I remembered that when we had been on Summer Staff that sometimes families had volunteered and served at camp in the summer. Billie had other plans though, so we didn’t go to camp that summer. Each spring for several years, God would remind me about camp, but there were always reasons not to go back. Finally, I told Billie that I would stop asking her about camp and would instead ask God to change her heart if He wanted us to go. The following spring, John and Fawnda Cofield, former COTW missionaries and the past director of camp when Billie and I were on Summer Staff, stopped by our church on their way North to spend the summer at camp. I was out of town with all the boys, so Billie was on her own as they asked her about returning to camp with our family. Later she prayed about returning to camp, and God made it clear that we should go! That summer was the first of many that our family volunteered at camp. At first we helped out wherever there was a need. Then Adam took on the role of Program Director, overseeing the summer activities and staff. Billie became the baker in the kitchen as well as helping with the Tuck Shop. We came for two weeks, five weeks, six, seven, then eight. Camp often ran winter camps over the winter school break, so we came for those. After several years, God laid the need for following up with campers during the school year on Adam’s heart. Did God want our family to move to camp to join the ministry full time? It took several years of seeking God together, but God confirmed his plan for our family. After almost twenty years of teaching and putting down deep roots in our community in Indiana, God was calling us to full time ministry at Camp of the Woods. With the support of our church family and many friends, we were able to gather a team of financial and prayer supporters to partner with us. We moved to Canada in the fall of 2016. As we look back we are so thankful for God’s faithfulness in preparing us to serve Him. And we’re looking forward to serving here as long as the Lord allows!

Adam Kane

Program Director

Camp of the Woods

www.cotwcanada.com

The Kane Family (2016)

From Left to Right: Evan, Ethan, Alex, Schyler, Billie, Adam