Have you ever attended a 100th anniversary party?

This year, Stayner Camp and Christian Retreat Centre is offering you an unforgettable opportunity to do just that! 

‘When is it?’, you might ask. It’s in just under a month!

Come join the party this August long weekend: Friday August 1 to Monday August 4, 2025.*

Why should you attend? Your presence will add so much to the excitement of the celebrations as you and the children and youth in your life enjoy the entertainment, great music, food booths, and photo ops--in a carriage, or a 1926 Chevrolet, or next to a Conestoga wagon! 

There will be a tree for you to plant, a bouncy castle and balloon fun, plus the re-enactment of camping as it was the early days of camp meetings and frontier life. 

Come enjoy a concert under the stars with Newworldson, and worship with the Luke Langman Band.** There will also be a Pitch'n'Praise Reunion on the Friday evening of the long weekend, August 1!

We do have an update about our keynote guest speaker: We were excited to have Phil Callaway with us for the celebration, but he is unfortunately dealing with serious health issues (please pray for him) and has had to cancel his engagement with us. However, our Family Camp Program Manager, Tim Loveday, after an exhaustive search, discovered Rev. Bruce Belair, from Nova Scotia. Bruce has a youthful heart for Jesus and for leading people to Him, and we're looking forward to hearing what he will share with us. 

In addition to Bruce Belair on the long weekend, we also have Lowell Hunking lined up as a guest speaker for the first week of Family Camp, starting from the July 28th launch weekend and on through to the long weekend. Lowell is a son of Rev Clarence and Dorothy Hunking (a long-time pastor of Bethany Evangelical Missionary Church in Kitchener, Ontario). Lowell’s background is former S.W.A.T Police Officer, Lawyer, Pastor and Crown Attorney. 

During the second week of camp (beginning on the last day of the long weekend, August 4th), Carlamay Seremata from Calgary, Alberta, will share insights with us. Her speaking and counselling background is enriched by her work with people--particularly youth--in crisis, and how her faith and trust in God has helped people in their own faith and in the craziness of life. 

Stayner Camp 100th Anniversary merch will also be available for sale all weekend. Don’t miss out on purchasing the beautiful, 1000-piece puzzle of the iconic Tabernacle which was built in 1947. 100th anniversary shirts, hoodies, hats, mugs and other cool items will also be available! 

As well, copies of the book Hands Heads Hearts: Stayner Camp 1925 to 2025…and Still Strong will be available! They are selling quickly.

Author Jean Morby did not enjoy reading history at one time, but she soon realized that history is not just years, facts and data. Rather, it is mostly about the people who took calamity, poverty, and vacuums, etc. in stride and saw God’s hand in the way life often changed for the better. The history within the book is informative and hopefully enlightening. The book is also packed with memories of campers, directors, staff and volunteers, not to mention children, youth and others. Be inspired by the challenges of several pastors. It is available in large print, to boot!

Here are some excerpts from Hands Heads Hearts, beginning with a quote from Andrew Sloss:

“I remember the smell of the tabernacle and the feel of the wooden benches on my legs – the amazing tuck shop. We didn’t buy very often, but when we did it was a joy! Riding around with Uncle Bob Shuh on the garbage collection wagon as he drove the garden tractor – the smell of canvas in our tent trailer and being told not to touch it when wet or it would leak – kid’s programming, activities and crafts in the kid’s barn.”

Cheryl Taylor writes:

“… one of my favourite places, besides the Tabernacle, is the campfire – in my lawn chair, with worship music playing, as I gaze at the rustic wooden cross. When life gets busy with good – and sometimes trying – things, this place becomes sacred, and I am reminded that all is going to be okay. One day “this crazy” will end, but until then I can lean into the promise of Jesus’ cross: I am not walking this journey alone; Jesus will never let me go.”

Miriam Coleman Pfohl, of the New Dundee area, recorded the memories of her parents, her grandparents and herself, such as the following:

“My parents remembered the families coming to camp meeting by horse and wagon. The wagons would be loaded with cooking supplies and food, a coal oil stove, bedding and feed for the horses. They brought straw ticks which would be filled from a pile of straw provided by a farmer nearby…” Miriam also writes that “Grandpa dug a hole inside the tent for a wooden box to serve as a cooler “cellar” for fresh food. Once the straw ticks were filled, with additional straw spread on the dirt floor, and a table holding the coal oil lamp was prepared, we were now ready for ten days of worship and fellowship.” “Evangelists and singers brought the Word with power derived from their spiritual anointing by the Holy Spirit. Sin and the call to repentance were preached ,,, and many life changing spiritual decisions were made.”

You might grin a few times while reading our ten questions to children and youth. The first question got some interesting answers.

"What is your favourite thing about Stayner Camp?"

“Tuck shop!”, answered 8-year-old Emma.

Hayden, aged 10, replied, “The good food, and covering the leaders with toilet paper!”

An eye-opening response to the next question is from Riley, aged 11. When asked: “Tell us something new you learned about Jesus, or God or from the Bible at Stayner Camp,” she answered, 

“I learned basically everything I know about Jesus at camp.”

With the stunning puzzle and the book of history and reminiscences priced at $40.00 each, your purchases will make great gifts or heirlooms, while at the same time helping fundraise for the Anniversary Committee expenditures. We are so excited to celebrate 100 years of Stayner Camp!

Thank you for this great opportunity to share our exciting events and invite the community to join in the celebration!

~ Jean Morby, on behalf of the 100th Anniversary Committee of Stayner Camp, 2025.

*Accommodation is fully booked for the long weekend of August unless you are able to supply your own lodging.

Please check the Stayner Camp website for more information.

**Some special events are free and some will be at a cost. Cash is always appropriate.