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Thousands have experienced camp life along shores of lake
Thousands of people have experienced camp life around Sylvan Lake’s shores hores since the earliest settlers moved to the area. Many of the camps still exist today oday providing a variety ty of activities for young oung people. Among them are:
community and experience the outdoors in all types of weather. The camp is situated on 6.73 acres of lakefront property. — lakef www.campkannawin. www ca/
Camp Woods, is • C owned and operated owne by Scouts Canada. Boy Scouts from not • Camp Kuriakos,, oponly Central Alberta erated by Sylvan Lake but also from all Lutheran Bible Camp across Canada have acros Association which ch is enjoyed the outdoor enjoy a comprised of Lulife at Camp Woods theran congregations tions since 1932. The camp in Alberta. The first consists of 105 acres cons John Watson is seated in front of canoe and his friend, ____ Colinson is in Lutheran Bible Camp naturally beautiful, of na the stern with seven females seated between them. The canoe has one end on was held at Kasota asota wide grassy meadows, shore. The lake and First Point (present day Norglenwold) are in the backBeach in July 1930. 930. ground. Pam was told that her father and his friend were taking some girls and abundant spruce, Sylvan Lake Bible from a Church Camp for a ride. birch and poplar Camp was dedicated cated trees. The land was trees for use in 1933 after the 1940s. The camps are situated on 42 acquired by Colonel the land had been acquired in 1931 from acres on the south shore with 10 heated James C. Woods of Calgary and when Nick Isaacson for one dollar. The camp cabins (each sleeps 8 people, including a he was appointed Provincial Scout Comgrew steadily with new buildings, new counsellor). Summer camps offer an op- missioner he donated the land to the Boy programs and new people. The chapel, portunity to experience a large variety of Scout Movement of Canada. On July 28, still being used today, was dedicated in activities. The first camps, at the pres- 1932, the camp was officially opened and 1958. By 1976, Kuriakos Centre lodge ent site, were under the auspices of the named Camp Woods. The camp today was completed and the Kuriakos Cen- Religious Education Council of Alberta provides opportunities for camping, sailtre Dormitory was begun. Through the and were held in 1925. They consisted ing, swimming, archery, canoeing, an ob’80s and ’90s there has been continued of C.G.I.T. and Tuxis groups. — www. stacle course as well as sports and activgrowth. In 1992 a quarter section of land campkasotawest.com ity fields. It’s the site of a huge Canadian was purchased and partially developed • Camp Kannawin, owned operated by Scout Jamboree in July with an estimated near the original 17 acres of land. In May the Presbyterian Synod of Alberta and the 6,000 participants. 2000, an additional 16 acre parcel was Northwest. More than 60 years ago, the • Camp Sherbino, is owned by Red Deer purchased just west of the main site. ReSynod saw the need and the rewards of Kiwanis Club and has a history of servcent additions include a wilderness site camping for families. In 1941, The Wom- ing Girl Guides of Canada. It was offiin 2007, the staff shack in 2009 and an en’s Missionary Society assisted the Syn- cially opened in 1962 as the Kiwanis Girl RV park in 2010. Kuriakos now provides od in purchasing the initial site in Sylvan Guide Camp and Lodge. The Kiwanis exciting programs for all ages, all year Lake for $300. Additional land was ac- originally bought 80 acres from Clarence round. Engaging, authentic, meaningquired in 1943. In that year the first camp Ecklund of which 40 were to be used for ful, inspiring, energizing, uplifting, and was held on the existing property with the campsite. Girls have attended this FUN — these are just some of the words campers staying in large canvas tents, camp from all over Alberta and many campers use to describe their time at a kitchen in a small half building and a from other provinces. Kuriakos. — www.kuriakos.ab.ca couple of makeshift toilets in the bush. • Camp Kasota West and East are owned In the 1980s, Camp Kannawin moved • Sunnyside Christian Retreat Centre is and operated by Calgary and Red Deer into a new phase with a large building located in the Summer Village of BirchPresbyteries of the United Church of program that included the Ruby Walker cliff. In 1936 the Pentecostal Assemblies Canada. The camps strive to promote a Centre — a main building housing a din- of Alberta purchased 26 acres on the safe, nurturing environment where chil- ing hall and an activities level. The camp’s northeastern shore of Sylvan Lake to be dren can come to have fun and develop goal is to provide a year-round resource used for a bible camp. In 1938 the first an awareness and respect for self, com- and retreat centre for children, families tabernacle and office were built. By 1940 munity, the world in which they live and adults. Programs at Camp Kannawin the tabernacle had been enlarged and a and God. The Camp Kasota West site have changed over the years but the basis balcony built so it could now seat 700. has been home to youth camping since for them has remained that campers have A second youth facility was built in 1955 1925. The East camp was purchased in fun, learn to live and grow in a Christian and a children’s chapel shortly after. From
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