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Camp Wanake
The History of
Camp Wanake
We're camping at Wanake
We're campers brave and true
Recreation, fellowship, and worship all day through
Oh yes, we're enjoying every moment
Up among the wooded hills
For we are camping at Wanake.
Camp Wanake began as a vision by members of the United Brethren Church,
who bought the Virgil Camp farm between Beach City and Brewster, Ohio
for $8,500 in 1943. The farm included 80 acres, a house, a barn,
a shed, and a small swimming pool. The property was paid for in
April 1944. The first summer program at Wanake was held in 1945.
 Rev.
Dr. B.S. Arnold was the first camp-related occupant of the big white
house, as
Conference Superintendent. Rev. Mel Moody was named Director of Christian
Education and Camping, and the grand opening of the camp was in 1946.
A contest was held to name the new camp, and Jeanie Jacobs of
nearby Navarre, Ohio won $20 by suggesting WA-NA-KE, the first syllables
of three Native American words meaning "a beautiful, spiritual place
among the hills."
Under Rev. Moody, who later went on to head the camping program for
the entire United Methodist denomination, Wanake was the first church
camp in the nation to employ "small group decentralized camping" on
a large scale. This form of camping involves placing campers in
"family groups" of up to 12 campers with adult counselors. These groups
function as a family for the camp period, setting their own schedule,
and learning about God through interacting with each other and God's
creation.
In addition to the many who have found God at Camp Wanake, the camp
has inspired many of its young adult campers and counselors to become
full-time camping professionals, teachers or ministers at camps, schools
and churches across the country.
Over
the years, the original camp has been expanded to include the Outpost
area, the Inspiration Hill area, and Cranberry Acres, a site across
State Route 93 from the main camp that included a peat bog and features
the famous Wanake treehouses, but was sold in 2002.
Recent
additions at Wanake include:
- Restroom addition to the Inpost Barn (1990)
- Moody Retreat Center (1991, Capital Funds Drive)
- Savage Retreat Center (1992, Capital Funds Drive)
- New pump house and renovation of the pool (completed 1994)
- Restroom and shower addition to the Retreat House (1997)
- New restrooms on Pines hill (1997)
- Adirondack Shelters at Woods (two built 1997-1998?)
- 60 foot Climbing tower (1999?)
- Climbing Lodge at Outpost (2001)
- Selling of the Cranberry Acres property in 2002. It is the opinion
of the author that this sale was a sad loss for Wanake especially
to all of us who have lead groups at CA.
- Updating of the Green "new" shower house, carpeting
of Moody retreat center, and many infrastructure updates (2003)
- Purchase of the Wilmer Ames farm just below the road to Outpost
(2004)
- Pioneer Cabin in Woods at the old "N" tent and home-in-the-woods
site near Vesper Hollow. The beams for this structure are hand
hewn logs from the Wanake property and most of the wood was lumber
from Wanake logs. A truly classic Phil White design!
- The Wanake Ranch. The Wilmer Ames farm was converted into the
Wanake Ranch for the 2012 season. The house is now the bunk house,
the barn houses the horses, the garage is now the tack barn, a
riding ring was installed as well as many acres of pasture.
What
does the future hold? Hopefully a long continuation of spreading Gods
Word in the out of doors. New facilities or programming locations are
the tools for ministering to campers both young and young at heart.
Keep praying...
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