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History
- About 1957 a group of men comprised of several Sunday school classes from the Ephrata Mennonite Church met in the home of Lloyd Snader for Bible study and prayer. Several of the older men expressed the need for a place set aside for solitude,
rest and meeting God in His creation. Land was found on the Ephrata mountain and several men gave money and loaned money toward the $3,000 purchase price. Peter and Susie Rutt were chosen to sign for the property.
- 1959
April - Peter Rutt and others bought 18 acres and 31 perches on the Ephrata
mountain from Abram P. and Arlene M. Groff.
Oct - Woodcrest Retreat Association was begun with the following
signatures on the Articles of Incorporation: (19 signatures)
Peter Roy Rutt – President, Alvin L. Martin – Vice President
John L. Weber - Secretary, Lloyd W. Snader - Treasurer
Orie O. Miller, Phares G. Martin Jr., Ralph Mohler
Willis W. Horst, Carl M. Mohler, Jacob R. Shelly
Milton C. Brubaker, J. Paul Weaver, J. Landis Weaver
Mahlon S. Stauffer, Paul E. Weaver, James N. Zimmerman
Titus H. Horning, Harold M. Zimmerman, Ivan R. Horst
(several others were involved from the beginning but did not have the initial $100 to be charter members but paid $25 over four years to become members)
Article III
The object of this Corporation is as follows: (a) To purchase and develop a Mennonite campground facility for retreats, camps, Christian recreation and other related church activities, and (b) To make available to individual congregations of the Mennonite Church or to any board, committee or association in the said Church, a facility where meetings and all types of activities associated with the said Church and its congregations, boards, committees or associations can be carried on. The term of its existence is perpetual.
- 1960
· Oakshade Pavilion built with no kitchen
· Pit toilets built (also held D.C generator)
· Aug. - Original parcel deeded to Woodcrest Retreat from Peter and Susie Rutt for $1.00
- 1961
- 1962
- 1963
· A-frame built for generator and storage? (current nature shack)
- 1964
- 1965
· Flicker Cabin built by Peter Rutt and Landis Weaver
- 1966
· Wren Cabin built by Landis Weaver for Paul E.Weaver
· The cabins were built to be used by the families and eventually revert to Woodcrest Retreat which happened in the early eighties. Titus and Edna Sensenig moved another old cabin to the property. It was used a few years until the squirrels destroyed it. It was tore down and burned.
- 1967
· Cedarlane Pavilion built?
- 1968
- 1969
· Ephrata Mennonite started holding day camp
- 1970
- 1971
· April - 4.162 acres purchased from Reuben & Edna Martin
- 1972
- 1973
· Beginning of Creation Festival started on our property as “Jesus73”
- 1974
· Last year festival held on our property as “Jesus74”
- 1975
· Feb. - 27.608 acres purchased from Mahlon and Bertha Stauffer
This property was the campground portion of the original Indian Rock Campground and Riding Stables
- 1976
- 1977
· Current drive way put in, and electric ran to top of hill? This went through a portion of Reuben Martins land. This 1.5 acres of land was purchased later
- 1978
· Flush toilet restrooms added?
· Pit toilets filled in and cemented, building used for storage
- 1979
- 1980
· Benefit Auction began?
- 1981
· June - 1.477 acres purchased from Rueben and Edna Martin
- 1982
· Parkwood mobile home placed and 10x10 block two story with stairs built.
(when ditch for electric was open a torrential downpour came through and filled the ditch and the block wall gave way. The only thing that saved the trailer were two steel beam spans that were placed in the wall)
- 1983
· Chuck and Joyce Brubaker moved in.
- 1984
- 1985
- 1986
· Campground begun being used (Carpenter Mennonite the first church)
· Chuck and Joyce Brubaker died in car crash in March
· Dave and Karen Mast moved in that summer
- 1987
· Dec. - 4 acres 35 perches bought from Martin and Vera Weaver ($1.00)
- 1988
· Indian Rock Center begun (added onto original campgrounds shower house)
· Tom and Joy Martin became caretakers (room added to back of trailer)
· Sept. - 7 acres 60 perches bought from Reuben and Edna Martin
- 1989
· IRC completed and parking lot stoned
· Aug. - 5 acres 20 perches bought from Wilmer and Mary Sensenig
· Obstacle course begun
· Double bunks and kitchens added to cabins
- 1990
· Circle pavilion and campsites built, fall and winter (Campliters first to use)
· First Senior Citizen Day held in Oct.
- 1991
· Brian and Lois Mishler become caretakers
· 4” water line to top of hill, and 4,000 gal. water tank mounted on pillars.
· Oct. - Cliff Martin hired one day a week, paid by Mahlon Zimmerman Co.
· First sweetheart banquet
- 1992
· Shaun Nussbaum, Jonathon Glick, and Little Porter - Caretakers
· Board of Directors organized
· Oct. - Woodcrest Retreat hires Cliff Martin on for two days per week
· Missionary Tech Team hired to help develop master plan
· Obstacle course completed
· Parking lot lighting and paving completed at IRC.
- 1993
· First Spring Senior Citizen Day planned
· Ivan and Vera Mae Zimmerman - Caretakers
· Woodcrest Retreat Summer Camp began with two weeks of day camp
(Cliff Martin directed with a total of 72 children)
· First Outdoor Concert held in August
- 1994
· Rebuilt Cedarlane pavilion after it had collapsed under ice and snow
· Water Slide constructed, used in June
· Erected maintenance building (moved from Carlisle)
· Camp Store opened in original campground laundry room
· Phil Horning hired to direct the two weeks of day camp
· Aug. - 3 acres 58 perches purchased from Harrison and Irene Fulmer
· First Benefit Golf Tournament. May 25 (Ascension Day)
· First Family Camp Weekend offered
- 1995
· Phil Horning hired for summer
· Added a three day mini overnight camp to the two weeks of day camp
· Carolyn Snader heads up kitchen (volunteer)
· Feb. ? Acres purchased from James and Janet Mohler and Carl and Electa
Mohler
· July 5 acres 13 perches purchased from Olive Wingenroth
· Phil and Kelly Horning move to trailer in fall
- 1996
· April 8 acres 56 perches purchased from Christ Zimmerman
· May Cliff Martin hired full-time
· Spring First two shelters built for summer camp
· Elvin Martin mows grass
· Counselors continue to be all volunteer
· Office built for Cliff and Phil in corner of maintenance building
· First week long overnight camp added
· First Adventure Canoe Camp (two days, one night)
· Nature lessons incorporated into summer camp. (taught by Darlene McCosby)
- 1997
· Spring - Two more shelters constructed for camp
· Electric upgraded to 30 amps. New water lines added in A sites
· March 1st “The Woods Youth Connection” began and operated through May, than opened again in Oct.
· Paul Farrel volunteers to mow grass (shares with Elvin)
· Woodcrest integrates Ephrata Mennonite day camp weeks into their program
· “Old restrooms” storage building transformed into Nature Shack
- 1998
· June - 6.5 acres purchased from Allen and Ada Zimmerman
· Tree climb built and used
· Fifth and sixth shelters built
· RV purchased in spring, Lemar and Dora Horst move in to serve as summer volunteers
· Nov. – First sketch plan submitted to township (Fisher Engineering Inc.)
· This was the last year Carolyn Snader volunteered as lead cook
· Nature Shack moved to larger A-frame “tractor shed” in time for summer
· Outdoor Education begins being offered on a limited basis
- 1999
· Phil Horning hired full-time
· Horst’s volunteer for second summer
· Dave and Glenna Brensinger volunteer for occasional weekends
· First ever paid summer staff, Rhoda Groff as summer cook, two girls, two guys as counselors and asst. director. Many volunteers used as well.
· Fall – seventh and eighth shelter built.
· Low Challenge Course begun with Whale Watch, Spiders Web, and Log Jam
· Bought two canoes and two donated (4 total) life jackets and paddles
· Bought archery equipment
· Small pond built behind Nature Shack
· Oct. - Two parcels bought from Martin Trust kept the one parcel of 6 acres 100 perches. Exchanged the other parcel, for land owned by Leon and Edna Martin totaling 5 acres 45 perches.
- 2000
· Jean Martin camp cook
· Delmar Martin hired in July for two days a week in maintenance
· Alvin and Dorothy Martin volunteer for summer and stay in RV (left end of July)
· Campground woodshed built in the fall
- 2001
· “Partners in Growth…. That more may Know Him” Capital Campaign formally begins at Friend and Member banquet
· April – 3.9 acres purchased from Ellanora Barr
· Jean Martin cook for summer
· Delmar Martin continues to work part time through summer, leaves in Nov.
· Jason Martin volunteers one day per week in maintenance.
· “The Woods” program ends in April after four and one half winters
· “Couples Canoe” weekend added
· Sewer planning issues arise for Land development plan. Plan divided into two phases so we can continue with projects that do not require sewer collection
· Capital Campaign push put on hold
- 2002
· Temporary office trailer placed and ready just in time for Memorial Day
· April 1, Jason Martin hired part time for maintenance position
· Ben and Emma Stoltzfus volunteer as weekend hosts
· Alicia Steffy and Lisa Martin share kitchen duties
· Summer office position added
· Staff house construction begins in fall
· Dec. Jason Martin hired full time
· Harold Martin mows grass (144 plus volunteers throughout summer)
· Clearing done for ball field, pavilion and lodge
- 2003
· Jan. – 13 parcels of land deeded into one parcel (3 of the 15 parcels, previously deeded as one parcel)
· Feb/March, new ball field and pavilion begun
· Four girl shelters and one guy shelter moved to new location (in mud)
· Staff house completed and Horning’s move Memorial Day weekend
· Paul and Bonnie Heffernan volunteer for whole summer as weekend hosts, living in their own motor home
· 40,000 gal. Water tank placed in spring
· Janice Hurst and Thelma Good are summer cooks
· Web-site began in spring
· New pavilion used for camp last week of July
· Don Groff helps Harold Martin with grass
· New Programs:
Week long “Woods and River” & Conquerors Special Need Day Camp
· October 12th, Open House for Poplar View pavilion and staff house
· Endowment Fund begun by Mohler family
- 2004
· 40,000 gal. Water tank connected in early spring
· Rest of guys shelters (3) moved to new area in spring
· Original old restrooms/storage/nature shack tore away
· Keith and Kathy Stoltzfus volunteer as weekend hosts several weekends
· Don Groff and Sylvia Eberly share grass mowing
· Fall – Begin cabin improvements adding new kitchens/carpet etc. in both and insulation and bedrooms in Flicker
- 2005
· Ladies Night Out begun
· All summer day camp offered
· Part time office position replaces summer office position
· Prayer Coordinator summer role helped to organized specific prayer
support for staff and participants in summer programs
· Weekly summer camp video produced for sale
· Over 1000 children & youth participated in summer camp programs
- 2006
· Offered 2-week option during day camp
· Began Leaders-in-Training program
· volleyball court at Poplar View and group tenting area in campground
added
· Day Camp Health Care Director (Camp Nurse) summer role unofficially
added (officially for 2007) helped to organized program specific health
care for staff and participants in growing summer programs that run
concurrently
- 2007
· One day retreat for kids "Winter Blast" began
· Indian Rock Center remodeled
· Friend & Member Banquet - snowed out
· added Worship Leader/ Prayer Coordinator summer role to help further
organize specific prayer
support and continue to develop well prepared group singing for growing summer programs
that run concurrently
· new well drilled
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