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Camp Arnes – Arnes, MB

Proper Title

Camp Arnes fonds

Dates of Creation

1937–2022

Physical Description

23 cm of textual records, 10 B&W photographs, and 93 colour slides

Administrative History

A.A. Kroeker, secretary–treasurer of the Winkler Bible School, had a vision for camping ministries in 1939 that was inspired after the school borrowed the facilities at the Gimli camp for a number of years. Kroeker saw the need for a permanent facility. In 1939, land was bought along Lake Winnipeg, but due to the war, all plans were put on hold.

After the War, Kroeker and a new player, David E. Redekop, gathered a group of interested men on March 29, 1949, at the Mennonite Brethren Bible College in Winnipeg. This was the official beginning of Camp Arnes. Kroeker became the president of the Lake Winnipeg Mission Camp Society, which was the vehicle through which money and decisions were channeled. Six directors were elected from three Winnipeg Mennonite Brethren churches. Shares were sold to raise money for the camp, and buildings were erected starting in 1949.

Some of the presidents through the years included A.A. Kroeker (1949–1959), D.E. Redekop (1960–1963), Walter Voth (1964–1966), A.A. DeFehr (1967–1969), Rudolf Dyke (1970–1972), Bert Huebner (1973–1976), Henry Dick (1977–1980), Herb Buller (1980–1982), Dave DeFehr (1983–1985), Ed Redekop (1986–1989).

Directors of the camp have included Alfred H. Kroeker (1949–1950, 1952, 1954–1956), John M. Schmidt (1951), Peter A. Penner (1953), H.R. Baerg (1957–1959), Jake E. Dueck (1960), Dave Loewen (1961–1964, 1967–1975, 1977–1990), Dan Nickel (1965), Ken Neufeld (1966), Cliff Derksen (1991–1993), David Teigrob (1994–1995), Elmer Thiessen (2001), Brent Gillon (2002–2004), Will Wear (2004–2019), Audrey Hicks (2020).

The Camp continues to operate and expand with connections to the Mennonite Brethren church, but with no official relationship. The mission of the camp has been to reach people of all ages and all backgrounds throughout the year with Bible-based lessons, activities, and friendship. The biggest portion of the camping ministry happens in the summer months.

Scope and Content

The material in this collection includes minutes, reports, financial information, promotions, and correspondence produced by Camp Arnes and the Lake Winnipeg Mission Camp Society.  Also photos and slides.

Custodial History

For most of the material in this collection the custodial history is unknown except for what follows. In box #1, the files 1–11 were collected and deposited by Ken Reddig who was a board member in the 1980s. Files 12–15 came from Alfred Kroeker, son of A.A. Kroeker.  In 2006, Sandra Heinrichs donated slides of the camp experience in 1964 (Accession number 2015-023).

Notes

  • Textual Records: volume 682–683.  Photo Collection NP046-01 and Slides NS23-01.
  • Some material in German.
  • Described by Conrad Stoesz October 1, 1999, updated January 31, 2006, and Dec 21, 2015.
  • No restrictions on access.
  • Related material:
    • A.A. Kroeker fonds.
    • Camps, Mennonite Brethren fonds.

File List

Volume 682

  1. Promotion and fund-raising material. -- 1980, [198-], 1986, 1987.
  2. Annual meeting and reports. -- 1980, 1983–1989.
  3. General correspondence. -- 1983–1984.
  4. Newsletters and correspondence. -- 1986–1988.
  5. Sponsor drive. -- [198-].
  6. 40th anniversary celebration. -- 1989.
  7. Camp Arnes constitution. -- 1979.
  8. Board minutes and finances. -- 1985.
  9. Board minutes and finances. -- 1984.
  10. Board minutes and finances. -- 1983.
  11. Board minutes and finances. -- 1982.
  12. Camp program outlines. -- 1952–1956.
  13. Gimli camp, camp service outlines. -- 1954, 1955, 1957.
  14. Lake Winnipeg Mission Camp banquets. -- 1937–1940, 1951, 1952.
  15. Correspondence. -- 1974, 1975.
  16. Correspondence and reports. -- 1951, 1952, 1960–1964.
  17. Camp Arnes Human Rights Issues (Rainbow Harmony Project). -- 2003–2005.

Volume 683

  1. Kroeker, Wally, Camp Arnes, The First 25 years, Winnipeg, Manitoba: Camp Arnes, 1973. -- 1973.
  2. Kroeker, Wally, Camp Arnes, The First 25 years, Winnipeg, Manitoba: Camp Arnes, 1973. -- 1973.
  3. Correspondence, reports, and finances. -- 1955, 1960–1964, photocopied [198-?].
  4. Minutes and correspondence. -- 1939, 1949–1957, photocopied [198-?].
  5. Camp Arnes Staff Handbook. -- 1964.
  6. Minutes, correspondence, and finances. -- 1968–1971, 1973, 1974, 1979.
  7. Correspondence and promotions. -- 1975–1977.
  8. Reports, minutes, and finances. -- 1974, 1977, 1978.
  9. Minutes, finances, and correspondence. -- 1979.
  10. Promotions, correspondence, and reports. -- 1978–1984.
  11. Konstitution der Lake Winnipeg Mission Camp Society. -- [194-?].
  12. Promotions. -- 1988–2016.
  13. List of Camp Arnes directors (1949–2020) compiled by Elfrieda Loewen. -- 2022.

Note: One file has been removed and added to the A.A. Kroeker fonds and is now file #69.

Photograph collection NP46-1.

  1. H.R. Baerg. – [196-?]. – 5 x 6 cm.  This photo is a portrait of H.R. Baerg.
  2. Group of people walk along the beach. – [196-?]. – 8 x 6 cm.  This photo is of a group of people walking along a beach in the distance.
  3. Group of people sitting on the grass. – [196?]. – 10 x 4 cm.  This photo is of a group of people sitting on the grass in a circle.
  4. Group of people standing in front of Lake Winnipeg Mission Camp Administration building. – [196-?]. – 8 x 6 cm.  This photo is of a large group of people standing in front of Lake Winnipeg Mission Camp building.
  5. Dramatic reading from boat to people on shore. – [196-?]. – 8 x 6 cm.  This photo is of a person in a boat reading to a group of people on shore with another boat close by.
  6. Pony pulling cart, others watching. – [196-?]. – 9 x 6 cm.  This photo is of a pony pulling a cart with 3 children in it. Other children are watching.
  7. Eleanore Dueck. – [196-?]. – 7 x 7 cm.  This photo is a portrait of Eleanore Dueck.
  8. Jack Dueck. – [196-?]. – 7 x 7 cm.  This photo is a portrait of Jack Dueck.
  9. Group of children in front of chapel. – [196-?]. – Slide 5 x 5 cm.  This colour slide is of a field with the chapel with children in front of it in the distance.
  10. Girls on dock. – 1955. – Slide 5 x 5 cm.  This colour slide is of a large group of girls sitting on a dock.
  11. Five people on a hike. – [196-?]. – Slide 5 x 5 cm.  This colour slide is of four adults and one child on a trail in a wooden area.
  12. 20th anniversary of Camp Arnes. Rudolf Dyke, A.A. Defehr, Dave Loewen. – 1969. – 17 x 12 cm.  This photo is of Rudolf Dycke, A.A. Defehr, and Dave Loewen standing in front of a large cake at the 20th anniversary of Camp Arnes.
  13. Cleanathon week presentation. – 1972. – 17 x 12 cm.  This photo is of Steve Juba (Mayor), Art Rempel, Bob Wilson (councillor), Dave Loewen (camp director), Bill Dyck, J. Paul Marion (councillor). – 1972.
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