Algoma Camps Series – Part One. Prepared with files from the 2025 Camp Gitchigomee Report to Vestries.
For eighty years, Camp Gitchigomee has been a place where faith is lived, friendships are formed, and the Gospel is quietly shared on Sandstone Lake.
This past summer marked the camp’s 80th anniversary—a milestone celebrated during a gathering on the September long weekend. It was an opportunity to give thanks for God’s faithfulness and for the many people whose prayers, generosity, and service have sustained this ministry across generations.
A Season of Life and Learning
The 2025 camping season welcomed approximately 90 campers over three weeks. Days followed the familiar and formative rhythms of camp life: swimming and canoeing, archery and crafts, chapel and Bible study, singing, campfires, shared meals, and shared responsibility.
Like any living community, the season brought its challenges—but throughout it all, the Gospel was shared and lived out. Leaders trust that meaningful memories were made and that seeds of faith were planted and nurtured.
This ministry was made possible by the support of many across the Thunder Bay–North Shore region and beyond—through hands-on help, prayer, and financial gifts. Each contribution played a role in making camp possible.
A Place of Welcome
Beyond its summer programs, Camp Gitchigomee continues to serve the wider community. In 2025, the camp hosted nine different groups, including a wedding, a picnic organized by the Bangladesh Association of Thunder Bay, a Confederation College field school, Sea Cadets, and a parish retreat for Gathering Table.
These gatherings reflect the camp’s broader calling: to be a place of hospitality, connection, and welcome for both the Church and the wider community.
Caring for Camp and Future
With twenty buildings on site, caring for the camp is ongoing work. Volunteers gathered for work days in May and September to maintain and improve the facilities—always productive, and always strengthening community.
A major milestone this year was the arrival of a new 15KW generator, now on site and awaiting final connections. Looking ahead, the camp hopes to add solar panels and battery storage, supporting a quieter, more sustainable future while reducing fuel costs and environmental impact.
Sustained Together
Thanks to a modest registration fee increase, generous one-time donations, successful fundraising efforts, and faithful donors, Camp Gitchigomee remains on solid financial footing.
As the camp prepares for its annual meeting this spring, new board members will be welcomed. Those who feel a call—or even curiosity—about serving this ministry are encouraged to reach out and learn more.
A Ministry Worth Celebrating
Camp Gitchigomee’s story is one of continuity, care, and quiet transformation. It stands as a reminder that Algoma’s camps are not simply programs, but sacred spaces where lives are shaped and faith is nurtured over time.
This post is the first in a series celebrating the three Algoma camps and the vital role they play in diocesan life. We invite you to give thanks for this ministry and to hold it in prayer as it continues into its next season.