In the early 1980s Jim Baer and Dale Stoltzfus began talking about how beneficial it would be for campers to have the chance to interact with a variety of animals at camp. Jim specifically wanted to have cows. “A goal was to have the summer program oriented toward nature,” Dale said, “and we began to…

After volunteering at camp for a year and a half in 2007–2008, Kenton Baer returned as construction supervisor to take on a much larger project: building the first cabin in the area that would become known as Promise Woods. “The decision to go back to camp in 2012 was quite simple,” Kenton said. “It was…

I don’t remember the year. All I remember is that my former camper, Moriah, was back after many summers gone. This time around though, she was different. She was older, of course, but she had also come back as a gang member. The little-girl innocence had disappeared; and so had her smile. Every day that…

Five decades later, early memories of Camp Deerpark remain vivid for many of those who experienced the ministry’s first year. Wes Newswanger, one of the first camp pastors, remembers the unbridled enthusiasm of New York City children arriving at camp and bee-lining it down the front lawn for the swings and other playground equipment. Doris…

“It is unique and pleasing because of its striking simplicity, its lack of effected ornamentation, its strength and durability, and above all, because it is comfortable.” The above sentence could be describing the new Promise Woods cabins or the Adirondack chairs on the front lawn at Camp Deerpark. In fact, it is a quote from…

Barb grew up in rural Pennsylvania. She wanted to make a change in her life so she decided to do Mennonite Voluntary Service (VS) in New York City. Barb first came to Camp Deerpark in 1975 when she was working with the VS unit. Barb remembers, “It was kind of a long ride, but I…

“The first swimming pool was a flow-through pool,” Dale said. “We would drain the pool early in spring to clean it out before summer camps began, and the water was ice cold. It would be full of leaves and dirt. Everything came running into it and would accumulate at the bottom. “The pool was about…

First Mennonite congregation established in NYC (Fox Street) 1949 First organized camping for NYC youth (Camp Tel Hai) 1953 First meeting to discuss purchasing a camp specifically for NYC Mennonites October 1968 Property at Brandt Road, Westbrookville, NY purchased May 6, 1969 Youth Retreat, first program at Camp Deerpark May 30, 1969 First children’s camp at…

Reuben and Dorothy Stoltzfus never came to Camp Deerpark empty-handed. In what became a summer tradition, they would drive to camp from their home in Pennsylvania in a car loaded with tomatoes, sweet corn and other fresh food—enough for all of the campers and staff members. Everyone especially enjoyed the corn-on-the-cob, often served at an…