Sign Up for Camp Deerpark

Wes Newswanger was a member at Good Shepherd Mennonite Church in New York City when he heard rumors about the Mennonite leaders in the city wanting to buy some property for a camp.

When Camp Deerpark opened in 1969, Wes was one of the first persons to work with the children’s summer programming. He also helped out with maintenance and the general flow of the camp. “The kids could be quite a handful sometimes,” Wes said with a chuckle. “I remember going after one of the kids who took a rocking chair from the porch and was running after somebody else.”

Wes was in charge of getting kids from Good Shepherd to sign up for Camp Deerpark. He would encourage them all year long to attend. Most kids had been going to Camp Hebron in Pennsylvania—about four hours away—so they were already familiar with going to camp during the summers. Because Camp Deerpark was closer to New York City, many parents made the switch. “The New York City Mennonite churches owned Camp Deerpark and we felt good about what was happening there,” Wes said. “The adults in our church congregation also appreciated the camp because the children weren’t guests at other camps anymore. They could attend their own church’s summer program.”

After the purchase of a used school bus in 1971, Wes became a bus driver for camp. He remembers how fun it was to drive the kids up for summer camp. “When they arrived, the kids would get off the bus and run down across the grass to get on the swings or the playground equipment,” he said. “And then when they would get on the bus to go home there were tears. Many kids wanted to stay longer.”

Wes and his family moved to Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, in 1974, but the four-hour distance didn’t stop them from coming back to Camp Deerpark for many summers after. “My wife, Marian, would be the camp nurse, the craft director and sometimes the cook,” he said. “I would be the director or maintenance man or camp pastor or some of all of the above. I worked wherever I was needed. We had three children, Lynda, Ryan and Daryl, who feel like they grew up at camp and remember running around all day with the campers and staff.”

“Camp made me a better person,” Wes said. “I’ve been able to experience both successes and failures, joys and sorrows through the camp. It was very meaningful to be a volunteer there at various times, and to see kids and staff growing together.” Wes was also able to see how the camp grew in the early years, which was critical for its ongoing ministry. “Some campers became interested in being counselors the next year and being on staff, like cooking or maintenance,” Wes said. “And then they grew into various roles and that was really neat to see. It’s just wonderful to see how the campers developed and how the camp is now basically run by New York City people.

Notes from March 29, 1971 minutes:

“Bus—Do some homework. Moved that Gene Shelly and Glenn Zeagercome up with some hard facts by the next meeting concerning acquisition and operation of a bus.”

Notes from May 10, 1971 minutes:

We noted the cost of a 1965 Ford school bus for $1,500.00 without tires. Insurance ($1000), Bus ($1800), Inspection ($100) and Operating exp. ($700) for a total of $3,600.00 first year. And second year at $1,600.00.

“Action: We are in favor of getting a bus for camp.”

I am sure it was purchased soon after that.

Gene Shelly

After 1980 the Newswangers stopped working at camp, but they dropped in every once in a while to volunteer. Wes was and continues to be impressed by how smoothly the camp runs. He admires the staff and the summer program that brings the staff and the campers together. “It really is an effort to work at helping kids and to learn how to work together cross-culturally,” he said. “And I appreciate the sincere effort that has gone into it all these years, making it successful, and making it work for Christ’s kingdom in the city and outside the city.”

Wes became a technology education teacher at Lancaster Mennonite High School in Pennsylvania in 1974. He stayed in contact with the people from Camp Deerpark and often sent information to his former church in New York City to encourage high school students to continue their education at Lancaster Mennonite. Sometimes he was caught by surprise: “One morning early in the school year, my kids were coming into class, for home-room period, and I looked up and there was one of my camp kids from Brooklyn sitting in front of me.” Wes enjoyed being the bridge between New York City and Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and helping his former campers become successful in school.

Wes’s years at Camp Deerpark have provided him with a space to learn and grow as a teacher and as a person. “Camp helped me to gain confidence in my own abilities and in my ministry both at Lancaster Mennonite HighSchool, at camp, and in life in general,” he said. Wes hopes that camp will continue to grow physically, with the Promise Woods project, and emotionally, with the sincerity of the staff, to benefit all who attend camp.

—Written by Dillon Hershey, Goshen College intern.

Wes Newswanger, a former board member, summer staff and volunteer, served as pastor of Good Shepherd Mennonite Church in the Bronx from1970–1972.

Related Entries

• 50 Years of Camp Deerpark Buildings
• 50 Years of Camp Deerpark Directors
• A Beautiful Scene
• A Conscious Decision
• A Place on the Hill