Timeline
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 Camp Deerpark July 7–12, 1969
First church retreat July 18–19, 1969
Board of directors formed October 8, 1969
Camp Deerpark Association established for financial support 1969
First fundraising banquet held in Pennsylvania 1970
First voluntary resident staff summer 1970
First NYC area fundraising banquet 1971
Chapel raised for basement addition fall 1972
First paid resident staff 1975
Hill cabins built 1975–1976
“Alamo” and other playground equipment added 1976
New swimming pool built 1977
Spruce Lodge converted to wood heat 1981
Barn “raising” 1983
Neighbor Walter and Jacqueline Mehr house destroyed by fire 1984
Challenge course built 1984
First staff house built 1988
Began producing maple syrup from camp’s sugar maple trees 1997
Forestry team organized to manage Camp Deerpark forests 1998
Second staff house built 1998
Dedication of gazebo in memory of Alfred and Dorothy Kruse 2000
FUTURE represents Camp Deerpark with more than 40 performances across the country 2002–2004
Chapel Sunroom enclosed to create second meeting room 2003
New sewer system installed 2003
Spruce Lodge experienced flooding 2004
Hemlock Pavilion constructed 2004
First Camp Deerpark Homecoming held 2006
Wood-Mizer Bandsaw mill purchased 2008
Hill cabins renovated into staff housing 2008
New maintenance building completed 2009
Promise Woods cabin cluster construction begins 2012
Four cabins at Promise Woods placed into service 2015
Locust Haven a.k.a. “The Annex” demolished 2015
Ground breaking ceremony for Promise Woods Program Center 2018
—Compiled by Jim Baer.