Our Story

As early as 1881, the Mennonite Brethren in Christ Church held “Bush Meetings” in Ontario. This style of Camp Meeting was the predecessor to Christian Camping in Ontario.

In 1925, sites in Kitchener and Stayner were purchased.  The Kitchener site hosted camp meetings for nearly 40 years, after which it was donated to Emmanuel Bible College.  The white pine acreage on Scott Street was purchased from the Gartlan Estate for $1500 and became Stayner Bible Conference Grounds.  In 1931 the camp committee planted 3,000 seedlings which have matured into our magnificent white pine forest. Through the years the kitchen and dining hall were built. The tabernacle was erected in 1947 with the use of timber from the acreage. Improvements and additions over the years were done to meet the needs of a growing youth camp program. Today Stayner Camp hosts youth camps, family camps and the retreat center sees year round use by evangelical groups from across Southern Ontario.

In 2016 one of our older cabins was refurbished to become our camp museum. Donations of interest and pictures from long ago are on display. Maybe you can help us identify some of the faces in our pictures.  Video footage from past Salt and Light conferences and EMCC Pitch and Praise weekends will be sure to bring a smile to your face.  The museum is open from June 10 to Labor Day weekend during events and camps.  If you are in the area and want to visit the museum, talk to us in the office and we will be sure the building is open for you.