A History of Pine Ridge Bible Camp
by Harold Roberts (NCEM Honorary
missionary)
The year was 1970 and we (Harold & Esther Roberts) were involved in
Bible camp for Native young people at Jeanette Lake Bible Camp, north of
Meadow Lake, SK. That year the Social Services people asked if we
would consider having a week of camp for the young people of Buffalo
Narrows, a settlement approximately 140 miles north and east of the
Jeanette Lake campsite. They would supply transportation to and from
camp and pay the camp fees. We agreed to do this and they sent us
100 campers, boys and girls ranging in age from 6 to 17 years. Most of
them had never been to a Bible camp before and had no idea what it was all
about.
For the director and cabin counselors, it was a hectic week and we wondered
if anything worthwhile was being accomplished. However, when the buses arrived
to take the campers home again, it was a scene that some of us will
probably never forget. Almost the whole group wanted to stay at the Camp;
they didn't want to go home!
There were tearful goodbyes and, as the buses pulled out, many of the
campers and counselors were openly crying. Somehow, during that week that
had seemed so hectic to us, those young people had seen and experienced a
touch of the love of God through the camp staff. A number of them had made
a profession of faith in Christ during the week.
God began to lay a burden upon our hearts for them, and for the
hundreds more like them in the seven settlements in the Buffalo Narrows
area, where there were probably 8,000 to 9,000 people. Why should there be
so many Bible camps and Christian opportunities for other young people
in Canada and so little for the northern Native people? We began to pray and
look into the possibilities.
We made inquiries and drove many miles in search of a suitable camp
site. Late one afternoon, after a fruitless day of traveling, we stopped
at some cabins along the road to visit and to leave some Christian
literature. During our visit we explained to the man of the house our
reason for being in the area. To our surprise he smiled and said, "I
know just the place you are looking for. It is only about and mile
and-a-half from here."
He told us of an old bush road that would take us part way and we would
have to walk the rest of the way. Our hopes were high and within an hour
we (Abe Heppner, myself and daughter Joy) were looking at a beautiful camp
site in the rough. All the potential was there: a beautiful little
lake with a sandy beach, pine trees and hills, and it was only a mile from
an all weather road and the hydro line. Yet it was quite isolated from
outside influences. Was this God's place for a Bible camp? Was this His
answer to our prayers? Everything seemed to indicate that it was.
A few days after we had found the camp site, three of us flew into the
site with the Mission plane to take a second look and to make a more
thorough survey of the lake and the surrounding area. As we landed on the
lake and taxied into shore, we found the water clear and warm and the
shoreline was pure sand. Looking up from where we had beached the
plane, we saw a natural amphitheatre of sandy hills rising up to probably
70 or 80 feet above the lake level.
The hills were covered with birch, aspen and pine, with an open central
area coming down to the lake shore. It was a perfect setting for cabins
and camp buildings in a semi-circle up on the hills looking down into the
centre and out onto the lake. It was a camper's dream and truly an answer
to prayer! After further checking the area, we were all fully agreed that
this place was all that we could have hoped for, for a Native Bible camp.
God had done exceeding abundantly above all that we had asked or thought.
(Our pilot that day was Ed Hickey, and Bud Elford and I were his
passengers.) The first enquiry concerning the camp site was sent in to the Minister
of Natural Resources at Regina on April 30, 1971.
Now, there are times
when God gives a vision for some special work or project and, in answer to
prayer, everything seems to be falling perfectly into place. Everything
indicates that this is God's leading and His direction. Then He lets that
vision die! He closes the door.
Word came back from Regina that they were sorry to inform us that all
of the land in the surrounding area had just been put under a land freeze
because of a large proposed pulp mill that was to be built, and that no
land was available -- indefinitely.
God allowed the death of this vision so
that we might understand that if it was ever to become a reality, that He
would be the doer of it. It would be in His good time and in His way. For
us, we must be willing to surrender all of our desires and plans to Him,
trusting that His way is best.
In the meantime another request had come from Buffalo Narrows for 100
campers for the 1971 season. Again they were bused out the 140 miles and
all camp fees paid. A number of them became car sick on the way because of
the many hills and curves in the road. God was still impressing upon us
the need of a camp much closer to where these young people lived.
In the summer of 1971 there was a provincial election in Saskatchewan
and this brought about a change of government. The proposed pulp mill was
cancelled out even though much of the clearing and ground work had already
been done for it. Sept. 7, 1971, another letter was sent to the Department
of Natural Resources at Ile a la Crosse, SK. A lease was granted for
the camp site on Oct. 13, 1971, received with much thanksgiving and praise!
A week later we were able to move a small trailer, a tent and some
supplies to within a half-mile of the camp site. The work of clearing a
road began and, on Oct. 27, the camp site was officially staked out by
compass readings -- five acres of beautiful camping ground. Then on Nov. 4
the trailer and tent were moved onto the camp grounds. It was an exciting
but cold day as we settled in. The whole site was dedicated to the Lord in
prayer. The temperature dropped to -23 degrees C, with wind and snow.
Clearing and burning continued as there were many dead and fallen trees to
get rid of.
On Nov. 25 three young fellows from Youngstown, AB (Alan Squire, Ron
Armstrong, Alan Connel) brought a truckload of things for the Camp --
stoves, chainsaw, a small tractor and some furniture. These fellows stayed
with us for several days helping with the clearing and burning and making
good use of the tractor. The temperature dropped to -28, then -34 degrees
C, making sleeping in a tent very uncomfortable.
Those were challenging days with lots of good hard work, fun and
fellowship. By Dec. 10 the snow and cold weather, along with inadequate
living quarters, made it necessary to close down the Camp for the winter.
To close camp meant to take what we could out and commit the rest to
the Lord for His safe keeping until we could get back in the spring. For a
number of winters the Lord did just that as we had to leave, even when
some of the local Native men told us that people would vandalize the
place. We left the doors unlocked with a written invitation on the table
to help themselves to the coffee if they would like to. Not even a window
was broken!
After the lease on the land was granted in Oct. of 1971, several of us
met to form a Camp Board. It was agreed that the Camp should be available
to both Native and non-Native people, but primarily to Native young
people. It should be used for year-round activities and not only for
summer camping. Family gatherings and weekend retreats would also be
included.
At a second meeting on Jan. 4, 1972, plans were to have a Camp brochure
made up through which to make the Camp known to the public. Because of the
horse-shaped ridge of hills around the central part of the site, and the
pine trees, it was suggested that we call it Pine Ridge Bible Camp.
Various types of buildings were discussed, as well as the general
layout of the Camp. It was decided that we should use A-frame and log
cabins that were well spaced around the ridge of hills and looking down on
the centre of the camp site and the lake. Two hundred and forty dollars
had been donated, so a camp account was opened in the Royal Bank in Meadow
Lake, which is 100 miles south of Pine Ridge. It was agreed that we should
already begin plans for four weeks of camp that coming summer, and
tentative dates were set for July 10 to August 12. This meant that the
grounds had to be cleared, buildings erected and everything necessary for
a camp must be gathered together and ready by the first week in July.
As soon as the snow was gone enough in the spring to get into the Camp,
work began and again living quarters were a small trailer and tents. There
was much under brush and dead and fallen trees that had to be cleared and
burned. Logs had to be cut, hauled and peeled, as well as lumber brought
in from a saw mill about 50 miles away. Shingles were made on a small
shingle mill owned by a Christian man at Buffalo Narrows, some 65 miles
north of the Camp. These shingles were cut from blocks from the dry fallen
logs. Some of those who helped came many miles at their own expense, as
well as donating their time. It was not uncommon for some to be working at
six o'clock in the morning and on till late in the evening. Those were
days of hard work along with good fun and fellowship, mosquitoes and sand
flies.
There was one common goal: to prepare a camp site where Native people
could come and, in a homey natural setting, hear the Gospel and see it
lived out in lives of Christian people who cared. By July 1, three A-frame
cabins were up, as well as a log dining room / kitchen. Dishes and
utensils for the kitchen were on hand, some coming from as far north as
Atikameg, Alberta, others from southeast of Wainright, Alberta. A well had
been dug for a clean water supply. Three canoes and a small boat and motor
were on hand as well as some sports equipment.
Then came the final decision ... were we ready? Should we trust the
Lord, with what we had, to begin four weeks of camp? At best it would be
very primitive, but all were agreed and confident that we should go ahead.
So it was on July 10, 1972, with a hastily prepared camp and $100 in
the Camp fund, that a group of Native young people came from Buffalo
Narrows. What an exciting day for both campers and staff! For the next
month, as different age groups came in each week, the hills of Pine Ridge
rang with the sounds of happy activities of these young people.
We know that there was joy in Heaven as well, for a number of those
first young people came to know the Lord as their personal Saviour! One
eight year-old girl, in particular, trusted in the Lord and has never
turned back. She became a regular camper in the years to follow. As she
grew older she would come for her week of camp and would then stay on as
part of the kitchen staff. She then took part as a junior counselor and
then on to the responsibilities of a regular cabin counselor. She went out
to a Christian high school, then on to graduate from Bible school and into
nurses training. God is faithful and does exceeding abundantly above what
we can ask or think, and this girl is a seal of His faithfulness.
Others, too, went on to become part of the summer staff. One year we
had the joy to have on staff five of those who had come to camp in those
first years as campers. They were very cooperative and helpful, and a
pleasure to work with.
The first year the Lord sent us workers from Washington State, Idaho,
Illinois, New Brunswick, BC, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. It was
amazing how well were were supplied with staff and finances. We had
started with $100 in the Camp fund and ended camp with all bills paid.
Most of the workers had been given an honorarium and we had more money
left than when camp began, even though there were no camp fees received
that year. But, best of all, souls had been saved and others had heard and
seen the Gospel in action. A tired but happy staff closed camp and went
their various ways.
God had drawn us together for a few short weeks and had made us one for
His purpose of reaching these young people for Himself. That which was
once only a vision of what could be, had become a reality. Yet we were to
see much more of God's faithfulness and blessing in the years that
followed.
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