History of Camp Kintail
~ Trillium | January 17th, 2012 | Comments Off
Camp Kintail History
Founding & Site
Camp Kintail’s property was originally owned by the MacGregors and settled in 1845. Camp Kintail was founded in 1929 by a group of ministers and lay people who felt that outdoor ministry was needed for the youth of the Synod. The Rev. Charles H. MacDonald (Lucknow), the Rev. R.G. MacKay (Walkerton), the Rev. T.D. McCullough(Kincardine), Dr. Simpson (Kintail), and Mr. McIntosh were all involved with the founding of the camp. The camp was originally called the David Perrie Memorial Camp to honour the Rev. David Perrie of Wingham who was the Moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Canada in 1929 and passed away in office. The property was purchased in 1930 (a year after the first summer school was held on the property) from Joseph McAdams.
Some of the initial funds to sponsor the camp were provided by Rev. MacDonald, who when he bought the land, used the equivalent of half of his annual salary. Others gave personal notes, some of which were not paid back until 1944.
In 1930, the main hall was erected and served as dining hall and sleeping accommodation for campers and staff. Eventually five presbyteries each built a cabin between 1932-33, and the cost was approximately $200/cabin.
In the forties, the Anglican Huron Church Camp rented space at Kintail, which greatly added with revenue in the post-depression times. In 1946, Eadies Church from Wingham was taken down and re-erected at Kintail to be the Rec Hall. In 1960 came two double(L-shaped) cabins and in 1963, five more cabins were added.
The South Field was “purchased” from the Simpson family for $1.00 in the fifties which greatly added to our site.
In 1979, the Synod of Hamilton-London (now the Synod of Southwestern Ontario) sponsored the Development of Camp Kintail (DOCK) project. The funds raised were used to build a new lodge in memory of one of the camp’s founders, Rev. Charles MacDonald. A few years later, a fireplace was added to the dining hall. The sale of Camp Go-Forth, a Presbyterian camp in Niagara Presbytery, helped provide much of the initial capital.
Ten new cabins were built from 1988 to 2000 through the generous donation of congregations and families. Glenview was expanded in 1990 and renovated in 1999 and 2009. Bluehaven received a facelift in 2004 and 2010. Two unique camping sites, Kumbayah and Tir-Nan-Og, were developed using the older cabins. They were renovated between 2006-2008.
The Glen was the traditional campfire circle at Kintail. In 1990, the Meadows was developed as an accessible campfire circle. Other campfire circles are located on the beach, in Kumbayah, and in Tir-Nan-Og.
Owl’s Burrow was built in 1991 and donated by St. Marys Presbyterian Church. This is a cabin with two bedrooms, a bathroom, living room, and kitchenette.
In the fall of 1996, the foundation to Feathers was laid, and the first all season building was built and completed in the spring of 1997. Feathers is home to our infirmary in the summer months and serves as a retreat cabin for the rest of the year.
The original lodge was completely renovated in 2001, through the generous donations of Margaret and Denton Taylor. The original dining hall, is now dedicated as McKay Hall, in honour of her parents, who were instrumental in the development of Camp Kintail.
For eighty years, the Camp Kintail chapel was located in a beautiful spot behind the Rec Hall. In central camp, but tucked out of site, the chapel was a spot for reflection, worship, and prayer. Unfortunately, the chapel was not on land owned by the camp and in 2010, a stunning new chapel was built. Through the hard work and vision of Kintail’s staff and volunteers, a tiered chapel with a large deck was constructed. It was completed in time for the Staff Commissioning service where it was blessed by the Moderator of Synod. 
Programs
Throughout the years, many unique programs have been part of the Kintail schedule. The following is an incomplete list of the history of some of our programs.
Kintail traditionally offered boys and girls only camps, with a Senior Co-ed and co-ed youth weekends. In 1991, all Kintail’s camps became co-ed. In 1982, a three day camp for “Pre-Juniors” was added the schedule. This camp is now called “Sprouts.”
Specialty program areas have been added over the years. The first time a specific arts & crafts director was hired was 75 and a canoeing instructor was added in 1975. The Nature program was begun in 1991. Music & Drama was added in 1994. Other programs have included camp crafts, waterfront, watercraft, adventure, and rockwall.
Family Camp was started in 1981 as part of “Double in the Eighties,” movement of The Presbyterian Church. This was the first camp at Kintail that included adults. This camp is now a highlight of the summer.
The formal Counsellor in Training program began in 1982 with the hiring of a CIT Director. The name was later changed to the Leader in Training (LIT) program acknowledging that the program trains leaders for not just camp but church and community. The program originally spanned five weeks and helped to train new counsellors and leaders for the church. In 1990, it was expanded to seven weeks to include an experience at Huron Feathers. In 1993, two four-week programs entered the schedule and the camp was able to train double the leaders. In 2008 a third LIT program, the Music and Art Leader in Training program, was begun with a focus on leadership in the arts as well as regular camp and church leadership training.
Music or choir camps have long been a Kintail tradition. The first Music Camp was held in 1979. Before long, a Junior and a Senior Choir camp was held each year. In the eighties, these camp choirs would travel to local churches (Kincardine, Ashfield, and Goderich) and churches further afield to showcase their talents. In the nineties, the camp became a music and art camp, which expanded into drama and dance as well. The “Kintail Express” camp is one of the most anticipated camps of each summer.
Camp Kintail’s out-tripping program is an important part of the Kintail experience. Senior Co-ed trips regularly ran canoe trips on the Saugeen River and later hiked the Bruce Trail. Intermediate aged campers have traditionally participated in an overnight, into various areas such as Happy Hollow campground, Ashfield Presbyterian Church, Livingstone’s Landing, and across the creek.
Specialty tripping camps began in 1992 with hiking trips on the Bruce trail for a week. The program was expanded to include canoe trips in Algonquin Park, the French River, and Killarney Provincial Park.
In the eighties, “Herbie” was developed in the second Glen. This was an activity course made with logs, rope, and tires. Eventually a more formal low ropes course was begun in 1995.There are currently 14 elements in the course. A 9-hole disc golf course was added in 2009 and three more holes added in 2010. A three sided rock climbing tower was added in 2010.
Kintail On The Road, a vacation Bible camp program, began in 2010 with Kintail staff leading camps at thirteen different sites around the Synod. Through the support of the national church and the estate of Madeleine Edward, the program was able to be initiated. Madeleine’s father (Rev. Lane) was one of the founders of Kintail.
Logo
Camp Kintail’s logo reflects our Christian message. It was designed in 1973 by Stephanie Doll, a past camper and staff member. The children holding hands represent the sharing and friendship found at camp. The water represents Lake Huron. The centre of the circle is a “K” made of a cross, an arrow, and a tree. The tree represents the glory of God’s creation, the cross symbolizes our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, and the arrow points to the right path that we, as Christians, should follow. All of this is surrounded by a circle which symbolizes God’s eternal love.
Camp Board
The Camp Board has always played an active role in the life and work of Camp Kintail. For many years, the Camp board managed the daily activities of the camp. Since 1991, a Kintail summer staff member has been elected to sit on the board as a full member. In 2001, the Camp Kintail board became a policy and procedure board.
Directors
For many years, volunteers and ministers directed weeks of the summer. Eventually, “camp managers” took on the role of managing the site and staff with weekly directors. In the seventies, summer directors were hired and in 1983, the first full time director was hired.
1975 – Ed. Dowdles
1976 – Ed. Dowdles
1979 – Myles Caskie
1980-86 – The Rev. Robert Faris (OM Appointment in 1983, and the position became fulltime)
1987 – Russ Day (Summer Director)
1988-91 – The Rev. Scott Sinclair (1/2 Kintail, ½ SYC)
1992 – The Rev. Gwen Brown (1/2 Kintail, ½ SYC)
1995-07 – The Rev. Gwen Brown (Full time Kintail Director)
2002 – The Rev. Gwen Brown (Executive Director), Lisa Fyfe (Assistant Director)
2005 – The Rev. Gwen Brown (Executive Director), Graham Gould (Director)
2007 – Rick Walsh (Summer Director)
2007-ongoing – The Rev. Theresa McDonald-Lee & Johnathon Lee
