The theme text for our organization has always been: "Unless the LORD builds the house, those who build it labour in vain". This text has taken on a very special significance for us over the past years as we have worked to construct facilities at our new property in Markdale. We have felt the Lord's hand upon us throughout our planning and construction process. To be sure, we met with challenges along the way, but also in these we experienced God's grace and his desire to have us rely more fully upon Him. In the end, it became very clear to us that these facilities were indeed of the Father's construction and, as a result, our efforts were not in vain.
Campfire! graces a 165 acre site, located in beautiful Grey County, near Markdale, Ontario. Our property includes rolling hills, two scenic ponds, several hiking trails through forested areas and open spaces.
The hub of all activities at the property is our main lodge. The upper floor of the main lodge houses our dining hall (with capacity to sit up to 125 persons and a full sound system and projector screen), cozy fireplace corner, kitchen, health centre as well as a meeting room used by our cooking staff, which also seconds as a bedroom for those who are physically disabled. The lower level consists of staff offices, a games room, a larger meeting / recreational room with a fireplace, our washroom facilities and two sleeping areas.
Each of the 6 camper cabins can host sixteen persons, with two rooms housing six campers each and a middle area for counselors to sleep in. Bunkbeds and mattresses for each of the cabins (as well as the sleeping area in the lodge) were constructed through the generous effort of volunteers. The cabins are insulated to keep them cool in the heat, and are equipped with electric heaters to allow for winter use. Construction of our comfort station building began in the Spring of 2007 and was completed for the summer of 2008. This building is a welcome addition, providing extra washroom and shower facilities near the camper cabins.
The beautiful outdoor pavilion with picnic tables and benches is the perfect place to hold chapels and meetings of all kinds from Spring to Fall, weather permitting.
A natural amphitheatre near the lodge allows groups of all sizes to sit on benches under the night sky and enjoy camp fires, singsongs, etc around a large firepit.
Two ponds fringed by trees grace the property and are a short trail walk from the lodge. One has a small sandy beach and is suitable for swimming in season.
To date we have been blessed with an abundant number of volunteers who have put their time and effort into the construction of our site. As with any property, there is always the need for continual maintenance and improvements. Although we do have a part-time Property Manager who looks after the routine maintenance and small construction projects, there still remain projects that require multiple hands to complete the task.
For more information on renting this facility, please see our Rental Information page.
For more information on how you can help out with our facilites, please see our Volunteer Opportunities page.
Campfire! Wishlist
- ATV or golf cart, preferably with a trailer of some sorts (we would love to have one to move things around the property)
- Foosball Table
- Curtains in main hall
- Comfy couches and chairs for fireplace areas
- Snowmobile
- Upright freezers
- New Cabins
- Chainsaw
- Area rugs
Please contact 905 772 9003 or if you can help.
Directions to the Campfire! Property:
Click on the map above to be directed to Google Maps for directions
