Keats Camps

Keats Camps is a christian based summer camp for kids and youth located on Keats Island, British Columbia. Started as a small camp in 1926, Keats is now a larger camp housing around 250 campers and 60 Staff. The Camp is also an accreditted camp for the B.C. Camping Association.
History
Early Years
In 1922 the Convention of Baptist Churches of BC appointed a camp committee. Its instructions were quite specific: "to enquire into, and investigate, the desirability of establishing a permanent Baptist Summer conference and camp, the design of which is to furnish, chiefly, a rallying place for young people of our churches and congregations, and to combine in its program, instruction, inspiration, recreation and rest."
By 1926, the committee had located and purchased an option on a former farm on the West end of Keats Island. That first summer a cook shack was erected, an old well repaired, and camp was ready to host families for the first "Assembly" on Keats Island. While the actual dates and number who attended are not known, the camp was a great success in spite of the crude conditions.
Funding the $12,000 purchase price for the original 430 acres was becoming a challenge. It was through the creativity of five Baptist businessmen that Keats Island Summer Homes Limited was created in order to lease cottage lots adjacent to the campsite. Lots sold for between $350 for a waterfront lot to $200 for a second or third row lot. Enough lots were sold on an ongoing basis to successfully meet the financial obligations of the purchase. In 1956 with the property paid for, the company was dissolved and the Convention once again assumed ownership of the property, which after the sale of some of the land originally purchased, now comprised the current 230 acres. In the end 110 lots had been created. Primarily Baptists from the Convention churches purchased the lots and simple summer cottages were built on the sites.
While all this was taking place planning and building was underway. The first caretaker, Mr Reed, was hired and moved to the island in 1927. He cleared land, repaired the well, and created a trail to what became known as Sandy Beach. His only help in this endeavour was an old horse named Prince who had been acquired with the property. The Assembly Hall was built in 1926, a permanent kitchen and covered eating area soon followed, and tent platforms eventually gave way to sleeping cabins for campers arranged in a row at the top of the hill facing the village of Gibsons across the water.
Adding of the Nautical Theme
In the 70's Rob Bentall introduced the nautical theme to the camp and rearranged the cabins creating the large grassy area, which became the centre of the camp. Staff titles and activities also reflected the nautical theme, which ushered in an era of growth for the camp.

New Buildings
In 2003, as the result of a $2.5 million capital campaign, a new building containing dining, kitchen, and assembly rooms was built replacing the kitchen, which with numerous additions had been in continuous use since the 1920's. This allowed the camper population to grow to 234 per week. Our on site summer population has grown to approximately 400 including our leadership training program and staff.
Summer Camps
Currently the Keats Camp runs 6 day camps for children and youth grades 3 - 12. The campers arrive by boat from Horseshoe Bay on Tuesday mornings and they return in the same way on the following Monday. During their stay on the Island, the campers are separated into cabins with 10 to 12 occupants plus two counsellors. Throughout the day the campers eating in the Chan Dining Commons, attend "Sea Trades", which are activities taught in a small group, play games, do bible studies, and attend "Watch" the nightly music/worship session.
Activities
The Camp offers a large number of activities, including:
*Rock Climbing
*Skate Boarding (Includes Mountain Boarding)
*Mountain Biking
*Archery
*Arts and Crafts
*Wakeboarding
*Sailing
*Canoeing and Kayaking
*Windsurfing
*Snorkeling
During "Free time", Campers can also go tubing, and swimming.
Watch
Each night the whole camp meets in the "Chart Room" for a worship session. The band plays worship songs written at the camp including, "The River", "Dancing In A Field", and more recently "How Deep". Other songs like "One Way" and "Happy Day" are also played.
Recent leaders of the worship team have been:
*Jordan Chong Summer 2008
*Mark Watt Summer 2009
*Bryce Dunbar Summer 2010

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