CRAWFORD COUNTY– Against the backdrop of the Roaring Twenties, prohibition, gangsters, Women’s Suffrage movement, Charles Lindbergh, and Admiral Byrd’s flights, a young man with a dream of teaching youngsters about nature and a simpler life, became Director of Young People’s Work at Detroit’s Westminster Presbyterian Church.
Robert Frehse (affectionately referred to as Captain Bob), had a fondness for children and a strong faith. He had worked for various YMCA’s and directed his first four camping seasons in the Ozark Mountains, following his tour with the US Naval Air Service in France.
It is recorded, that Frehse, due to his outdoor experience and strong faith conviction, “fueled a new dream for Westminster, of a camp that would extend the church’s religious education program beyond the confines of their church building,” as well as get the children out of the inner city, and into nature. Approval for “an experiment in summer camping for boys and girls” came to fruition.
On June 30, 1925, twenty-five campers attended the first four-week camp session at Narrin Lake, near Ortonville, Michigan. The youngsters and staff slept in wooden floored army tents along the shores of Narrin Lake. Four weeks later, thirty girls arrived for their turn camping. Madge Scobie directed the Girls Camp.
Swimming, hiking, nature study, boating, canoeing, and learning how to live work and play together were activities of that first year.
Recognizing the success of their fledgling program, several associated with the program, including Mr. Frehse realized they may need a more permanent location. In 1926, a “delegation of Westminster men, visited the Department of Conservation in Lansing, and secured a 50-year lease on the Higgins Lake land, in the southeast corner of the Higgins Lake State Forest.”
Currently, that lease still stands, “as long as the camp continues to be used as a camp for boys and girls.” The original land lease consisted of a total of thirty acres, however, was increased to forty acres sometime later.
Alicia Rowney, Camp Director noted, in addition to canoeing, paddle boarding and other outdoor living activities, a primary goal is character development. Included in the curriculum, is personal development, general bible study, games, and evening reflection.
A high rope course and climbing tower help build a young person’s physical strength. A STEAM program is included, similar to (STEM) – Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, with the addition of the Arts.
Campers embrace nature, completely tech free. Staff, as well as campers, spend the week “unplugged from phones and technology”.
Until this summer, Roscommon students in a “summer school” program, also attended camp at Westminster. Last year, it had grown to ninety children. Due to funding cuts, that program was not available this year.
On July 12, 13, and 14, alumnus will get to re-experience camp and reminisce of their time at Westminster through Lumberjack Day and Thomas Dugget Day with canoe races, a timber yell, water boil, caber toss, and singing traditional camp songs. One returning alumni camper is 92 years, and still young at heart.
The thirty-two-foot-tall lighthouse constructed in 2000, will have a special dedication during the July festivities.
Among the alumni are NASA space engineers, lawyers, and community leaders of all walks of life.
While Westminster Camp is part the Presbyterian faith, Westminster Church of Detroit is “A church for all people.” Following the riots of 1967, when other churches chose to leave the inner city, Westminster instead chose to become integrated. Their motto is their belief. The staff and campers represent that diversity.
Forty-seven buildings now comprise the facility. Worthington Lodge and other facilities on the property may be rented by families or other groups. The monies collected from those rentals go towards the upkeep of the property.
For more information or to rent the facility, contact Alicia Rowney 313-341-8969.
