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For many, the “Camp Artaban experience” is a deep-rooted one; generations have known the camaraderie of the dining hall, the joy of morning worship in the outdoor chapel, the round of craft, sports and waterfront activities, and the smell of smoke around the evening campfire.  

For others, “Camp Artaban” is just a name, and not a very familiar one at that. But since being established at the end of Long Bay on Gambier Island in 1923, Camp Artaban had been home to decades of ministry to parish youth as well as thousands of campers with no church affiliation. Following several years of negotiations, the Diocese of New Westminster’s affiliation was officially removed in 2014 from the Camp Artaban Society through a number of resolutions passed by Diocesan Council.  Camp Artaban and the D of NW came to an arrangement that provided dispersal of the debt and a fresh start for the Camp. There were many in the diocese who were disappointed and many in the diocese who were excited about entering an era of new development in camping and youth ministry with the Artaban site as a possible location for these initiatives.

The now independent board has since 2014 endeavoured to continue the Artaban tradition of offering Christian camping opportunities and rental of the Gambier Island site to other groups. However, in 2020, camps aren’t being offered due to the pandemic. Turning lemons into lemonade, a group of us took the opportunity to experience “camp-in-a-day” and introduce the Artaban experience to a new generation of clergy and retreat leaders who may not have been aware of its potential to host retreats of all sizes, parish camping weekends, or new offerings such as Queerest & Dearest begun in 2018, with some of its funding obtained from the Anglican Initiatives Fund.  

The day began with an exhilarating, 30-minute water taxi trip from Horseshoe Bay to the Artaban dock, where we were greeted by board members Nancy Farris and Sandi La Charite along with summer staff members who are onsite to support volunteer work parties and ongoing camp maintenance.  

Our walk from the wharf took us by the swimming and boating dock, past the chapel under the trees and into the dining hall where tea, coffee, and fresh-from-the-oven cinnamon buns awaited us. It was a good start to the rest of the day, which included a wooded hike around the camp perimeter, a tour of the rental facilities such as the renovated, self-contained Somerville House that sleeps 16, midday prayer in the chapel, a mini “Cootie” tournament in the dining hall, and a campfire that featured the Rev. Cameron Gutjahr’s uke playing, Bible story charades and Nancy’s retelling of the Artaban story first imagined by Henry van Dyke in his 1895 work, The Other Wise Man.  

Our group reflected on the potential for the Artaban site to be a place that parishes might rent for retreats and family camps.       

Our time at camp only lasted a matter of hours, but it was enough to get a taste of the Camp Artaban spirit. “So much fun,” wrote one clergy 'camper' in an email that evening. “My heart certainly opened for the ministry of Artaban.”  

Are you curious about how Camp Artaban might fit into your dreams for ministry, fellowship and fun? Artaban is happy to work with rental groups in a flexible manner to make the experience a happy one, and as affordable as possible. If you would like to think through some ideas for hosting events at Camp Artaban, please contact rentalmanager@campartaban.com or 604-379-9074.

IMAGES

  • Off to camp: VST student Amer Ayoub, the Rev. André Stephany (Rector of St. Clement, Lynn Valley as of September 1), and the Rev. Cameron Gutjahr of St. John the Divine, Squamish, took in the fresh air and scenery from the back of the Bowen Arrow.
  • Close to God (if not each other): Middday prayer in the chapel was held COVID-19 style.
  • Wilna Parry, ODNW of St. Clement’s and André check out the view from the arts studio deck.
  • The daytrippers walked part of the perimeter of the 67-acre property.
  • Board Secretary, Nancy Farris offers a glimpse inside Somerville House, which sleeps up to 16 and has its own kitchen, lounge and large deck overlooking the orchard. It was named for former archbishop, the Most Rev. David Somerville, an avid naturalist and vivid teller of tales around the Camp Artaban campfire.
  • The Rev. Jessica Schaap, Missioner of Christian Formation for the diocese, was happy to have a day away from the office “re-searching” for good ideas!
  • The historic dining hall has new windows and is in the process of getting a new roof.
  • The afternoon ended around the campfire, to the sound of a ukulele and the story of Artaban, “the other wise man.”
  • The Rev. André Stephany is NOT keeping an anxious look-out for the return of the water taxi, but is in the grip of playing Bible Story Charades.
  • All hands on deck (with faces turned away “because covid”)! It isn’t camp without friendship bracelets, so Katherine Jang of St. Clement’s made each “camper” one to remember their day together. Photo: Nancy Farris
  • The weather cooperated as the Rev. Cam Gutjahr, the author, Amer Ayoub, the Rev. André Stephany, the Rev. Jessica Schaap, the Rev. Sharon Smith, Wilna Parry and Sylvia Enga, ODNW (Artaban board member) began their day at camp. Photo: Nancy Farris
  • Amer, Jessica, Cameron, Sharon, Wilna, André, and Peggy brainstormed retreat possibilities for Somerville House.  Photo: Nancy Farris

All photos by Peggy Trendell-Jensen except where noted