This summer’s attendance at Camp Artaban was up by about a quarter over last year, David Quinton of the Camp Artaban Society reported.

Quinton said that over nine weeks the camp on Gambier Island in Howe Sound attracted 741 campers. The comparable figure for 2004 was 598.

“This is the best summer Artaban has had in 10 years,” he said. “We also launched a new two week long Leaders in Training program this summer which was a great success as well.

“We again had great volunteer support with around 150 people volunteering a week or two to counsel, do crafts, sports or other program area, and we also had a small increase in the number of clergy involved,” he said.

In addition to the campers, on two visitor days a total of 185 people took the boat from West Vancouver to spend a day at Artaban. Before the camp started about 80 members of St. Cuthbert, Delta, spent a weekend restoring Artaban’s chapel.

A worship service in the newly renovated outdoor chapel at Camp Artaban is led by the Rev. John Oakes. (Sandi LaCharité photo)