Celebrating 50 Years - Great is the Lord!

In 1956, Richard Neale of Youth Gospel Crusade, Wheaton, Illinois was invited to hold meetings in Rib Lake, Wisconsin. He had been praying about starting a camp for over 15 years. While there, some people said: “We understand you’re interested in camping. We have a place we’d like to show you.” Mr. Neale had seen dozens of beautiful campsites from Minnesota over into Michigan. He thought this would be just another one. However, as he walked around the property and stood on the hill looking down at the lake, somehow he felt in his heart that this was the place.

A few men, with a vision for camping ministry, approached a television executive from California who owned the original 80 acres. They asked him to sell the land at a fraction of its worth so it could be used for a children’s camp. One of these men, Gordon Donaldson, a local Ogema businessman, bought the property for $4,000. However, the men were unable to bring their dream of a camp to fulfillment. When they learned of Mr. Neale’s interest in starting a camp they showed him the property. Mr. Neale and his wife mortgaged their car and along with other funds purchased the initial 80 acres, with shoreline, for $4,000 from Mr. Donaldson.

This was the start of what would become Camp Forest Springs. Listen to Mr. Neale recount the story (45 min). Land was added as God miraculously provided. Clearing of trees, making roadways and erecting buildings followed.

On August 11 — 15, 1958, an Open House was held with Youth Gospel Crusade missionaries putting on nightly programs. This was the launching of what would become a year-round camp ministry.

In 1959, the first youth camps were held. Each year additional features were added including family camps, a counselor training program, winter camps, men’s and ladies events, and a year-round Leadership Training and Development program (LTD) to train camp leaders. Today camp serves over 14,000 people each year.