Kimball Camp YMCA
Organized camping in Hillsdale County dates back to the early 1900's. Around 1913, when the Hillsdale County YMCA was under secretary Forrest P. Knapp, summer camps were operated on Hemlock Lake, northwest of Reading, Michigan. The YMCA was also running a camp on Hemlock Lake, as early as 1924. Conditions were primitive, with tents the only means of shelter for both campers and kitchen/dining facilities. The luxury of cabins and a lodge was unthinkable, since camping in anything but tents was unheard of. If anyone had dreamed of cabins and a lodge, it would take almost 30 years for the dream to be realized.
Records are unclear, but it appears that as early as 1929 the Knight of Pythias Lodge of Hillsdale was also operating a camp in the area. Their camp was on Long Lake, also northwest of Reading and on the chain of lakes consisting of Popple, Berry, Long, Carpenter and Hemlock Lakes. The campsite was on the present location of Kimball Camp YMCA Nature Center. Mr. and Mrs. Charles Berlin owned the property and the Pythias paid an annual rental fee of $100 (later increased to $125), for the use of the land.
The Pythians
operated their camp at this location until May 1933, when the decision was
made to sub-rent the land to the Hillsdale County YMCA. In June 1933,
the YMCA moved their kitchen/dining hall from Hemlock Lake, thus providing
the first permanent building on the site. Although this building was
better than the old dining tent had been, it was still primitive, not
withstanding bad weather. The YMCA continued to operate the camp on a
rental basis for about five years, and the Pythians gradually withdrew from
the picture.
An influential member
of the Pythians at this time was Mr. Homer O. Wood, a Hillsdale jeweler, who
was greatly interested in Christian character development of youth. He
wanted to see the camping program in Hillsdale County established on a more
solid foundation, as it was a constant financial struggle to keep things
running and to have enough funds to purchase equipment and supplies.
Consequently, he began to cultivate the interest of Mr. Ora C. Kimball, a
prosperous Midwest turkey buyer and shipper. Mr. Kimball lived in
Hillsdale and had seasonal homes in Florida and on Higgings Lake in northern
Michigan.
Mr. Wood was looking for an "Angel" for the Camp, and Mr. Kimball was looking for some worthy philanthropic project. Together, the two men reached the conclusion that to satisfy the desires of both and preserve the camping program in Hillsdale County, the responsibility for its operation should be turned over to the Hillsdale County YMCA. This would save the program, ensure professional direction for the camp, and give the YMCA secretary a year-round job. Mr. Kimball was to work out the financial arrangements.
On March 18, 1938, Mr. Kimball and his wife Edna purchased the present 25-acre site on Long Lake from Charles Berlin and his wife for $5000. The title was put in the Kimball's name, but referred to publicly as the Hillsdale County YMCA camp. An association to oversee the camp, known as the Hillsdale County Camping Association, was formed. On June 27, 1938, Mr. and Mrs. Kimball entered into an agreement with this association for the use of the property. Mr. Kimball and Mr. Wood were both members of the Association. Tents and equipment were purchased from the Knights of Pythias, and the Hillsdale County YMCA was in the camping business.
Mr. Kimball spent many long hours supervising the planting of evergreens, building a modest office and other buildings and drilling new wells. He solicited friends to provide cabins that would sleep up to ten campers and their counselor. Often, if funds were not readily available, he would secure a small building (sometimes chicken coops), either by purchase or as a gift from a farmer. This building would be moved to the camp where it was converted into a small cabin.
The four cabins in the south end of camp were all small buildings of
this sort. The four north end cabins were of newer and better construction,
contributed by and built on the grounds by various groups of individuals.
Incidentally, the boys got the south cabins and the girls the north cabins.
When Mr. Kimball could not satisfy the needs of the camp by solicitation, he
would devise a plan to provide for it. Often this meant paying for items
himself. However, he preferred that, as much as possible, camp improvement
and development be a self-help or matching help program. Many a Saturday
morning, the YMCA secretary was wakened by the ringing of his phone. Mr.
Kimball would be on the line, suggesting that they round up some HI-Y boys
and others to work out at camp planting evergreens, patching roofs, fixing
fences or doing any other needed tasks.
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By 1950, camp usage had progressed to the point where all campers were housed in suitable cabins. Now there was the need for a more adequate kitchen/dining hall and general meeting space. Recognizing these needs, Mr. and Mrs. Kimball funded a new log lodge for the camp. Construction began in the late summer of 1950, with Harold Foulke, an energetic and committed YMCA Board Member, as contractor. Dedication of the new building took place June 18, 1951. It contained a large dining and assembly room, an improved kitchen and office space. |
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The Kiwanis Club of Hillsdale funded a beautiful field stone fireplace, constructed by Austin Barber, a talented stone mason, and twelve dining room tables. These tables were built by Kiwanis in their spare time, with the help of Russell Huffman, a high school shop teacher.
Mr. Kimball was advancing in years and saw the wisdom of taking the camp property out of his name, making it the property of the Hillsdale County YMCA. This he did on August 31, 1953. He deeded the 25-acre site over to the YMCA with the stipulation that should it ever cease to be used for camping, or should the County YMCA ever be dissolved, the property would go to the State YMCA.
Thus, in the spring of
1965 the camp could boast adequate camper housing, a splendid lodge which
housed the kitchen, dining room, an office and basement storage. It was
well-equipped with refrigeration, a stove, dishwasher and restrooms for the
kitchen staff. Restroom facilities for the cabin groups were located at
either end of the grounds. A five-bed infirmary, large shelter house, staff
building and tool sheds had been added by this time. There was also a modest
Director’s cabin. Waterfront equipment such as aluminum boats, docks, a raft
and other pieces had also been acquired. With these many improvements, the
camp met the standards for accreditation by both the Michigan and National
Camping Associations.
The grounds were well forested. Many large specimen trees such as beech, oak, maple, whitewood, ash, hickory, walnut, dogwood, redbud and others were found. With the addition of the evergreens planted by Mr. Kimball, the camp had an excellent setting for tree and plant study.
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On Palm Sunday, April 11, 1965, around 7:00 p.m., approximately six tornadoes passed through Hillsdale County within the space of thirty minutes. Some tornadoes followed each other over the same paths. O. C. Kimball Camp was in the direct path of what was arguably the most powerful one. The camp was completely demolished except for the infirmary, which sustained only minor damage, the kitchen stove, which was used until 1997, and rowboats from the waterfront, some of which are still in use to this day. The Director’s cabin was badly damaged but still stood. Wallis Hyde, the Camp Director, and his wife barely escaped with their lives as they were in the cabin when the storm struck. Giant trees were left a tangled mass. |
How can a building the size of a camp lodge completely vanish, contents and all, while a small building like the infirmary escape with only minor damage? How do you feel as you survey the wreckage, and realize that forty years of work and planning have literally gone with the wind?
Community support is a wonderful thing in a time of disaster. On Monday morning, April 12, the chairman of the Camp Committee received a phone call from Mr. Eugene Proctor who in effect said, “Don’t think that Kimball Camp is finished. You are going to rebuild and we’ll see that you get the help that you need!” Within the week after the tornado, Mr. Farris Kneen, a local industrialist, sent a check for $1000 to the YMCA office. He said, “Kimball Camp means so much to the youth of our county. It must be rebuilt, and I want this to help you get started.” These two men will never know what their expressions of faith meant to the YMCA Board at this time. It was their faith that crystallized the decision to rebuild. Mr. Harmon Davies, Associate State Secretary, brought counsel and encouragement from the state level and made some special monies available for use in the emergency.
The Board realized they needed a Director for any fund drive, and Mr. George Wheeler, immediate past county YMCA secretary, was the unanimous choice. Characteristically, Wheeler jumped at the chance and came back for a three-month period to organize and direct the drive. The Board also directed the Camp Committee, chaired by Vernon Stevens, to start planning for the new construction.
Working with James McCall and Harold Foulke, the committee drew up a list of desired buildings and engaged the services of the architectural firm of J. Lauran Kretchmar of Flint, Michigan, who drafted the plans. Armed with these plans and an estimate of costs, George Wheeler cut loose and the drive was underway. When the drive was over, a total of $190,000 had been raised.
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Even though Kimball Camp was without a trace of facilities, the summer camping program went on as planned. The camp committee worked out a rental agreement with nearby Camp Selah, a Baptist Camp, for the use of its facilities. Consequently, a program directed by Wallis Hyde was conducted at Camp Selah during the summers 1965, 1966, and 1967. |
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Walter Martinen was awarded the contract for the new construction and on Sunday, April 3, 1966, ground was broken for the lodge. Construction was completed by midsummer 1967, and the first use made of the new facilities was by the county Intermediate School for a short day camp program for mentally disable children. David Steel, County Intermediate Superintendent, was the Director. The new facilities were formally dedicated September 17, 1967. The new facilities included the lodge, six cabins and one activity cabin.
At the time of the dedication, two cabins and one activity cabin had not been built, due to the rising costs. However, through the generosity of friends and the help of the Hillsdale High School house-building class, it was later possible to complete the second cabin cluster. This made eight cabins available, each capable of housing fourteen campers and their counselor. Also during the summer of 1975, YMCA board members and many volunteers rebuilt the old staff building which had been destroyed in the 1965 tornado. This building is self-contained and can house up to sixteen people. It has been renamed “Thunderbird Ridge”.
The new buildings
increased the range of usefulness of the camp and many new programs were
developed, including trip-camps, football camps, band camps and outdoor
education. As these new programs developed use of the camp by both local and
out-of-county groups increased. With this increased use it was soon evident
that there was a need to expand and improve the physical plant. Finally,
after much discussion and planning, the board adopted “Project Forward” in
November 1977.
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The 1980's were dedicated to improving the programs offered at Kimball Camp YMCA. The largest area of growth was in the Outdoor Environmental Education program. It was at this time that a partnership began between Coldwater Community Schools and the Kimball Camp YMCA Nature Center. The original curriculum, based on "Sunship Earth", was designed to bring area students to camp to learn about the natural world by studying it first-hand. This joint effort was what would ultimately create the modern day Outdoor Environmental Education programs which are still offered at Kimball Camp and make up the majority of its programming year. |
In 1982, the first step was taken in a new direction for Kimball Camp with the construction of the Mid-Ropes Course. This obstacle course consisted of fifteen obstacles, each situated only a few feet off the ground. Designed to provide a safe, fun personal challenge to the participants, it soon became a popular activity, especially during the Summer Camp program. This exciting, new attraction at Kimball Camp laid the cornerstone for a whole new area of experiential programming, and gave future Directors the motivation to pursue the idea of ropes courses to new levels.
As the 1980's came to a close, another feature was added to the camp. Mount Kimball, the original climbing tower at Kimball Camp YMCA was constructed. A single wall, 20 feet tall was built. Climbers wore mountain climbing gear and were attached to the top of the wall by a belay system. This activity proved so popular, that in 1989 a second “negative” climb was added to increase the level of difficulty in the climbs. It was an instant hit!
The 1990's saw even more changes. In 1992, Kimball Camp completed construction on its first High Ropes Course. This course consisted of eleven obstacles built an average of 15-feet off the ground. Participants were required to wear full mountain climbing gear. The program was based on a “Challenge By Choice” ideal wherein participants could “push” themselves as far as they wanted to, a practice still enforced to this day. At the same time, construction began on a Low Ropes Course, a series of obstacles which enhance teamwork and promote communication among its participants. School systems, seeing the value of the Ropes Courses, began to come to Kimball Camp for Spring Outdoor Education, so that their students would be better equipped to leave elementary school and enter junior high. These programs continue to this day.
In 1998, a piece of history ended, and a new chapter began in the life and mission of Kimball Camp YMCA. Under the leadership of Harold Campbell, the Executive Director and Barry Rudesill, the Assistant Director, a new series of expansions began. The ageing Mid-Ropes Course was removed, and plans were underway to build even better Ropes Courses. With strong support from Herb James, a local businessman and former Board Member, the new building phase, called “Project 2000", was able to begin on the 60th anniversary of O. C. Kimball Camp YMCA Nature Center’s service to the community. The plan consisted of five phases, each designed to expand the existing programming, and to offer new avenues of outreach and in-reach.
The first phase, the construction of a new 40-foot climbing tower called Goliath, was achieved in February of 1998. Though still in the construction phase, Goliath was opened as soon as the first climb was completed and was used throughout the winter by retreat groups. By the time Spring Outdoor Education rolled around, two sides had been “rocked” and Goliath was the new centerpiece of attention and activity for all of the Kimball Camp programs. Still under modification and improvement into the summer of 1999, Goliath has officially opened 11 different climbs, including a “bouldering line” challenge which requires participants to navigate their way around the entire base of Goliath without touching the ground. It continues to provide a test of skill and determination to all the participants since it’s “completion”, and will remain a challenge in the future due to the ability of the camp staff to change every climb on its surface.
In August of 1998, the new team-building phase of the project began. In late August, a new 40-foot High Ropes / Personal Challenge Course was completed. Designed to replace the existing course which had begun to deteriorate, these new elements allowed Kimball Camp to provide more of an outreach to the At-Risk / Juvenile Court groups that had, until recently, only done the Low Ropes Course. In addition, to the new High Ropes Course, Kimball Camp expanded it’s already numerous Low Ropes activities and added a new on-site Team-Building Kit. This kit allowed Kimball Camp, for the first time in its history, to take its programming into local area schools and provide a memorable experience for those who might never be able to attend the camp.
September of 1998 brought the most exciting phase of the development to an end. Kimball Camp YMCA Nature Center was able to purchase two fields, formerly owned by the Reppert family. These two fields now provide a direct connection between Kimball Camp and Kimball Pointe, effectively linking all areas of Kimball Camp together and providing a total of 103 acres on which to offer its programs. While the future of the new fields remains undecided at the time of this writing, the excitement of having areas to expand the staff and camper housing and to improve the overall capacity of the camp to alleviate the “over-crowding” of multiple programs is a blessing from God.