A history of St. John Bosco Camp

1929
(OCTOBER 28) A small geographical survey plane with the letters "ZN" on its wings sank into the depths of a small wilderness lake in northern Saskatchewan. The lake was subsequently named ZN (Zeden) Lake.


1958 – the Knights of Columbus Councils in ZenonPark, Tisdale, Nipawin and Hudson Bay undertook the opportunity to build and develop a summer camp operation for the children of those areas.
A site was selected. A small lake on the newly built Hanson Lake Road in the Nipawin Provincial Park was registered with the Dept. of Natural Resources as Z.N. Lake. The lake was given this particular name due to the discovery of an airplane that had crash-landed in the vicinity of the lake. The letters CEZN were on the wings.
A formal request was made to the Dept of Natural Resources for permission to establish a summer camp at Z.N. Lake. Upon obtaining final approval from the Department, plans were made to lay the groundwork for the camp.
The name St. John Bosco Camp was chosen. St John Bosco is the patron of young people. The camp’s ideal at that time was to emulate his love of rowdy boys and help them to recognize, respect, and grow as individuals and groups.

1959 – Bishop Morin, pleased with the project, agreed to provide the camp with a Director and part of the staff. Father Deschamps was appointed as Camp Director. Work began with the building of a private road and the initial clearing and the construction of the first building, the combination dining hall/kitchen/chapel. In the last week of July, Father Vyncht of Tisdale, Sk. celebrated the first Mass of the opening of camp.

First camp was held - it lasted one week and had fourteen campers, all boys.

1960 – two one-week camps for boys and a one-week camp for girls were held. By now word of the camp was spreading and campers were applying from all over northern Saskatchewan.

1961
- First Aid Station was built.
- Dining Hall addition was built.


1965
- Cook’s Cabin was built.
- Root Cellar was built.
-Canteen was built.
- Power plant was built.
-Firearm-Safety/Naturelore building was built.


1966
- (MAY) Father Doucette was appointed new Camp Director.
- St. John Bosco Hour was introduced for the first time.
- Flag Poles and Backstops were erected.
- Rifle Range was damaged after it collapsed in the winter because of heavy snow.
- Power is extended to root cellar,camp fire site, fire range building, and powerhouse.
- Waterlines extended to campfire site, tenting areas, and toilets.


1967
- (MAY) Rev. J. M. Boutin was appointed new CampDirector.
- Public Address system was installed in camp.
- Tents were set up in the form of two horseshoes - 1 junior area and 1 senior area.
- Manager’s Cabin was built.


1968
- (MAY) A new recreation hall (40’x100’) was built by the Arborfield Sub-council of the Knights of Columbus. It is composed of the Camp Director¹s office, Assistant¹s office, leader¹s meeting room, handicraft and sports rooms.
- A survival-oriented program was introduced with emphasis on shelter-building, outdoor cooking, and firebuilding.
- Home Nursing Course was offered for the first time.
-St. John Bosco Camp became a founding member of the Saskatchewan Camping Association (S. C. A.)


1969
- Director¹s Cabin was built.


1970
- Canoeing program was initiated with the purchase of 2 fibreglass canoes.
- Orienteering was offered for the first time.


1971
- C. I. T. program was offered to senior campers aged 15-16.
- Camp Manager position was created.
- C. O. T. S. was offered for the first time.
- Canoe Skills was offered for the first time.


1972
- First year in which swimming programs were carried out under the supervision of both the Red Cross and the R. L. S. S. C.
- First year in which canoe programs were split into two: (i) Canoe I, which offered a six-day camp at Upper Fishing to teach skills; (ii) Canoe II, which offered a 60 mile outtripping experience down the Sturgeon Weir river and across Amisk Lake.
- First aid was affiliated with St. John¹s Ambulance.
- Awards system was set up to recognize annually five men or women who have greatly contributed to camp.
- New tenting "satellite" areas were set up for intermediate campers aged 11-12.


1973
- Naturelore Shelter was created.
- Storage Shelter was created.
- Obstacle Course was created.
- WSI offered for the first time.
- Staff shack was built.
- Showers were built.
- Creative Drama was offered as a program for the first time.
- Canoe Skills was held on Baldy Lake.
- Survival Skills was held in the bush around McDougall Creek.
- Staff Year-end canoe trip was offered for the first time.


1974
- New chapel was erected for the enjoyment and growth of campers and staff.
- A. L. E. was offered for the first time.
- Canoe Skills moved to Lost Echo Lake.


1975
- Survival Camp program changed its name to Wilderness Skills.
- All 3 C. O. T. S. programs were filled for the first time.
- Maintenance shed was built.
- Laundry Room was built.
- Activity centre was built.


1976
- Craft Shelter was built.
- Waterfront Building was erected.
- Bronze Medallion was offered for the first time.
- Wilderness Outtripping and Wilderness Skills were combined to form W. O. T. S.
- “Young Olympians of Canada” program was introduced at JBC in celebration of the Montreal Olympics.
- Sailing program was offered for the first time.
- Camp crafts program began the spring of this year.
- Canoe Skills moved from Lost Echo Lake to Ispuchaw Lake.
- Firearm Safety was discontinued.


1977
- (MAY 15) The Fishing Lakes Fire raged through camp, burning many buildings and damaging trees and property.
- Buildings destroyed by the fire: Root Cellar, 25 Round Tent Pads, Recreation Hall,Toilets by the Rec. Hall, Large Building at the Dump, Obstacle Course, Activity Centre, 20 Square tent pads, Small Building at the dump, Craft shelter, swimbeach shelter.
- Tenting areas were extended down to Ispuchaw Point, which was donated by the Boy Scouts.
- Ispuchaw Trail was created from main camp to Ispuchaw Point.
- New master plan was instituted for the future development of camp.
- Solo camping was offered as a program for the first time.


1978
- Quonset was built.
- Work starts on the Camp Cabin.
- Work starts on the Naturelore Building.
- Work starts on the Greenhouse.


1979
- Camp Cabin was made livable with the help of many people from many areas.
- St. John Bosco Youth Corps was started.
- Greenhouse was used on an experimental basis this year.


1980
- Administration building was erected. The inside was finished by the Knights of Columbus.
- Two tenting areas were created.


1981
- Camp Cabin was completed.
- Parr Course in front of the Administration Building was completed.
- New Walk-In Freezer was built on the south side of the Canteen.
- Naturelore Building was completed.
- Fr. John Boutin¹s last year as Camp Director. Fr. Albert LeGatt succeeds him.


1982
- Ray Beyer served as Acting Camp Director while Fr. Albert was away.
- Walk-in Freezer was completed.


1983
- 25th anniversary of camp!!!
- Canoe Beach was terraced.
- (JULY 27-30) Staff Reunion was held.


1984
- New gate built at entrance to camp.
- Greenhouse was damaged by fire.


1985
- Naturelore program is integrated with Wilderness Skills program.
- Swim Beach is terraced from the Camp Cabin and Nurse¹s Station to the waterfront.


1986
- Retaining wall was built at swim beach.
- Fr. Albert¹s last year as Camp Director. Jim Kaptein succeeds him.


1987
- Camp switches from diesel to electrical power. The power generator is shut down.
- Jim Kaptein’s last year as Director. Chris Brochu succeeds him.
- Chris Brochu’s last year as Director. Darryl Staflund succeeds her.


1988
- Camps gets telephone connections with the outside world. Mobile phone used for the last time.
- Camp goes Co-ed for the convenience of parents to cut down their travel expenses.
- Greenhouse is torn down.
-Darryl Staflund¹s last year as Camp Director. Jim Lissinna succeeds him.


1989
- Creative Drama, Yoga, and John Bosco Hour were combined to form the Discovery program.
- Intermediate areas moved from Ispuchaw Point to east side of Ispuchaw trail


1990
- Three summer camps are offered in July and August instead of four.
-Jim Lissinna¹s last year as Camp Director. Christian Kahlert succeeds him.


1991
- Christian Kahlert¹s last year as Camp Director. Michael Lacoursiere succeeds him.


1992
- The walk-in freezer was moved from the Canteen to the kitchen and attached to it.
- New septic tanks were installed by the kitchen, by the outhouse near the Nursing Station, and by the showers.


1993
- Shower complex was overhauled.
- New archery shelter was built.
- B. O. T. S. program was introduced for the first time.
- Adult Get-Away Weekend was introduced for the first time.


1994
- Michael Lacoursiere¹s last year as Camp Director. Mark Lich succeeds him.


1995
- (JUNE 1) Because of heavy smoke from the Nipekamiw and Monday forest fires, staff and campers were evacuated. Camp shutdown operation for the next week while smoke clears and fire is brought under control.


1996
- St. John Bosco Camp goes online with its own e-mail address and webpage!
- 7-day camps are offered concurrently with 10-day camps for the first time
- Mark Lich’s last year as camp director.

1997    - The Board of Directors takes on a more active role in the running of camp during the off season.
- Peter Kahlert is hired as Camp Director.
- Bosco offers only two – 10 days sessions in July.

1998    - Chad Thurber is hired as Camp Director.
- The upper deck on the Naturelore building is replaced.

1999    - Chantie Champigny is hired as Camp Director.
- A chlorination system is installed on our water supply
- The roof of the Camp Cabin is replaced
- The deck on the Camp Cabin is replaced
- Replacement of the dock at the canoe beach begins 

2000    - The Administration Building is re-shingled
- Aluminum tent frames are purchased and installed in all the tenting areas
- The lower deck of the Naturelore Building is replaced
- A canoe replacement program is started,  three new canoes are purchased
- Chantie Champigny’s last year as Camp Director

 2001    - Brad Harasymchuk is hired as Camp Director
- A third camp is reintroduced offering a 7 day program for Juniors and Intermediates
- The canoe dock replacement is completed
- A new change house at the swim beach is built

 2002    - A new metal roof is installed over the beach change house
- The Orienteering shelter is rebuilt and finished with a metal roof
- The staff Overflow building gets a new metal roof
- Work is started on the Mess Hall, a new metal roof is built over the freezer/cooler section
- Work also was done on the interior of the shower building
- A new floor is laid in the laundry building
- Brad Harasymchuk’s last year as Camp Director

 2003    - Taylor Bassingthwaite is hired as Camp Director
- Wilderness Kayaking Skills is offered for the first time
- A new interactive web site is developed
- Chapel roof receives repairs
- A metal roof is put on the main portion of the Mess Hall
- A project to vent the outhouses is undertaken
- Windstorms over the winter and spring brought a lot of jack pines to the ground
- Work on the shower stalls started last year is completed
- July 2 - Camp escaped with minor damage after a tornado passed just south of the campsite. Hail stones the size of tennis balls damaged some tents and broke a couple of windows on vehicles, but there was very little wind damage. Once again divine intervention kept camp safe

2004    - Shane Kelly is hired as Camp Director
- Wilderness Skills (a combination of Canoe Skills and Hiking Skills) is offered to introduce campers to and prepare them for the senior outtripping programs.
- Fishing Skills is offered for the first tme.
- A food dehydrator is purchased and used to lighten the loads for the senior outtripping programs.
- The sandpoints that had been supplying camp with water for 20+ years plugged up and needed to be replaced. This process meant that camp had to haul drinking water for the first 2 months of operation this year. Our water system was fully functional by early July.
- 7 day programs for Juniors are offered both in July and August and 7 day programs for seniors is offered at the August camp
- The Board of Directors hires a part-time year round Camp Director to assist them in the off-season preparation for camp. Welcome aboard Shane!

2005     - The camp office relocates to Saskatoon
- Rains last fall and snowfall over the winter raises the lake level once again
- The Chapel roof is replaced at the end of the camping season
- Shane Kelly;s last year as Camp Director

2006     - Margot Biggs is hired as Camp Director
- 7 day camps are discontinued - all camps are again 10 days
- Grants allow for the replacement of several in camp and outtripping tents as well as improvements to our orienteering program
- Site preparation begins in August for an addition to the staff building. The cement floor is poured on the Thanksgiving weekend and construction starts two weeks later.Completion is scheduled for next spring.