Hume Lake Christian Camps

For other uses, see Hume Lake (disambiguation) and Hume (disambiguation).
Hume Lake Christian Camps
Named afterHume-Bennett Lumber Company
FormationJanuary 9, 1946; 78 years ago (1946-01-09)
FounderWalter Warkentin
Founded atDinuba, California
TypePara-church Organization
Legal statusNon Profit
PurposeWorship and religious studies
Location
Coordinates36°47′15″N 118°54′49″W / 36.7873785°N 118.9136928°W / 36.7873785; -118.9136928
Staff120-500 seasonally
Websitehume.org

Hume Lake Christian Camps is a non-denominational, nonprofit[1] parachurch organization and is one of the largest operators of Christian camps and conference centers in the world. Hume operates year-round camps and conference centers at multiple locations with programing for youth, family, and adults and has hosted more than 1 million visitors.[1][2] Hume's camps focus on Bible teaching and worship services.[3][4]

Hume Lake

Hume Lake is located in the Sequoia National Forest 65 miles east of Fresno, California[3] in the unincorporated community of Hume, California adjacent to Hume Lake. Hume Lake is primarily a summer camp for students but also hosts various conferences and retreats. The 365 acre camp includes four chapels, three dining halls and various accommodations[1] and can host up to 3,000 people at one time and hosts more than 40,000 annually. Hume Lake was built on the site of a 100 year old defunct logging town built by the Hume-Bennett Lumber Company and utilizes many of the original facilities.[2][5][6]

Primary Ministries

  • Wagon Train is a camp for elementary-age students.[7]
  • Meadow Ranch is a camp for junior high students[7]
  • Ponderosa is a camp for senior high students and is known for recreation including extreme sports like Kajabe Can Can.[7][8]
  • Wildwood is a camp for senior high students who are looking for discipleship.

[2][9]

Hume Socal

Hume Socal is a camp located in San Bernardino County.[citation needed][1]

Hume New England

Hume New England is a 500 acre Christian camp in Monterey, Massachusetts. First developed by The Sudan Interior Mission in 1929 a camp was opened on the site in 1941 by New England Keswick.[9] The campgrounds include a dining hall, three residential lodges, four cabins, two chapels and a number of smaller buildings including a snack shop.[10]

In 2019, plans and permits for a proposed RV park, intended to provide staff and volunteer housing, were rejected by the Planning Board of Monterey due to a town ordinance prohibiting RV-type vehicles as housing. Hume appealed the Planning Board's decision, and in 2023 the Massachusetts Supreme Court ruled that the Dover Amendment overrode the town ordinance.[11][12] As of 2024, the RV park has not been built.

History

1940s conference postcard

Hume Lake Christian Camps began as Fellowship Conferences, and was founded by Walter Warkentin and partners in 1945 in Dinuba, California. Walt Warkentin, Dave Hofer, Hermon Pettit and John Strain formed a number of Christian organizations, including Fellowship Conferences, after meeting to pray about their relationship with God. Walter Warkentin was named director of Fellowship Conferences when the group drew assignments written on slips of paper that had been placed in a bible.[13]

On January 9, 1946, 320 acres of land was purchased for the camp adjacent to Hume Lake at a cost of $140,000 and included the Hume Lake Hotel, store, service station, post office, 22 cottages and 22 boats.[1] After the purchase, land was cleared for buildings and roads. Trees were selectively cut that posed safety risks yielding 2 million board feet of lumber. Don French managed a small sawmill that was built to handle the lumber. Many of the facilities were re-purposed from the mill town built by the property's original owners the Hume-Bennett Lumber Company.[4][5][6]

In 1946, during the inaugural summer, 15 volunteer staff hosted 670 campers.[5]

In 1963, Hume was expected to host 9,000 and by the end of 1966, 10,511 people would visit Hume.[7][14]

In 1966, from December 2 to the 6th, a severe storm caused an estimated $19,000 in damages, destroying buildings, bridges and the waterfront.[15]

In 1991, a dispute with the US Forest Service over the border of Hume was resolved. In 1978, it was discovered that part of the camp including the main office was built on Forest Service Land. After 13 years a land trade and boundary agreement was arranged that allowed the continued use of the land.[16]

In 2011, Hume bought Hume New England in Monterey, Massachusetts.[9]

In 2015, the Rough Fire threatened the camp, and on September 2, 2015 over 2,500 people were safely evacuated from the camp and surrounding area. All camp events were cancelled and only security personnel remained.[17][18]

In 2020, in response to the global COVID-19 pandemic, all Hume locations closed. This marked the first time in 74 years that summer camp was cancelled. [19]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e "What is Hume Lake Christian Camp east of Fresno? There was a COVID outbreak there". July 29, 2021.
  2. ^ a b c "Hume Lake Christian Camp Bringing Families Together". www.finehomesandliving.com. Retrieved 2016-01-25.
  3. ^ a b Myers, Betsy (1978-04-04). "where the whole family goes off to camp". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2016-02-27.
  4. ^ a b "Warkentin turns 100". www.reedleyexponent.com. Retrieved 2017-04-06.
  5. ^ a b c Phillips, Bob (1986). God's Hand Over Hume. Hume Lake Christian Camps. pp. 71, 75, 76, 83, 88, 92, 130, 156.
  6. ^ a b "Battle against Rough fire intensifies as blaze bears down on Hume Lake". fresnobee. Retrieved 2015-10-18.
  7. ^ a b c d "Hume Lake Use Soars". Madera Tribune. No. #142. 1966-12-02. Retrieved 2016-01-26.
  8. ^ Tellalian, Karen (2013-05-01). "Summer Camps". Raise Magazine. DMI Agency. p. 26.
  9. ^ a b c "Christian camp in Monterey wants to expand, but neighbors aren't happy". The Berkshire Eagle. Retrieved 2017-04-26.
  10. ^ Berkman, Eric T. (2023-06-23). "Attorneys weigh usefulness of SJC ruling in clarifying Dover Amendment exemptions | Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly". Retrieved 2023-06-29.
  11. ^ Eagle, Jane Kaufman, The Berkshire (2024-04-04). "After winning its legal battle against the town, a Monterey Christian camp is ready to move forward with RV park plans". The Berkshire Eagle. Retrieved 2024-10-21.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  12. ^ "Hume Lake Christian Camps, Inc. v. Planning Bd. of Monterey". Justia Law. Retrieved 2024-10-21.
  13. ^ Janzen, Rod (1999). The Prairie People: Forgotten Anabaptists. UPNE. p. 218. ISBN 0874519314.
  14. ^ "9,000 Expected At Hume Lake Camp". Madera Tribune. No. #255. 1963-05-10. Retrieved 2016-01-26.
  15. ^ "Hume Camp Storm Damage Said Severe". Madera Tribune. No. 152. 1966-12-16. Retrieved 2016-03-07.
  16. ^ Rose, Gene (1991-01-10). "CHRISTIAN CAMP CAN REMAIN AT HUME LAKE". The Fresno Bee. Retrieved 2016-02-27.
  17. ^ "Forest fire continues to spread". Porterville Recorder. Retrieved 2015-10-15.
  18. ^ "Hume Lake Christian Camps evacuate employees, cancel events due to Rough fire smoke danger". fresnobee. Retrieved 2016-01-09.
  19. ^ "Hume Lake summer camp canceled for first time in 74 years due to COVID-19". ABC30 Fresno. 2020-06-12. Retrieved 2024-10-21.