MiCAMP WHAKAMARU HISTORY
Lake Whakamaru Christian Youth Camp (LWCC) was founded in 1962 by Tom and Mavis Lind for the purpose of providing an excellent Christian experience with a spiritual emphasis. When asked what effect he thought the camp had on the lives of the children who passed through Tom replied: "Our aims are summarized in the story of Jesus in Luke 2:52, where it says that 'Jesus increased in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and man.' That is what we want for the children who come here. It implies intellectual, physical, social and spiritual development. We endeavor to keep a balance in all these areas, so that young people may have a sound foundation and clear directions for life."
Finding the site was fairly easy with miles of lake-shore in the area there were many possibilities but one in particular captured Toms imagination this being a little island in the middle of Lake Whakamaru. It had all the makings of an adventure camp being 4 acres in extend, easy in contour and some 300 yards from the northern bank. After several exploratory trips involving Tom, Mavis and Gloria Lind, Dave Inglis, Peter Alexander and Peter and Sheila Gavet they made their minds up and the camp was established on the picturesque Hikurangi Island. Edwin Price helped in the negotiations with Crown Lands for the lease of the Island which was obtained for one pound ($2) per year. Initially the means of crossing varied between swimming, an inflated lilo, a small borrowed canoe and a dinghy. In March 1962 Messrs J Baldwin, A Trail, H Taylor, T Lind, D Inglis and R Smith formed a working party and cleared the site. A neighboring farmer, Mr Jack Dunham, kindly donated an old clinker boat known as 'mummy' to the project. It was caulked, painted and made seaworthy. The first committee meeting was held on May 11 1963. The first building was completed for a cost of 60 pounds with a donated building given by the Badger family plus some materials donated by Keith Hunt. By late 1962 the Island was ready to hold its first camp. Further development was made in 1970 with the help of Neville Rout, Vin Hyde, Neil Gerraghty and Cedric Eden together with 40 other men in a working bee. Next came the upgrade of the kitchen where Bill McDougal, Alan Gibbs, Allan Trail and Des Hungerford and many others made contributions. In the early days power to the camp was an issue and Ewen Forlong came to the rescue and donated a generator which gave power for lighting. Rain water was collected and used in the early days until electricity was available and a pump was installed. Mr and Mrs Noel Stokes donated their heat-storage stove which ran on pine wood and coal which was a blessing in the beginning. Refrigeration was non-existent until they were able to purchase a large and rare American gas fridge with a freezer compartment. In 1975 the causeway was completed after meetings with the Minister of Electricity, the local MP and the head of the NZED to allow the lake to be lowered for 2 weeks. In 1977 Tom obtained a tidy 2 bedroom house for $5 from Graham Short which was a real blessing. Further development included a large Rec Hall with cabins underneath (1992), activity areas, a confidence course, a tower with abseiling, rock wall climbing and a flying fox (2000) together with a 4 bedroom house and a 3 bedroom house.
A lot of work has gone into the development of the camp over the years to where it is today having the ability to service 30,000 people per year.
Lake Whakamaru Christian Camp merged with Lake Taupo Christian Camp in 2012 and they have since been re-branded to MiCamp Trust.
Finding the site was fairly easy with miles of lake-shore in the area there were many possibilities but one in particular captured Toms imagination this being a little island in the middle of Lake Whakamaru. It had all the makings of an adventure camp being 4 acres in extend, easy in contour and some 300 yards from the northern bank. After several exploratory trips involving Tom, Mavis and Gloria Lind, Dave Inglis, Peter Alexander and Peter and Sheila Gavet they made their minds up and the camp was established on the picturesque Hikurangi Island. Edwin Price helped in the negotiations with Crown Lands for the lease of the Island which was obtained for one pound ($2) per year. Initially the means of crossing varied between swimming, an inflated lilo, a small borrowed canoe and a dinghy. In March 1962 Messrs J Baldwin, A Trail, H Taylor, T Lind, D Inglis and R Smith formed a working party and cleared the site. A neighboring farmer, Mr Jack Dunham, kindly donated an old clinker boat known as 'mummy' to the project. It was caulked, painted and made seaworthy. The first committee meeting was held on May 11 1963. The first building was completed for a cost of 60 pounds with a donated building given by the Badger family plus some materials donated by Keith Hunt. By late 1962 the Island was ready to hold its first camp. Further development was made in 1970 with the help of Neville Rout, Vin Hyde, Neil Gerraghty and Cedric Eden together with 40 other men in a working bee. Next came the upgrade of the kitchen where Bill McDougal, Alan Gibbs, Allan Trail and Des Hungerford and many others made contributions. In the early days power to the camp was an issue and Ewen Forlong came to the rescue and donated a generator which gave power for lighting. Rain water was collected and used in the early days until electricity was available and a pump was installed. Mr and Mrs Noel Stokes donated their heat-storage stove which ran on pine wood and coal which was a blessing in the beginning. Refrigeration was non-existent until they were able to purchase a large and rare American gas fridge with a freezer compartment. In 1975 the causeway was completed after meetings with the Minister of Electricity, the local MP and the head of the NZED to allow the lake to be lowered for 2 weeks. In 1977 Tom obtained a tidy 2 bedroom house for $5 from Graham Short which was a real blessing. Further development included a large Rec Hall with cabins underneath (1992), activity areas, a confidence course, a tower with abseiling, rock wall climbing and a flying fox (2000) together with a 4 bedroom house and a 3 bedroom house.
A lot of work has gone into the development of the camp over the years to where it is today having the ability to service 30,000 people per year.
Lake Whakamaru Christian Camp merged with Lake Taupo Christian Camp in 2012 and they have since been re-branded to MiCamp Trust.