How it All Began... |
| Bay Shore Camp traces its beginning to a diversely-organized group of Evangelical Christians who gathered for campmeeting the summer of 1911. It was so successful that the next year they sought a location where they might meet annually, establishing a permanent campmeeting ground. Their selection was a defunct 40-acre “driving park” just north of the Sebewaing village limits, on the northeast shore of Saginaw Bay. Hence the camp’s first formal name: Bay Shore Park. |
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In the 94 years since, summer campmeeting has been Bay Shore’s highlight each year. Campmeetings or “camps” exclusively for youngsters didn’t begin until 1944, but quickly became an equally important focus of the mission. |
| Ownership of Bay Shore passed from the United Brethren Church to the United Methodist Church in 1968 with the formal merger of the United Brethren and Methodist churches. The new church had more camp property than could be maintained, and earmarked Bay Shore for sale. |
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However, on the last night of Sr. High Camp that summer, high-schoolers marched around the property’s perimeter carrying lit torches, seeking God, that He might “save Bay Shore for other boys and girls to come.” He did just that. |
| Today Bay Shore is formally known as “Bay Shore Evangelical Camp of the Detroit Conference, United Methodist Church.” Informally, the mission is “Bay Shore Camp & Family Ministries” or simply “Bay Shore Camp.” Campmeeting or Family Camp is still the highlight of each summer with 15 separate children and youth camps scheduled throughout June, July, and August. Many family-oriented Special Ministries are also offered fall, winter, and spring. |
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Bay Shore Camp is 94 years young and still growing.
Praise God! |
