This is the Camp Timken page. As well as information on our camp, you can also obtain information on our fundraising effort, which had been aptly named........

 
 

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What could be more reminiscent than the sounds of Kumbaya sang and hummed around the campfire at night? For more great songs, visit the camping page-click on the flame

 
Take a virtual tour of Camp Timken. Walt Thyssen took some pictures in July. Click here to visit.
 
What was Timken 2000 ?
It was a 4 year plan to improve Elgin District's Scout Reserve, Camp Timken. The camp is located south-west of Iona, and sits on 60 acres. Originally purchased in 1975 to provide an outdoor camping experience for the youth and leaders, it has evolved from a very basic, wilderness style ONLY camp, to it's present stage, which includes a picnic shelter, privies, 2 bunkhouses and a longhouse, which is used by younger members for winter camping, and by all members in case of severe weather.

  
In the summer of 1997, an inspection of the crawlspace under the longhouse showed that serious water damage had occurred during the past few years. The membership of Elgin authorized the construction of a new basement, and this involved raising the longhouse while the basement was poured. Our Camp Manager, Norm Carsons, and our Camp Committee chairman, Dave Palmer, were the main driving forces in this project, and we certainly appreciate all their hard work, and I know that they wish to thank everyone that helped out in any way. Thanks to everyone's hard work, in early January 1998, a Winter Skills course was put on in the new basement, and it promises to be a very useful addition to Elgin District and to the camp facilities.The old longhouse is shown to the left. Two bunkhouses that each sleep about 12 cubs have been built in the fall of 1998. A picture of one of the bunkhouses is shown below.
 

New bunkhouse- Fall of 1998
    On Monday, June 15th, 1998, the Longhouse was rededicated. The Camp Committee made
a presentation of a "Spirit of Scouting" painting to President Pat Dale. This will be hung in the longhouse.
 
The 4 year plan included reforestation of a front field that had been rented out yearly to a local farmer (8000 trees, representing six species), a new access road and parking lot for the longhouse, an improved water supply for the longhouse, an obstacle course for senior youth members, new signs in and around the camp, and last but certainly not least, the construction of bunkhouses adjacent to the longhouse to be used for winter camping, leader training, etc., etc.
 
Recently, I came across some photos showing the raising of the totem that sits in the centre of the campfire circle. If you're interested in some background on when, where, how & why the totem came to be at Camp Timken, click on this picture.

View of main field & picnic shelter

  
Currently, over 800 youth and leaders use the camp, along 

with other Scouting and church groups. Elgin District held an annual

All Sections Camp on June 1st, 2nd, & 3rd, 2001. Scouter Bill Oud

volunteered to head up the All Sections Camp Committee. 

The Camp was a great success.

Click on the badge to check out the action!

Even though the Timken 2000 committee has been disbanded, Elgin District is still endeavoring to enlist the financial support of foundations, service clubs and past Scouters so that our goal will be reached.  In 1997 we  commissioned  Sir Peter Robson to produce a painting that depicts the 90 years of Scouting. Click on the painting to see details.

We will be using prints from the painting as a fundraiser. 

All funds raised will be used to improve the camping facilities.

Camp Timken chapel was a donation from the Elgin Gilwellians and was designed and built by Fanshawe College of St. Thomas

   

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