A traveling salesman from a church in Steamboat Rock, IA had called upon the owner of Clear Creek Ranch near Lansing, IA intent upon the sale of lawn mowers and snowmobiles. During this visit, the ranch owner mentioned that he had considered the purchase of a farm about six miles south of Lansing in a more secluded area. The thought of a church camp on that property brought to mind "the Biblical mustard seed."

The idea was brought to the Iowa State Christian Education Committee and notices were sent to Illinois, Minnesota and Wisconsin to meet at the Clear Creek Camp on December 21, 1970 to explore the feasibility of a Four State Camp program. All four states had experienced problems with finding camp facilities to rent for one or two weeks each summer. The most popular weeks were always booked. When representatives from Illinois and Iowa met in December, they were quite enthused about the possibilities of owning a camp. As we look back, it really was a historic date - 12-21-70!

The Medical Director of Central Baptist Home in Norridge, IL was interested in retreat facility for groups like Intervarsity Christian Fellowship or the Christian Medical Society. $3,000 seed money was offered to get started. The Board of Directors, formed by three representatives of each state, realized that the camp would first need to serve it's churches, and then serve other groups wanting to rent the facilities for retreats.

After the Articles of Incorporation were developed, the purchase of the 200 acre Clarence Bieber property with only 80 tillable acres was agreed upon for $45,000. The terms were $10,000 down and $3,500 annually for ten years plus interest at 7% on the remaining balance. With only $3,000 seed money, we actually no collateral. Banker Tom Kerndt, in his desire to help any recreation or business projects in Alamakee County, generously loaned the Board $10,000 for the down payment. This was truly God's early provision for the four-state camp program.

The first planned activity on the premises was Memorial Day weekend in 1972. One hundred people attended. The very primitive setting included one faucet with only cold running water. No sleeping facilities were available on camp grounds so families used tents, trailers, pop-ups. Others stayed in nearby motels. After the evening meal, while relaxing around a the campfire on Saturday night, a man from the Twin Cities asked everyone to sit in silence for a few minutes. Breaking the silence he said, "Have you ever in recent years been anywhere that is this peaceful and quiet?"

The Board of Directors decided the name "Central Baptist Camp" because it was located at the central point of the four states. Members of the Board discussed the need to get members of our churches involved as volunteers, especially the men, working in or retired from the building trade.

The financial picture was not always bright. But as God provided funds, building was continued, programs were developed, and other services added. When Zion and Center Baptist Churches of Milwaukee merged, property was sold, and a portion of those funds enabled the Center Lake to be built. A gift ($100,000) from the estate of a senior adult camper provided the Board with enough money to begin the building of our newly added Activity Center.

-Henry and Emily Dexter bought 160 acres from the government in 1852

-John and James Drake (Emily's Cousins) bought the acreage.

-John and Sarah Curley were married and built their home where the Director's home presently stands.

-John and Sarah had three children, Louis, Grace, and Charlie.

-When their son married, he built a house across the crick where the twin pines stand (in the horse pasture). Because of frequent floods, this house was moved to a site across the road from the original farm house.

-The barn was built by Louis Drake and each block was handmade in forms.

-John, the son of Louis, married. The old farm house (then empty) was razed and the present camp Director's home was built from the lumber.

-The Drake school, a one room school house, was situated on land overlooking Village Creek between the bridge and the barn. The teacher lived on the farm during the school year. The children would take turns carrying water from the house, and bringing in wood for the potbelly stove in the school room.

-Clarence Beiber bought the farm from John Drake in the 1950's.

-John's niece, Marilyn Magnuson, remembers what the farm looked like. In back of the house (Director's house) was the milk house, (partially dug into the side of the hillside). These things were behind the house: Uncle John's workshop, chicken coop, barn, pump house, yard light, horse trough, corn crib, hog house, granary, buggy shed, calf barn, silos and straw barn. The Lyndale Post Office was in the shed behind the original farm house.

-Marlilyn remembers as a child..."the hub of our activities was the small creek behind grandma's house we called the "Little Crick". We were never allowed to go to the "Big Crick" (Village Creek). We'd spend the days building "forts" from fallen trees and stream bed stones. I also remember the apple tree on the Ericson Farm where we snitched apples to sell for 5 cents a piece in our roadside "stand"; the mailman and even Edgar Ericson would buy them (I suspect he always knew the source of out fruit!) I remember the gravel pit just south of the garage by the Director's house: cold breezes would flow from that hole and we suspected it was the entrance to a "cave as big as Carlsbad caverns!"

"I only wish every child could experience such summers! It was heart wrenching to see the farm go out of the family, but if it had to be, what better fate than to come a place preserved for all Christians to love and cherish the beauty carved by God in the little valley! I'd love to revisit some day and try to find again the graves on the hillside, the clay banks, and yes, even the pesky nettles in the pasture that had affinity for bare legs of children!"

Marilyn Magnuson Daley - March, 1983

1970 - Four State Camp Committee members meet at farm property upon invitation of the Iowa Christian Education Committee.

1971 - Articles of Incorporation approved for Central Baptist Camp, Inc. by Board of Directors. Officers of Board are authorized to make an offer to purchase the 200 acre farm from Clarence Bieber for 45,000 with 10,000 down and 3,500 annually plus 7% interest on the remaining balance annually.

1972 - Offer to purchase accepted. Thanks be to God! Christian Camping International consultant, Mr. Lloyd Matson, met with the Camp Board in the hayloft to discuss camp development and programming. Board agreed to secure a camp architect to prepare a master site plan. The first scheduled activity was held on the property during Memorial Day weekend, with approximately 100 in attendance.

1973 - Board approved Master Site Plan, renovation of the barn and regulations for the camp.

1974 - Property is ready for the first summer camping program with Vern Heckman as manager and Rev. Bruce Rich as program coordinator. 340 campers and 82 staff.

1975 - Continued building renovation with gas heaters and front entry added to Lodge. God's Volunteers use camp facilities for training. Open house for the community to meet their new neighbors.

1976 - 500 pine tree seedlings planted on the hill above the managers house. Gas furnace installed in staff house and Village Creek bank rip-rapped to prevent erosion.

1977 - 30' x 48' Bunkhouse-Recreation building constructed. Softball backstop installed and Wilderness Camps introduced. Direct dialing made available by ACE Telephone Co.

1978 - 28' x 40' garage added to property and gas furnace installed in Bunkhouse-Recreation basement.

1979 - Rich Witmer hired as Program Director. Archery added to summer camp program. Approved guidelines as developed by Advance Planning Committee for future development. Received 15 acres of land from Tom Kerndt. Added cross-country ski program and snow inner tubing.

1980 - Purchased five horses and three ponies. A 12' x 24' Tack Shed was built. Accepted a $57,217 proposal for a complete sewage disposal system. Accepted resignation of Vern and Marge Heckman and hired Rich Witmer to serve as Executive Director. Upgraded kitchen/dish washing area.

1981 - Curt Junker called as Assistant Director. Sewer project completed. Rich Witmer resigned and Rev. Art Pearce hired as Executive Director.

1982 - Lake project approved by Board and to be named Center Lake in thanksgiving to Center Baptist Church, Milwaukee, for the generous long-range gift. Lodge rooms paneled. RVICS provided 600 hours of volunteer labor. Lake project completed. Dave Stoutland accepted as Staff Apprentice for one year. Held first youth "Wintertainment."

1983 - First Father-Son Roundup. Canoe program added. Added basketball court. Record number of campers (summer 795; year-end total 2,106.) Janet Carlson came to serve as Staff Apprentice. Record off-season retreats (24.)

1984 - New furnace installed and bathrooms renovated in Lodge Building. New public address system installed. Computer used for record keeping and word processing. New corral built for newly instituted Wrangler Camp. Needed 16' x 32' Army tent for overflow camper census. Brian Becker and Dave Schwerdtfeger served as Associate Staff. Leak in lake repaired and lake refilled. Telephone line installed to lakefront. New plain-paper copier purchased.

1985 - Timber sale netted $11,200. Ten RVICS couples returned and provided more than 1,000 hours of volunteer labor for lodge renovation, new triangle cabin and concrete walkways. First wedding at Camp uniting Dave and Kristy Anthes with Kristy accepted as Associate Staff for the '85-'86 season. 54' x 90' steel Maintenance Building erected. Central Baptist is one of only 18 to have achieved the "Certified-Excelling Camp" level.

1986 - Dave and Kristy Anthes hired as Business Manager/Program Coordinator.

1987 - New four color brochure prepared for camp promotion. Art Pearce leaves to help start a new camp in Tennessee. Dan Payne hired as Interim Director for the summer. Rich Hardy begins as Director. Dave and Kristy Anthes leave to begin new ministry in Pennsylvania. Paul Samuelson is hired as full time maintenance assistant. This was the 15th year anniversary of Central Baptist Camp.

1988 - Faith Ericson joins the CBC team as secretary. Board accepts Long-Range Site plan as developed by Howard Deardoff. Rich Hardy began presentation of Long- Range Plan at annual Association meetings.

1989 - Fire sprinkler system in Lodge building completed. Construction of Cabin #1, #2 and bathhouse building begun.

1990 - Five aerators installed in Center Lake. Cabin #3 is built. First annual Quilt Auction held. Name is changed to Village Creek Bible Camp and Retreat Center.

1991 - Curt Junker resigns as Building/Grounds Supervisor after 10 years of service . Paul Samuelson resigns to pursue schooling. Bathhouse completed in Cabin area. Bruce Meador joins VCBC staff as Building/Grounds Supervisor. RVICS spend 4 weeks doing volunteer work as Cabin #4 is built. Held second annual Quilt Auction and Craft Fair.

1992 - E.J. Schaer hired as year-round Program Director. Construction of Horse/Hay Storage and cabin for Program Director housing are completed. Bruce Meador left VCBC to seek other employment.

1993 - Rev. Reuben and Ruth Grueneich hired as Staff Chaplain and Food Services Supervisor. Dennis Golder hired as Building/Grounds Supervisor.

1994 - Awning for Lodge and blue siding for permanent buildings is completed.

1995 - Rich Hardy is resigns as Executive Director. Faith Ericson hired to manage office and handle camp finances. Activity Center construction begins under the supervision of Dennis Golder. E.J. Schaer resigns. Eric Coulon hired as Executive Director.

1996 - Dennis Golder resigns and Roger Ericson (Faith's Husband) hired as Building/Grounds Supervisor. Bill Cody volunteers to oversee completion of Activity Center.

1997 - Eric Coulon resigns. Activity Center is ready to be used, but not completed . Tom and Camie Treptau are hired as Interim Directors, and then hired as Executive Directors in July.

Mr. Clarence Bieber, former owner of the camp property, suffered so severely from Arthritis that he was physically unable to continue farming. He had his wife were grateful for the camp "offer to purchase" and welcomed the planned use of their beloved farm.

At the time of purchase, abandoned residence was located across the road (now a basketball court) and had been used as a chicken house. Because of the danger to the lungs of humans, a salvage operation was not a viable option. The Lansing Fire Department was invited to burn the building down as an "On the job" training exercise.

The floor in the barn was in need of repair and necessitated complete removal and a new floor poured. After some preliminary preparation, plus effort of some 20-30 men and strong boys, the 36' x 72' barn had a new smooth concrete surface in two days.

One of the laymen from Arlington, IA visiting the camp, noticed a sag in the roof of the barn. His vocation was repairing damaged buildings, so he put his jacks to work and now we have a nice level roof line on the Lodge. He had also noticed the bow in the north end wall of the barn that had been caused by a leaning attached corn crib. To repair this, he installed a large cable with a turn buckle in the hay loft to bring the wall back into it's original position.

To prepare the hay loft for a chapel and sleeping rooms, one stancheon (support beam) had to be removed for the platform. The ceiling also had to be finished. It was decided to install insulation and panels between the rafters to preserve the rustic look of the building. Some years later when Dr. Herbert Pankratz, Music Director at Foster Avenue Baptist Church and Music Professor at North Park College, came to help in the training program of God's Volunteers, he marveled at the excellent acoustics in that chapel. The only plausible response was "God was the architect" since the workers were only concerned with appearance and cost.

Bunks were needed for the camp and surplus military sources seemed to be the answer. Chanute Air Force Base was contacted and approximately 100 double bunks were purchased, transported to Kankakee for painting, and then later brought to the camp. Mattresses were also procured from the Air Base and required fumigation to meet state health standards. A volunteer from Sheboygan, WI did it for the camp at no cost. God provided the right persons at the right time to continue the project even when doubts crept into the minds of some Board members. Our God is an awesome God.

One member of the Board served in the NABC international office and would return from camp excitedly sharing examples of God's provision, the completion of a project, and the beauty of the camp property. Several years later, one of his co-workers confessed to him that his glowing reports about the camp seemed somewhat exaggerated. However, when he took his sons to a Father-Son Retreat at the camp and saw the "Little Switzerland" part of Iowa, the statement "Seeing is Believing" had a new meaning for this coworker.

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