For more than 75 years, Okanagan Anglican Camp (Camp OAC) has been a place where children discover who they are. Founded in 1950 on land donated by four families who believed kids needed a place to grow in community, Camp OAC sits on the shores of Okanagan Lake — a traditional gathering place of the Syilx/Okanagan Peoples — and is rooted in the mission of the Anglican Diocese of Kootenay to share the transforming power of God's love with all.

Before the fire, Camp OAC welcomed more than 5,000 people a year through overnight and day camps, school group visits, faith-based retreats, and community rentals, making it one of the largest and most successful outreach ministries in the Diocese. For thousands of kids, it was the first place they ever spent a night away from home, led a group, away from screens and expectations, fully immersed in nature.

In August 2023, the McDougall Creek Wildfire tore through the hills above the lake. By morning, Camp OAC was gone — 26 buildings destroyed and 95% of its structures lost. But the belief that camp must return never wavered.

We're rebuilding — and rebuilding better. Guided by a phased plan, the new Camp OAC will be safer, more accessible, and better equipped to welcome children, families, and communities year-round. Every new building is modular, energy-efficient, and designed to minimize disturbance to the land. When complete, Camp OAC will:

• Reopen for overnight and day camps, serving 100+ campers per week in its first season back
• Double camper capacity over five years, to 200 campers per session
• Offer a safe, barrier-free experience with accessible washrooms, gender-inclusive spaces, and thoughtfully designed programming
• Welcome school groups and retreat users in the spring and fall, expanding Camp OAC's reach year-round
• Prioritize underrepresented communities, including Indigenous youth, newcomer families, and children with disabilities
• Train the next generation of camp leaders through mentorship, spiritual formation, and hands-on learning

As Camp Director Ian Dixon puts it: "We're not just rebuilding what was lost. We're creating a camp that welcomes everyone — with safer, more inclusive spaces that honour the land and serve future generations."

Your gift helps restore a place where childhood is unfiltered — joyful, grounded in nature, and full of community. Let's Rebuild the Magic of Camp, one s'more at a time.