Quaker Haven is a Christian Camp and Retreat Center located on Dewart Lake in Syracuse Indiana. www.quakerhaven.com
The first camp at Quaker Haven was held in June, 1925. Sixty-three people attended, sleeping in tents. Aaron Napier, a New Castle, Indiana Friends pastor, was instrumental in the vision and the creation of the camp.
In the spring of 1927, construction on the Beulah Lodge began. The three story building housed dormitory space, class rooms, sun porch, kitchen and dining room, and crafts. Later, a boys dormitory and canteen were built to meet the shortage for sleeping space.
January of 1950 saw Western Yearly Meeting buying half interest in the camp. Indiana and Western Yearly Meetings have equal representation on the board and share equally in the management of Quaker Haven.
In the early 1950’s, twelve log cabins, bathhouses, and a chapel were constructed overlooking Dewart Lake. The board also purchased an additional 10 acres of farm and woodland making a total of 160 acres.
In the early 1970’s, with the help of dedicated volunteers, a year-round retreat facility was built sleeping 38 people. Then in 1972, a managers home was built, opening the way for the first year-round managers, Jerry and Letitia Dain, who were hired in 1976.
The mid and late seventies saw the construction of the RV area (40 campsites) with bathhouses, Quaker Hall (1979), dining for 200, recreation room, offices, souvenir store, crafts, and many other activities.
In the early 1980’s, George Fox Cottage was built, sleeping 10 for year-round use, new modern mens and womens bathhouses for the cabin areas were built, and, in 1989, construction started on the Hunt Lodge which sleeps 22 year-round. Oak Haven Lodge was added in 1996, with sleeping capacity at 27.With the Friendship Lodge, Fox Cottage, Hunt Lodge, and Oak Haven 100+ guests can be served in the winter months.
Quaker Haven, a camp for all seasons, continues to grow and has plans to meet the ever changing needs of those that attend now and in the future.
Quaker Haven Camp provides a natural retreat facility to support youth and family ministries of Western Yearly Meeting and Indiana Yearly Meeting of Friends and the body of Christ.
Quaker Haven Camp was designed as a place to help people develop a closer relationship with God, to acquaint them with Jesus Christ, and to help them grow in Christian understanding through the framework of Quaker ideals and the Friends way.
The environment of the great outdoors, in the freedom of relaxation and retreat, encourages individuals to take a more introspective look at themselves in order to find meaningful relationships with other people and with God.
All people are welcome to come and enjoy what God has allowed us to have in order for our guests to find their own personal comfort and to grow in their own personal faith.
"Quaker Haven provides a natural retreat facility to support youth and family ministries of Western and Indiana Yearly Meetings of Friends and the wider body of Christ."
