Land is purchased
In the 1920s, the Muskoka District of Ontario was largely undeveloped. In the summer of 1926 Mr. Charles L. Nicholson and his sister purchased what is now Beacon property.

Access by boat!
Before the camp road was cleared, the property was accessible by boat! Soon a cabin ("Uncle Charlie's Cabin") was built having neither electricity nor running water. Uncle Charlie's Cabin still stands on Beacon property today.

Enter "Skipper"–1961
In 1961, "Skipper" (Ted Becker) took six boys, three who were unsaved, to Hickory Cove Camp in North Carolina. The next year there were many more boys who hoped to come, so Skip and his wife Barb began looking for a cottage to use. Over the next year or two, they used cottages for this purpose until Charles Nicholson offered his property for Ted to use. That fall a party of individuals visited Charlie's property and saw that it was perfect for a camp setting. Here the use of the land was offered and gratefully accepted, and it became known as Beacon Bible Camp. In 1967, Charles leased all 129 acres of his property for only $1.00 a year!

Construction begins–1964
The first building erected was a combination dining room/kitchen/ meeting room (this building is now known as the Tuck Shop). Lou Landgraff had bulldozed a road into the site and a crew of men eagerly began construction. Two tent platforms (see photo) and a primitive washstand suspended by two trees were built that year. Water was brought in large jars from a spring about 2 km down the road, and a large generator thumped and pounded to provide electricity for the kitchen.

Bezaleel is built–1965
The next cabin erected was for the cooks (this building was named Bezaleel) and a small circus type tent was used for meetings. A well was dug at the playing field, and at intervals during the day someone (usually a cook) would walk briskly to the playing field, start the engine, wait till the gauge reached the required pressure, shut off the engine and return to the kitchen. What a task!

More property acquired–1967
Prior to 1967, part of the present land at Beacon was still owned by Walter Stromberg. The foundation of his house can still be found just across the road from the Sugar Shack (on your left as you are driving down the camp road). A barn also existed in those early days.

About 1966-67, Walter decided to sell his property to Uncle Charlie, wihch included the railroad crossing. This last transaction brought the total area of Beacon to just under 400 acres!

When Uncle Charlie passed away in 1981, his will stipulated that camp property would go to Beacon Bible camp. The original cabin, which had not been included in the will, was requested by Mrs. Nicholson (Aunt Thursa) to be transferred to Beacon as well. As one reviews the marvellous way that the Lord provided for the existence of Beacon Bible Camp, even having the land reserved since the 1920s, the response is to praise His name and to determine that that part of Muskoka be used to further His interests.

Further improvements
• A second worker's cabin, Aholiab, was built in 1966.
• A hydro line was brought in, which greatly faciliated camp's growth
• A pump house was built, bringing camp abundant water in 1967.
• A washroom with running water was erected, and it was fondly called the "Green Monster" since it stood by itself in all its splendour near where the porch of the lighthouse now stands.•
• The dining room was enlarged and a kitchen was added.
• The first campers' cabins, Poplar and Pine, were also built.
• In 1968, Larch cabin was built and a telephone line was brought in.
• The next few years, other cabins 'up top' were built, including Cedar, Ash, and Elm cabins.
• In 1972, construction of the Lighthouse began. It was completed the following year, having been the most ambitious of all projects so far.
• Over the following decade, buildings such as the fully winterized 'Crow's Nest', Birch Cabin, the Boathouse, a new Dining Room, Lakeview Cabin, the Upstairs Washroom, Maple, and the Recreation Building were built on camp's property. Beacon was quickly expanding to accommodate the growing numbers of kids attending girls and boys camps. During the years of construction, Ben Van Noppen and his wife were a tremendous help in doing the maintenance for camp.

Technological changes–1986
The arrival of the computer proved to be helpful in camp administration, changing the way things were done at camp. On the more low-tech end of things, a bulldozer muscled more area out of the bush to make room for the playing field and ball diamond.

Beacon's 25th Anniversary–1988
Plans were underway to hold a fall celebration for campers and staff. At the same time, administrators Ted and Barbara Becker were weighing their future with Beacon. As they shared their plans to resign as of January of 1989, the Lord provided Gary and Alice Wood to fill their positions. At the 25th anniversary of BEacon, everyone rejoiced in how God had used the Beckers to begin and build up the work over the past several years. The Beckers received a gift which was later to propel them into new directions God had for them. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, they travelled to a German area of Siberia where Ted would visit several times in the future to present the gospel to the unsaved.

"Shoulder to Shoulder" Newsletter–1989
In 1989, the camp newsletter "Shoulder to Shoulder" started every two months to keep staff and prayer partners in touch.

Skills Camp–1989
That same summer, Skills Camp was expanded and instructors were hired to teach Canoe Instructors' Levels, Senior Swimming Levels and First Aid.|

The Wheelhouse addition begins–1990
The fall of 1990 saw the beginning of the Wheelhouse addition. Fifty-one large rock truck loads were blasted out to make way for camp's new cooks' quarters upstairs and the Town Hall downstairs.

God is Faithful
This is only a brief history of the beginnings and development of Beacon Bible Camp. God has provided for each stage of the work, not only through providing the property and the funds, but also in providing faithful brothers and sisters to carry on the work.

It would be impossible to list all those who have served as trustees, camp directors, maintenance help, cooks, counsellors, lifeguards, teachers, short-term staff and summer staff. God alone knows each one, some working on the front lines and some working behind the scenes, and He will reward each one. The work at Beacon is His work and HE IS FAITHFUL!