By Kathryn Rice
Camp Appleseed will hold its first open house at 6 p.m. on Sunday, June 27 at 1598 State Highway 2, Bedford, IA 50833.
All ages are welcome to visit the orchard and camp, sail the four acre lake, enjoy fellowship and Christian worship. Wainwright asked participants to bring table service, something to grill, and a potluck.
Reverend Steven Wainwright of First Christian Church, Hopkins received a vision from God of a wonderful way to reach the youth of today by bringing back camping from the Christian Church. There are currently no Christian church camps within a 100 mile radius, he said.
Wainwright said he had experienced God so many times in the church camp. He thinks this tradition should return.
Together with his wife, Cynthia, he has run several camps over the years and is thrilled to start Camp Appleseed.
“Camping at church is a wonderful way to show the face of God,” he said. “The cost of camps has increased over the years. I want this to be available to everyone so the cost of the camp will be a voluntary donation and the food donation for the provided meals which are cooked outside in the outdoor kitchen.
Everyone will sleep in tents, with activities of canoeing, fishing, learning how to make cider, picking apples, the work of God and the Son of God, Jesus Christ. All churches are welcome to use the camp, regardless of denomination, as well as family reunions, reunions, weddings and other Christian activities.
Hopkins First Christian Church is the founding ministry of this Christian mission for all ages. The church, the Wainwrights and other private donations are used to make Camp Appleseed a reality.
Arthur S. Wainwright owned the farm in 1872. By the late 1880s Arthur had established an orchard of 1,000 trees. He sold apples and other fruits to the community. He also brought apples to the Ladoga, IA train station, which were then shipped throughout the Midwest.
The orchard died during the depression. Trees were re-planted on the remaining 40 acres by Wainwright and his father, Edgar. Currently, the new orchard provides the community with apples and other fruits, including peaches and cherries, during harvest season. Wainwright continued to plant trees across the area, with several planted last year, bringing the number of trees down to 1,000.
The harsh winter has reduced the harvest of peaches this year, however, there will be a bumper harvest of apples.
Wainwright named the orchard Les Vergers Ladoga LaBlanche. People can choose for themselves or buy already picked. LaBlanche is after his grandmother, Blanche. The orchard was used as a Christian retreat and has a cabin suitable for meetings. There is also a small one-room red school named after its mother, Mary Helen Wainwright School No. 1. The school is used for orchard sales.
Wainwright works on camps for different ages, including families, and are open to everyone. These camps will be held in July and August, for more information contact Wainwright at 712.303.7766.
A special Camp Apple Butter Festival will begin at 9 a.m. and end at sunset on Saturday, October 16. The camp will include making homemade apple butter, cider, apple picking, song and worship.
For more information on Ladoga LaBlanche orchards, the website is the small orchards of the red school.
