Frontier Camp was chartered in 1969 by a group of Christian men who wanted a place where they could take boys camping and teach them about the Lord. Over the years the focus shifted to one week resident camps for boys and girls, and opening the doors to a number of non-summer retreats for churches and groups with a Christian purpose. Today, a typical summer camp week sees 160 campers learning about the Lord and trying out super recreation opportunitues like wakeboarding and horseback riding.

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Frontier Camp has its beginnings in 1969 when several men associated with Christian Service Brigade (CSB) formed the Ark-La-Tex Camping Corporation and approached Bill and Elizabeth Strube, a Christian couple with hopes of starting several Christian camps of their own, with a proposal to purchase 74 acres to start a Brigade camp.  The camp has always been a non-denominational independent camping corporation governed by a Board of Directors.  The first buildings (a cabin and the original dining hall) and a well for drinking water were constructed in 1970 with volunteer labor and help from LeTourneau College.  The old infirmary/administration building, four more cabins and a kitchen attached to the dinning hall were added in 1971 and 1972.  Originally intended primarily for Christian Service Brigade (CSB) use, rentals by churches and other groups sustained the camp as interest in CSB declined.  The first resident camp was conducted here in 1973, with Hans Meinardus attending a week as a camper, and Richard Stephens on summer work crew.  Arthur Betz was hired as the first resident director that fall and moved his family into the infirmary/office building to live here year-round.  The focus of the camping program for the next few years was on inner city and disadvantaged kids.  Tom Brown, a retired Irish missionary, joined the camp as a volunteer in 1974, and the Martha Brown Memorial house (where the Bertrams now live) was built for him in 1976.  In 1977, the board hired a new Executive Director and the boy’s camp area and shower house were built.  The new director turned out to be a scoundrel and Arthur resigned from camp to become the youth minister at FBC Grapeland. 

In 1978, Wes Woodard was hired to be the new Executive Director and the newly married Mrs. Estella Brown arrived at camp to reside here with Tom in the Martha Brown Memorial House.  A total of 106 campers attended resident camp that summer.  A cooperative program for LeTourneau camping majors was started and ran for three summers (one of the interns was Marsha Mead, Matt Mead’s aunt!  In 1979, the barn, corral, and rodeo arena were added, largely with materials donated from Vulcraft.  In 1980, Arthur Betz came back on full-time staff as Assistant Director, and Hans Meinardus joined the summer staff as a Junior Counselor.  Sadly, Tom Brown died May of 1981.  In February of 1982, the dinning hall burned down.  Camp food service continued to operate out two large army tents erected where the craft building is located now, and by June of that year, the present dining hall/conference room (the Tom Brown Memorial) was ready for use!  Richard Stephens, who had worked several summers at camp, was hired full-time in 1983.  By this time, there were over 500 campers per summer, and skiing had become a primary recreational focus with the addition of several Ski Nautique boats to the program.  Lee Bertram was a camper here during the summer of 1984.  The shop was erected in 1985, and the camp office was built in 1986.  Arthur Betz left to pastor a church in Illinois and Henry Kiefer was hired as Head of Maintenance in 1987.  Carol Kiefer became Head Cook in 1988.  In 1989 the Estella Brown Infirmary, the outdoor gym, and TP/book nook were constructed.  Hans and Autumn joined the summer staff as Program Director and Waterfront Director in the summer of 1990.  The first duplex cabin was built in 1993 in memory of Wes’ aunt Eda Frazier.  We had 688 campers that summer and 129 salvation decisions!  The staff lounge was built in 1996, and the original cabins (the “trees”) were moved to their present location.  The Memorial Duplex cabin was built that year as well.  In 1997, Matt Raines joined the full-time staff as Assistant Director and the Loft was completed at the gym.  In 1998, Henry Kiefer tragically passed away in the early winter, the Woodards moved to a new house off property, and the Woodshop was built in memory of Matt’s grandfather.  Carla Towery joined the full-time staff as Registrar, and Eric Olson was hired as the Maintenance Director in September of that year.  In 1999, the ropes course, and craft shed were built.  The 30th Anniversary Celebration was held here at camp in April.  That summer there were 865 campers with 127 salvation decisions.  In the fall of that year, the camp purchased its first wakeboard boat - a new MasterCraft X-Star.

In the spring of 2000, construction was completed on Carla Jo, a new 16-bed girls’ cabin named for long-time camper/staffer Carla Towery and for Berta Jo Standley, wife of charter Board Member, Bill Standley.  Also, the Mountain Biking shop was erected.  That summer we had 966 campers and 135 decisions for Christ.  In the fall, 27 acres of land adjacent to boys’ camp were purchased for future development.  Robin Kelley was hired as full-time Registrar, and Phase I of the Standley Chapel construction was begun.  The summer of 2001 saw 1019 campers and 206 decisions for Christ!  In the spring of 2002 former camper and staffer Lee Bertram was hired as the camp’s first Retreat Director.  In addition, the skatepark was built and Bonnie Patterson joined the full-time staff as Registrar and Office Manager.  The bathhouse at the lake was constructed in memory of Hans’ mom Corinna Meinardus.  Kayaking was added as a new activity.  That summer we had 1182 campers and 200 decisions to accept Christ as Savior!  On October 26th, the Standley Chapel was completed and dedicated in honor of Bill and Berta Jo Standley (Berta Jo passed away in September but did see the building that would bear her name before she passed away).  Milestones in 2003 included the publishing of In His Time, an autobiography about Mrs. Estella Brown’s ministries with the sale proceeds benefiting SIM Mission and Frontier Camp, skatepark and dance added as new activities to the summer program, and 1099 campers and 161 salvation decisions! 

On October 25 of 2003, Wes and Jean Woodard were honored for 25 years of service and dedication, and Matt Raines was named as Frontier’s fifth Executive Director.  Hans Meinardus resigned from the Board of Directors to become the Summer Camp Director in March of 2004.  Matt Henderson joined the full-time staff as Program Director in April of 2004 after serving on summer staff as Program Director for 2 years.  That summer we had 1184 campers, 184 salvation decisions, and conducted our first Angel Tree Camp for children of the prisoners at Prison Fellowship Ministry’s Carol S. Vance Unit in Sugar Land, Texas.  The spring of 2005 saw the construction of two new boy’s cabins with indoor plumbing, an upgrade of the athletic field upgraded, and ground broken on Bethel Lodge, a new guest quarters on the site of the old guest trailer.  Last summer a record 1286 campers passed through our gates and we recorded 175 salvation decisions.  In addition, we had 135 Angel tree campers and 20 of those professed Christ as Savior at camp.  We hosted four camper reunions (Waco, College Station, The Woodlands, and Friendswood) in the fall of 2005.  This spring saw the construction of two more boy’s cabins, and a new climbing wall behind the Standley Chapel.  In addition, the retreat ministry has been booming!  Praise the Lord for His many blessings and His faithful provision for our every need!  Get ready for another great summer as “God loves to be trusted”!