Camp Koinonia was established in 1949 as an outgrowth of the newly established ministry of the Evangelical Anglican Fellowship (E.A.F.) The E.A.F. was concerned for the spiritual well-being and development of the growing number of young people within the Anglican Church. Out of this concern arose the suggestion that an Anglican camp be set up to meet the needs of this group. The name adopted for the group was “Koinonia”, which is the Greek word for fellowship. Koinonia was organized as a fellowship of Anglican young people, meeting on an inter-parish basis for the purpose of strengthening one another in the Christian faith and winning others to Christ. The motto of the organization was taken directly from the Bible — “That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship (Koinonia) with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son, Jesus Christ.” (I John 1:3).
After a successful two-week camp held near Lake Simcoe, the Lord blessed Koinonia with the purchase of the present site in 1950. In the following years the ministry expanded to the point where it became necessary in 1954 to incorporate Koinonia as a non-profit organization overseen by a board of directors. The very successful Koinonia Youth Fellowship, which ran during the late 50’s and early 60’s in the Toronto area, featured monthly meetings with singing, fellowship and special speakers, and drew upwards of 300 young people!
Family camps were started in the late 1950’s. At approximately the same time, the original Young People’s camps were succeeded by Junior and Senior Teens camps for those from 12 to 18. Recently Koinonia has added children’s camp to serve 9 to 11 year-olds. Weekend programs now run year-round.
Facilities have been continually expanded and updated with the construction of individual cabins to replace the original tents, the installation of electrical power and water systems, the construction of the present main lodge in 1968-9, shower, washroom and laundry facilities, and numerous recreational and program facilities. With the recent drilling of a permanent well and upgrades to the kitchen, it is now possible open the camp for winter weekends, with the result that Koinonia is poised on the edge of being a truly year-round facility.