Pres Thomas S. Monson dedicates youth camp in Ontario

PETERBOROUGH, Ontario — President Thomas S. Monson returned "home" to eastern Canada to dedicate on Saturday a camp that bears his name.

"I can't tell you how wonderful it is to be back in this part of the world," said the president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints before he offered a prayer to dedicate the camp that covers more than 400 acres about 120 miles east of Toronto near Peterborough. About 15 acres of the camp have been developed; the rest remains as natural habitat.

The property has campsites, each named after a Young Women value: Faith, Divine Nature, Individual Worth, Knowledge, Choice and Accountability, Good Works, Integrity and Virtue.

Each site has a shelter with concrete flooring. In addition to constructing the shelters, members in eight participating stakes built 75 picnic tables, cleared trees, cut trails, planted grass seed, built a canoe building, installed soccer posts and a baseball backstop, and built docks and an amphitheater with a stage and seating.

Edward T. Baxter, second counselor in the Ontario Toronto Mission presidency, said, "Just as we thought we were about finished with the work, on June 8, a violent wind storm went through the camp, uprooting almost 80 trees, all of which had to be cleaned up prior to today."

President Monson acknowledged the work and effort that went into building the camp.

It was raining as President Monson arrived at the camp and had been doing so most of the morning. Still, several thousand people gathered, many huddled under umbrellas and sitting on chairs they had brought, some even on the muddy ground. About 150 young women who formed a chorus literally sang in the rain. The rain increased as the program began, but just as President Monson stepped to the microphone under a tarp-covered canopy, the rain stopped. People furled their umbrellas and listened in greater comfort.

"We're here today in this beautiful setting to dedicate the Thomas S. Monson Camp. How honored I am that you would want my name associated with this magnificent piece of property which will serve not only as a camp for the Young Women, but for families and for other groups as well," the church leader said.

"It has been improved and developed so that those who stay here will be able to do so in comfort and safety. A variety of activities is available, including hiking, boating, swimming and, one of my favorites — fishing. I understand that the walleye fishing here is unparalleled."