On September 9, 1971 a group of men gathered at Hiawassa Bible Chapel “regarding the possibility of forming a new Youth Camp Program for various activities of the Assemblies of Florida.”
Letters were sent to assemblies throughout Florida. As interest began to grow, the meeting attendance grew as well. A new corporation was needed to be able to purchase land, construct a camp, and conduct business activities required. The decision was made to not limit this corporation to operating a summer camp, but to be involved in other gospel outreach opportunities in the future.
Scans of the first meeting minutes and lettes can be found on a post in the camp history blog (an earlier project). 1971-1972 A New Organization
The name selected reflected those ideals. “Evangelistic Horizons Unlimited, Incorporated” was officially registered as a Florida not-for-profit corporation on December 14, 1971.
One of the first orders of business was scheduling the first summer of Camp Horizon in 1972 at Lake Swan. March 19, 1972 the IRS issued a determination letter recognizing the new corporation as a not-for-profit organization.
The March 1972 meeting reports that funds remaining from the “old Camp Horizon” would be available soon. This is the only note in existing minutes referring to the previous camp.
We do not have photos of Lake Swan in our collection. This is what the waterfront looks like today. Ted Thisse reported in the fall of 1972 that there were approximately seventy (70) professions of faith that summer. This news fueled the fire for building a new camp.