Olive Branch alderman Don Tullos has traveled to several foreign countries, as well as stops throughout the United States.

But instead of visiting all the “tourist traps” and spending his money on ritzy hotels, expensive meals and over-priced souvenirs, this summer Tullos joined a group of friends and headed to Canada to spend time helping out at Camp of the Woods in Dinoric, Ontario.

Tullos, along with Jerry Fuqua, Claud Snyder, Doug Beggs, Jerry Perry, Lynn Gatewood and Jim Hartsfield, flew to International Falls, Minn., on the United States – Canada border, before embarking on a four-hour car ride over some of the roughest roads imaginable.

But, according to Tullos, the end result is well-worth the difficult trip.

“It’s a different world up there,” he explained. “There’s a 600-acre lake that’s 200 feet deep, there’s wildlife all around you and everywhere you look it just takes your breath away.

“It’s just a special place,“ Tullos continued. “Once you go, you want to go back.”

 While not associated with any particular religion, Camp of the Woods Ministries, Inc. exists to faithfully evangelize, instruct and disciple people in God's Word, train people in missions, support and strengthen existing Bible believing churches and assist in establishing new churches.

In 1965, Garland and Reba Cofield and their four children moved from Tennessee to Dryden, Ontario, to begin Camp of the Woods Ministries. Beginning with only an ax, tents and a borrowed horse, the Cofield family and other volunteers began working to make the dream take shape.

Over 40 years later, Camp of the Woods now consists of beautiful rustic buildings: an office, a chapel, a lodge, a multi-purpose building, generator and shop buildings, plus 15 cabins (for campers and guests) and six staff residences.
Two counselors and 14 kids occupy each cabin during the sessions, with missionaries and counselors donating their time each summer.

“A lot of the kids that come to the camp have been abused or come from some other horrible situation,” Tullos said. “The camp is the only place they can go.

“It’s not like what we think of down here when somebody goes to camp,” he added. “Up there you say, ‘Jesus Christ,’ and they say, ‘Who?’ You have to minister on a very basic level.”
In addition to spending time with the campers, the local group had another mission – to take care of as many repairs as possible during their nine-day stay.

“They generate their own electricity,” Tullos noted, “and they keep everything. They have different boxes, all labeled, in the storage building, so if they need a part for something you can go out there and usually find something that’ll work.

“They struggle, but God has been good,” he said.

The volunteers performed construction, painted, helped rebuild equipment and handled a wide variety of odd jobs. One of the most appreciated efforts was the leveling of a toilet, so staff members would no longer have to hold on to the sink to keep from falling off.

“We do a lot of work while we’re there, but it’s worth it because it’s just a special, special place,” Tullos stated.

“How many of us would put up with that kind of hardship?,” he queried.

During this summer’s trip, Tullos noted a new swing set had been built. It had been made from a 70-foot tree that previously stood on the opposite side of the lake.

According to Tullos, staff members cut down the tree, waited for the lake to freeze, drove the camp’s tractor across the frozen water and dragged the tree back.

Despite the hardships the group faces, Tullos has no hesitation about continuing the trips.

“It’s the most beautiful place I’ve ever seen, and it’s such a special place,” he smiled. “We have to raise our own funds, but I’m already making plans to go back.”