How did a Revolutionary War Era working farm eventually become a beloved campsite hosting more than 1,500 young people each summer? Only by God’s grace! Read on to discover the remarkable story of The Wilds of New England—a story that only God could have written!
Summary
The story behind The Wilds of New England
Near the turn of the century, leadership from The Wilds Christian Association, Inc. began exploring opportunities to establish a campsite in the Northeast. After years of prayer, planning, and survey trips, God providentially led them to meet the director of The Deering Center in Deering, New Hampshire.
Through that connection, the vision for a New England ministry became a reality. Rand Hummel, who had served for more than 25 years at The Wilds of North Carolina, became the first director of The Wilds of New England. A place that had served young people for generations would once again be used to point lives to Christ.
Timeline
From stone walls to saved souls
1785
Kimball Farm
Shortly after the Revolutionary War, the Kimball family established a working farm on this property. The first barn—now known as the Meeting House—was built in 1785, and the family lived there while the main farmhouse (today’s Campbell Building) was constructed. Ira Kimball managed dairy herds, tended sheep for Hillsborough mills, and oversaw apple orchards. Local history also records that the farm served as a refuge for formerly enslaved people traveling north to Canada. A hidden closet door in the Campbell Building remains as evidence of that courageous effort.
1920
Dr. Eleanor Campbell
Dr. Eleanor Campbell, a New York City physician and humanitarian, purchased this property along with several surrounding farms. Though she lived and practiced medicine in New York, she allowed Deering residents to farm the land without charge. During the Great Depression, she hired local craftsmen to build the Deering Community Center to provide medical care and summer opportunities for local families.
1931
Dedication
On August 16, The Deering Community Center was dedicated as a “gift to the people” in memory of Dr. Campbell’s daughter, Elizabeth Milbank Tanner. The New York Times featured the opening of the new center, which hosted summer programs for underprivileged children from Boston and New York City, giving many young people their first opportunity to experience camp.
1933
Summer camp
The Deering Community Center hosted summer programs for more than 300 children from Deering and nearby towns. The camp provided educational and recreational opportunities for local youth, with visiting educators and world-renowned scholars traveling from across the Northeast to teach, mentor, and invest in the lives of young people during the summer months.
1945
Church support
As the ministry expanded, Dr. Campbell recognized that the local community alone could not sustain the center long-term. Acting on behalf of the Deering Community Center, Inc., she approached several church denominations to explore whether they would be willing to operate the property and continue its mission of serving young people and the surrounding community. She offered to donate the property if they could successfully maintain it for two years.
1946
Donation
Dr. Campbell donated 5 farms and nearly 2,000 acres to the Congregational Denomination, now known as the United Church of Christ. The United Church of Christ ran The Deering Conference Center from 1949 to 1989, when it closed due to significant debt and lack of support.
1989–1994
Vacancy
After the Deering Conference Center closed in 1989, the property sat vacant for several years. Buildings slowly deteriorated, and the once-busy grounds fell quiet. Yet the history of ministry on the property was not over. In God’s providence, the stage was being set for a new chapter that would once again use this place to impact young lives.
1995
Mike Silver
In 1995, Mike Silver returned to the property that “had a profound impact on [his] life.” Believing the site still had great potential for ministry, he and his wife felt led to relocate from Chapel Hill, North Carolina, to Deering, New Hampshire. With renewed vision, they began working to reopen the center and restore the property.
September 2008
Fresh start
Through a series of providential circumstances, God brought together Kurt Holman, the director of The Deering Center, and Rand Hummel, the future director of The Wilds of New England, to transfer ownership of The Deering Center to The Wilds Christian Association, Inc.
March 19, 2009
Ramping up
And so, after 10 years of preparation, The Wilds of New England officially launched in 2009 as a conservative Christian camp in New England. That first summer, the camp hosted three teen weeks and two junior weeks of camp, beginning a new chapter of ministry on a property that had already served young people for generations.
Our ongoing impact
Growth that honors the past
In the years since the camp opened, The Wilds of New England has seen remarkable growth—each new addition reflecting both God’s provision and the camp’s enduring mission. Facilities have been steadily improved, from the first bathhouse and tent platforms to the restoration of the historic Campbell Building. The major addition of The Barn greatly expanded capacity. Along the way, the campgrounds have been enriched with new experiences like the Zipline, LaserTag, and The Jump, while thoughtful updates such as Duplex Cabins, improved fields, and the Cool Beans deck have enhanced comfort and community.
Today, our beautiful facility stands as a reminder that growth at The Wilds of New England is not about buildings—it’s about creating a place where life-changing truth can take root.
A story of grace
“To God be the glory, great things He has done” and will continue to do by His grace.
