Before that, a farm
Settlers arriving in the 1870s planted the orchards that made the island known for its apples; seven acres of that orchard remain on the property today.
Camp Elkhaven to Camp Denman
A place of gathering, carried forward.
In the mid-1950s the property became Camp Elkhaven, run by the BC Elks as a free, year-round camp for children's groups, youth organizations, and families. For decades, thousands of children passed through these grounds, and the site became woven into the social fabric of Denman Island as a place of welcome, learning, and care.
Part of the Camp Denman path
The Elkhaven years
Dormitories, a communal kitchen, orchard camping, and shared outdoor spaces supported generations of campers and families.
A new chapter
Camp Denman is evolving in purpose, but stays connected to the deeper legacy: bringing people together to grow through meaningful time spent here.
One Camp Denman path
Start with the island, then keep the work moving.
Register for a camp on Denman, start Virtual Studio, or explore public work from the same Camp Denman community. The camp, classes, tools, and Vault stay connected under one account.