| Summary: | ministering to thousands of youth and older people. Through the years it has gradually been built up in physical facilities, and successfully entered the modern camping era. The first buildings were built in 1940. This was a kitchen and dining hall. In 1963 the first full-time camp director was hired. Under his leadership 15 resident counselors were hired and trained for summer work at the camp. In 1964 the number of campers increased so that it was necessary to use a full summer camp schedule. River canoe camping on the Sheyenne River became a part of the Red Willow decentralization program. In 1966 a camp staff of 60 conducted a camping program at Park River and Lake of the Woods in addition to the Ofstedal Center as soon as possible. In September 1967 the Ofstedal Retreat Center was dedicated. It is a year round facility that will house 90 campers in the winter months. We have 12 cabins for summer campers that will house approximately 150 campers. Red Willow Bible Camp is a year round ministry. We have 5 full time and 2 part time staff year round. During the summer program we have a staff of 50 plus. We have 11 weeks of program camping in the summer, they include: 6 weeks of Jr. Hi conference camping, 3 weeks of Mentally Handicapped camping, 4th of July Celebration for family camping and camper pads for weekend campers. Off site camps include Pathfinders for 4-6 graders, and High Adventure camps for Sr. Hi campers (Backpacking & Canoeing). During the rest of the year we have retreat groups come in and this year we are starting a new program, Environmental Education for groups from schools, churches, etc. .'.-- . :*,>>; Binford Public School According to the best information available, we have learned that the first school was started in the old Crane Johnson building with Henry Peterson as the first teacher. We believe that Jack Maurer is the only one living in Binford who attended school at the lumber yard. Soon a one-room wooden structure was built on a lot two blocks east of the present school. Two of the teachers during the one- room era were Miss Callahan and Miss Neilson. As the village population increased, the enrollment outgrew the one-room building and the red brick structure became a part of the community in 1908. Since there was no provision for a high school, only two class rooms were finished at this time. Later, another class room was completed and this space proved adequate for many years. A fourth room was completed and furnished about 1917 to provide space for a four- year high school course. This replaced the two-year high school program which had been previously added to the elementary. The high school staff consisted of one teacher with parttime help from the seventh and eighth grade teacher. In 1920, the first commencement exercise was held with Inez Greenland and Ivar Knapp as the first graduates. Construction was started on a new gymnasium during the summer of 1951. Many of the men of the community donated their time and skills to this building project. When it was finished, it added a new dimension to our school system. The school functions which had been formerly held in the town hall were now transferred to the gymnasium. The class of 1952 was the first graduating class to use the new facility. About this time a ladies' organization known as the "Gym Auxiliary" was formed for the purpose of raising funds for much needed equipment. Serving luches at basketball games and an annual smorgasbord have been their main sources of revenue. This organization is still in existence and still lends a helping hand to the school. During the late fifties and early sixties several of the surrounding school districts closed rural schools to merge with the Binford School System. The reorganized system includes all or parts of the following townships: Addie, Bryan, Clearfield, Kingsley, Pilot Mound, Rosendall, and Willow. At this time, a new elementary wing, library, offices, kitchen, cafeteria, and band room were included in the building project to provide facilities for the added enrollment. More teachers and a broader course of study were also required. During the construction the elementary teachers and pupils used the town hall for classrooms until the west wing was completed in 1962. The transportation problem was solved by Lyle Edlund's bus service which was extablished in 1960. Larry Wold has been in charge of the buses for the past two years. A school band was started in 1958 under the direction of Erwin C. Evanson. Later, under the guidance of Gary Gylden, the band became a marching band. From the scholastic viewpoint, we can't possibly enumerate individual achievements, but we feel our school has sent out many excellent representatives from the community. There have Page 11 Scanned with a Zeutschel Zeta book scanner at 300 dpi. Edited in Multi-page TIFF Editor.
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