A neighbor on a dugout canoe fished out from the bottom of the pond

Generations of Finnish immigrants enjoying the pond after settlement in New England.

David Melville acquires the property for logging purposes, then decides it would be better enjoyed as a retreat center. He named only a shed for himself, and gave the camp its current name, Toah Nipi

Toah Nipi is given to David Melville’s church, Trinitarian Congregational in Wayland, Massachusetts. Church members and IV alums, Ernie and Lauraine Bauder (center and far right), begin stewarding the camp as its first directors.

The camp undergoes multiple construction and renovation projects to increase facilities and housing supply for guest groups.

Toah Nipi is gifted to InterVarsity Christian Ministries.

InterVarsity gifts Toah Nipi to a new board of trustees, making the camp an independent, Chrisitan camping and retreat center. What began as a gift of God’s creation to indigenous peoples, continues today as a gift to the Toah Nipi board, staff, and guests. Retaining our mission to grow and steward the camp as a place to meet God and be renewed.