Camp History

​John Ed, Mazelle (Wildes), John Mark and
Suzanne Thomas

​John Ed and Mazelle (Wildes) Thomas of Hopkinton, Massachusetts started the Labor Day Weekend Family Camp in 1946.  They wanted to create a family weekend that would bring families together in activities of Christian fellowship, away from the distractions of the modern world.  The first year the camp was held at Ocean Park, Maine.  The following year, it was held at Geneva Point Center (GPC), in New Hampshire.  In 1968, John Ed and Mazelle purchased a piece of property in Winthrop, Maine that they named Camp Yo-Aunta.  From 1968 to 1975, the camp was held there.  In 1976, the camp returned to GPC and has remained there to this day.   Mazelle passed away in 1987, John Ed in 1990.  Their son, John Mark, carried on as the director of the camp for many years.   

​More recently, in 2019, the name of the weekend was officially changed to "Labor Day Weekend Family Camp" to more accurately reflect who we are, what we do and why we come together each year.