Camp Arrowhead rests on stolen and unceded traditional hunting and fishing grounds of the Nanticoke people. We strive to honor those initial caretakers by being good stewards of this land, forest, & water, walking humbly with the Nanticoke, and continuing to learn & tell the truth about our history. Learning how and when they were forcibly removed remains our work to do.
Nanticoke means "people of the tidewater" and you can learn more about them here, by visiting the Nanticoke Indian Museum in Millsboro, or attending their annual powwow in Milton at Hudson Fields. And you can learn some of their language from our friend Ragghi Rain's book, "Once It Has Been Spoken ... It Cannot Be Unspoken."
The property once hosted Camp De La Warr, a couple other camps, and then in the 1940's was purchased by Colonel Ralph Irvine Sasse, a retired West Point football coach. He named it Camp Arrowhead after the many indigenous artifacts found on the property and ran a boys camp emphasizing sailing and horseback riding programs. Col. Sasse passed away in October of 1954.
Hal Haskell of Kennett Square, PA and his golf partner, purchased the camp and gifted it to their friend Bishop McKinstry and the Episcopal Church in Delaware. The Diocese hired F.Terry Carmine as camp's first Property Manager.
Nanticoke means "people of the tidewater" and you can learn more about them here, by visiting the Nanticoke Indian Museum in Millsboro, or attending their annual powwow in Milton at Hudson Fields. And you can learn some of their language from our friend Ragghi Rain's book, "Once It Has Been Spoken ... It Cannot Be Unspoken."
The property once hosted Camp De La Warr, a couple other camps, and then in the 1940's was purchased by Colonel Ralph Irvine Sasse, a retired West Point football coach. He named it Camp Arrowhead after the many indigenous artifacts found on the property and ran a boys camp emphasizing sailing and horseback riding programs. Col. Sasse passed away in October of 1954.
Hal Haskell of Kennett Square, PA and his golf partner, purchased the camp and gifted it to their friend Bishop McKinstry and the Episcopal Church in Delaware. The Diocese hired F.Terry Carmine as camp's first Property Manager.
A camper with Col. Sasse in the early 1950's
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Terry & Betty Lee Carmine
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Terry and his wife, Betty Lee, moved their growing family into the log cabin where they lived and cared deeply for camp and all of their campers and retreat guests for the next 44 1/2 years.
The diocese had been running a summer program at YMCA Camp Tockwogh, in Worton, MD. Norris Weis brough a YMCA model of centralized camping to Arrowhead for the summer of 1955.
In 1959, under the direction of Canon Brewster Beach, the summer program became decentralized and known as, "Camping with a Difference."
1960 - Trip camping and four 2-week sessions were added to the summer program.
1961 - The new dining hall was built, replacing the building brought in from across the bay. It later became known as the Rec Hall.
1964 - The “Ark” was built in Outpost.
1971 - New swimming pools and bath houses were added replacing the old salt water pool by the bay and small shower houses in each of the homestead divisions.
1976 - Camp restructured. Staff of 8 and dedicated volunteers save the day! Labor Day Family Camp started.
1978 - Walt Lafontaine began the adventure program by building a low ropes course.
1982-1983 - The Rec Hall restored with volunteer help. The ball field was cleared.
1987 - The Mac House was built on foundation of old swimming pool.
1995-1996 - The Carmine Environmental Center built with funding help sought by Debbie Layton
1997 - The Chapel was enlarged, again.
1998 - Terry and Bettylee Carmine retired after 44 ½ years of service. And Grant Carey became Property Manager.
1999 - Rufus Miller became Executive Director.
2000-2001 - Through the generosity of the Rod Wells Family, cabins were enlarged, the Pioneer Pavilion and new bath house were built, cabins 1 and 3 were replaced, and Pioneer 7 was added.
2004 - Rick Hollingsworth became Property Manager.
2005 - The Alumni Association helped to build the high ropes course.
2011 - The Quails Nest staff lounge and new Carmine Corners store were built.
2013 - Rufus Miller retired as Executive Director and Walt Lafontaine was hired full time to assume the role.
The Pathfinder sites were created.
2014 - The Alumni Plaza was built. The Conservation Easement, initiated by Rufus Miller, was executed in partnership with the State of Delaware.
2016 - The Cannery and Environmental Center were remodeled, and the DCF Pavilion was built.
2017 - Teri Valente became Camp Director and Diocesan Council approved the process for a capital campaign to replace the dining hall, add a pioneer bathhouse, and connect with the county sewer system
2020 - The Pioneer CATS & Wright Pavilion are constructed. Camp ties into the county sewer system and despite the pandemic and being closed for the summer, a capital campaign begins.
2022 - The Ring the Bell Campaign successfully built and opened the Jane Clifton Ashford Center
2023 - Walt & Nancy Lafontaine retired after decades of service to the Arrowhead community and Darlene Calton was named Interim Executive Director
The diocese had been running a summer program at YMCA Camp Tockwogh, in Worton, MD. Norris Weis brough a YMCA model of centralized camping to Arrowhead for the summer of 1955.
In 1959, under the direction of Canon Brewster Beach, the summer program became decentralized and known as, "Camping with a Difference."
1960 - Trip camping and four 2-week sessions were added to the summer program.
1961 - The new dining hall was built, replacing the building brought in from across the bay. It later became known as the Rec Hall.
1964 - The “Ark” was built in Outpost.
1971 - New swimming pools and bath houses were added replacing the old salt water pool by the bay and small shower houses in each of the homestead divisions.
1976 - Camp restructured. Staff of 8 and dedicated volunteers save the day! Labor Day Family Camp started.
1978 - Walt Lafontaine began the adventure program by building a low ropes course.
1982-1983 - The Rec Hall restored with volunteer help. The ball field was cleared.
1987 - The Mac House was built on foundation of old swimming pool.
1995-1996 - The Carmine Environmental Center built with funding help sought by Debbie Layton
1997 - The Chapel was enlarged, again.
1998 - Terry and Bettylee Carmine retired after 44 ½ years of service. And Grant Carey became Property Manager.
1999 - Rufus Miller became Executive Director.
2000-2001 - Through the generosity of the Rod Wells Family, cabins were enlarged, the Pioneer Pavilion and new bath house were built, cabins 1 and 3 were replaced, and Pioneer 7 was added.
2004 - Rick Hollingsworth became Property Manager.
2005 - The Alumni Association helped to build the high ropes course.
2011 - The Quails Nest staff lounge and new Carmine Corners store were built.
2013 - Rufus Miller retired as Executive Director and Walt Lafontaine was hired full time to assume the role.
The Pathfinder sites were created.
2014 - The Alumni Plaza was built. The Conservation Easement, initiated by Rufus Miller, was executed in partnership with the State of Delaware.
2016 - The Cannery and Environmental Center were remodeled, and the DCF Pavilion was built.
2017 - Teri Valente became Camp Director and Diocesan Council approved the process for a capital campaign to replace the dining hall, add a pioneer bathhouse, and connect with the county sewer system
2020 - The Pioneer CATS & Wright Pavilion are constructed. Camp ties into the county sewer system and despite the pandemic and being closed for the summer, a capital campaign begins.
2022 - The Ring the Bell Campaign successfully built and opened the Jane Clifton Ashford Center
2023 - Walt & Nancy Lafontaine retired after decades of service to the Arrowhead community and Darlene Calton was named Interim Executive Director
