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1943 1948 1951 1952- 1954

The work was begun in East Tennessee by Camp Ta-Pa-Win-Go was Camp had its first swimming 1952 Chapel was built. It Mike Birkner
Dennis & Gladys Jagt. Previous to that a born. On June 14, CBM was area—a hole lined with tar was an exciting time. We became the
memory program had been instituted by given a tract of land by Mr. paper. We have been told by were able to move our divisional
Rev. Frank Sells, Miss Amanda Dosser, and Mrs. Alex Shell. Our campers who attended in the chapel services out of the director
and the Jagts. The Bible Memory Program first camp project, ―Memorial days of our tar paper pool dining hall.
began in a small way with just a few Hall‖, was begun with an ini- that they came out dirtier 1953 Dennis Jagt was
than when they went in.
schools in Carter County. tial gift of $100.00 sent by called Home at age of 42.
Mrs. Barton Green.

Dennis and Gladys Jagt Original awards given for Bible verses The original camp sign. Our first swimming pool Chapel under construction Mike & Wilma Birkner

The History of Camp Ta-Pa-Win-Go,

Watauga, TN

Camp Ta-Pa-Win-Go, the name comes from an Indian background and means ―Place
of Joy on a Hill!‖
Mr. and Mrs. Dennis Jagt became associated with Children‘s Bible Mission in 1943. The
work continued to spread into many counties as Mr. and Mrs. Robert A. Johnson and Mr. and
Memorial Hall Mrs. Michael Birkner came into the Tennessee division and more schools were enrolled.
Memorial Hall, now known as the dining hall, was completed in time for our first summer at camp.
Housing for campers were tents with wood shavings on the floor.
After Mr. Jagt‘s home going Ernest Fredericks, Marie Liechty, and Mike and Wilma Birkner were
left to carry on the work. In 1953 Mike Birkner was appointed divisional director and under his lead-
ership CBM of Tennessee had spread to eight counties. The camp had grown to 12 acres and addi-
tional buildings had been added so the camp now had a capacity of 200. A swimming pool was con-
structed on the property to take the place of ―the ole swimming hole.‖ A total of 16 buildings had been
constructed with a value of more than $75,000.00.
Through the first 25 years there were up to 20 missionaries in Tennessee, reaching around 52,000
school children a month in 14 counties. During this time over 12,000 campers have enjoyed the bless-
ings of beautiful Camp Ta-Pa-Win-Go. Tent cabins from the early years
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