Dennis and Glenda Rowan started Psalm 23 Camp in July 1985. It was not their intention to start a camp. Their objective was to simply take resources that they had at their disposal and give some local children "something to do".

The first camp provided a three-day camp for 14 local children ages 8-11 without charge. The available resources included a 300 acre farm, some family pack tents, a pickup camper, two picnic tables, two outhouses and some part-time volunteers to help the Rowan's. All meals were cooked over a open campfire and campers helped with fire building, dish washing, and other duties.

The camp is located on a farm that has been in Dennis' family for four generations. Dennis was born in the same house that now serves as their home, and in the room that now serves as the office for the camp.

After Dennis spent 20 years going to college and teaching college he decided he wanted a job where God could be boss. That is what lead him to return to the home farm in 1982.