Wesley Woods Update

Welcome New Site Director, Facility Updates

Bringing a love of the outdoors and experience in outdoor youth programming/education and natural resources management, Nicole Holton began serving as Site Director at Wesley Woods Camp & Retreat Center (Dowling, MI) on Feb. 3.

Nicole fell in love with church camp at Wesley Woods when she was an elementary camper sent there on a scholarship from her local church, Welcome Corners UMC (Hastings, MI). She said, “I have received nothing but encouragement and love from camp. I kept coming back because I felt a stronger relationship with God while I was here and when I went home I was on fire.” When she returned to Wesley Woods as a camp counselor, she said fell in love with being a light for Christ.

“I am extremely excited to be Wesley Woods Camp Director,” Nicole said. “This is where I believe God is calling me.” Read more about Nicole.

Updated Retreat Center

Updated Retreat Center

Workers and volunteers have been busy at Wesley Woods through the fall and winter months. Completed and in-progress renovations include:

  • Painting all rooms in the Retreat Center
  • New flooring and interior painting throughout the Daisy-Trillium Lodge
  • New electric service in Daisy-Trillium
  • A new roof on the main Lodge.

New flooring at Daisy-Trillium Lodge

With attention to its mission to make disciples of Jesus Christ and its vision to grow relationships through quality camps, the Michigan Area United Methodist Camping Board dedicated part of the funds from the recent sale of Albright Park Camp & Retreat Center (see story) to immediate improvements at Wesley Woods and Lake Michigan Camp & Retreat (Pentwater, MI). Lake Michigan is slated for a new roof and insulation for its Dining Hall.

Additional funds will be allocated as the Board evaluates future needs and projects. Building a Master Plan for the organization is currently underway with Kaleidoscope, a nationally recognized firm that provides professional services to camps and retreat centers to help them thrive.

Summer camp programs for kindergarten through adults are offered at Lake Michigan, Wesley Woods and Lake Huron Retreat Center (Burtchville). Our campground provides opportunities for family RV/tent and cabin camping: Lake Michigan Camp & Retreat.

Churches, nonprofits, schools, families, teams and groups are encouraged to use these facilities throughout the year and participate in summer programming. Increased utilization will help the Board maintain and grow the camping ministry at these sites. Explore our website to learn more about these sites, their year-round retreat facilities and how camp changes lives.