Builders have been hired and construction will soon begin at Wesley Woods United Methodist Camp near Dowling.
Michigan Area United Methodist Camping (MAUMC) and Wesley Woods Camp and Retreat are excited to announce a partnership with Stowell Builders and The Mayotte Group for the expansion of dining and kitchen facilities. Ground breaking is expected in the spring of 2016.
This partnership is the result of a funding campaign throughout the West Michigan Conference and a generous grant from the Grainger Foundation.
The expansion project will seat 99 more campers and the kitchen expansion will facilitate the preparation needs for the increased load. MAUMC’s outlook is for a steady increase in utilization of this site not only in an expanded summer schedule but in year-round opportunities for campers and retreat guests alike. With summer bed space for over 200 and heated bed space for winter activities of over 120 the facility will no longer have challenges of limited dining space.
This expansion project has been a long time in the making. Due to economic situations and rising market costs, the ability to attain the proper funding was a slow process. With the acceptance of a grant application and a final push of generous gifts the project is ready to move forward.
“We have all waited a long time to get this project off the ground,” said Pastor Chad Parmalee, Chairperson of the Wesley Woods Site Committee. “Wesley Woods Staff and the Site Committee have worked closely with the Board of Christian Camping to begin to realize a dream we have all been reaching toward for many years,” Parmalee continued. With thanks to God for continuing to do great work at Wesley Woods, he notes, “Our loyal campers, volunteers and retreat guests have continued to support Wesley Woods as the staff has made tremendous efforts to accommodate larger camps with limited capacities. This expansion will better accommodate existing camping ministries and increase our capacity to grow. We are very excited about the opportunities for growth God is making possible at Wesley Woods,” Parmalee concludes.”
These milestones mean a great deal as the West Michigan Board of Christian Camping and Detroit Conference Board of Outdoor and Retreat Ministries, now MAUMC, continue to work together toward the full incorporation of both camping systems.
“As we move into a new era of United Methodist Camping here in Michigan, the camps, campgrounds, retreat centers, and administration are no longer individual operations, ” explained the Rev. George Ayoub, Interim Executive Director of Camping. “Leadership from the new Board is moving Michigan Area United Methodist Camping into a cohesive system where the sites and administration support one another and celebrate achievements as a whole.”
Please watch MIConnect for information of the Ground Breaking Ceremony for the new facilities at Wesley Woods. Opportunities will be announced for helping fund the kitchen equipment, future operations, and camp scholarships. As the project moves forward there will also be volunteer work project opportunities.
Last Updated on December 15, 2023