To whet our appetites, each of our United Methodist-affiliated camps in Michigan gives updates on what’s new as families plan for summer camp.
JAMES DEATON
Content Editor
Michigan’s winters are long, and even though spring has begun, many of us are thinking beyond to long days in the warm summer sun.
Summer is also the perfect time for camping, and registration at each of our United Methodist-affiliated camps is now open. As campgrounds continue their spring cleanup, MIconnect checked in with ministry leaders at each camp for updates on the 2025 camping season.
What challenges have they overcome lately? What new programs or initiatives are they excited about? How can Michigan United Methodists support them beyond just attending? There are many fantastic camps for all ages, so read along and get ready to enjoy time outside in God’s beautiful creation. We will begin geographically in the Upper Peninsula and then head south through the Lower Peninsula.
Camp Michigamme
3667 US Hwy 41, Michigamme, MI 49861
Gordon Grigg, Camp Operations Director
Tell us about Camp Michigamme.
Camp Michigamme is the only United Methodist camp in the Upper Peninsula, and we offer both youth camps and adult retreats in a rustic setting. We are independently owned by the Northern Skies District.
Summarize the heart of your camping ministry.
Creating a place where kids can be kids and learn about the love and grace they receive from God.
Describe any challenges you’ve tackled over the past year.
Just like any other religious organization, we have been working on tackling funding issues. To address this, we are partnering with local organizations and applying for grants to improve our camp. Two examples come to mind. We received a grant from the West End Health Foundation of Marquette County to purchase a new riding lawn mower to keep our grassy areas safe. We also received a grant from the Marquette Monday Lunch Rotary Club to purchase programming supplies to improve our low ropes course and field games.
Another challenge we have tackled is having a full-time camp director. We have creatively changed the model for what ours looks like. This summer, to support two congregations in the Northern Skies District, our camp director will also become their pastor.
Give examples of new projects or initiatives you’re excited about.
We are excited about our new adult retreat called Unplugged. Similar to a summer camp for adults, this retreat invites adults to come and unplug from the world and reconnect with God. There will be different camp activities for people to choose from, like kayaking/canoeing, archery, arts and crafts, and hiking. Campers will be able to decide what they would like to do, or they can choose to take time to rest and reconnect with God.
After our youth season ends, we will offer RV and tent camping. We have three full hook-up camping sites, and our games field will be open for tenting. We are a wonderful spot for people who are looking for a base camp as they explore the beauty that Michigan’s Upper Peninsula has to offer. We are 45 minutes from Marquette and just over an hour from Houghton and the Keweenaw Peninsula. We are also right across from an ATV trail.
Name one fun summertime activity you are looking forward to. How does it give you joy?
I look forward to playing 9 Square in the Air. This is one of my favorite activities because it’s a great way to get to know campers and have fun.
Share how United Methodists can support Camp Michigamme right now.
We are looking for volunteers. You can come and work directly with the campers as a cabin counselor, help in the kitchen, or assist with maintenance work. Maybe you’d like to be a craft leader or a nature leader. Or come be a spiritual dean and lead our chapel services and nightly devotional around the campfire. If you’re not sure, we can find a spot just for you. Click here to learn more about volunteering at Camp Michigamme.
Lake Louise Christian Community Camp & Retreat Center
11037 Thumb Lake Rd, Boyne Falls, MI 49713
Greg Lawton, Director of Camping and Outreach
Tell us about Lake Louise.
Lake Louise in beautiful Northern Michigan is a residential summer camp offering eight weeks of programming with 11 camp sessions for children and youth. We also operate year-round as a retreat facility. With the summer volunteer counselors who come from the churches our campers attend, spiritual support can occur all year long.
Summarize the heart of your camping ministry.
Lake Louise offers an environment and provides leadership for opportunities promoting healthy relationships, personal wholeness, and spiritual well-being.
Describe any challenges you’ve tackled over the past year.
One practical challenge we resolved in the past year was storage. Several of our camp weeks use the same kinds of supplies year after year, and our camp deans struggle to haul things back and forth each summer. We decided to build dedicated storage units inside the garage for each camp session. Camp deans now have easy access to their things, and it limits spillover from one session to the next. It has reduced stress among our volunteers and made keeping resources at camp year-round much easier.
Another challenge we face is a common one for United Methodist-related camps. As the number of kids and youth in our Michigan Conference churches decreases, we’ve had to reach beyond our usual recruiting centers. We know that faith grows by invitation, and like an invitation to worship, an invitation from a friend to attend church camp is the most powerful and direct way to reach people who haven’t yet experienced it. To help kids invite their friends, we offer a discount to families whose friends join them, and this summer, we will be offering a new incentive to kids directly when they bring their friends.
Give examples of new projects or initiatives you’re excited about.
Last year, we launched Faith Builders Service Camp to blend the best of summer camp with a youth mission trip. We know that not every church can organize a summer youth mission trip. We also know that many kids like to serve the needs of their neighbors or improve the natural environment. Faith Builders provides a chance to do that while enjoying all the benefits of church camp. It is open to youth in grades 7 through 12.
One of our high school sessions has been called LIFE Camp for several years. The deans felt a need to rebrand and refresh it, so it is now called MOSAIC and will be focused more on the creative arts. This camp week has always been artistic, so we will invest in that expression and broaden the opportunities to create art at camp. Click to learn more about MOSAIC.
Name one fun summertime activity you are looking forward to. How does it give you joy?
We installed an archery range two summers ago and are moving it this year so the experience can be even more positive for brand-new archers and seasoned pros. I always enjoy watching someone learn and master a new skill or talent.
Share how United Methodists can support Lake Louise right now.
We are hosting our third annual Make A Difference Day and Volunteer Service Weekend on April 25-27 to get the grounds ready for summer campers and improve our environmental sustainability. When we aren’t working, we will spend time in devotions, singing, and enjoying fellowship. Click to register for this event.
Bay Shore Camp & Family Ministries
450 N. Miller St, Sebewaing, MI 48759
Jeff Parsons, Executive Director
Tell us about Bay Shore.
Bay Shore is rooted in the Evangelical United Brethren Church tradition, providing camp ministry experiences for more than 112 years. In addition to its historic “Family Camp” experience, Bay Shore offers more than 14 children’s and youth camp experiences and year-round retreat options. At Bay Shore’s new Faith Quest campus in Gagetown, Michigan, we will provide day camp experiences and a Family Adventure Park. In support of local churches, Bay Shore Day Camp on the Road teams travel the state, offering day camp experiences wherever they are invited.
Summarize the heart of your camping ministry.
Our mission is to invite all people to experience Jesus Christ and to nurture them in their relationship with Him.
Describe any challenges you’ve tackled over the past year.
We have taken a hard look inward at programming and have begun an intense discernment of every piece of programming and how it relates to our mission, vision, core values, and what it teaches campers as it relates to character development. As we move forward, this seems incredibly important to what parents look for when deciding to let their children leave home overnight. It used to be that we would have to worry about being more fun than every other option. Now, we still must be fun, but we also need to provide enough value and demonstrate that we are safe enough for parents to let their children leave home.
Give examples of new projects or initiatives you’re excited about.
We have partnered with the Rhythms of Faith Project to be a part of their action research in discovering how to take the formative experiences of camp and leverage them to build faith foundations in the homes of campers. The foundational belief is that camp should be transformative.
Bay Shore launches our Faith Quest Family Adventure Park near Gagetown this summer. Also, this summer, we have created our first leadership camp. Designed for rising high school juniors and seniors, Leadership Training Week is fully funded through scholarships for those campers selected to attend. Click to learn more.
Name one fun summertime activity you are looking forward to. How does it give you joy?
Summer camp brings many sounds. The sounds often bring great joy after a long winter as they indicate children having fun, making new friends, trying new things, and learning. However, there are also quiet moments while campers are here, and those moments are treasured because that is often where the transformations take root.
Share how United Methodists can support Bay Shore right now.
Pray for our world to see the need for camp. Camp plays a critical role as a temporary community designed to give a brief interruption in life that allows people to transform and grow. Young people today desperately need this place to disconnect and develop not just their faith but their character. There is a void of strong positive character in our world, and camp can help fix that if people are here.
Grace Outside
Lake Michigan Family Campground
5807 Ridge Rd, Pentwater, MI 49449
Wesley Woods Camp & Retreat
1700 Clear Lake Dr, Dowling, MI 49050
Lake Huron Retreat Center
8794 Lakeshore Rd, Burtchville, MI 48059
David Berkey, Executive Director
Allison Vitale, Program Director
Suzanne Everett, Marketing Consultant
Tell us about Grace Outside.
Grace Outside is the program ministry of Michigan Area United Methodist Camping. It encompasses three destinations: Lake Michigan Campground, Wesley Woods Camp & Retreat, and Lake Huron Retreat Center. Through the Grace Outside sites, you can experience the full range of outdoor ministries from a family campground, a summer camp in the woods on a lovely inland lake, and a hotel-style adult retreat center on the shores of Lake Huron.
Summarize the heart of your camping ministry.
As a camp community, we provide opportunities for everyone to grow their spiritual life in ways that will keep them connected to God. Research shows that young people who spend a week or more at a camp are more likely to stay connected to a Christian community as they grow into adulthood. This is just one reason among dozens that camp is life-changing. At camp, you co-create a Jesus-centered community that helps you grow in faith and stay connected.
Describe any challenges you’ve tackled over the past year.
We’ve started to hear from some families that they’re facing uncertainty in their jobs or the economy, which threatens their ability to afford camp or time off for volunteering. We continue to navigate rising operational costs and growing our donor support. It’s a delicate balance to keep our camper and guest fees accessible for families without financial support from the Michigan Conference.
We are encouraged when families and churches share their stories. When we hear how camp nurtures their children’s faith and strengthens their ability to face the challenges of today’s highly anxious world, we are reminded of how vital camp and retreat ministry is. Grace Outside would love to partner with the Michigan Conference, local churches, and Methodist-affiliated camps to be a foundational resource for faith formation at all ages.
Give examples of new projects or initiatives you’re excited about.
Wesley Woods is the home of summer camp for elementary through high school students. We are excited about our new initiative of having Teen Leadership and CIT (counselor in training) Camp. We would love to see our older campers who have loved camp for years be able to return as enthusiastic counselors and share their gifts with younger campers. This week of Leadership Camp will offer more challenges and opportunities to grow in outdoor skills and develop student leaders at camp and in any setting. Click to learn more.
After several seasons with the popular Grandparent Camp, we’ve brought back Teddy Bear Camp, which invites younger campers to a three-day event with a special adult, like a parent, aunt, or uncle. These events allow campers and families to get acquainted with camping, share their faith, and build their relationships with each other and with God.
This year’s summer camp promotional video (watch now) features the original song “Grace Outside,” written by Carl Gladstone. It’s a beautiful and fun song meant to be sung around the campfire. It celebrates the unique way camp connects us to one another — immersed in nature and experiencing the wild, wonderful, silly, and sometimes messy fun of camp.
Name one fun summertime activity you are looking forward to. How does it give you joy?
We love seeing campers work together to accomplish something they didn’t expect to be able to do. For example, they may work as a group to create a boat out of cardboard that will float. Or they may create a skit that they share at Firebowl that is really powerful.
Share how United Methodists can support Grace Outside right now.
Get to know us. Visit our sites. Talk with our directors. Be in relationship with us — so that we know each other’s needs and what to pray for. Hiring summer staff is always a challenge, but it’s the people in the churches and Wesley Foundations who know awesome young people who would make great role models at camp. Tell them about the summer job opportunities. Also, volunteers mean the world to us, and there are so many ways people can contribute to the success of our camp and retreat ministries. There are volunteer opportunities as we prepare the sites for summer, and as camp cabin counselors for a week, welcome crew, or health officers.
Lake Huron Retreat Center hosts two specialty camps in June and July for adults with mental/physical challenges, and there is a great need for volunteer counselors and nurses.
Last Updated on April 3, 2025