Let’s GO Play!

It’s all good in the Woods!

Wesley Woods is a full-service, year-round camp and retreat center in southwest Michigan (Dowling is 20 minutes northwest of Battle Creek, or one hour southwest of Lansing). Guests have found this to be a grace-filled, natural retreat setting for over 65 years. As a Grace Outside Destination, you’ll find Wesley Woods offers fun, outdoor activities and comfortable retreat lodging.

Grace Outside Hospitality

Our Promise: Offering spaces and programs where everyone is welcome, safe and free to explore your faith in the beautiful outdoors and comfortable facilities.  

Update: Stepping into a New Season of Grace Outside in 2026 at Wesley Woods Camp and Retreat 

Dear Wesley Woods Families and Friends,  

Grace and peace to you.

There are moments in the life of every ministry when we pause, listen for God’s leading, and step forward in faith. Wesley Woods Camp & Retreat is entering one of those moments.

For generations, this sacred space has helped young people and families encounter Christ in the beauty of creation, campfires, water activity laughter, late-night conversations, and quiet prayers under the trees shaping disciples and strengthened faith. 

This mission remains unchanged.  What is changing is how we carry it forward.

Beginning in the 2026 season, Wesley Woods will transition into a Family Camp and Retreat Center, focusing on creating space for families, churches, schools, and organizations to experience God together through Let’s G.O. — Grace Outside.

Rather than directly operating traditional youth summer camps, we will:

• Host UMC High School, Middle School and Elementary Youth Camps, facilitated by UMC volunteer teams.

Please contact those listed below for your camp this summer.

• Youth Camps 
• High School Camp
• 2026 Dates: June 14-19, 2026 
• Contact: Ellen Shirreffs at 517-281-8860, email: wwhighschool@graceoutside.org

• Middle School/Elementary Youth Camp
• 2026 Dates: July 19-24, 2026

• Elementary Contact: Janell Kebler ( 517-420-4448)
• Middle School Contact: Pastor Scott Marsh (517-279-8402)
• Email for both elementary and middle school: wwelementary1@graceoutside.org

• Host and facilitate Grand Camp and Teddy Bear Camp
• 2026 Dates: June 28-July 1, 2026
• Contact Kelley McKivitz, 989-534-6587 or email info@wesleywoodsmi.org 

• Host the UMC Urban Camp from Detroit. Welcome retreat opportunities for school, church, adult, and family groups.
• Continue to provide lifeguards for the pool and waterfront, as well as a lead archery for camps and retreats
• Provide scholarship funding for campers to attend one of the UMC camps email info@graceoutside.org

 We will operate seasonally from April through October and will be hiring a new Site Director (or director couple) to lead this next chapter with a focus on retreat and family camping ministry.  If interested in this position email info@graceoutside.org 

This transition has not come lightly. In recent years, Wesley Woods has faced significant financial pressures — declining youth camp numbers, increasing scholarship needs, and challenges securing sustainable outside funding. We believe this new model allows us to steward the camp wisely, operate with fewer staffing demands, and create broader opportunities for partnership and impact.  Most importantly, it allows Wesley Woods to remain open — not just for today, but for future generations.

We believe God is not finished with this place. In fact, we believe this shift opens new doors: more families growing together in faith, more churches hosting transformative retreats, more communities gathering in God’s creation to build disciples of Jesus Christ.

Wesley Woods has always been about more than programs. it is about sacred encounters and this new path allows this to continue.

Thank you for walking with us into this new season. Your prayers, support, and belief in this ministry matter more than ever.

With hope and expectation,

Erik Bengston, Interim Site Director

Stuart Smith, MAUMC Board Liaison

Wesley Woods Camp & Retreat

269-721-8291

info@wesleywoodsmi.org

Let’s G.O. — Grace Outside

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