Future uses of this resource should respect dune formations, valuable habitat, and protection of the Lake and river water quality from degradation by development.

We hope as you move forward with your decisions concerning this property, you recognize the camp as a finite resource and not just a commodity. Land ownership implies responsibilities of stewardship. We wish to recognize your past efforts as a member of our community, and hope your future plans include continued good stewardship and adherence to local planning and zoning.

Respectfully yours,

Ellen Leik, President
Suzanne Dixon, Natural Resources
League of Women Voters of the Holland Area

I wish could be with you today, and appreciate being able to send this message to you concerning the Presbyterian Camps at Saugatuck through Stewart. For more than 100 years the Camps have provided a natural sanctuary and welcoming place for families and children to relax and learn and enjoy God’s exquisite gifts. This place has played an important part in the lives of many Presbyterians over  the years. It is a place of great importance to the Presbytery of Chicago, the General Assembly  Mission Council of the PCUSA and to me personally.   

For a number of years my family attended family camp with Fourth Presbyterian Church on Columbus Day weekends. Now that our kids are grown, Chris and I look back fondly on how the beauty of the place and the God inspired moments of family time spent together, helped shape our children and create lasting memories and friendships.  Exploring the dunes, playing games on the beach, picking apples, and worshiping on the breath taking shore of Lake Michigan – these are treasured days and times. 

Today, Lakeshore Christian Camping, with the approval of the Chicago Presbytery, is working toward raising the funds to buy the Camp.  This will take the efforts of many of us, and the General Assembly Mission Council of the PC(USA) will be actively engaged with you.  We are pleased that Lakeshore has engaged Church Financial Campaign Services (CFCS) – namely Bob Kukla and Annette Shoemaker – to help with the fundraising portion of this process. And, I know that they need your help.   

Several years ago, the Chicago Presbytery created a DVD titled – “Together We Can Do More”.  In that spirit, preserving the camps requires the participation of every church in the Presbytery, along with the national presence of the PCUSA.  The General Assembly Mission Council is with you in bringing this vision to life.  We hope that we can count on all of you as well.   

Yours in Christ,  

Linda B. Valentine

Executive Director

At camp, when children make new friends, explore the world around them, and learn that “I can” is much more powerful than “I can’t”, magic happens. In an environment created just for them, children learn real life skills, develop self-esteem, and gain a sense of independence and community. Whether children are playing, exploring nature, conquering new heights, or becoming part of a camp family, they are creating memories that will last a lifetime.

Camp provides children with the opportunity to connect with nature, to participate in human powered activities, and to benefit from personal and primary relationships. Because of Camp…® so much is possible.

HAVE YOU MADE YOUR PLANS FOR THE SUMMER?  The Church Extension Board announces the acquisition of Camp Gray, the Forward Movement Camp at Saugatuck, Mich.  The tract comprises 143 acres of improved woodland along the shore of Lake Michigan, with modern hotel and other buildings, affording an opportunity for a pleasant vacation at reasonable cost for individuals or parties.

Then on June 19, 1921:

CAMP GRAY TO BE RE-DEDICATED.  Camp Gray is located at Saugatuck, Mich., and is a quiet, reasonably priced summer resort for Presbyterians.  A special trip is planned for Monday, June 20, leaving by boat on the Graham & Morton Line from Wabash Ave. pier at 10 o’clock p.m. daylight saving time, and returning on Tuesday evening.  A half fare rate of $3.23 for the round trip has been secured; children under 12 years $1.62.  Appropriate services will take place on the 21st.  The Committee has also arranged for a program of sports.  For further information call the church office.

HAVE YOU MADE YOUR PLANS FOR THE SUMMER?  The Church Extension Board announces the acquisition of Camp Gray, the Forward Movement Camp at Saugatuck, Mich.  The tract comprises 143 acres of improved woodland along the shore of Lake Michigan, with modern hotel and other buildings, affording an opportunity for a pleasant vacation at reasonable cost for individuals or parties.

Then on June 19, 1921:

CAMP GRAY TO BE RE-DEDICATED.  Camp Gray is located at Saugatuck, Mich., and is a quiet, reasonably priced summer resort for Presbyterians.  A special trip is planned for Monday, June 20, leaving by boat on the Graham & Morton Line from Wabash Ave. pier at 10 o’clock p.m. daylight saving time, and returning on Tuesday evening.  A half fare rate of $3.23 for the round trip has been secured; children under 12 years $1.62.  Appropriate services will take place on the 21st.  The Committee has also arranged for a program of sports.  For further information call the church office.

I am very excited about the proposal of Lakeshore Christian Camping (LCC) to save, restore, and enhance Presbyterian Camps in Western Michigan.  Their vision is especially compelling because the LCC represents both lay and ordained Presbyterians working creatively to provide ministry with young people that is vital for our denomination and the ministries of local congregations.  As you may know, Presbyterians have been in a rapid state of decline. According to the statistics published on the PC(USA) website, “Between 1983 and 2008, the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) had a net loss of almost 1,000,000 members, dropping from 3,131,228 to 2,140,165. In relative terms, the net loss was 31.6%.”  Moreover, this rapid decline is accelerating: “The greatest numerical and percentage losses are for 2008 (69,381; 3.1%), followed by 2007 (57,572; 2.5%). Indeed, the six greatest percentage declines (and five of the six largest numerical declines) took place from 2003 to 2008.” The reason we are in such dramatic decline is due in great measure to the fact that young people are absent from our churches. For every one Presbyterian worshiper under the age of 25, there are six over the age of 65.  We have lost an entire generation. 

Lakeshore Christian Camping (LCC) is a very bright star in this dark sky.  Theirs is rallying cry around the importance of working with and for our young people through camping ministry.  Their goal is not only to save Presbyterian Camps, but to improve dramatically the facilities. They have a clear and extensive plan for this and the financial resources to make it happen.  I confess that even as a youth director working in the Presbytery of Chicago, I had heard about but had not taken the time to learn of the extraordinary resource of Presbyterian Camps.  This changed dramatically when I actually went to Presbyterian Camps and spent time there with high school and college students. That’s when Presbyterian Camps stopped being an ‘idea’ or ‘possibility’ and started playing a real and vital role in my ministry with both young people and adults. I suspect that like me, many pastors and youth leaders know of Presbyterian camps, but they are unaware of the ways it can be a resource for them especially with young people.

In my work at Princeton Theological Seminary, where I administer a large grant from the Lilly Endowment at the Institute for Youth Ministry, I am privileged to work with pastors and youth leaders throughout the U.S. and Canada and provide them with training and valuable resources.   In my view, the vision for Presbyterian Camps that has been developed by the LCC is a both tremendous resource and opportunity for congregations who are committed to working with youth and young adults — congregations who have a passion for reaching the lost generation.  If you are a pastor, youth director, or lay youth leader in the Presbytery of Chicago who has a passion for what is possible with young people, I invite you to call me directly.  I would love to learn about your ministry and explore practical ways of supporting the essential work you are doing including ways the LCC’s vision for Presbyterian Camps could support you.  The vision of the LCC comes from Presbyterians, it is for Presbyterians, and it actively seeks partnership with local congregations to reach out for the good of our congregations and especially our young people.  It is an opportunity we cannot afford to lose.

Sincerely,

Chanon Ross

Institute for Youth Ministry

Princeton Theological Seminary

Thank you for doing so much for Presbyterian Camps. I have been a family camper since 1979 and worked on summer staff for the summers of 1989, 1992, 1993 and 1994 and volunteered during the summers of 1995 and 1996. I met my wife, Jennifer Kobylecky, while working as the camp naturalist the summer of 1993. Needless to say Presbyterian Camps of Saugatuck is very important to me and my wife. In fact, it changed my life. Ever since the summer of 1989 I realized there was more to life than money. The sense of community and purpose I have felt at Presbyterian Camps caused me to change my plan to go into money-making ventures and instead devote my life to service. In addition to my service at Presbyterian Camps I have worked at five other camps and have worked at camps most of my adult life. That said my wife and I would like offer any help we can in this unsure time for Presbyterian Camps. I have already written and sent letters of support; you may certainly use this letter as well. In addition to financial support my wife and I plan to pledge we also would like to offer our combined 25 years of experience in the camp and conference center field if the Presbytery of Chicago makes the right decision and decides the camp should stay a camp. I have many years of experience working in small and large camps and have helped guide some of these camps through some issues similar to those facing Presbyterian Camps such as rebranding, building visitorship, and increasing off season usage. Feel free to contact us by email, phone or USPS if there is any way we can be of service or provide guidance or counsel.

Sincerely,

Toby Grabs and Jennifer Kobylecky