Celebrating Ministry Impact Project Reports from 6 More Grant Recipients:
Lakeside, Gretna Glen, Lakeshore, Wesley Woods MI, Lake Lucerne, and Shoal Creek
This spring, the UMCRM Association had the joy of distributing $2.5 million in Ministry Impact Grants, funding 86 different United Methodist camp/retreat ministry projects with a focus on future sustainability.
Learn more about the 2022 Ministry Impact Grants
We continue to receive reports of completed projects and want to celebrate the vision, hope, and expanded ministry reach represented in these stories. Congratulations to these centers that successfully accomplished their grant-funded improvements. New opportunities have opened for each of these sites to meet the needs of current and future generations of campers and guests.
Camp Lakeside (Great Plains, KS)
Lakeside was able to replace 60 mattresses that had been in use for over 15 years, some longer. This gift enabled them to provide a cleaner, more comfortable experience for guests and campers. Some cabins were able to be reopened this season now that they had fresh new mattresses.
Gretna Glen (Eastern PA)
The grant funded an adaptive kayak launch for the lake. Campers and guests who have limited mobility or who use wheelchairs can now kayak at Greta Glen. One camp friend who is now in her 40s had not boated since she was in her teens due to the progression of her muscular dystrophy. Having her be able to get safely into the front of a double kayak and paddle others around was an overwhelming feeling for her and for the camp staff. What a blessing; the impacts will just keep rippling out.
Lakeshore (TN) 
Lakeshore Camp and Retreat Center undertook extensive Property Safety and Erosion Control Projects with their grant funding. The improvements included trenching, a culvert, and a new bridge, improving the safety and sustainability of the site.
Wesley Woods (MI)
The grant funding helped to build 5 new RV sites with electrical hookups, allowing Wesley Woods to host NOMADS volunteers. It was a multi-step process including leveling the site, digging a well, installing a new transformer, and laying gravel. 
The NOMADS are a tremendous asset to this site that has extensive deferred maintenance needs. In this first year alone, they were able to rebuild a safe walkway to the retreat center, repair several buildings, and build two sets of stairs. It’s exciting to think of the potential for these and other RV volunteer groups to have a home base to return to at Wesley Woods, helping the camp meet its mission to be a place of renewal that grows disciples of Jesus Christ.
Lake Lucerne (WI)
Lake Lucerne added three new elements to their high ropes course: Postman's Walk, Multivines, and Wobble Log, offering campers the ability to select their preferred level of difficulty while traversing. Challenge choices include holding on to a rope at all times, holding on to a rope part of the time, or walking across without holding on. In addition to the elements, a secondary implementation occurred through the belay team needed to facilitate the activities. In the past, Lake Lucerne operated the high ropes course through a two-person team (climber and belayer). With implementing traversing elements, a minimum of 5 people were needed for the belay team (climber, belayer, spotter, back up belay, and rope tender).
Almost half of 2022 climbers were first-time campers to Lake Lucerne, having never seen the course before, while the returning campers were able to experience something new. During camper debrief, campers discussed personal outcomes met while climbing the traversing elements. Talking points included: being able to better discern within themselves what risks they are comfortable taking; recognizing when an element was too challenging, but being able to try a different element and succeed; how important it is that even if you are not the sole focus (the climber), you can still be have an impact on the team that supports the person in the air.
Three new guest groups came to camp this year especially because of the ropes course, including the Wisconsin National Guard Children and Youth, new partners for whom the new ropes course elements help to serve program goals.
Shoal Creek (AR)
“The Impact Grant is the biggest gift our little camp has ever received!” The new “fancy-like” metal bunk beds replaced rusty, worn-out old army beds, increasing camper capacity by 20%. Campers enjoyed having “bunkmates” for the first time, and the camp was thrilled to be able to host its largest-ever guest group this fall. It was a challenge to get all of the beds assembled before camp started this summer, but many volunteers helped to make it happen.
