 In the late 1940's the Christian Education Committee of the Synod of Michigan began to look for a site that would become a camp for the Synod. In 1950 they put a down payment on a piece of land in Northwest Kent County. The purchase price for approximately 250 acres of land with frontage of four of a chain of five lakes was $60,000. This land had been operating at "Woodbeck Landing Resort" for approximately 5 years before being purchased. The camp office, Northside, and possibly Hayes Point are the only original buildings still standing. |
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During the 1950's and 1960's the philosophy of camping changed. For Junior High students, North Point was developed for small group camping. This small group camping occurred on the North side of MacClain road in three sites known as Ridge, Forest and Jungle. On the South side of MacClain there were also camps. This was larger group camping for 5th and 6th graders and used primarily a Sunday School model, adapted for outdoor use. |
| By 1973 the future of Camp Greenwood
was uncertain. The Presbyterian Church had reorganized and the new Synod
of the Covenant now was comprised of the former Synods of Michigan, Ohio,
and Kentucky. This new Synod decided that because of a new model of operating,
and declining use at Camp Greenwood, that Camp Greenwood be sold. At this
point the Presbytery of Lake Michigan started to look at Camp Greenwood
as a possible site for a Presbytery camping experience.
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In 1985 interest in the camp was high,
and much work was being done. A part time administrator, Annette Shauver
was hired by Camp Greenwood. She lived in Lansing during the year, and moved
into the Embudo cabin during the summer. Camp programs continued to grow
and off season use increased.
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| 1986 brought a major change to Camp
Greenwood. The old Quonset hut that stood where cabin #2 now stands was
hit by lightning on a Thursday night (one night before it was to be used).
It burned to the ground, and was quickly replaced by a new wood frame cabin.
The Presbytery now realized the potential of new cabins at Camp Greenwood
and set up a capitol funds campaign to raise $250,000. Looking toward a
year round facility, several of the new cabins were equipped with heaters,
the dining hall and Embudo were renovated, and major work was done to the
electrical system and water system.
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By 1988 the Presbytery realized that
with the increased year round use there was a need for a full time, year
round director at Camp Greenwood. Rev. Richard Mahlmann came to Camp Greenwood
as the "Associate for Camp Greenwood" in October 1988 and the
Retreat Center was converted back to a Director's house. During this time,
Camp Greenwood was accredited by the American Camping Association, a large
accomplishment which would not have been possible before that time.
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| One of the first priorities when the land was acquired was to plant trees. Most of the trees had been cut down before the land was purchased. In the early 1950's literally thousands of pine seedlings were planted. The name Greenwood was chosen as a combination between Greenville (the nearest town) and Woodbeck (the lake that most of the camp is on). It was also a wish that someday Greenwood would also describe the land where the camp is located. |
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On January 1, 1975, the title to Camp Greenwood was transferred from the Synod of the Covenant to the Presbytery of Lake Michigan. In the following two years, there were two part time caretakers, and much discussion about what to do with the camp. In 1977 the Director's house was renovated and converted into a year round retreat center. Groups and churches from around the Presbytery took on the task of the rest of the camp, repairing those buildings which could be repaired and tearing down those that could not. |
