Retreat Center Development & Construction Plan
Our current plan for the Retreat Center was developed over several years by the 
Retreat Center Building Committee and with the expertise of Richmond Architects 
from Traverse City, Michigan. This process started by brainstorming what a Retreat 
Center should be for ministry and also how this building would operate in conjunction 
with our current meeting, dining, and lodging spaces.

Ken Richmond and Fred Bartlett have provided the Retreat Center design. Building 
engineer Gary Nealis, and construction manager Bill Pollard are in charge of 
building operations.Phil Wielenga and Doug Brush are part of the Retreat Center 
Building Committee.



Retreat Center Uses
Church Youth Groups 
Adventure Course Day-Retreats
Men's and Women's Retreats
U.P.-wide Conferences
Pastors Conferences
Marriage Seminars
Parent-Child Weekends
Church Leadership Planning Sessions
Outdoor Education for
Public/Private School Groups
Sports & Activity-based Outreach
Expanded Kids Camps
Additional Trail Camps
Winter Activities & Retreats


The Retreat Center
The Center is a large complex of interconnected buildings that would be built in
four Phases. This strategy will make the Retreat Center fully-functional for ministry
after Phase 1, with room to expand meeting and lodging space in the future.

The estimated cost to build all four Phases is $2.2 million. These estimates are 
reduced by the value of volunteer labor, so that the estimated cost to build Phase 1 
with volunteer help is $853,000. Our immediate goal is to raise $640,000, 75% of the 
$853,000 needed for Phase 1.



Our Mission 
The mission of Upper Peninsula Bible Camp is "To introduce people to Jesus Christ 
and to encourage them to grow more like Him through a camping and outdoor 
experience." This mission remains our primary goal as we focus on: 

1. The development of local ministries. 
2. UPBC-programmed retreats to support believers & churches. 
3. Support of churches by hosting their group & program. 
4. UPBC-programmed outreach through retreats and events.          
5. Outreach by hosting non-church retreats. 


History
Cameron and Midge MacArthur were missionaries to the Upper Peninsula, and over 
the years, a number of people from the Camp family have also lived here to minister 
during the Camp off-season. God has recently called a new group of Camp folks to 
minister year-round in the Upper Peninsula.


Biblical Mandate
Jesus said to go and make disciples in all the world. God has called us to evangelism 
and discipleship in the U.P. part of the world.


Facilities and Location
Many visitors have said our buildings and grounds are top notch. We have been 
blessed with a great location in the center of the U.P. But our wonderful facilities 
have only been used 1/6 th of each year.


The Need
As in other areas, drug abuse, physical abuse, and depression are widespread in the 
Upper Peninsula. Broken families are extremely common. The U.P. is a place that 
sorely needs healing found only in Jesus Christ.


God is already working in the U.P.
There have been wide-open doors for ministry with youth. Several schools have shown 
a surprising openness to Christian workers. And God has done miracles to meet our 
needs for employment and housing that have confirmed His desire for us to be here 
now and into the future.


Volunteers Needed
Many of Camp's existing summer facilities were built by UPBC volunteers, dramatically
reducing construction costs. Likewise with the Retreat Center,we are forming work 
teams of volunteers who will be directed on-site by Bill Pollard. For more information
about how you can get involoved, visit the Volunteers Needed section of the Campaign
website.