Overview
Camp Wesley Pines has served children, youth, and congregations across Mississippi for more than sixty years. As the camp looked ahead, leaders wanted to understand how their ministry could stay relevant, expand its reach, and better meet the needs of the churches and families they serve. They were also eager to evaluate how each program model contributed to the mission and where the greatest opportunities for growth existed.
Kaleidoscope partnered with Wesley Pines to complete a comprehensive assessment and strategic planning process. The goal was to help leadership see the camp’s current reality clearly, understand how it compared to industry best practices, and create a path toward long-term sustainability.
The Challenge
Wesley Pines entered the process with thoughtful questions about its future. Leaders wanted clarity on how to:
- Shape the ministry for the next generation while honoring its long history.
- Evaluate growth potential in summer camp, hosted retreats, and directed retreats.
- Understand how programs aligned with broader industry standards.
- Respond to the needs of United Methodist churches and surrounding communities.
- Explore new markets or operational models that could strengthen impact.
- Outline specific steps for increasing utilization and building a sustainable operation.
They needed a structured way to sort through these questions and identify the right priorities for mission and growth.
Our Approach
Kaleidoscope guided Wesley Pines through a three-workshop process that created shared understanding, explored options, and led to clear decisions.
Workshop One: Building Common Understanding
We began by reviewing how the camp operated, how programs performed, and how the site and staffing supported current activity. This gave the leadership team a unified picture of their strengths and the areas that needed attention.
Workshop Two: Shaping Choices
In this stage, often called the messy middle, we brought all possibilities to the table. The team explored ideas with imagination and honesty, weighing creative visions against practical realities. This helped identify what Wesley Pines could reasonably pursue and what would have the greatest impact.
Workshop Three: Making Decisions
The final workshop focused on clarity. Leaders confirmed their priorities, set direction for program and facility needs, and agreed on the steps required to carry the ministry forward.
At the end of the process, Wesley Pines received a full report and board presentation summarizing findings, recommendations, and the plan for future growth.
The Plan
The Strategic Plan provided Wesley Pines with:
- A clearly defined program identity rooted in mission and community needs.
- Priorities for strengthening summer camp and retreat models.
- Guidance on staffing, operations, and guest experience improvements.
- Recommendations for increasing year-round utilization.
- A roadmap that could be communicated to board members, donors, and churches.
The plan gave leaders the language, data, and direction they needed to communicate a compelling vision for the future.
Outcomes
The impact of the plan has been significant.
Program and community outcomes:
- Increased number and diversity of groups using the site throughout the year.
- A stronger summer camp program, leading to more consistent and positive camper experiences.
- Greater clarity among staff about purpose, vision, and daily priorities.
Organizational outcomes:
- More effective fundraising, including the largest gift in the history of Wesley Pines.
- A shared understanding among staff and board of how the camp can best serve children and families.
- A clearer and stronger way to articulate the camp’s mission to supporters and partners.
Reflection
This project helped Wesley Pines reconnect its long history with a clear and hopeful future. The Strategic Plan provided direction, alignment, and confidence, giving the organization a foundation to grow its impact and strengthen its ministry for years to come.
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