Wonderland Camp

Overview

Wonderland Camp and Conference Center is one of The Salvation Army’s central ministry sites, serving youth, families, and retreat groups from across the Midwest. The property holds decades of history and offers a wide range of programs, yet leadership recognized the need for a long-term plan that could guide growth while honoring the camp’s mission and identity.

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When Kaleidoscope joined the project, leaders were balancing several priorities at once. Facilities ranged from aging cabins to newer structures, some areas of the property were underused, and the team needed a clear way to match available amenities with the audiences they hoped to serve. At the same time, The Salvation Army’s broader organizational values needed to be reflected in every decision.

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Kaleidoscope partnered with the team to develop a master site plan that strengthened capacity, improved guest experience, and created a pathway for future investment.

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The Challenge

Wonderland had reached a point where growth required more intentional planning. Leaders needed clarity on:

• Which facilities could be renewed, replaced, or reconfigured for better use.
• How to add new lodging, particularly cabins, without disrupting the character of the site.
• How to support the increasing number of programs and retreat groups.
• How to balance long-standing traditions with modern expectations for comfort, accessibility, and flexibility.
• How to connect current upgrades with a unified long-term vision.

Several improvement projects were already in motion, which meant the plan had to integrate previous investments while establishing clear priorities for what was needed next.

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Our Approach

Kaleidoscope began with a full assessment of how people moved through and experienced the site. This included:

• Reviewing seasonal and year-round usage across all facilities.
• Identifying audience segments and the specific amenities needed for each group.
• Walking the property with staff to understand program flow and logistical challenges.
• Evaluating aging structures and recommending which spaces should be renewed or replaced.
• Mapping circulation and access issues to improve efficiency and guest comfort.

Kaleidoscope remained closely connected with leadership throughout the process, ensuring that new ideas aligned with The Salvation Army’s mission and the practical realities of operating a large, multi-use property.

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The Plan

The final master site plan provided clear direction for how Wonderland could evolve in ways that improved capacity and protected the character of the camp.

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Key components included:

• New cabin designs that increased capacity and improved comfort for campers and guests.
• Recommendations for replacing or repurposing aging facilities.
• Circulation improvements that made it easier to move between key program areas.
• A plan for better distribution of lodging, meeting spaces, and activity areas.
• Guidance for sequencing projects in a way that made progress achievable and fundable.

The plan unified existing ideas and introduced new strategies to improve long-term flexibility and accessibility.

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Outcomes

The master site plan has already shaped several improvements across the property.

• Cabin replacement and related upgrades are underway.
• Leaders now have a clearer, prioritized plan for future development.
• The camp’s capacity for serving multiple audiences has improved.
• The guest experience has strengthened through better flow and more appropriate facilities.
• The plan has provided a foundation for fundraising conversations and long-term investment decisions.

Leadership reports that the plan has helped them communicate goals more clearly, especially when explaining why certain projects matter for the future of the ministry.

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Reflection

This project gave Wonderland a practical, mission-centered framework for guiding the next season of growth. The plan continues to support confident decision making, strengthens alignment across leadership, and helps the camp prepare for a future that honors its history and serves guests with greater quality and intention.