A Legacy of Faith: The Story of SpringHill

From Humble Beginnings to Generational Impact

How a simple vision turned into a movement of faith and fun.

The History of SpringHill: A Legacy of Faith and Transformation

For over five decades, SpringHill has been a place where kids, young adults, and families encounter Jesus, grow in their faith, and build lifelong relationships. From its humble beginnings to its expansive reach today, SpringHill’s story is one of innovation, faith, and unwavering commitment to sharing the Gospel.

The Visionary Beginning: Enoch Olson and the Birth of SpringHill

In 1969, a group of evangelical churches in Michigan sought to establish a camp dedicated to shaping young lives for Christ. They found the perfect property in Evart, Michigan, and hired a young pastor, Enoch Olson, as the first executive director.

Enoch, who grew up attending Rainbow Bible Camp, brought a revolutionary approach to camp ministry—one that emphasized personal relationships, small group discipleship, and faith-infused fun.

Under Enoch’s leadership, SpringHill’s philosophy of ministry was developed around six core principles:

The SpringHill Way

God Immersed

Recognizing that it is God through Christ who works to change the lives of young people, not our programming and planning.

Embracing

Being a welcoming place for all kinds of young people regardless of where they are spiritually, physically, emotionally, or socio-economically.

Innovative

Specifically designing our programs, facilities, and activities to be creative, relevant, fun, and challenging experiences that kids typically do not have available at home

Integrated

Making no distinction between faith and fun to help kids discover spiritual truth inside everyday experiences.

People

Inspired, trained, and professional staff and volunteers who fulfill our mission and vision in alignment with our core values.

Community-focused

Everything at SpringHill happens within small communities that facilitate and enhance relationship.

Expanding the Mission:

Launching Indiana in 2000

By the late 1990s, SpringHill had fine-tuned its approach and was ready to extend its reach. The leadership team, led by Mark and Lisa Olson, sought a location underserved by Christian camps, ultimately finding land in Seymour, Indiana. Chester and Linda Rust owned the property and had long hoped it would be used for Christian ministry. When SpringHill approached them, they enthusiastically embraced the vision.

By 2000, SpringHill Indiana launched its first summer, bringing the transformative SpringHill experience to more families. The Indiana campus mirrored the Michigan model, incorporating small-group communities, high-energy activities, and Christ-centered programming.

In the years that followed, SpringHill Indiana continued to grow, expanding its facilities and programming to accommodate more campers and deepen its impact. New adventure elements, such as zip lines, climbing walls, and water activities, were introduced to create an unforgettable experience while reinforcing spiritual lessons.

As more families and church groups discovered the life-changing power of SpringHill, the Indiana campus became a vibrant hub for faith, fun, and personal growth, carrying forward the mission to help kids and teens encounter Jesus in a dynamic and engaging way.

Beyond Overnight Camp

The Start of SpringHill Day Camps

In the early 2000s, SpringHill set an ambitious goal of reaching 260,000 people annually with its camp experiences. Leadership quickly realized that relying solely on overnight camps would not achieve this vision. After studying trends and family preferences, they discovered a growing demand for day camps, which allowed kids to enjoy camps close to home. However, SpringHill’s campuses were located far from major cities, making accessibility a unique challenge. They couldn’t rely on the traditional day camp model of bringing kids onsite during the day.

Inspired by Perimeter Church’s Camp All-American in Atlanta, which brought day camps to kids through local church partnerships, SpringHill launched its first Day Camp in 2006 at Oakland Christian School in Michigan. The response was overwhelming, and SpringHill rapidly expanded the program, partnering with churches across the Midwest.

By taking the SpringHill experience on the road, SpringHill reached thousands of children who might never have attended overnight camp. The success of Day Camps solidified SpringHill’s belief that SpringHill is not just a place—it’s an experience that can happen anywhere.

Each summer, our day camp program welcomes up to 18,000 campers across Michigan and Indiana.

Seasonal Retreats and Family Programs

Recognizing the need for faith-centered experiences beyond summer, SpringHill expanded into seasonal retreats. Over the years, SpringHill has introduced:

Women’s Retreats

Provides women of faith with rest, renewal, and encouragement. It’s a chance to love and serve the women behind the kids, our female staff, and all the women in our lives who give so selflessly.

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Winter Retreats

Serves over 4,000 kids from church and other youth groups in Michigan, focusing on middle and high school students. It features exciting winter activities with its snowmaking capabilities for guaranteed winter fun and an indoor pool for year-round adventure.

Family Retreats

Helping parents strengthen families as they engage in fun activities, biblical teaching, and intentional time together. They are a break from the busyness of life to grow closer to God and each other.

Michigan Family Retreats

Preteen Retreats

Gives kids a fun and faith-filled experience, providing a safe place where they can ask questions, deepen their understanding of God’s love, and be inspired to live out their faith.

Michigan Preteen Fall Retreat

These retreats align with SpringHill’s founding mission: supporting families in raising faith-centered kids.

Custom Church Retreats

Partnering for Ministry

One of SpringHill’s most impactful offerings is its custom retreats, designed for churches and other ministries and youth-focused organizations that want to create their own unique experiences. Through partnerships with churches, SpringHill provides:

Lodging – Comfortable accommodations for groups of all sizes.
Meals – Delicious, hassle-free dining options for guests.
Activities – Access to high-adventure elements, waterfront experiences, and team-building opportunities.
Facilities – Meeting spaces, worship areas, and recreational spaces tailored to church needs.

Churches, other ministries, and youth-focused organizations bring their worship teams, speakers, and programming while SpringHill handles the logistics. This allows ministry leaders to focus on deepening connections with their groups and fostering spiritual growth in a Christ-centered environment. This is a central way that SpringHill partners with the church to build faith formation for young people.

Where SpringHill is Going: The Next Chapter

As SpringHill looks ahead, its leadership is committed to expanding and adapting while staying true to its mission. Over the next five years, SpringHill will focus on:

Developing a multi-year ministry revitalization plan focused on discipleship, depth over breadth, simplify to multiply, and securing long-term financial stability.
Traditional summer camp programs – Helping kids experience God’s love, grow in their faith, and build relationships through adventure and Christ-centered community.
Family-Centered Programs – Equipping parents to nurture their children’s faith through expanded Family Camps and parent-child retreats.
Ministry Partnerships – Strengthening collaborations with churches and organizations to serve even more young people.
Leadership & Discipleship – Expanding programs that develop young Christian leaders, preparing them to impact the world for Christ.
Retreat Expansion – Introducing new retreats like Mother-Daughter and Father-Son weekends.
SpringHill remains committed to meeting the changing needs of families while staying faithful to its core mission: providing transformative, Christ-centered experiences that bring kids, young adults, and families closer to Jesus.
SpringHill’s story is still being written. From a single camp in Michigan to a movement that spans multiple states, thousands of lives have been changed—and the best is yet to come.