Windermere Baptist Conference Center

"We have camped thousands of places and your facilities were the cleanest by far. No cave we have ever been to has even compared to yours. We were very impressed. And your staff was very caring and their availability was great. We had a great time and can't wait to come back."

Boy Scout Troop #83

It was the spring of 1984 ­­when the RV Park was first opened. We came down Friday to Windermere the very first weekend it was open. We set up our popup camper. We fixed our supper and were enjoying Windermere. We had checked out the cave, returning to the camper it was dark outside and both our children were outside checking things out. I think my son was 6, at the time. I was just coming out of the camper to check on my children, when my daughter 4, yelled at him to STOP! I looked down at the bath house and he was chasing and trying to catch this pretty striped cat. I quickly ran to catch him and fortunately he had stopped when my daughter yelled. He was within a couple of feet from the skunk. Luckily the skunk didn't feel threatened or just realized how dumb our son was. If he had caught the skunk he would have been sleeping outside while we would have been in the camper. Oh, also it could be that God looks after people and children who are at Windermere.

- Warren Livingston

"My favorite memory of Windermere would be going there every summer,and it was always SO MUCH FUN!!!!!!! because I had one brother and two sisters and my brother would always stay in a separate tent. When we were going to Windermere we would get our own big bag of candy and me and my brother would stay up and play games and trade candy. But all of that is going to change soon because my favorite memory is going to be my sister getting married in July. I really can't wait to come back we haven't gone in a couple of years because we moved to Florida but I can't wait to come back!!"

- Nathan Schmied

Positive feedback - where do I begin !
Staff - absolutely INCREDIBLE
Housekeeping - absolutely INCREDIBLE (very pleasant, professional, accommodating)
Up front prep (had table and chairs brought in for the cabins) - absolutely INCREDIBLE
Check in/out process - absolutely INCREDIBLE

-The food was excellent, as usual.
-We loved the homey feel of the conference room and the fact it was directly across the hallway from our rooms. The kitchen area was so nice—we really appreciated being able to bring our own snacks and soft drinks. We felt we had our own conference center since we were off by ourselves.
-The young man who helped set up our AV equipment was very nice and more than willing to help.
-We had some issues with a heater in a room but your maintenance staff bent over backwards to take care of the problem.
-One of your ladies also provided us with a coffee pot, which we greatly appreciated.

I wanted to pass along that our trip to Windermere far exceeded our expectations. The family cabin was great, the towel service and housekeeping were a pleasant surprise, the grounds and facilities were wonderful, and the EDGE was fantastic. The staff at the EDGE were so great. They worked so well with our youth and the youth were able to accomplish so much and feel so good about themselves. Thanks so much for everything. I am sure we will be back again.

Vickie Linch
Youth Director
North Cross United Methodist Church

Larry Skaggs, Windermere Board of Trustees

I came to Windermere the first time in 1964 as part of the Baptist Student Union of Mineral Area College. Windermere had just rock cabins and the sanctuary; no challenge courses or zip lines, but that was enough. I look across the cove and it could be 1964 again. Being at Windermere as a 19-year-old young person was a defining moment for me. I remember listening to a sermon by Dr. Frank Kellogg. I can't recall exactly the message, but I remember well that he was speaking to the heart of a 19-year-old young man that was having a lot of opportunities to veer off the path. I had grown up in a church family, had 13 of the brass pins for perfect attendance - talk about geeky - and I wore those to the picture show. But I was still having an opportunity to get off the path. When I teach our sixth grade Sunday School kids, I talk to them about setting a compass and getting one degree off when you are heading west for Kansas City or the West Coast. One degree doesn't sound like much, but it is enough to put you way off course from where you are headed. Being at Windermere and listening to Dr. Frank Kellogg was like putting my feet back on the right course. What a good thing that has been, kind of like Jeremiah 29:11. For I know the plan I have for you...

One of the other things I tell our sixth grade class is once you have made that one enormous decision to follow Jesus Christ, all the other decisions are small after that. I don't think that I have been required to make many big decisions. After that first really large one, they've all seemed like the next logical step. For I know the plan I have for you...

While living away in Nashville and Dallas, we came back in the summer time for vacation with Edie's family of brothers and sister. Windermere was a a special time and place for us. It was evident that God lives here. It provided such a great atmosphere for us to come back to. For I know the plan I have for you...

I believe Jer. 29:11 is good for all of us and that verse has applications to Windermere. Are there challenges? Yes, there will always be challenges. The most important thing is that God is with us. Just as long as there are people who will serve here in the many roles it takes, Windermere will be alive and here for a long, long time. I believe it will span many more generations, as it already has. Windermere will continue to bring people to make decisions for Christ, and it will continue to alter footsteps and put them back on the right course. And it can provide defining moments in the lives of many. For I know the plan I have for you...

Here are some recent comments people shared about their experience at Windermere Baptist Conference Center:

"I cannot begin to put into words the amazing works God did during this camp. ... I'm made new and whole because of my camp experience." -Alicia

"I went to camp not expecting anything too amazing. I thought more than anything it would be a fun trip to hang out with friends and focus on God. I was definitely blown away by the intense form worshipping became the first night alone. As surprising as this would sound under normal situations, I didn't really miss my cell phone or iPod very much other than the feeling of being unbalanced without them. Camp really helped me just forget about the world and all it's problems and just be with God." -Thomas

"I got more out of this camp in one week than I have my whole life put together and I'm loving what God is doing in my life. I'm just speechless, it's amazing!!!!!"
-Tyler

Here are some recent comments people shared about their experience at Windermere Baptist Conference Center:

"Our group had a very nice time. All of our people enjoyed themselves. It is a nice peaceful place to come. This year our camp meeting was on marriage. We had some couples come as a last ditch effort to save theirs. When they left they knew God would be with them and they stared making changes there. It was nice that they where able to walk in a beautiful setting for that helps calm the nerves. I wanted to share this with you for we feel your staff have a part in helping change lives for you help things go smoothly and you are helpful." -Cindy

"I have had nothing but positive feedback from students and many many parents as well. We recently earned a nice sum of money for cleaning the football stadium after home games and the kids voted to save it so we can pay for a return visit to The Edge in the spring! They want to see if they can improve on their team building skills which left a lot to be desired." -Robyn

Margaret Woolley

As Preschool/Children’s Consultant with the state Sunday School Department, I had the awesome responsibility to assist with many training sessions at Windermere (1973-1993). I was always amazed at the many positive comments from people who went away feeling excited and motivated to do more with their Bible teaching responsibilities in local churches.

The Children's Building, under the dedicated leadership of Marilyn Hall and a crew of experienced teachers from across the state, proved to be a lab school for the very best in teaching opportunities. So much so that we often let teachers-in-training observe, unseen, the very best of Bible teaching in action.

I know that lives are changed at Windermere. One of the most outstanding during my training years was a young man who taught children in his own church and volunteered to work in the Children’s Building. During Sunday School Week at Windermere, he felt God’s call upon his life. He dedicated his life to a full-time vocation in Children’s work. Several years later he became a Children's Consultant with the Baptist Sunday School Board (LifeWay), and had the opportunity to share in writing/teaching skills with Bible teachers across the Convention.

This is only one of many reasons that I know God has given leadership to the existence of Windermere Baptist Conference Center. It will continue to be a place where God works miracles in the lives of people of all ages.