Our History

 

The Dream

Wesley Woods Camp, located in Clark County, Kentucky was founded by French W. Rickard in 1976. Mr. Rickard founded Wesley Woods Camp in 1976 following the tragic deaths of three Clark County teenagers. He felt that the community should provide a Christian recreational center for the youth of the community. 

The Challenge 

Mr. Rickard challenged the congregation of Winchester First United Methodist Church to help create and develop a first class camping facility that would offer a retreat for enjoyment and spiritual growth.

Mr. Richard donated fifty acres of land in eastern Clark County and provided the leadership to  transform a beautiful, rugged and undeveloped area into a fully equipped camp for children, families, and church groups. 

Because of the efforts of Winchester First United Methodist Church, Trinity United Methodist Church, corporations, and friends of French Rickard, Wesley Woods Camp is now a living testimony to a dream made reality by this Christian gentleman.

The Mission

Wesley Woods Camp is owned by the Wesley Woods Foundation, established in 1976. The Wesley Woods Foundation is responsible for maintaining and improving the camp facility.

Mr. Rickard endowed the Wesley Woods Foundation with funds to be used for these purposes and for the employing of a full-time, on-site manager who maintains and improves the camp grounds and schedules groups who rent the camp each year.

For over twenty years, Winchester First United Methodist Church has used Wesley Woods Camp to provide Christian camping opportunities for youth in Clark and surrounding counties. Scholarships have been made available for many children who would otherwise not be able to attend the camps.