about us

History & Mission

The Illinois Conference UCC Outdoor Ministry is a place of acceptance, diversity, and community which supports a journey of growth with reverence for our natural surroundings.

The Spanish Flu pandemic in the United States ended in 1919. By November of 1923, Tower Hill Camp in Sawyer, Michigan was born with the express purpose of providing a place of rest, comfort, and recreation. Placed near the shores of Lake Michigan and designed for housing ministers and children connected with the mission of what is now the Illinois Conference of the United Church of Christ. In 2023, we celebrate our 100th year in offering campers our wooded splendor.

A century ago, our ancestors came out of a pandemic knowing that places of rest, comfort, and recreation would be vital to the health and well-being of our church leaders and of our young people. With your help, we can continue to be a place where leaders, youth, and families can have their spirits renewed and refreshed.

staff

Jeri is the friendly voice and smiling face of Tower Hill. She keeps track of all our family, youth and group reservations.

Chrissy and Laurie are responsible for the fresh, clean facilities that greet you when you arrive.

Larry cares for our buildings and grounds, keeping everything in good repair and coming up with wonderful updates.

Larry, Jeri, Tracy, Laurie, and Chrissy

Rev. Tracy Heilman is on the staff of the Illinois Conference of the UCC, as the Site Director of Tower Hill Camp and Retreat Center, in Sawyer, MI. She brings 25 years of experience as a Children, Youth and Family Minister in Oklahoma, New Hampshire, Illinois, and as a solo pastor in Montana, where she was also the Conference Moderator.

Tracy’s vision for ministry is to read our sacred stories as though they are alive, and our lives as sacred stories. Her passion, as a middle child, is bringing people with different opinions and perspectives together to solve the problems facing our communities.

After coming to Tower Hill for family retreats for many years, Tracy is excited to be called to this sacred place. Now more than ever, we need outdoor spaces where we can intentionally listen for the voice of God, where we can bathe in the goodness of God's creation, where we can sense the Spirit hovering over the waters.

Tracy and her family

Support us

If you have a particular project or piece of equipment that you would like to help with or donate to Tower Hill, contact our office and we’ll work with you to achieve that goal. We have many needs and we appreciate and depend on your support to achieve these goals. Designated Gifts have been used for small & large projects. Tower Hill has used designated gifts to replace bedding, paint buildings and remodel bath houses in the Pines.
Tower Hill has a scholarship fund that assists youth and adults. Scholarships are available for our UCC Camps and Retreats, UCC Church Confirmation Groups, UCC Intergenerational or Family Camps.
Century Club is designed for individuals, churches and organizations that want to donate $100 a year for 5 years to Tower Hill. These funds are for special projects such as building the climbing wall at Tower Hill and various equipment needs on site. All you have to do to be a member is commit to donating and call Tara at 815-447-2390. Century Club Members are listed on a plaque in the Tower Hill Dining Hall.
The most important thing any of you can do to keep the camp operational is to come and use us. Tower Hill is open year round and offers many unique opportunities for retreats, family escapes, youth enrichment and spiritual transformation. Call Tower Hill and see if we can help you with your next adventure.
Deer Creek Open Spaces began a 3 year capital campaign in July 2013 to raise $525,000 to place 25-30 acres of Tower Hill Camp into a Conservation Easement. We celebrated the completion of this campaign in October 2015. The Tower Hill Woods is now an open space with wooded trails for hiking, exploring, birding and educational opportunities. The acreage also includes God’s Mailbox and benches throughout for rest and meditation.
Tower Hill has many physical needs and our site has a wish list. While we appreciate all the offers people make, we want to make sure we only accept things we will use. Please contact our office if you have something you would like to donate. We gladly accept new or gently used items from our wish list.