Michindoh Conference Center
Spring Arbor University announces legacy gift from the Orville D. and Ruth A. Merillat Foundation
On June 1, 2009, Spring Arbor University became the recipient of Michindoh Conference Center, a legacy gift from the Orville D. and Ruth A. Merillat Foundation. This is the largest legacy gift Spring Arbor University has received in its 136 year history.
Located three miles outside of Hillsdale, Mich., and 35 miles from Spring Arbor University’s main campus, Michindoh has been conducting ministry, educational and family programming through conference services for nearly 100 years.
In 2008 alone, Michindoh Conference Center facilitated 50,000 campers with overnight lodging and activities, and hosted more than 7,000 school children at Michigan’s premier Outdoor Education School.
“We are so thankful to Mrs. Ruth Merillat and her late husband Orville Merillat for this most incredible and generous legacy gift,” says Webb. “The University’s mission matches well with Michindoh’s, which will help broaden the reach and strengthen the quality of our academic programs. With great anticipation, we look to this new partnership as we envision and prepare for the next century of continued educational and outreach services to communities locally, across Michigan, Indiana and Ohio, and around the world.”
According to Webb, Michindoh is a fully self-sufficient, successful business and Spring Arbor University plans to continue managing it in a similar manner as a Christian educational conference center and camping ministry. As allowed within the current structure, Spring Arbor University will use its facilities to provide the community with higher education resources, but plans are for Michindoh Conference Center to operate separately.
For several years, Michinidoh has utilized Spring Arbor University students and faculty expertise to provide the community with educational and outreach programs.
“Throughout the years, Michindoh’s relationship with Spring Arbor University has grown and continued to flourish. SAU's student body has been a constant source of excellent staff for our summer ministries. And Elderhostle, one of Michindoh's key educational programs for adults, was started by SAU many years ago and continues to thrive with the participation of University faculty,” says Jeff Knoll, chief operations officer and Spring Arbor University alumnus. “As we look to the future, I am excited about the opportunities and synergy created by this relationship.”
“The mutual partnership between Spring Arbor University and Michindoh Conference Center could not have been better designed,” says Cliff Miller, CEO of Michindoh Conference Center and adjunct professor in Spring Arbor University’s Master of Arts in Organizational Management program. “We are excited about the opportunities that will come from this partnership.”
Since 1873, Spring Arbor University has distinguished itself as the place where faith and learning meet. Spring Arbor University offers a Christ-centered education for students through traditional undergraduate programs, as well as nine degree completion programs and eight master’s programs.
The University’s main campus is located on 100 acres in Spring Arbor, but through 12 additional sites in Michigan and partnerships that expand into Ohio and SAUonline, students from around the globe may further their education in a variety of convenient locations. The University plans to expand its reach by opening six additional learning sites in 2009-10. All programs offered at Spring Arbor University are accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
About Michindoh
For almost 100 years, Michindoh Conference Center has been providing programs and tools for building youth, strengthening families and impacting the local community.
Positioned on 250 beautiful acres of rolling hills, wetlands, streams and a private spring-fed lake, Michindoh's property provides an ideal setting for Michigan's premier Outdoor Education School. The OES program serves more than 7,000 students annually from both public and private schools, providing customized educational programs that meet specific academic benchmarks in Michigan and Ohio.
Michindoh's modern conference facilities offer a professional environment in the peaceful setting of the great outdoors. Multiple meeting rooms for groups larger than 300, along with media-rich breakout rooms for smaller groups, allow Michindoh to serve groups of more than 500 and/or multiple smaller groups.
In addition, Michindoh offers numerous recreational options, including a multi-court indoor gym, a 320-square-foot waterslide, boating, high ropes course, team building activities, paintball course, sports courts, fishing, swimming and target sports. It also has its own program specialists, which make Michindoh the ideal place to develop youth retreat/camp ministries that produce dynamic life-changing ministries.
Michindoh also provides programs for the entire family, including summer camping experiences, and retreat getaways for families and adults.
Cliff Miller, chief operating officer for Michindoh, teaches in SAU’s School of Graduate and Professional Studies in the Master of Science in Management (MSM) degree program at a number of SAU's external sites.
To learn more about Michindoh Conference Center, visit www.michindoh.com or call 517.523.3616. For more information about Spring Arbor University, visit www.arbor.edu.