In 1894, George Gray became a "city missionary" in Chicago. In 1897, he visited Saugatuck to look for property that could be used as a camp. He wanted a place in the country where his Forward Movement Association could bring inner city children and mothers for respite. In 1899, he purchased property on Lake Michigan and the Forward Movement Park was dedicated. In the next 12 years, many cabins were built. After Mr. Gray's death, the camp was re-named Camp Gray.

In 1921 the camp was bought by the Church Extension Board of the Presbytery of Chicago and young people's retreats began. In 1934, the central part of the camp was renamed Westminster Lodge and the north end retained the name Camp Gray. Inner city children and church youngsters came to the north end and the Lodge was mainly for youth and adult retreats and individual rentals.

Just before the 1954 season, Swift Villa, the main building, burned down. It held the parlor, dining room, kitchen and rental rooms upstairs. A couple of the larger cabins were turned into kitchen/dining rooms and the camp hobbled on. Family Camps were begun and a new dining hall was constructed in 1965. All-weather cabins were built so the camp could begin winter retreats. Camp Kema, with tents and yurts, was added to the south end of camp. The camp continues, enfolding the new with the old, cared for by a Camp Oversight Committee, a staff, enlarged in the summertime, and volunteers.