Churches, synagogues, parachurch groups, nonprofits, schools, scout and community groups, corporate teams, and family gatherings. You don't have to be a faith-based group to retreat here — everyone is welcome on this property.
Camp Wightman hosts groups year-round, outside of our summer camp season.
200 acres of woods and waterfront on Billings Lake in Griswold, CT — about an hour from Hartford, Providence, and New Haven. Your retreat can include:
Lodging in heated cabins and lodge space
Meeting and gathering spaces for worship, sessions, and workshops
Home-cooked meals served by our kitchen team
Outdoor program options — trails, campfires, fields, and seasonal waterfront activities
Quiet. Actual quiet. No traffic, no fluorescent conference rooms.
Step away. Slow down. Reconnect with God, community, and creation.
Retreats run year-round — fall, winter, and spring weekends are our most popular, and weekday retreats are often available with more flexibility. Summer availability is limited around our camp season. Popular weekends book months ahead, so reach out early.
We host groups from small leadership teams to large multi-church gatherings. Capacity depends on the season and the lodging configuration your group needs. Tell us your estimated count and dates, and we'll tell you what's possible. It is easiest to start with our online Inquiry Form.
Pricing is based on your group size, length of stay, lodging, and number of meals, plus any optional add-ons like waterfront activities. Every group receives a written quote before signing anything — no surprises.
When you book, your guaranteed minimum is set at 80% of your estimated headcount. That's the floor for billing — it protects the dates we're holding for you while still giving you room for normal attrition.
You can adjust your count freely (in writing) until 14 days before arrival. Your final count is due 7 days before arrival and becomes your billed number, even if a few people don't show.
All cancellations must be in writing. Charges depend on when we receive your notice:
31+ days before arrival — deposit only
15–30 days — 25% of contracted price
8–14 days — 50%
7 or fewer days — 75%
One grace note: if you cancel and rebook within 12 months, 50% of the cancellation fees you paid apply toward your rebooked stay, and we waive the deposit on the new date. Postponements requested fewer than 31 days out are treated as cancellations and rebooked under the same provision.
Camp Wightman operates in all four seasons. Rain, heat, cold, and snow are part of life here, and ordinary weather isn't grounds for a fee adjustment — our buildings, staff, and program spaces are ready for it.
If a state of emergency, travel ban, or road closure makes it genuinely unsafe or unlawful for your group to travel on your arrival date, we'll reschedule your stay with full credit of all payments, including the deposit, to a mutually agreed date within 12 months.
Yes — our kitchen team serves home-cooked meals in the dining hall, and food is something we take seriously here. Meal counts and times are set in advance with your group leader. We accommodate dietary restrictions and allergies disclosed before arrival.
Groups may also book self-catered options depending on the facility — ask when you inquire.
We take dietary needs seriously. Disclose all allergies and restrictions on your camper's Individual Plan of Care before camp. Our kitchen staff reviews these before the week begins. For severe allergies, we strongly encourage a conversation with us before arrival — contact office@campwightman.org.
We have indoor gathering spaces suited for worship, teaching sessions, breakouts, and shared meals, plus outdoor spaces — fields, fire circles, waterfront, and trails — that often end up being where the real retreat happens. Tell us what your schedule needs and we'll match you to the right spaces.
Yes, seasonally. Swimming and boating (kayaks, rowboats, paddleboards) are available as scheduled add-ons with certified lifeguards provided by Camp Wightman — groups may never use the waterfront unsupervised. Waterfront sessions are reserved in advance and priced separately.
We also host baptisms at Billings Lake — a meaningful tradition for many of our church groups. ABCCONN congregations receive a discounted baptism rate.
Full details are in our Waterfront Use Policy, provided with your facility agreement.
Yes — and it's hard to beat the setting. Two hundred acres of woods and open sky on Billings Lake, with indoor and outdoor ceremony options, gathering space for your reception, and lodging if your guests want to stay over. Lakeside ceremonies are a Camp Wightman favorite.
One thing to know up front: Camp Wightman is a 100% dry, smoke-free property. No alcohol, no exceptions — including weddings and receptions. If that fits your celebration, we'd love to talk. Email office@campwightman.org with your date and estimated guest count.
Yes. Rehearsal dinners, anniversary celebrations, family reunions, memorial gatherings, graduation parties, banquets — if it brings people around a table, we can host it. Our kitchen team can cater your event on site, and our spaces work for groups large and small, indoors or out.
We do — baptisms at Billings Lake are one of the most meaningful traditions on this property. Churches can schedule a baptism as part of a retreat or as a standalone event, with Camp Wightman lifeguards on duty. ABCCONN congregations receive a discounted baptism rate. Contact office@campwightman.org to schedule.
Yes. Our kitchen team provides full catering on site — from simple buffets to plated meals — for weddings, rehearsal dinners, banquets, and special events. Menus are planned with you in advance, and we accommodate dietary restrictions disclosed before your event.
A signed Facility Use Agreement and deposit
A certificate of insurance naming Camp Wightman as additional insured
A designated group contact who handles all counts, changes, and communication in writing
For groups with youth: at least one adult for every ten participants under 18, with stricter ratios at the waterfront
Signed activity waivers for waterfront participants
Camp Wightman is a 100% dry, smoke-free property. No alcohol, tobacco, or controlled substances anywhere on camp — for any group, any event, any occasion. This applies to retreats, weddings, receptions, and private events alike. Please make sure everyone in your group knows before arrival.
Either. Most groups bring their own speakers, curriculum, and schedule and simply use our space, lodging, and meals. Others want help — campfires, outdoor activities, waterfront time. Tell us what kind of retreat you're building and we'll tell you what we can add.
Completely. Camp Wightman is a faith-rooted ministry, and our hospitality extends to everyone. Nonprofits, schools, businesses, and community organizations retreat here every year. We won't impose religious programming on your group — the lake, the woods, and the welcome are for everybody.
Start with the Retreat Inquiry Form here. That's it. We'll take it from there.