Activities

Fall & Spring Activities

Team Building Initiative Games Each group is given a “mission,” a problem that can only be solved through solid individual contributions and cooperative group effort. Students learn valuable  lessons  on effective teamwork, leadership, and communication.

Climbing Tower/Bouldering Cave

Participants learn  basic rock climbing skills on our double-sided tower and bouldering cave. Climbers face physical and mental challenges  while supportive teammates  provide encouragement from the ground. All participants are instructed in proper safety equipment and  procedures and are belayed by our certified instructors.

High Ropes Course Students tap into new levels of trust and self-confidence as they traverse a series of steel cables, rope walkways, and  wooden obstacles over 20’ in the air.

Certified instructors provide thorough safety training and lots of support.

Hiking Pyramid Point is a local treasure. We frequently hike the trail which ends with a beautiful vista, overlooking Lake Michigan and the Manitou  Islands.

Orienteering Pirate Compass begins with a tutorial about basic orienteering. Students must then complete the compass course to find the hidden booty.

Canoeing (Fall Only) Beginning instruction in paddling a canoe is followed by a gentle trip down the Crystal River. Watch for salmon, kingfishers and great blue heron.

Pond Study (Spring Only) We take nets, buckets, and magnifying lenses to a nearby beaver pond to learn first hand about frogs, turtles, dragonfly nymphs and  minnows. Watch out for the Eastern Toe Biter!

Sand Dune Ecology Ride the big blue camp bus to the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Headquarters for an introduction to dune formation, geology, and wildlife.

Then head over to Sleeping  Bear Point, the best classroom of all, for lessons in dune succession and a visit to the ghost forest.

Wildlife Biology Students enjoy a hands-on experience of skulls and furs from animals living in the local area. Additionally, students learn  about predation,  starvation, and biotic potential as these words relate to the muskrat environment.

Unnature Students test their skills of observation along our “unnature” trail as they try to identify objects not commonly found in nature. Other activities  are designed to increase  awareness through touch, sight, and sound.

Tie-Dye Students review primary secondary colors on the color wheel, and then explore their creativity using

brightly colored dyes on t-shirts  of their own. The results are spectacular!

Winter Activities

We go sledding during every free moment and always have a roaring fire and hot chocolate waiting in the Great House. In addition to team building initiative games, beach hikes, and the Pyramid Point Hikes, we offer the following wintertime activities:

Snowshoeing & Tracking This activity begins indoors with a lesson on identifying animal tracks. Then we strap on snowshoes and become winter detectives, looking for signs of animal activity  around camp. Along the way, we learn more about the winter environment and discuss wintertime habitat and adaptations of local wildlife.

Cross Country Skiing Campers learn basic cross country skills from our own instructors as they ski through our meadows and pine groves.

Shelters Depending on snow conditions, we may build block shelters or pile the snow and carve out quinsies. This is a great team building exercise as well. Time  permitting, we take a guided tour of each shelter on the final morning of your visit.

“To Build a Fire” Students relive Jack London’s nail-biting tale of survival. Our staff provides instruction in winter fire building. Each group has a single match. Will  they be successful?

Bread and Butter (new)

Evening Programs (All Seasons)

Bonfires Camp just wouldn’t be the same without songs, stories, games, and Fuzz and Weldon around a roaring fire. We do bonfires year round in our pine forest.

Night Hikes This is a staff favorite! Boys and girls go on separate, guided journeys into the woods and fields at night. Each hike is unique and may include storytelling, star-gazing or an unusual encounter with nocturnal wildlife.

Wildlife Rehabilitation Program

Leelanau County local, Rebecca Lessard presents a wonderful slide show about her work with animal rehabilitation. Then she brings out a few of her “patients,” live birds of prey who cannot be released into the wild. Check out her website to learn more Wings of Wonder.

Songs & Stories with Pat and Norm

Local talent Pat Niemisto and Norm Wheeler provide an interactive experience filled with songs, stories, and poetry.