Michigan Summer Camps
 

Camp Quality
http://www.campqualityusa.org/
Camp Quality is a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating a medically- supervised camp experience for children with cancer at no cost to the family. Located in Boyne City, the camp offers year-round programs such as archery, arts and crafts, rock climbing, obstacle courses, and plenty more. While at camp, children foster new friendships, have a chance to try new activities, and get to feel like a kid again.

The Epilepsy Foundation of Michigan’s Camp Discovery
The only camp in Michigan for children with epilepsy. It provides youth with epilepsy a safe, structured and encouraging home away from home for 5 days and 4 nights. All participants will have the opportunity to enjoy canoeing and kayaking, horseback riding, arts & crafts, swimming and much more! Camp staff include Foundation personnel, pediatric neurologists and registered nurses. Financial assistance is available. For a camper application, please visit our website: www.epilepsymichigan.org, call (800) 377-6226 option 1, ext. 231, or e-mail sdarroch@epilepsymichigan.org.
 

Conditioned Caterpillars Summer Camp
This program runs for eight weeks every summer. During this time, we gradually fade children away from a one-on-one environment to more of a typical classroom. The majority of the day is spent in small groups but we also will pull children aside to work with them one-on-one in specific areas they need extra help in such as writing or completing worksheets. The morning session is for children that will be transitioning into preschool or kindergarten in the upcoming fall. The afternoon session is open to everyone. Contact us to find out more information.
Contact: Jennifer Levine
Phone: (248) 988-9356
Email: jlevine@actnetwork.org
Location of Program: 2225 E. 14 Mile Rd. Birmingham, MI 48009

Pine Ridge Bible Camp - Our camping programs include sessions for elementary, junior high, and senior high. In addition we offer one week of camp for the mentally challenged (called Freddy's Friends). Each session includes all of the camp activities, like go-carting, rock climbing, swimming, and more, plus holistic learning opportunities that will develop spiritual, physical, emotional, and mental growth.
For more information, contact Kevin Grifhorst at kevin@pineridgecamp.com or visit www.pineridgecamp.com.

Camp Casey: A Horse Camp for Very Special Kids (Haslett, MI) - At Camp Casey, families affected by cancer are able to enjoy a beautiful, peaceful setting as they participate in a variety of unique experiences. By interacting with horses - and each other - and by bringing families together, children are able to apply the courage learned at camp to their fight against cancer.

O.U.R. Camp, Inc. (Opportunity, Understanding, Recreation)

Visit www.ourcamp.org for more information or to register.  Its purpose is to provide continuity with school year programs and to stimulate the development of cognitive and social skills during the summer months. Activities are designed to promote improved self-images and group interaction skills. Campers are divided into groups of six and are supervised by two staff members. Group activities are designed to promote a sense of responsibility, team cooperation skills, and feelings of acceptance. Activities include music, movement, arts and crafts, games and dramatic play to encourage the development of language and motor skills.  O.U.R. Camp's mailing address is PO Box 6059, Plymouth, MI 48170. The camp is now being held at Northville Christian Church, 41355 Six Mile Rd., Northville, Michigan.

Cran-Hill Ranch
14444 – 17 Mile Road
Rodney, MI 49342
(231) 796-7669
 

YMCA Camp Manitou-Lin, Middleville, MI (Day and Overnight Camp) - Located on beautiful Barlow Lake southeast of Grand Rapids, highlights include swimming, canoeing, kayaking, sailing, and tubing. Other popular activities include horseback riding, archery, arts & crafts, sports, and much more. State licensed and accredited by the American Camping Association and the Certified Horsemanship Association. Operating since 1913. Call toll free 1-888-909-2267.

Michigan Summer Camps: http://www.mysummercamps.com/camps/michigan-summer-camps.html

Summer Camp for Blind and Visually Impaired Kids - Camp Tuhsmeheta is an outdoor education and recreation camp for blind and visually impaired children and youth. Half of the summer staff are blind or visually impaired themselves, making Camp T a wonderful place to meet a role model as well as form group of friends who share blindness and visual impairment. There are 6 sessions in the 2004 summer program, including a 4-day camp weekend for families with a blind or visually impaired member.  Camp Tuhsmeheta is located outside of Greenville, Michigan, near Grand Rapids. Campers are welcome from any state. Transportation can be arranged for campers traveling within Michigan. For more information, visit www.campt.org. Read the Press Release: Camp Tuhsmeheta (Camp T) Offers Blind and Visually Impaired Children Challenges In summer 2004 in Dearborn, MI.

MI Governor Granholm Announces Launch of Michigan’s First Statewide Online Summer School - Governor Granholm today announced the launch of Michigan Virtual Summer School, a program developed by Michigan Virtual High School (MVHS) to offer the state’s high school students a more flexible option for participating in summer school courses. The new online summer program gives Michigan’s high schools the opportunity to expand current traditional summer school offerings to more fully address students’ remedial and enrichment needs.

MI Programs for Youth Sponsored by the Michigan National Guard - Michigan's youth are its future. To this end, the Michigan National Guard is involved in a wide variety of youth-oriented programs. In addition to the officially sponsored programs, Michigan National Guard members participate in countless community-based programs as mentors and volunteers.

Summer Camps for Kids with Learning Disabilities or AD/HD - The end of the school year is fast approaching and if camp is part of your child’s summer plans, it’s time to start looking. Choosing a summer camp is tough for any parent, but add learning disabilities (LD) or Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (AD/HD) into the mix and the search can become downright overwhelming. Fortunately, with a little planning, your camp search will be manageable and you’ll confidently select the right summer program for your child.

Alternatives For Girls Offers Summer Program for 80 girls in Southwest Detroit in grades K-7 - It's not easy being a schoolgirl these days, and when you live in an area where kids drop out of school at an alarming rate and girls often become pregnant at an early age, it's even tougher. That's where Alternatives for Girls comes in. The nonprofit organization's summer program, based in southwest Detroit, is designed to give girls from kindergarten through the seventh grade the courage and skills to make good lives for themselves.

Success Oriented Achievement Realized (SOAR) - SOAR is a wilderness adventure program for youth with learning disabilities and attention deficit disorder and serves both males and females, ages 8 – 18 offering programs in Florida, North Carolina, Colorado, Wyoming, Belize and Costa Rica. Programs are available in the summer, winter, spring and fall seasons. SOAR is not a therapeutic boot camp or wilderness therapy program. However, neither is SOAR a traditional summer camp. SOAR utilizes the natural environment and adventure activities to work with students on personal goal attainment and to provide them with opportunities for success. SOAR encourages students to explore their incredible talents and gifts with the belief that their future is intertwined with these strengths and abilities.  

Grand Rapids Academic Summer Program For All Michigan Kids: The GRASP program is a nine week correspondence summer program written by Grand Rapids Public Schools staff in math and reading. It is designed for children who have completed grades K-8. Children receive a packet of materials for the nine weeks of summer, and mail in a lesson a week. The lessons are scored, results recorded, and lessons returned to the children.

Concordia Language Villages - A program of Concordia College, Moorhead, Minnesota.  Language immersion experiences for students ages 7-18. 14 different language villages are available. Campers live, eat, learn etc. in a setting that simulates a foreign country. One week and two-week sessions are offered as well as one-month high school and college credit sessions. Credit abroad programs are available. Call 1-800-222-4750.

MI Camp Literacy jump-starts kids for school success - Seven-year-old Felicia Wojciechowski was having trouble reading, but by the end of Camp Literacy last summer she was reading at a much higher level.

Eastern Michigan University's Theatre Camp: SUMMERQUEST

Eastern Michigan University's Theatre Dept. has a 2 week program in the summer called SUMMERQUEST, in which kids grades 10-12 can learn about theatre, forensics, or health related fields while living on campus.  Camp staff is willing to work to accommodate special needs wherever possible. For more information call 734-487-1220 or email: emu_theatre@emich.edu.

Great Lakes American Cancer Society Sponsors FREE Camp

The Great Lakes Division of the American Cancer Society sponsors a free, one week residential summer camp in July for kids who have or have had cancer. The facility is staffed 24 hours a day by oncology doctors and nurses who can administer many treatments, if necessary.  Other services include Young Camper's Day for children ages 4-6 and a teen retreat for young adults age 16-20. The camp is available for kids ages 4-20 in Michigan and Indiana who have or have had cancer.  Call 517-371-2920 for more information.

Trails Edge Camp

Trails Edge Camp will be hosting their 14th camping season this summer from June 1st-6th! Children from the age of 4 to 18 who are ventilator dependent or assisted for all or part of the day are accepted. Camp is provided free of charge and is staffed 3 to 1 volunteer to child ratio with over 75% of camp volunteers being medical professionals. This camping opportunity is provided by Mott Children's Hospital in Ann Arbor, Michigan.  Click here to download the pdf version of the brochure (size=464kb) or click on the images below to download picture files (.jpg) of the brochure (page 1 size=825kb; page 2 size=844kb).

The Learning Camp is a unique summer camp program that focuses on helping children with learning disabilities such as dyslexia, attention deficit disorder (ADD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and other learning challenges build the self esteem and confidence needed to cope in the academic world. Our program blends academic tutoring with the wonderful adventures that can be found in the heart of the Rocky Mountains of Colorado.

Camp Glucose

Camp Glucose is a residential camp for boys and girls ages 8 to 18, as well as a day camp for children ages 4 to 18. We are located at Pepperdine University in Malibu, CA and Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, NC. We work with children who are overweight or have type 2 diabetes due to being overweight. Programs are tailored to meet specific age levels to ensure the best experience for the individual child. We are the only camp that is completely supervised by medical staff, registered dietitians, nutritionists and medical students. As we enter our fourth year, we have seen how well our program works and are very excited to return for another great summer. We still have financial aid left for the summer of 2006, contact us at 1-877-226-7458 or visit us online at www.campglucose.com.

 
Adaptive Recreation Organizations - Camping/Outdoor Activities
 

Camp Diversity (Vermont) - Instead of sending your kids off for another year of soccer, computer or Boy Scout camp, consider sending them to a retreat that teaches cooperation and compassion. At Partners in Adventure, a unique camp for kids both with and without disabilities, they'll do more than make crafts and sing campfire songs. The camp is designed to honor diversity by encouraging people ages 12-21 to build partnerships in which each person has the chance to safely explore the camp, lend a helping hand and learn more about the ways others live. Log on to www.partnersinadventure.org for more information.

Victory Junction Gang Camp (VJGC)
 
What is VJGC?
The Victory Junction Gang Camp is about fueling ill children with memories that will sustain and inspire them! For the children, it's as simple as kicking back and relaxing, making friends with other children who have illnesses, not worrying about being different, experiencing the fun and activities of summer camp and making memories.

What is the Mission of VJGC?
To enrich the lives of children with chronic or life-threatening illnesses by creating camping experiences that are memorable, exciting, fun, empowering, physically safe and medically sound.

What disease groups do we serve?
This summer we will serve children ages 7-15 with the following diseases and conditions: Arthritis, Asthma, Burn survivors, Cancer, Epilepsy, Gastrointestinal disease, Genetic diseases, Heart disease, Hemophilia and other blood disorders, Immunology deficiencies/HIV, Kidney disease, Liver disease, Neurological disease, Sickle cell disease, Skin disease, and Spina Bifida. Final selection for camper admissions will be determined by the Victory Junction Medical Advisory Team.

What is Siblings Week?
Our siblings week for the summer is for the healthy siblings (only) of children who come to camp. As you can imagine, it is a very popular session, so we can’t guarantee that a child will be accepted. It’s the same application process for all campers.

What is the Selection Criteria?
~Severity of child's illness which would prohibit child’s attendance at any other camp
~Extenuating circumstances affecting the child
~Child requires complex medical care
~Mental ability to participate in and benefit from the active camp program
~We serve children ages 7-15 with developmental skills appropriate to this age range

How do I refer patients?
Please visit our website to view our programming schedule. I have attached the dates for our summer camp. You can also download our camper application and more from our website at www.victoryjunction.org.  Click on “The Camp” at the top, then scroll to the bottom of that page and click on “How to Apply”. The forms are located here.

What if I have other Questions?
If you have further questions, please do hesitate to contact one of our staff members:
• R. Emmylou Ferris, Camper Recruiter (336) 495.2017 or eferris@victoryjunction.org
• Peter Sim, Medical Director (336) 495.2015 or psim@victoryjunciton.org
• Mark Hendrickson, Medical Communications (336) 495.2018 or mhendrickson@victoryjunction.org
• Emily Parenteau, Nursing Director (336) 495.2020 or eaparenteau@victoryjunction.org
• Angela Campbell, Assistant Camper Recruiter (336) 495.2019 or acampbell@victoryjunction.org

 The Fowler Center for Outdoor Learning
Each year The Fowler Center serves thousands of children and adults with disabilities by providing access to the outdoors in a safe, comfortable, loving environment that fosters a sense of accomplishment, independence and increased self-esteem. Their programs and facilities are specifically designed to meet special physical, social, intellectual, emotional and motivational needs of participants. Programs include Camp Fowler, a 9-week summer camp, Spring sessions, monthly weekend respite camps, Camp Barefoot for adults with traumatic brain injuries, Travel Adventures, Winter Camp and Group Events. The Fowler Center also offers the Mah Meh Weh Horse Ranch Program with two or three one-week sessions, dependent on enrollment, for teenaged girls without disabilities. In 1957, special education teacher Jack (John) Fowler was frustrated with the lack of outdoor recreational opportunities for youth with disabilities. So was his wife, Reta (now deceased). Together, they decided to do something about it – by starting a non-profit camp called the Fowler Center. Over the years, the Fowler Center has developed into a year-round center available to youth and adults with special needs such as mental and physical challenges and brain injuries. The camp began by serving nine boys from Detroit with mental disabilities. However, the need was so great that Jack and Reta continued working and expanding the camp. Today, it serves over 4,200 campers each year, providing access to the outdoors in a safe, comfortable, loving environment that fosters a sense of accomplishment, independence and increased self-esteem. Programs and facilities at the camp are specifically designed to meet special physical, social, intellectual, emotional and motivational needs of participants. Emphasis is placed on the ability of each camper to participate in the camping experience according to individual physical, mental and psychological abilities. A concerted effort is made to remove any possible barriers and to create a secure, positive and reinforcing environment. Jack Fowler continues to be actively involved in overseeing this camp, and in planning its future growth – despite the fact that he suffers from cerebral palsy himself. The compassion and drive of this extraordinary man have keep this camp going – and growing. The center Jack and Reta began almost fifty years ago has opened up a whole new world for people who could not go to a traditional camp. Today, people with disabilities can enjoy brand new experiences – and build greater skills and self esteem by taking on the challenges of the outdoors.

 Grace Adventures Summer Camp

Grace Adventures has been providing Summer Camp experiences for kids ages 7-17 for over 50 Years on our campus next to the Silver Lake Sand Dunes. Our mission is to Impact People With Jesus Christ and we get the chance to serve thousands of youth, adults, and families each through our various ministries.
At Summer Camp, we make sure that kids are taught Biblical lessons but that they also have a ton of fun! Each one of our camps are age-graded to have activities that fit their skill level and proper age group. Each one of the Grace Adventures camps are different and strive to help your child have fun, learn something new, and make new friends doing it.
Our Horse Camps at Paradise Ranch provide fun for kids as they learn quality horsemanship skills and about their walk with Jesus.
Our highly trained staff will take care of and mentor your kids as they explore new activities, make new friends, eat great food, and learn more about God.
Each summer camp session is age-graded to meet your child where they are at developmentally and challenge them appropriately through activities and Bible lessons.
At Paradise Ranch horse camps, they also receive everything that our traditional camp offers while campers get to care for, feed, and ride a horse every day. Our professional equine staff will teach kids proper horsemanship while having fun with horses.
Summer Camps run Sunday afternoon to Friday morning from June to August.
Different camps are offered on different weeks, so check out www.graceadventures.org/camps/summer-camps for the latest availability, dates, and prices for each camp.
We look forward to serving you and your camper at Grace Adventures this summer!
2100 N Ridge Rd, Silver Lake, MI 49436
231-873-3662
www.graceadventures.org