North Star Reach programs are fully operated and funded by North Star Reach. As we return to offering in person programing, NSR programs will focus on the traditional campily experiences we have been known for with populations previously served. The first step in bringing back NSR’s full program schedule is offering family camps in 2025. The goal is to add summer resident camps in 2026.

Partner Programs are cooperative programs between North Star Reach and other not-for-profits serving similar populations. In 2024, North Star Reach and the Epilepsy Foundation of Michigan worked together to host a summer family camp. Thanks to last year’s success, in addition to family camp, 2025’s schedule includes a four-day summer resident camp for children with epilepsy. Partner organizations are responsible for recruiting campers, volunteers, and providing medical support for their sessions.

Other camp programs include programming operated by other not-for-profits serving similar populations that run camps and utilize NSR’s state-of-the-art universally accessible facility.

While the schedule is similar every day, the is no typical day of camp. Mooseness just doesn’t work that way. Whether resident or family camp, the day is filled with great activities and healthy (OK, camp healthy) meals in our dining hall. A midday rest hour to recharge after lunch and a variety of evening programs or campfires fill out the day. Lights out is dependent on the program but early enough to get at least eight hours of sleep each night. 😉

At the core of this year’s programming is family camp. These Friday evening through Sunday afternoon programs are open to campers 0-17 with any diagnosis and their families. Sessions are focused on building community and connection between kids and caregivers through a variety of camp activities and experiences. In general, caregivers are responsible for supervising and providing medical care for their children. Family camp is a great way to get introduced to North Star Reach programming and connect with other families with shared experiences.

Summer resident camp is typically for children aged 7 – 15 who attend camp without their caregivers. Activities include things like archery, arts & crafts, boating, cooking, fishing, sports & games, and swimming. Campers build friendships as they bond with other children facing similar challenges and learn they are capable of so much more than they ever thought possible. We call it our Authentic Camp Experience (ACE). Our program goals work toward fostering adventure and exploration, developing a positive self-identity and building friendships. How we make this all happen is the secret. We like to call it Mooseness, and we Love the Mooseness!

During summer camp, each cabin has a group of caring cabin and activity leaders who live in the cabin with you. First and foremost, they are there to make sure you have a safe experience. They are also there to be great role models and help you grow. In between the fun, growth and developments are important parts of the camp experience. We want to foster adventure and exploration, help you try new things and of course, build friendships. The cool thing is that it’s not just the campers that grow and develop. Pretty much everyone that comes to camp discovers things about themselves they never knew. While your cabin leaders are responsible for your day-to-day well-being, there are also nurses and doctors on site to make sure you get all the medical care you need.

The rules of camp are pretty simple. So simple in fact you carry a reminder with you every day. Hold up your hand…four fingers and a thumb. We call it our High Five Contract or Camp Code. Safety first. That’s your index finger and the number one thing we do at camp. Respect for people and our environment. That’s number two on our list and represented by that really long finger. Act out of Love. Your ring finger represents commitment and love. At camp, if we act out of love, even when we make mistakes, we try to do our best for ourselves and others. Your pinky finger reminds us to practice challenge by choice. That means that we won’t tell you how to participate, we expect that you choose that for yourself. Not participating, however, is not an option. The last one is your thumb and as the most prominent of those digits (official terminology for fingers and toes) and possibly the most famous, give yourself a thumbs up. That’s for fun. Not that we really need to remember to have fun, camp does that pretty much all by itself. So, there you go, the five “rules” we have at camp. It may seem like we have lots of other rules, but if you break them down, they fit into these five. The great thing is these rules work for life as well. See, there’s that whole growth and development thing.

There are three full meals served every day. Sometimes it seems all we do is eat. Meals are typically served family style, which means that you sit together with your cabin and choose what and how much you want to eat. We do our best to serve healthy, balanced, kid friendly food as well as offer choices for vegetarians or those with food allergies, dietary or religious restrictions. We work hard to be allergy aware and peanut prejudiced. What does that mean? It means that while we try really hard to serve food that won’t cause a reaction in our campers or staff, the wide variety of foods we serve sometimes are manufactured in places that use peanut products. We promise that there will always be something tasty to keep you fueled for the day’s activities. Snacks are available just about any time.

Meals at family camp are served buffet style and have a menu similar to summer camp, including our famous “no hands spaghetti!” You will have to come to camp to find out what that is.

At camp you will share a cabin with campers your own age. You will sleep in a big room with approximately 9 others plus your cabin leaders. Each cabin has its own bathrooms and showers and sits in a group or a unit (we call it a constellation) with three others. Constellations are also grouped by age and designed in a way to encourage interaction among each cabin group. Every evening as you find your way back to your cabin, the sound and smell of a glowing campfire will await your arrival.

During family camps, cabins are typically shared by at least two families. And those bathrooms and showers, we can split them into two separate spaces, so each family has their own personal space.

Most of the time you will have times when you go to an activity with your cabin. Sometimes you will do things as a constellation and others with the entire camp. Our activities include adventure, arts and crafts, archery, boating and fishing, cooking, sports and games, story studio, and swimming among others.

Family camp activities are similar except you enjoy them together during family free choice!

At both summer and family camps, there is a mix of kids who come to camp. Everyone has or has had a serious health challenge that prevented them from attending a typical camp that cannot support their medical needs. Each session welcomes campers with the same or similar conditions although some may be totally different than you. Some kids may look totally healthy, others may have a disability. Some need medications every day, others do not. Either way, no matter who comes to camp, they generally leave wishing they could stay. A guy named Paul once said, “No matter if you are coming to or leaving from camp, you are always going home.” Yeah, he’s right.

Most of our campers come from throughout the Great Lakes region but may come from just about anywhere… except Mars. So far, we have not received any applications from Martians.