The YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago announced on March 8 its Camp Pinewood branch will transition to YMCA Family Camp Pinewood. This new iteration is meant to provide an ideal home away from home for people of all ages across the region.
Jessi Prevost, the executive director of YMCA Family Camp Pinewood, said the new program is now the only YMCA family camp in the state of Michigan and one of the few in the entire U.S.
“This camp was hit particularly hard by COVID-19,” said Prevost. “Our enrollment just wasn’t bouncing back the way we had hoped. But COVID-19 also provided an opportunity for folks to look at the way they are doing things. We were getting a lot of phone calls from families asking if they could come out together and we wanted to meet that need. If you come out as a family, it helps anxiety. Post-COVID-19, more families are looking for ways to do things together.”
The site is situated in western Michigan, approximately 45 miles northwest of Grand Rapids. By car, campers from the Chicago area can reach Camp Pinewood in less than four hours. Campers from almost anywhere in lower Michigan can also reach the camp in four hours or less.
Family Camp Details and Activities
Family Camp Pinewood begins in full the week of July 4 and runs through mid-August. Memorial Day and Labor Day weekend camps are also available to the public.
Prevost said the differences between the former version of the camp and the new iteration are minimal. “We are going to run this the way we ran a normal summer camp, but families can choose what they want to do,” she said. “One of the challenges camps usually face is we don’t allow children to be unsupervised. Families have more of a say in this camp, and parents get to determine what boundaries exist.”
Some of the most popular amenities at YMCA Family Camp Pinewood include:
- Zip lining and high/medium ropes courses.
- Lake for swimming, leisurely canoeing and canoe races.
- Archery and sling-shot range.
- Gaga ball, volleyball, athletic fields and nature hikes.
- Large capture-the-flag games, ice cream socials, talent show night, campfires and s’mores.
“What’s cool with family camp is if you like adventure or if you want to chill with your family, you can do what you like,” said Prevost. “It’s based on what your family is into. Also, we want to be very intentional about not defining what a family is. Family means a lot of things to different people. We want families to come as whatever you think is a family. Any group can participate in the benefits of overnight camp — learning new skills, establishing lifelong friendships and having fun.
Accommodations range from rustic to deluxe. Reservations can be made for partial or entire bunkhouses that sleep up to 24 people. Those looking for more of a glamping experience can opt to rent a full, lodge-style cabin with five bedrooms and multiple bathrooms.
Camp Advice and Goals
Prevost said running an effective and successful camp heavily depends on your staff. “You can have all the cool amenities in the world, but if your staff isn’t well trained, you will struggle,” she said. “You have to train and treat your staff well. Get them excited to be there.”
A close second to staff treatment for Prevost is providing a range of pleasing food options for camp attendees. Campers finding their selves out in the wilderness without adequate meals could see a sharp decrease in morale.
“There is always fresh fruit available throughout the day,” said Prevost. “A salad bar is also always available. Making sure the vegan options are high quality is important to me. We also accommodate those we are gluten-free. Currently, we are continuing to learn how to do more accurate carb counting for those with diabetes.”
Overall, Prevost’s biggest goals for families who attend the new camp are to get better connected with nature due to environmentalism being close to her heart.
“Just being outdoors helps improve your physical and mental health,” said Prevost. “We don’t have great cell phone service out here so that allows people to disconnect. What’s cool about these camps is not everyone is comfortable camping. We provide that middle ground where you can come here and still be comfortable.”
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