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Visit Our Van Buren Youth Camp Website
Ph: 269-521-3855
Fax: 269-521-6668
director[AT]vbyc.org
mail[AT]vbyc.org
12370 45th Street
Bloomingdale, Michigan 49026
WINTER (OFF-SEASON) OFFICE ADDRESS:
403 Fairview Ave
Kalamazoo, MI 49001
CAMP VIDEO LINK:
Watch Our Van Buren Youth Camp Video
CAMPER AGES: 6-18
TYPE OF CAMP: Overnight/Sleepaway.
CAMPER GENDER(S): Coed Campers.
AFFILIATION(S): Affililated with Van Buren County United Way, Accredited by the American Camp Association
BRIEF CAMP DESCRIPTION: Traditional Camp activities include archery/riflery, crafts, nature, canoeing/kayaking, swimming, song & dance, and sports. Living and working together at camp develops communication skills and helps to develop other life skills like critical thinking and problem solving, creativity and innovation. Our 6 day sessions fill up fast...call now for more info.
CAMP INSTRUCTIONAL ACTIVITIES OFFERED:
Dance, Theater, Musical Theater, Basketball, Soccer, Swimming, Waterfront/Aquatics, Volleyball, Academics, Adventure, Wilderness/Nature, and more. Song/Dance/Drama
Nature
Low Ropes/Initiatives
Traditional Folk Dancing
CAMP LOCATION: We are located 45 minutes west of Kalamazoo on Great Bear Lake in Bloomingdale, MI. Our camp occupies just over 100 acres of wilderness. Visit our website for photos and a site map.
CAMP FACILITIES: We have an outdoor Rec Area with a full basketball court, dining hall, outdoor stage with bleacher seating, 15 rustic cabins, modern bath house, 100 acres of woodland areas with trails for exploring, streams for critter catching, open areas for orienteering and all camp games.
CAMP PROGRAM INFO: Van Buren Youth Camp has been known since 1950 for its successful residential summer camp programs for children and teens. These programs are designed to develop the leadership abilities of today’s youth — encouraging personal growth, self-confidence, positive relationships, and individual and group responsibility.
All staff are certified in CPR/AED/First Aid and properly certified/trained for their specific area of responsibility. They have gone through extensive training in child development, camp safety, recreational games, team building and magic making. All Program staff must be at least 18 years old. Cabin Counselors are volunteers from our Leadership Workshop (or have counseled for us in the past). Both groups must go through an application and interview process, provide letters of recommendation/references and clear required background checks.
CAMP LEADERSHIP CIT/LIT PROGRAMS: Our Leadership Workshop is a one of a kind amazing program! Our high school age campers volunteer to assist with the planning of the week each year. From selecting the theme, to developing topics for General Sessions and Clinics, to recruiting the speakers to present this information to the group...they are involved in every aspect of the program development. There are no cabin counselors at Leadership Workshop...the campers select a different "Counselor of the Day" who will take on additional responsibilities and meet with the Leadership Counsel. The week is designed to see how far we can stretch them outside of their comfort zone while trying to foster a sense of community responsibility. To Lead Is To Serve is our "motto" but the theme of the week each year is different. This is the first session offered each year and where we recruit our volunteer Cabin Counselors
We also offer a CIT opportunity. Counselors In Training volunteer alongside a Cabin Counselor for the majority of the week. On the last day of the session, the CIT will take over the leadership of the cabin to get a real taste of making the decisions and coaching the group through the daily schedule.
CAMP SCHOLARSHIPS OR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE:
We offer full or partial "camperships" of 25, 50, 75 or 100% of tuition coverage is available based on need. Please follow the financial assistance link on the home page of our website for details.
FAMILY CAMP SESSION(S): The last weekend of September each year is Women's Wellness Weekend (W3). This event is designed for women to come together in a nurturing environment where we do all the cooking and cleaning! We also provide wellness sessions/professionals, yoga, massages ($), manicures/pedicures/facials, craft classes, hiking, biking, and bird watching. Spend the weekend alone with a good book, with friends playing cards or join in on the group activities...it is your weekend to do whatever rejuvenates You!!! Check out our website for details.
YEAR-ROUND PROGRAMS: Leadership Planning Committee/Advanced Leadership is the only program we offer all year. These kids, in addition to planning the Leadership Workshop, help us to give back to our communities by supporting local organizations that support school age children and their families.
CAMP SESSION DATES & FEES:
For Session Dates/Descriptions please visit our website at Our Camp Website Link: www.vbyc.org.
SUMMER CAMP JOBS:
Please login to Our Camp Website Link: www.VBYC.org for job postings or to fill out an application
Be sure to check each camp listing under INSTRUCTIONAL ACTIVITIES OFFERED for the range of Special Interest Activities and Programs provided by each Michigan Leadership Summer Camp or Summer Leadership Recreation Program.
Many Michigan Day and Sleepaway Leadership Camps offer professional level instruction in a wide-range of Leadership Activities.
For a complete List of Michigan Special Interest Leadership Summer Camps & Summer Leadership Recreation Programs scroll down to the big black bar at the very bottom of this page.
You can go directly to any of our other 2024 Special Interest Camp Directories from the list in the black bar at the bottom of this page.
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