Summer Camp at 4-H Camp Kidwell Overview

4-H Camp Kidwell is an American Camp Association (ACA) accredited and state of Michigan licensed camping program and facility set on 150 beautiful acres on Eagle Lake in Bloomingdale, Michigan. Our facilities and programs allows children to explore the outdoors in a safe, fun and exciting environment! Our facility features single room cabins which sleep 11, a central dining hall, central bathhouse and many great and up to date activity areas.

• Enrollment is open to all children; you do not need to be a 4-H member or live in a specific area to attend.
• Day Camp (ages 4-16)
• Overnight Camp (ages 7-16)
• Specialty Camps (horse, ropes/teambuilding, drama/acting)
• Up to 75 campers each week
• Siblings and friends are welcome to request the same cabin.  
• 3 family style meals are served each day

• Gender specific cabins are assigned based on age as much as possible.
• Two staff members are present at all activities
• A minimum of 1:8 staff to children ratio is maintained at all times.
• Staff interview/hiring process includes thorough interviews, reference, verification, and background checks.
• All staff members participate in a rigorous training each year.  
  
• Specialty staff(lifeguards, archery, ropes, horses, etc) receive training specific to the area they will be teaching/leading.

Enrollment

Our goal is to provide a camping experiences to all people regardless of the ability to pay established fees. We accomplish by setting fees at rates as affordable as possible by offering discounts, payment plans, as well as providing financial assistance to those for whom the camp fees my not be affordable.

How to register 
#1 Online Registration - Click here to register now!
#2 Paper Registration - email us to get a paper registration form.

Tuition for each session includes all activities, room and board, a t-shirt, group photo of their session, $5 credit in camp store(you can add more if you would like), digital copy of the weekly camp video, access to our one-way email program, and access to our online photo gallery.  Additional T-shirts, Additional Group photos and other items can be purchased in person at camp store.  See details below.  

Parent to Camper One-way Emails - This services gives parents the ability to send one-way emails to their camper while they are at camp.  Emails are printed each day and given to campers.  

Exclusive Online Photo Gallery - All families with registered children now have access to our exclusive online photo gallery.  This feature allows families to see pictures and video of things happening at camp while their children are with us. We try to upload pictures from all of the activities and events that take place around camp and work to include all campers but we can not guarantee that every child will have their picture included. 

Weekly Camp Video – All campers receive a free digital copy of the weekly camp video featuring photos and videos set to music.   If you would like to purchase a DVD or Blu-Ray copy, you can do this at check-in or check-out of your camp session.  You can also purchase by calling our office.  

Payment Plans
We offer a monthly payment plan.  After your deposit(required at time of registration) the remaining balance is divided evenly over the number of months left between then and the start of your camp session.   Please contact us if you require a special payment plan.   Email us at campkidwell@btc-bci.com

Scholarship Assistance
Those in need of financial assistance may be awarded partial scholarship funds for one week of camp.  Visit our Discount and Financial Page for more information and other discounts or email us at campkidwell@btc-bci.com or call (269) 521-3559.

Activities

Camp Kidwell offers so much for every camper to do.  Our age appropriate programs allow campers to try new activities and learn and grow as individuals while learning to interact with others. Throughout their stay with us, campers get a chance to experience many of our core activities and a wide variety of traditions and special events 

Core Activities
Swimming
Archery
Arts and Crafts
Drama
Canoeing
Horseback Riding
Sports and Games
Ropes and Teambuilding

Traditions and Specials
Water Trampoline
Nature Exploration
Campfires
Singing
Personal Growth
Friends
Memories
​Tent camping on Kidwell Island
and much more.....

Weekly Themes

Weekly themes add fun and excitement to each week. Campers always have the opportunity to participate in our core activities of swimming, archery, drama, team-building, crafts, canoeing, horses and recreation games but the theme enhances these activities and makes each week unique, fun and memorable.  The weekly theme is created by specific activities in each of the core activity area, as well as in staff led skits and role play and special and creative activities and events.   Choose the theme your camper like best, but know you will have a GREAT time no matter which week you choose! 

Philosophy

We use a wide variety experiences and activities we help our campers learn to make choices and decisions for themselves, interact with other campers and staff members and enjoy all the great opportunities we offer.  Through discovery of the great outdoors,  skill development and guidance in the importance of building healthy relationships, campers leave with a renewed sense of achievement, belonging, confidence and courage to try new things. 4-H Camp Kidwell is an inclusive organization that welcomes all persons regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, religion or disability.

Safety

Safety is our #1 priority.  Camp staff members go through a rigorous character-based interview process.  They are carefully screened through the highest standards of child safety practices, including background checks and reference verification.  Each staff member is selected for their personality traits, hands on skills and concern and care of our campers.  Professional program staff work directly with counselors to provide guidance and support.  All staff are certified in first aid and CPR.  We are accredited by the American Camp Association and licensed by the State of Michigan.

Goals and Outcomes

We work very hard to give our campers a great experience.  This means lots of fun activities and events, but it also means seeing them learn and grown as individuals.  All of our activities and interactions are designed with a purpose.   Some of our goals and outcomes are listed below.

G   Provide a unique, exciting, fun-filled and growing experience to all campers.
O   Campers learn personal strengths and weaknesses, and how to use them.  

G   Convey to each camper the feeling that he or she is a unique and worthwhile human being.
O   Campers become more confident and outgoing and are able to express themselves more clearly.

G   Each camper is a winner if he or she does the best they can with the abilities they have.
O   Campers develop willingness to try new things.

G   Provide experiences for cooperation and close relationship with campers and staff members.
O   Campers develop a healthy respect and interaction level with adults.

G   Provide a caring community so campers and staff work together and enjoy each new experience.
O   Campers show concern for others and willingness to help each other solve problems.

G   Expose campers to activities with which they may not be familiar.
O   Campers develop interest in new activities.

G   Offer skillfully taught and thoroughly organized individual, small group, and large group activities. 
O   Campers demonstrate ability to be productive members of any size group.

G   Challenge children to treat each other with respect and promote positive communication skills.
O   Campers think before acting and work through issues in positive and appropriate means.

G   Provide challenging co-educational experiences, promoting a positive feeling between boys and girls.
O   Campers demonstrate positive, meaningful relationships with members of the opposite sex.

G   Maintain and build meaningful 4-H Camp Kidwell traditions through songs, activities, and camping.
O   Campers want to become members of staff and continue to share the positive camp experience.
  
G   Provide a quality overall program in which campers and families are excited about and want to return.
O  Campers will want to return year after year.

Meal Info

We work hard to provide balanced meals that the kids will enjoy.  Below you will find samples of main course items we may serve at each meal.  Along with these main course items there are additional items available at each meal.  Each meal includes fresh fruits and vegetables, peanut butter and jelly, cereal, toast, yogurt, as well as vegetarian options.

We work with families to provide alternatives for vegetarian campers as well as those with anyone with special diets, such as gluten free. Please contact us regarding any specific dietary needs and we will gladly work with you to set up a diet that will work for your camper.

These are examples of main course items we prepare for our campers.
​
Breakfast
Pancakes and Sausage
Scrambled eggs, hash browns and ham
Breakfast Burritos and Fruit
Waffles and Bacon
French Toast and Sausage

Lunch
Hot Dogs and Macaroni Salad
Sloppy Joes and Tator Tots
Corn dogs and vegetables
Hot Ham and Cheese and Chips
Hamburgers and French Fries
Pizza and Fruits and Veggies

Dinner
Spaghetti and Green Beans
Tacos and Spanish Rice
Chicken Parmesan, carrots, Seasoned noddles
Ghoulash, veggies and garlic bread
Macaroni and Cheese and peas
Chicken Nuggets and Mashed Potatoes