Important Info Regarding Summer 2020
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Dear 4-H Camp Kidwell Family,
As all of us take in and figure out how to navigate our new “normal,” we are all finding challenges and frustrations. This might be as simple as not getting to see our friends and family as regularly as we would like or more seriously, it may be not being able to make ends meet financially. No matter the challenge we are facing, we are learning to make the best of it and move forward. COVID-19 has hit us hard, but it will not win. TOGETHER, we will come through this temporary challenge!
With that in mind, I have some sad news to share with you. For 70 years, we have offered fun, safe and loving camping experiences to our campers. Unfortunately, because of safety concerns of COVID-19 and the importance of keeping our campers, staff and families as safe as possible, we have decided to cancel all of our ADVENTURE AWAITS Summer 2020 programs. This means all youth-oriented programs are cancelled through September 1, 2020. Although this is a terribly sad development, we feel this in everyone’s best interest and the safest decision. We have come to this conclusion through many consultations with state and local officials as well as our friends and colleagues at Michigan State University and much discussion and consideration with our board of directors.
2020 will be different, but it will not keep us from supporting our Camp Family. Each of you is part of the foundation of our camp program and we are truly grateful that you have chosen to be part of our family. THANK YOU!!!! Not only will we be offering virtual programming and activities to give our families things to do during this time of social distancing, but we will also be working very hard to be ready to get camp back up and running to full speed as soon as restrictions are lifted and we are able to safely offer programming.
We will continue to consult with our state and local officials and plan to resume programming in the fall if we are able to safely do so. If not, we will resume programs in 2021. Please keep your eyes peeled for updates. We will be offering activities and programs as well as updates as often as possible. If you have questions, would like to speak to someone, or would like to know how you can help, please contact me at kj@campkidwell.org or (269)521-3559. I will also be reaching out to check-in and offer help in any way I can.
As always, the mission of 4-H Camp Kidwell is “to provide extraordinary camping experiences for young people…..,” this hasn’t and won’t change. We will just take a little different approach this year and look to offer those experiences in new and exciting ways. Keep an eye on our website and Facebook for content that will “BRING CAMP TO YOU” this summer.
Thank you again for being part of the 4-H Camp Kidwell Family! We are grateful for you and look forward to seeing you as soon as possible! Please let us know if there is anyway we can help. TOGETHER, we will get through this!
Here’s to YUMMY s’mores,
KJ
KJ Kelly
Director
As all of us take in and figure out how to navigate our new “normal,” we are all finding challenges and frustrations. This might be as simple as not getting to see our friends and family as regularly as we would like or more seriously, it may be not being able to make ends meet financially. No matter the challenge we are facing, we are learning to make the best of it and move forward. COVID-19 has hit us hard, but it will not win. TOGETHER, we will come through this temporary challenge!
With that in mind, I have some sad news to share with you. For 70 years, we have offered fun, safe and loving camping experiences to our campers. Unfortunately, because of safety concerns of COVID-19 and the importance of keeping our campers, staff and families as safe as possible, we have decided to cancel all of our ADVENTURE AWAITS Summer 2020 programs. This means all youth-oriented programs are cancelled through September 1, 2020. Although this is a terribly sad development, we feel this in everyone’s best interest and the safest decision. We have come to this conclusion through many consultations with state and local officials as well as our friends and colleagues at Michigan State University and much discussion and consideration with our board of directors.
2020 will be different, but it will not keep us from supporting our Camp Family. Each of you is part of the foundation of our camp program and we are truly grateful that you have chosen to be part of our family. THANK YOU!!!! Not only will we be offering virtual programming and activities to give our families things to do during this time of social distancing, but we will also be working very hard to be ready to get camp back up and running to full speed as soon as restrictions are lifted and we are able to safely offer programming.
We will continue to consult with our state and local officials and plan to resume programming in the fall if we are able to safely do so. If not, we will resume programs in 2021. Please keep your eyes peeled for updates. We will be offering activities and programs as well as updates as often as possible. If you have questions, would like to speak to someone, or would like to know how you can help, please contact me at kj@campkidwell.org or (269)521-3559. I will also be reaching out to check-in and offer help in any way I can.
As always, the mission of 4-H Camp Kidwell is “to provide extraordinary camping experiences for young people…..,” this hasn’t and won’t change. We will just take a little different approach this year and look to offer those experiences in new and exciting ways. Keep an eye on our website and Facebook for content that will “BRING CAMP TO YOU” this summer.
Thank you again for being part of the 4-H Camp Kidwell Family! We are grateful for you and look forward to seeing you as soon as possible! Please let us know if there is anyway we can help. TOGETHER, we will get through this!
Here’s to YUMMY s’mores,
KJ
KJ Kelly
Director
Summer Camp 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.
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ActivitiesCamp 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
Weekly ThemesWeekly 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! |
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PhilosophyWe 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. SafetySafety 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 OutcomesWe 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 InfoWe 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 links Lunch Hot dogs and chips 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 Beef enchiladas and brown rice |
