Summer Camp

Since 1926, Mystic Lake has offered quality camping programs for children and teens.

Give your child a summer they’ll never forget at Mystic Lake YMCA camp!

Summer 2023

Session 1: June 18 - 23

Session 2: June 25 - June 30

Session 3: July 2 - 7

Session 4: July 9 - 14

Session 5: July 16 - 21

Session 6: July 23 - 28

Session 7: July 30 - August 4

Session 8: August 6 - 11

MYSTIC EXPERIENCE (Ages 6-15) The Mystic Experience program is where your child’s camping traditions begin and continue year after year! Campers are placed in their cabin groups with children in the same age range and enjoy age-appropriate activities such as swimming, boating, archery, and crafts. Each child will have the opportunity to make great friends, learn new skills, meet positive role models, and leave our program with a higher level of confidence, maturity, and understanding of our four core values - honesty, caring, respect, and responsibility.

Sessions Offered: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

TWO WEEK MYSTIC EXPERIENCE (Ages 6-15) For some campers, one week just isn't enough! Campers registered for our two-week Mystic Experience will remain on camp over the weekend between their two registered sessions and participate in camp activities. Campers are placed in their cabin groups with children in the same age range and enjoy age-appropriate activities such as swimming, boating, archery, and crafts. Each child will have the opportunity to make great friends, learn new skills, meet positive role models, and leave our program with a higher level of confidence, maturity, and understanding of our four core values - honesty, caring, respect, and responsibility.

Session Offered: 1&2, 5&6, 7&8

GONE FISHING (Ages 12-14) Anglers will spend their morning, afternoons, and evenings fishing in Mystic Lake. Campers will learn about different species of fish, strategies to get the biggest catch and take a half-day charter on Lake Michigan to hook giant salmon, steelhead, and lake trout. Campers will also enjoy traditional activities and will get to fry up some of their catch, while also bringing some home if they have success on their charter. This is one of our most popular programs, and space is very limited. Register early.

Session Offered: 2

WRITE ON! Creative Writing Camp (Ages 10-12) Let your imagination run wild and the words flow! Sharpen your creative writing skills as you learn about writing hooks that catch your readers’ attention, creating believable characters and settings to keep them reading, using dialogue to move your story along, and dynamic endings that will make them eager to read more. Publish your work and share with your cabin mates!

Session Offered: 5

CAMP STARLIGHT: Camp Starlight is presented in collaboration with the Michigan Dyslexia Institute (MDI) for children with dyslexia. This overnight camp provides a unique experience for children with dyslexia. Campers will participate in a transformational experience thoughtfully designed to build confidence, compassion, increase self-esteem and create a sense of belonging all while new friendships are being built. Camp Starlight Campers reside with and participate in activities with non-dyslexic campers from Mystic Lake Experience. A dynamic evening event will be hosted by Michigan Dyslexia Institute. This engaging and interactive evening is designed to provide an interactive experience that brings all campers together with a powerful message of hope, kindness and persevering through challenges in order to realize our potential. The goal is to inspire campers to explore these themes throughout their camp experience and beyond.

Camp Starlight campers return year after year and develop lifelong friendships. Many have even become staff members at Mystic Lake! Mystic Lake staff are trained by the Michigan Dyslexia Institute in inclusion and strategies to provide a safe and positive environment to support your child. An experienced staff, engaging opportunities, new experiences and a beautiful location are the ingredients for an outstanding week at Camp Starlight.

Session Offered: 1

TEEN NATION (Ages 14-16) This coed teen camp has been created to give teens a place to make new friends, try new activities, and have opportunities for overall growth while staying active outdoors with campers their own age. Campers follow the same basic schedule as Mystic Experience while having the opportunity to assist in completing their schedule with activities tailored to older campers such as Bruno's Swing and the high ropes course.

Sessions Offered: 5, 6, 7, 8

LEADERS IN TRAINING (Ages 15-16) Our two-week Leader In Training (LIT) program will introduce teens to the dynamics of leadership and teamwork. LITs will focus on small-group facilitation skills, leadership styles, communication skills, and the YMCA four core values of caring, respect, responsibility, and honesty. LITs will have opportunities to practice their new leadership skills by leading activities within their group and the camp community. LITs will stay on camp over the weekend of their two-week program.

Session Offered: 3&4

COUNSELOR IN TRAINING (Ages 16-17) Our two-week Counselor In Training (CIT) program provides a unique learning opportunity for campers who aspire to become camp counselors or future leaders. CITs will focus on communication skills, coaching and encouraging others, leading activities, and expectations of them as future leaders. CITs will stay on camp over the weekend of their two-week program.

CITs that successfully complete the two weeks of the program will be invited back to do a live-in week later in the summer to practice their new skills as they shadow and assist counselors with an assigned cabin group.

Session Offered 1&2