1SpringHillMichigan.com

SPRINGHILLMichigan Camp

Choosing a summer camp made easy pg 12

10 ways to help your kid thrive pg 2

The staycation— now for kids! pg 16

How to get your kids out of bed during summer break pg 18–25

SUMMER CAMPS DAY CAMPSRETREATS FAMILY CAMPS

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WHAT EVERY PARENT WANTS FOR THEIR KIDSAs parents, we always want to set our children up for success. We want them to know they have what it takes in life. It’s why we invest in their character. It’s why we challenge them to grow and try new things. It’s why we nurture their relationship with Jesus. And it’s why parents sent 25,431 kids to SpringHill summer camp last year.

Our kids come back from camp stronger in their faith and in the relationships they have with their friends and leaders.–camper parent

DEEP FAITH IN GODExpanded desire to pray and read the Bible. FUN & MEMORABLE

EXPERIENCESExperiences that create life-long memories.

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INDEPENDENCEDevelop critical thinking and confidence.

“ Our daughter had the experience we hoped for: met new people, tried new things and didn’t want to leave.” –camper parent

CONFIDENCE & SELF-ESTEEMOvercome fears and try new things.

STRONG CHARACTERBuild character to do the right thing, be thankful, and have a good attitude.

SOCIAL SKILLS Be comfortable interacting and talking to adults and other kids.

GOOD FRIENDS & MEANINGFUL RELATIONSHIPSMake friends that develop into lasting relationships.

DISCOVER INTERESTS & DEVELOP SKILLSExplore interests and develop skills that bring them a sense of accomplishment.

MORE ACTIVE OUTDOORSSpend less time on the couch and more time active and outdoors.

LEAD AND INFLUENCE OTHERSMake an impact on others.

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THE SPRINGHILLEXPERIENCE

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1. ADVENTUROUS ACTIVITIES When was the last time you were in awe of God’s creation? Camp is filled with tons of activities that make even grown men weak at the knees! It’s through these activities that the sense of awe and adventure springs to life—giving kids a taste of the wonders of God.

FAITH INFUSED FUNEvery experience your child will have at SpringHill has been intentionally designed to unify your child’s faith with fun. Through teachable moments during fun challenges, your child will learn that a life following Jesus is an exciting adventure.

FIVE KEY ASPECTS THAT RESULT IN SPIRITUAL AND PERSONAL GROWTH

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4. COMMUNITY & FRIENDSHIPSThrough small groups, your child will build meaningful relationships with their cabin mates and counselors. Children need to learn that they’re not alone in their walk with Christ. The relationships made at camp are a testament to the living God.

My son learned to try new things that pushed him to believe in himself and in the love of God.–camper parent

CHRISTIAN ROLE MODELSIt’s important to have multiple people speaking into your child’s spiritual development. Our strong Christian counselors easily connect with their campers.

5. CONFIDENCE BUILDING CHALLENGESEvery child wrestles with the question, “Do I have what it takes?” At SpringHill, your child will be challenged spiritually, physically, and mentally in a safe and loving environment. Through discussions with counselors and taking literal leaps of faith on the zipline, your child will return safely back to you with a tangible sense of independence.

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WHAT PARENTS LOOK FOR IN A SUMMER CAMPChoosing a summer camp can be hard if you don’t know where to start. We asked parents what they look for in a camp and what they wish they knew. From that, we’ve compiled a handy checklist to help you make your decision:

PAYMENT PLANS AND SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE Visit SpringHillMichigan.com/Financial or call 231.734.2616

Our Mission Statement page 8

Licensed and accredited page 11

Camp safety standards page 11

Emergency procedures page 11

Staff screening process page 13

Staff training page 13

Child supervision page 14

Counselor to camper ratio page 15

Staff to camper ratio page 15

Campers with special needs page 25

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TABLE OF CONTENTSMore Than Just Camp 8

Your Child is Our #1 Priority 10

All-Star Staff 12

Caring for Your Camper 14

SpringHill Day Camps (grades K-4) 16

Storybrook (grades 1-3) 18

Copper Country (grades 4-6) 20

New Frontiers (grades 6-9) 22

Teen Service Team (grades 9-12) 24

Special Needs Program 25

Year-Round Retreats 27

At SpringHill, our kids learn to get along with others, meet new friends with new perspectives, experience new things, and learn to handle things on their own.–camper parent

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Partnering with parents and local churches

In 2013, we partnered with 23,860 families and 468 churches across four states to reach 51,054 young people. The key to reaching 260,000 kids each year is building more and more partnerships. We seek to be an ally that unites like-minded churches and ministries in local communities for the purpose of reaching as many kids and teens as possible.

For more than 45 years, SpringHill has glorified God by creating life-changing experiences that enable young people to grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ. We currently reach 52,000 young people each year, but our goal is to reach 260,000 per year by 2025.

260,000 LIFE-CHANGINGEXPERIENCESPER YEAR

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Michael Perry President 16th summer with SpringHill

“We are behind SpringHill in everything they’re doing. My experience is that they always have the heart of Jesus for people. Very few things in this world have a more significant impact in the lives of family and kids than SpringHill.” –Steve Andrews, Senior Pastor | Kensington Community Church

SpringHill is more than just a camp. We’re a ministry committed to the ongoing spiritual and personal development of young people across the country. We’re all about creating experiences that result in life change. And at the core of all these experiences is Jesus Christ and his message of grace, hope, and love. Please join us in our ministry.

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YOUR CHILD’S SAFETY IS OUR #1 PRIORITY

We understand sending your child to camp is a big decision and we take the responsibility to care for your child very seriously. Our commitment to meeting your child’s needs underlies every single thing we do at SpringHill. Ensuring a safe, meaningful camp experience is the top priority for every member of our team. From activity directors to camp counselors to dining hall staff—we care about your child.

For the Kids,

Andy Hust, Michigan Camp Director 13th summer with SpringHill | 4 years as camper parent

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Overnight AccreditationAmerican Camp Association

LicenseState of Michigan

High Adventure InspectionsAnnual inspections by an independent ACCT-certified vendor

Activity InspectionsSpecially trained activity staff perform pre-operation inspections

Equipment InspectionsRopes, carabiners, rifles, paintball markers, water slides, etc. are all inspected prior to each use

Facilities Security SweepFrequent sweeps of all buildings for safety and security issues

Security SystemIncludes gated roads, electronic surveillance, staff trained in security, and personnel name badge requirement

Weather ReadinessRadar monitored constantly for proactive response to emergencies

Before your child even steps foot onto camp, we’ve carefully considered and prepared to provide the safest experience possible. Here are just some of the measures we’ve taken.

KEEP IT SAFEKEEP IT FUN

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HIGHLY EQUIPPED STAFFOur staff selection process helps us handpick the very best staff possible. Our training ensures that each staff member is equipped to give every child an amazing camp experience. We train all of our staff—from activity through leadership—to reach kids at their individual levels, to understand them and their needs, and to foster their developmental and spiritual growth.

The camp leaders are excellent role models —my son has a love for God and seeks Him more because of his experiences at SpringHill.–camper parent

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START FINISH

WE START WITH

2,500COLLEGE-AGE CANDIDATES

WE END UP WITH

1,000 AMAZING SPRINGHILL STAFFERS READY TO SERVE YOUR CHILD.

Hundreds of in-depth interviews focused on evaluating where candidates are in their spiritual walk, maturity of faith, experience working with kids, and overall competencies for the job.

Conducted by an independent company Criminal history Sex offender registry Child abuse/neglect registry Minimum of 3 references

EVALUATION BACKGROUND CHECKS

STAFF SELECTION PROCESS

TRAINING PROCESSAll of our staff goes through the same base training where they learn:

camper care safety protocols child protection conflict management customer service first aid awareness

We hire two sets of staff—counselors are trained to focus on kids throughout their week at camp. The activity staff is trained to safely facilitate activities for the kids. This allows counselors to focus and participate in the activity with their campers, creating shared memories and stronger relationships.

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HOW WE CARE FOR YOUR CAMPEREvery aspect of camp is purposefully designed to meet campers where they are and challenge them in their developmental growth. Our counselors are emotionally invested in your children. With this in mind, a counselor’s sole purpose is to build relationships with campers and make sure they are well taken care of and included at camp.

Our staff can manage medical needs. Working with our professional medical staff, counselors ensure campers receive the treatment and medications they need. If your camper takes medications, they will receive the right dose at the right time, every day.

Providing protection at every moment.At every level, staff members are not permitted to be alone with campers. Campers and staff must always be within view of others or in groups of at least 3. Additionally, we make it a point to help educate parents on how to keep their kids safe.

Counselors are on duty 24/7. Counselors stay in cabins with their campers and spend the whole day with these cabin groups, participating in activities and leading small group sessions. This ensures that campers are never left alone.

Through Camper Care training, our counselors learn how to:

recognize developmental stages of their campers

give campers individual attention address homesickness manage camper conflict or bullying handle a range of issues from

sunscreen to bee stings stay within ear- or eye-shot of campers

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OVERNIGHTCOUNSELORCAMPER

RATIO

24/7We have health officers on camp 24/7, along with nurses, EMTs, paramedics, and/or a doctor.

HOURS OF IN-DEPTH TRAINING

CertifiedOur lifeguards are CPR and Lifeguard certified by nationally recognized agencies.

EmergencyAll staff are trained in our Emergency Action Plan which covers scenarios like severe weather, fire, medical emergency, and camper security measures.

132 HOURS for counselors

135 HOURS for activity staff

268 HOURS for leadership staff

These ratios exceed state requirements and ACA camp standards.

to

Special Needs

Counselor

1Camper

1

to

Overall Staff Ratio

Staffer

1Campers

3

Grades 4–12

to

Counselor

1Campers

7

Grades 1–3

to

Counselor

1Campers

6

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DAY CAMP ACTIVITIES Archery Bungee Trampoline Camp Songs Climbing Wall Crafts Flying Squirrel Giant’s Swing Nature Exploration Paintball Targets Rope Ladder Water Slide

DAY CAMP: GRADES K-4YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD

Day Camp is a week of SpringHill fun, right in your hometown. Your kids will have a blast, hang out with old friends, make new friends, and learn a few things about themselves and God.

These camps include: HIGH-ADVENTURE ACTIVITIESSMALL-GROUP BIBLE TEACHINGSHIGH-ENERGY LARGE GROUP SESSIONS

We have specifically tailored the overall program, including staff, activities, and curriculum, to be age-appropriate — so every camper has an awesome experience.

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Overnight Camps Day Camps

FOR DATES, PRICING, AND LOCATIONS, VISIT SPRINGHILLMICHIGAN.COM/DAYCAMP

NURTURING YOUR YOUNGESTCAMPERS

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Storybrook is designed for our youngest elementary-aged campers. These campers spend their action-packed days with their other cabin mates and counselors. Programs are intentionally sequenced and filled to the max with activities that will engage campers at their level. Storybrook has themed housing to engage camper’s imaginations and small groups to help facilitate Bible lessons.

BIG KID ADVENTURES

JUST THEIR

SIZE

EXPLORERPlaying isn’t everything, unless you’re playing everything! That’s exactly what you’ll be doing as an Explorer. Get ready to sample a smorgasbord of activities: boat, splash, paint, zip, and shoot — try it all!

HORSESWhoa, how cool is this? There’s something for everyone with this riding experience! Learn technique in the arena and on the trails. Plus, play games to learn about horse care, feeding, and grooming. Giddy up! Girls only for now (completed grade 3).

OVERNIGHT CAMP: GRADES 1-3STORYBROOK

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OUTDOOR SPORTSMANGet ready for an epic week of camp! Have fun with scavenger hunts, environmental education, and fort building. Learn the basics, master the techniques, and conquer every challenge with your new outdoor skills.Boys only for now (grade 3).

FOR DATES, PRICING, AND LOCATIONS, VISIT SPRINGHILLMICHIGAN.COM/STORYBROOK

We thought our first grader would cry herself to sleep. When we picked her up, she was crying because she didn’t want to leave SpringHill. She’s been back every year since.–camper parent

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Activities and Bible lessons are a little more grown up for your pre-teens. Campers meet and participate in both small and big group activities, including a live band on Wednesday night! Programs focus on individual camper growth and conquering new challenges.

CAMP CLASSICNew to Copper Country? This is the program for you! Do it all—ziplines, crafts, swimming, water slides, and exploring! Same great fun packed into 4 days!Boys and girls.

PAINTBALLPlug into a team and learn how strategy, communication, target practice, and teamwork can sharpen your paintball game! Use our equipment or bring your own.Boys only for now.

OUTDOOR ADVENTURETest your skills canoeing on the river, create nature crafts, learn to read maps, build shelters, light fires, and sleep under the stars! Add in a little zipline for crazy fun! Girls only for now.

OUTDOOR SPORTSMANLearn survival skills like shelter building, orientating, starting fires, and learning constellations all while on an overnight camp out.Boys only for now.

MEETING PRE-TEENS WHERE THEY ARE

OVERNIGHT CAMP: GRADES 4-6COPPER COUNTRY

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EXTREME We’re here to show you the ropes if you need us, otherwise, go nuts on our killer half-pipes, fly boxes, rhythm sections, and averts. Pads, equipment, and helmets provided or bring your own. Boys only for now.

HIGH ADVENTURE Take your summer to new heights! Activities include teams course, ziplining, climbing wall, solo challenge, and high ropes. Boys and girls.

CREATIVEDance your way through camp! Get your creative juices flowing and express yourself through art and drama all week. Girls only for now.

HORSESVeteran riders and rookies alike will love this experience! Saddle up to improve on trail rides and in the arena. Plus, brush up on care, feeding, and grooming! Girls only for now.

FOR DATES, PRICING, AND LOCATIONS, VISIT SPRINGHILLMICHIGAN.COM/COPPERCOUNTRY

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New Frontiers is for junior high campers—with the tallest climbing tower on camp and a 1,000 foot zipline, New Frontiers offers high-energy experiences while maintaining the relational aspect of small groups and encouraging personal discovery. This allows for positive peer interaction during crazy games, Bible lessons, and worship sessions with the band—sometimes twice a day —and provides a safe environment to talk through real-life teen issues.

HIGH-ENERGY EXPERIENCES

HORSESHit the trails! Lessons are based on camper experience, giving everyone a chance to advance their skills — from the barn to the arena! Girls only for now.

THE EDGEThe most heart-pounding activities on camp: ziplines, tubing, blob, paintball, horses, extreme sports, high ropes, kayaks, solo challenge course, and a ton more!

THE PLUNGE Want more out of your camp experience? The plunge is 2 weeks of diving deeper into your faith while adventuring through what camp has to offer: zipline, climb, and splash through other wild activities.

OVERNIGHT CAMP: GRADES 6-9NEW FRONTIERS

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HIGH ADVENTURESample all of SpringHill’s high adventure activities, from ziplines, to solo challenge, to climbing walls, even our new indoor high ropes course! Come ready to face your fears and climb to new heights!

CREATIVEEnjoy learning about theater, choreographing dances, and how to perform in front of an audience. Have fun learning new art techniques as well. Girls only for now.

OUTDOOR SPORTSMANLearn orienteering, build shelters, leave no trace principles, and fire building. There are two specialized experiences to choose from: an overnight camping trip or a day canoeing down the river. Boys only for now.

PAINTBALLPlug into a team and learn how strategy, communica-tion, target practice, and teamwork can sharpen your paintball game! Use our equipment or bring your own.Boys only for now.

CLIMBING CAMPSpend two hours each day at one of our three climbing walls learning different rock climbing moves, routes, the names of holds, and playing rock climbing games! All experience levels welcomed.

FOR DATES, PRICING, AND LOCATIONS, VISIT SPRINGHILLMICHIGAN.COM/NEWFRONTIERS

24 FOR DATES AND PRICING INFORMATION, VISIT SPRINGHILLMICHIGAN.COM/TST

Teen Service Team (TST) is a totally different kind of camp experience. TST-ers spend half of their day serving their community and earning service hours, and the other half enjoying camp. They spend significant time with mentors in small groups, talking through real-life issues, focusing on deeper relationships with God and their peers, and developing a servant’s heart.

A TOTALLY UNIQUE EXPERIENCE

TSTIt’s all about teamwork! Grab your friends and jump into the ultimate SpringHill experience. Grow closer as you solve faith challenges together. TST-ers will be divided into teams: One team generally works in the dining hall, or kitchen. The other team generally works construction, landscaping, cleaning camp facilities, and managing luggage. After all that, you’ll get to worship with the band and work through real-life issues in focused sessions. Come alone or bring a group. 1 and 2 week options available.

OVERNIGHT CAMP: GRADES 9-12TEEN SERVICE TEAM

I learned that I love helping others and can use that gift for a lot of other things in life. God has put a fire in me that will burn forever.–camper

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ONECAMPERTO ONECOUNSELOR

SPECIAL NEEDS PROGRAMWe believe that every child is created in the image of God. We have a calling to welcome every child who would like to come to camp and enjoy the opportunity to pursue their own interests, including children with special needs. Our Special Needs Program is about meeting the needs of every camper that comes to camp. Whether it’s physical, behavioral, dietary, allergy, or medical, our staff is well trained and equipped to handle all types of needs and procedures involved in keeping your child safe and healthy.

EMBRACEALL KIDS

When requested or when necessary, a child with special needs can receive a one-on-one counselor, who is specifically trained to assist your child—at no additional cost. Every child with special needs is integrated into cabin groups with all other campers.

For more information about our Special Needs Program, please visit SpringHillMichigan.com/ SpecialNeeds.

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FAMILY CAMPSWe bring families together for great activities, a band, a speaker, and family challenges all weekend long! Interactive sessions are designed to strengthen your relationships as a family with Christ at its center. All of our camp activities are open for the weekend and we have special activities for kids of all ages.

FAMILY FUN DAYSOur free Family Fun Day is designed as a crash course in Overnight Camp. Together, your family will see how summer camp works, meet our directors, ask questions, tour camp, and experience a few of the activities that camp has to offer.

You can come to camp for the first time with your whole family! Lots of families take the first step at SpringHill by coming to one of our Family Fun Days or attending Family Camp. Both offer an opportunity to tour and experience camp as a family, and help introduce your kids to a new, awesome environment.

26FOR DATES AND PRICING INFORMATION, VISIT SPRINGHILLMICHIGAN.COM/FAMILYCAMP

OR SPRINGHILLMICHIGAN.COM/FAMILYFUNDAY

BRING THE WHOLE FAMILY!

FAMILY EXPERIENCES

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Over 50,000 people experience SpringHill Camps every year. Come see why!

BRING YOUR GROUP TO CAMP

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FOR MORE DETAILED INFORMATION, VISIT SPRINGHILLMICHIGAN.COM/RETREATS

FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO PARTNER, VISIT SPRINGHILLMICHIGAN.COM/PARTNER

GUEST GROUPSWINTER TEEN RETREATSPRE-TEEN RETREATSFAMILY CAMPSWOMEN’S RETREATS

YEAR-ROUND RETREATS

PARTNERSHIPSWe’re excited about partnering with people who have a heart for what our ministry is and a vision for what it could be! Our aim is to continually grow our organization to help serve more kids, their families, and their churches in a deeper way. With eyes forward, we focus on the task at hand from a financial and spiritual perspective—and we invite you to join us. Our greatest hope is that we would all be transformed and grow in our relationship with Jesus Christ through our efforts to impact kids’ lives.

PRAY. Please join us in prayer by signing up for the prayer newsletter.

GIVE. SpringHill is committed to reaching all kinds of kids regardless of the financial means of their family.

VOLUNTEER. There are opportunities to bring your family, church group, or organization to camp and have your own SpringHill service experience.

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