YMCA Camp Manitou-Lin has over 100 years of camping experience and is located on beautiful Barlow Lake in Middleville, Michigan. Our beautiful, natural setting provides an excellent opportunity for all who visit.  We are committed to providing a camp experience rich in tradition centered on our core values, with a Christian emphasis, and allowing all who participate to gain 21st century skills, independence and life long memories.

Day Camp - $350

Ages: Completed K-6th Grades • Co-Ed

At our Traditional Day Camp, your camper will build friendships, learn valuable life lessons, and make memories through a variety of fun and engaging activities. Day Camp is the perfect stepping stone for campers who want to prepare for the Overnight Camp experience.

Week
Dates
Theme
1
June 9-13
Spies & Ninjas
2
June 16-20
Minecraft & Mario
3
June 23-27
Shipwrecked!
4
June 30-July 4
Stars & Stripes
5
July 7-11
Harry Potter
6
July 14-18
Star Wars
7
July 21-25
Disney
8
July 28-August 1
Summerween
9
August 4-8
Bluey
10
August 12-15
Mad Scientists & Their Minions

Kinder Day Camp - $350

Ages: 4-5 Years • Co-Ed

Kinder Campers participate in Traditional Day Camp activities adapted to be age appropriate for our youngest campers. This program is designed to be an introduction to day camp programming for preschool-aged campers.

Week
Dates
Theme
1
June 9-13
Spies & Ninjas
2
June 16-20
Minecraft & Mario
3
June 23-27
Shipwrecked!
4
June 30-July 4
Stars & Stripes
5
July 7-11
Harry Potter
6
July 14-18
Star Wars
7
July 21-25
Disney
8
July 28-August 1
Summerween
9
August 4-8
Bluey
10
August 12-15
Mad Scientists & Their Minions

Day Camp for Individuals with Special Needs - $350

Ages: Completed 2nd-12th grades • Co-Ed

This camp is designed to welcome campers with differing abilities and needs. Campers participate in Traditional Day Camp activities through an adapted schedule to ensure they have a meaningful camp experience. All Special Needs Day Campers must apply for this program by emailing camp@grymca.org or calling 888.909.2267.

Day Camp Add-Ons

Bus Transportation - $45

Daily bus transportation to and from YMCA Camp Manitou-Lin is available from multiple locations around the Grand Rapids area. 

AM Pickup Location PM Dropoff
7:15 a.m. David D. Hunting YMCA - Downtown 5:45 p.m.
7:20 a.m. Meijer Knapp's Corner 5:50 p.m.
7:40 a.m. SpartanNash YMCA - Byron Center 5:20 p.m.
7:40 a.m. Breton Downs Elementary - East Grand Rapids 5:30 p.m.
8:00 a.m. Mary Free Bed YMCA - Cascade 5:05 p.m.
8:00 a.m. Meijer Gaines Twp 5:00 p.m.

Day Camp Horse Experience - $125

This add-on experience is an option for Day Campers in 2nd-6th grade (8+ years). Campers will get the opportunity to spend designated time with our horses in addition to their regular day camp programs. 

Sample Schedule

Time
Activity
8:30 a.m.
Bus Arrival
8:45 a.m.
Flag Raising and Announcements
9:00 a.m.
Chapel
9:30 a.m.
Activity #1
10:30 a.m.
Activity #2
11:30 a.m.
Lunch
12:30 p.m.
Free Swim
1:30 p.m.
Activity #3
2:30 p.m.
Activity #4
3:30 p.m.
Snack
4:00 p.m.
Open Areas
4:15 p.m.
Flag Lowering
4:30 p.m.
Bus Depart, Check Out Begins

Additional Camp Information

There is no formula for when a child is ready for the overnight camp experience, but the number one characteristic of a happy camper is that the camper WANTS to be at camp. The following information can act as a guide to preparing your child for their first time at camp.

What to Expect

Developing realistic expectations about camp is important. Spending a week at camp can be a wonderful experience, and it is important to make sure your camper understands it may not be fun every minute – there may be problems to solve, cabins to keep tidy, tables to set and new skills to develop. Learning and challenging yourself is all part of the camp experience.

Making friends and building confidence are also integral parts of the camp experience. Campers should be open to sharing about themselves, trying new things, and helping others. Camp is physically active, with long days spent outside. Participating fully allows for campers to get the most out of their experience.

1. Overnight camp check-in takes place on Sunday from 2:00pm to 3:00pm. Please do not arrive early, as our staff will not be prepared to welcome campers until 2:00pm.

2. Please use the entrance marked Cheff Lodge YMCA Camp Manitou-Lin and park in our main parking lot. Camp staff will greet you, give your camper’s cabin assignment, and show you where to leave your camper’s luggage. PLEASE BRING ALL MEDICATION SEPARATE FROM YOUR LUGGAGE.

3. If you will be arriving late due to unforeseen circumstances, please call us as soon as possible to communicate those changes by calling us at 269-795-9063. You will check-in at the Welcome Center (by main parking lot) if you are a late arrival.

4. You will be directed to enter Cheff Lodge, where the rest of the check-in process will take place. Our staff will confirm our child’s name, cabin placement, and your contact information. Your child will be screened for head lice. Our Camp Nurse will be present to accept all medications and answer any questions you may have. You will also have the opportunity to speak with our Food Service Director if you have questions or concerns about food allergies or dietary restrictions. Our Camp Store will be open if you would like to purchase any CML gear for your camper before your departure.

5. Campers will be directed towards their cabins by camp staff located around the property. You can walk your child to their cabin, meet their counselors, and help them get settled into their bunk. We aim to have all luggage delivered to cabins before your departure, but we appreciate your patience in the event of a delay.

Cabin groups are assigned by age, grade, and gender. We make every effort to place campers with mutually requested cabin-mates submitted via Camper Information form within your Camp Brain account. We will not be able to accommodate requests made at the time of check-in.

After you have helped your child get unpacked and make their bed, give them a kiss and say goodbye with a big smile! We have found that positive parents help make for positive campers.

Camp sessions end on Friday afternoon and pickup runs from 3:45 – 5:15 p.m. We will also have a Family Farewell Celebration at 4:15 p.m.

1. Please use the entrance marked Cheff Lodge YMCA Camp Manitou-Lin and park in our main parking lot. Exit your car and meet a member of our camp staff by our Welcome Center.

2. Camp staff will ask for either a valid photo ID or an overnight camp check-out card (provided during check-in). Please make sure that the adult picking up your camper has been listed as an authorized pickup in your CampBrain account.

3. If you dropped off medication during check-in, the empty container or remaining medication will be returned to you.

4. Camp staff will give you an end-of-session folder. There will be a photo of your camper with their cabin, a note from the camp counselor, information about upcoming events, and an option to make a donation to camp in honor of your child’s favorite camp counselor.

5. Once you have been given your child’s folder, we will help gather your camper’s luggage and load in your vehicle.

6. Once luggage is loaded you will head to your campers cabin to collect them. We will be having a family show at 4:15 p.m. at our chapel. You and your camper(s) are welcome to stay for that or head out.

7. On your way out please make sure to check our lost and found table outside of the camp store for any items that may have been misplaced.

8. Exit at the south corner and we’ll see you in 2026!

Campers will be assigned a trail group and counselor(s) for the week. These trail groups are age/grade specific and mixed gender. These groups will be their “family group” for the entire week and will do all weekly activities together.

If you would like to request a specific camper to be in your child’s group, please note that on the Camper Information form. Similarly, if you need to request that a camper NOT be placed in your child’s group, please note that on the same form.

Please note that we DO NOT guarantee group mate requests, but will try our best to accommodate them. Last minute changes (i.e. requests made on the first day of camp) are extremely challenging for us to facilitate and will not be considered.

We love to celebrate summer camp birthdays! Let us know if your camper has a birthday while at camp so we can snap a photo of them in the Birthday Chair. We will email a copy to you, so you can share in their special day.

Day Campers will be provided with lunch each day from our camp kitchen. We serve kid-friendly menu items like turkey sandwiches, pizza, macaroni and cheese, mini corn dogs, fresh fruit and vegetables, and lots of water! If your child has food allergies or dietary restrictions, please include that information in your child’s Medical Form so our kitchen staff can prepare appropriate meals for them. If your camper is a picky eater, feel free to send them with a lunch from home.

While our camp kitchen does not serve products with nuts, we cannot guarantee that our facility is nut-free. We ask that our day campers opt to leave snacks with nuts at home. Our staff will remind campers not to share food or snacks so as to avoid allergen transmission.

Day Campers will be given an afternoon snack each day. If your child rides the bus, or is an active snacker, feel free to pack additional snacks for your child each day. Also, make sure your camper is sent with a refillable water bottle each day that is labeled with their first and last name!

Campers will receive one Trail Group photo in their Friday folder each week. These are 5×7 full-color photos of your child’s “trail group” of campers and their counselor.

Trail Group photos are taken each Monday morning. We have a very tight turnaround to get our photos ordered, printed, and shipped to camp within four days, so retakes are not possible. if your camper is absent on Monday morning, the trail group photo will not include your camper. If your photo is lost, email Josh Wilson at jwilson@grymca.org.

Campers will be able to visit our camp store twice during their session. Most families deposit $20.00 – 25.00 for one session, which can be used to purchase items like t-shirts, sweatshirts, hats, slushies, snacks, and other items.

Families can add money to their camper’s store account by logging into your Camp Brain account. Please do not send your camper on the bus with cash in their possession. Bus counselors cannot accept camp store money.

You can check your Camp Brain account to see any remaining balance in your camper’s store account at any time. You may request a refund by emailing camp@grymca.org. Any unclaimed money at the end of the summer (August 16, 2024) will be donated to our Annual Campaign, which aids in sending children to camp at a reduced cost.

You will receive an emailed copy of our Day Camp Newsletter at the beginning of your camper’s session. This document has information regarding any special activities that are planned for the rest of the week. It also has a schedule of activities your camper will be doing throughout the week, along with reminders from the Day Camp team. Make sure to check your email so you don’t miss out!

Penny Wars is a day camp tradition that takes place each week, campers are invited to bring in loose change to raise money for our Annual Campaign. Campers will be able to place their change in their own trail group boxes or another’s pennies (and notes) count as positive points, where as silver counts as negative points and can be used to sabotage other trail groups. Penny wars will be open Tuesday-Friday, with the trail group earning the most points receiving a trail group prize following Friday lunch!

Getting Ready for Camp

Families are asked to self-monitor and conduct the following pre-screening procedures for 10 days before the start of their camper’s session: Nobody likes to feel sick at camp, to assist us with this please self-screen for presence of illness in those days leading up to camp.

Please complete your forms online in your Camp Brain account. These forms are due at least two (2) weeks before your child’s session begins. Please take the time to fill these forms out carefully — these are required before a camper can be admitted. If your child is attending more than one week of camp, you only need to fill out one set of forms.

1. Medical Form: Campers cannot be admitted to camp without a fully completed and signed medical form. This important medical information will help our staff provide better programs and supervision for your child. Please be as specific as possible—all information is completely confidential, and your answers will help guide our staff o provide the best possible experience for your camper. The more information you can provide, the better!

2. Activity Form: This form allows you to select your camper’s afternoon activity that they will attend Monday through Thursday.

3. Camper Information Form: MANDATORY – This form provides us with critical information about your child’s development and readiness for camp. OPTIONAL – You may request ONE trail group mate/ bunk mate request of the same or similar age (within 1-2 years). We do our best to accommodate these requests but do not guarantee a match.

4. Camper Photo: OPTIONAL – Please consider uploading a current photo of your camper under the “documents” section to help us identify them on the first day!

Policies and Guidelines

Please keep your child home if they are ill and/or running a fever. Children must be symptom-free for at least 72 hours prior to returning to camp. If a child becomes ill during camp, a parent or emergency contact will be notified of pick up the child.

Please leave anything of value at home as we cannot ensure its safety. Children tend to borrow, loan, exchange, forget, and find clothes from others. Providing labels on your camper’s things helps us tremendously in getting things back to their rightful owner. We will try to get it all straightened out before they go home, but YMCA Camp Manitou-Lin will not be responsible for clothing and personal property brought from home. Unclaimed lost and found property will be kept for one week following the last day of camp and then donated to local charities.

Camp Manitou-Lin has a NO CELL PHONE policy at camp. Not only are cell phones expensive to replace when they are lost or damaged at camp, but cell phones also interfere with your camper becoming more independent. We understand that parents take a leap of faith by sending their campers to spend time away from home. Unfortunately, when well- intentioned parents send a cell phone to camp ‘just in case’ the camper needs to call home, the message is, “We love you but don’t trust that you are ready to solve challenges on your own.” Having a cell phone prevents our counselors and staff fom addressing problems that might arise and using that experience to help your child grow.

We will reach out to you if your camper is experiencing a challenge in their adjustment to camp. You can help by talking to your child before they leave for camp and telling them that there is always someone they can reach out to, whether it be their counselor, a camp specialist, the camp nurse or the camp administration. Cell phones brought to camp will be kept in a locked place and returned to the parent at checkout. Please express your trust in our staff and in your child by insisting cell phones stay at home.

YMCA Camp Manitou-Lin’s core values are Caring, Honesty, Respect, Responsibility, and Inclusion. Our entire camp family is expected to conduct themselves in such a way to model these values at all times. Our daily chapel services, “thought of the day,” and pre-meal graces emphasize these core values and how they can be applied to different parts of the camp experience. The expectation that all campers follow our core values is implemented with great care and respect by our camp staff. We expect campers to follow camp rules, have a positive attitude, try new things, be respectful of others’ space and belongings, be cooperative and helpful, maintain open communication, and have fun!

Camp remains in regular operation, rain or shine. Regular camp activities will continue during light rain conditions. During more severe weather, including lightning and thunder or extreme heat, the day’s schedule my be altered and indoor/alternate activities will be provided. In the event of an emergency, we will make every effort to notify parents by phone and email. If necessary, emergency transportation will be handled by 911 and local emergency services

We are unable to prorate camp fees due to scheduling needs or conflicts. All camp fees must be paid by May 25th, 2025. If you register for camp after this date, the entire balance is due upon registration. A $75 deposit holds your child’s spot for camp. This deposit includes a $25 administrative fee. The registration deposit and administrative fee covers all basic administrative costs for each registration. Please give us a minimum of two weeks notice to cancel or change your registrations for camp. No shows for a registered session will result in the forfeiture of the full registration fee. The camp director reserves the right to decline the application of any child, or send home any child who, according to the Director’s discretion, negatively effects other campers experience, or puts themselves or others at risk. If a child is dismissed from camp, there will be no refund issued.

All medications, except asthma inhalers and Epi-Pens, are to be kept secured with the Camp Nurse. “Medications” includes over the counter drugs like Tylenol, Pepto Bismol, Sudafed, vitamins, melatonin, etc. The Camp Nurse, coordinators, or directors will administer prescribed medications. All medications must be turned in directly to the camp director (car drop-off) or bus counselor on Monday morning. Empty containers or remaining medication will be returned on Friday afternoon.

Michigan law requires that we only accept medications in original containers (prescription or over-the-counter packaging). Medications can only be administered according to the directions on the container.

Transportation

  • Drop off and pick up will take place at Day Camp. Look for the sign labeled DAY CAMP ENTRANCE, not the entrance labeled Main Entrance or Welcome Center. Day Camp is 1/4 mile south of the main entrance, at the corner of a sharp turn in Briggs Road.
  • Campers may be dropped off beginning at 8:00am. The day camp program begins at 8:30am.
  • Staff will direct your camper to their trail group’s picnic table, where they will meet their counselor, get checked in, and spend time with other members of their group.
  • The Day Camp program ends at 5:15pm. Check out takes place in the same location as drop off. Please be prepared to show a photo ID every day. Campers will only be released to adults on the Authorized Grown Ups form. We take your child’s safety very seriously and appreciate your cooperation and understanding.
  • Please make sure you have selected a bus stop for your child’s session if needed. You will choose this within your Camp Brain application. There is a $40 fee per camper per week for bus transportation. Please ensure that your camper’s balance is paid in full prior to the start of the session.
  • Please allow 10 minutes before and after the scheduled pickup/drop-off times for traffic, accidents, unforeseen issues, etc.
  • YMCA Camp Manitou-Lin busing is provided by a contracted third party. All campers will travel in full-size yellow school buses. There will be bus counselors on each bus. During the ride, counselors will supervise all campers and may lead games or songs during the ride.
  • Bus counselors will not allow your camper to board the bus if their Medical form has not been completed online.
  • At the end of the day, you will be asked to sign your child out with the bus counselors. A photo ID is required to sign out your camper. Campers must remain on the bus until the bus counselor has checked ID’s. Please be patient, especially on the first day, as everyone learns the sign out process.
  • IF YOU WILL BE LATE: Please contact the Day Camp office at 269-205-9012. To run on schedule, the bus cannot wait more than 5 minutes past each stop’s scheduled departure time. You will have the option of meeting the bus at the next stop or the end of the route if you are going to be late.
  • If a parent does not make it to their child’s assigned bus stop within the five-minute grace period, the bus will continue its route and parents/guardians will be called. Camp staff and the bus driver will stay with the camper at the last stop on the route and a late fee of $1.00 per minute will be applied.

Due to the nature of Day Camp programming, early departures can be challenging. We will accommodate all written requests or phone requests for early departure; however, our facility spans more than 160 acres and it is likely that your child’s group will not be in the immediate vicinity at the requested pick-up time.

Due to supervision guidelines, we are unable to offer temporary care for early departures.

If your camper’s day travel mode needs to change (i.e. pick up by car instead of taking the usual bus route), please call or email our camp office as soon as possible with that information. We request that we are notified no later than 2pm to ensure changes can be made to the rosters. This includes changes to Authorized Grown Ups, changing bus routes, switching from bus to car, or vice versa.

If Camp must change or modify pick-up or drop-off procedures, parents and guardians will be contacted by phone and/or email to communicate those changes.