Limit your luggage to one duffel or suitcase. Storage space in cabins is limited to the area under your bunk. Pack compactly – guests must carry their belongings to their cabins. Please label ALL items with student’s name. Closed-toe shoes are required for participation in many activities, including horseback riding, high ropes, zip line, and rock climbing. Long pants and long sleeves are required for horseback riding. Michigan weather is unpredictable and many activities are exclusively outdoors, so come prepared! Dress at camp is casual; bring clothes and shoes that are okay to get dirty. 

Some items on this list many not apply to day-only groups. Overnight recommendations are marked (*).

• Pillow + twin size bedding OR sleeping bag*
• Towel + toiletries* (shampoo, soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, hair brush/comb, deodorant, washcloth)
• Pajamas*
• Daily change of underpants and socks*
• Comfortable clothes for indoor and outdoor activities
• For groups riding horses: long sleeves + long pants
• Comfortable closed-toe shoes that can get dirty (like sneakers) – we recommend bringing 2 pairs of shoes
• Multiple layers + winter clothing (when applicable)
• Rain gear (when applicable)
• Snow boots or rain boots (when applicable)
• Sunscreen and/or bug spray
• Day pack or small backpack
• Money for the Camp Store
• Reusable water bottle
• Camera (clearly labeled – camp is not responsible for broken, lost, or stolen personal items)
• Flashlight or headlamp + spare batteries

• Aerosol cans
• Personal sports equipment
• Pets and animals
• Knives or firearms
• Alcohol, drugs, or tobacco products (medications must be turned in to school personnel and administered through designated school health officer during camp)
• Electronic equipment, games, personal music players
• Cell phones
• Tablets and laptop computers
• Smart watches (i.e., Apple Watch)

• There are bugs at camp! We try our best to keep them outside. Please don’t bring food into cabins, because that invites critters inside.
• We have well water at camp, so it may taste different than your water at home. It is safe to drink and is tested for quality on a regular basis. 
• You’ll be moving and grooving more at camp than you normally do at home, so make sure to drink extra liquids while you’re here. Water is your friend!
• When it is time to be quiet, our staff need your attention, so we can move on to the next fun thing. We will teach our quiet signal when you first arrive.
• We act goofy and fun at camp, but that doesn’t mean we enjoy disrespectful behavior. Have fun and enjoy this time to be carefree and happy. Play games with us and sing your heart out when it’s time to!
• Some activities are designed to push you out of your comfort zone. That’s good! Try to set a goal for each activity and accomplish it, even if it seems like a simple task to you. For example, if you are sure you don’t want to go horseback riding or zip lining, consider petting one of the horses or trying on a harness instead. That will get you a Willee Noxen for being brave!

YMCA Camp Manitou-Lin is not responsible for clothing and personal property brought from home. While our staff will help students locate lost items, it is considered the responsibility of the student to keep their belongings together. The Lost and Found box is located on the Lodge porch; please check this box before departure. Unclaimed lost and found property will be donated to local charities on a regular basis. 

YMCA Camp Manitou-Lin is proud to be a tech-free zone. We encourage all visitors to leave electronics and cell phones at home. This will help you connect with nature, but also with each other. Cell phones, smart watches, and other electronic equipment can easily be lost or damaged during your time at camp. Cell service is spotty at Camp, so we have an emergency phone number that can be provided to parents/guardians if they need to reach school personnel during your trip. 

• Plan to be with your group at all times. If you must leave the group, ensure that another chaperone is supervising the group.
• Never send students anywhere on their own. We recommend the “truddy” system (sending a group of three) for students’ safety.
• During classes and activities, try to actively participate with your campers, unless staff have requested that you only observe (i.e., during Teambuilding)
• Set a good example for your group by modeling good behavior. Follow all rules, be positive and enthusiastic, and dress appropriately for the weather.
• Please help to enforce camp rules and encourage positive behavior from students. Take charge of any situation where a student is not following the directions or guidelines of our staff members.
• Ensure that students are dressed appropriately for the day’s activities and for the weather conditions.
• Do not consume alcohol, illegal drugs, or tobacco products on camp property, including parking lots and wooded areas.
• Coffee and tea are available all day for adults, but are off limits to students.
• Remember to keep the group together in the cabin at night.
• Do not allow horseplay in the cabins (i.e., jumping from bunk to bunk, pillow fights, water fights, etc.)
• Contact camp staff in the event of a maintenance or facilities emergency.
• Please spread out so that there is at least one chaperone at each table during mealtimes.
• Encourage polite table manners and passing of food. Make sure all students get a first helping when the food arrives at your table.
• Hopper tags are required for students to leave the table during a meal (except for bathroom visits).
• During cleanup, all table members should help scrape and stack dishes to make the hoppers’ duties easier. Students should not be wandering around other tables to chat with their friends during cleanup time.
• Do not allow students to leave the lodge until the group has been formally dismissed. Announcements are often made at the end of meals and it’s important that all students are present to hear those updates.