Michigan United Conservation Clubs: Camp for Kids: A Partnership Connecting Youth to Michigan's Great Outdoors

(Michigan United Conservation Clubs)

The Michigan United Conservation Clubs has run a summer youth camp since 1946.  Over the course of time that camp has been hosted on different state lands throughout the state until it found its permanent home at the Cedar Lake Outdoor Center (CLOC).  The CLOC is located within the Waterloo Recreation Area, an amazing piece of state land with over 20,000 acres near Chelsea, MI.

Originally built during the Depression by the Work Progress Administration as a place to get kids from urban areas into the outdoors, the camp fell into disrepair because of dwindling state budgets.  Over five years ago MUCC’s affiliated clubs took this abandoned camp under their wings and have since made it a success, each year providing volunteer labor and materials and sponsoring over 300 youth who wouldn’t otherwise be able to afford a week-long outdoor experience.

MUCC’s camp has become known throughout the conservation community as the place to help reconnect youth to our great outdoors.  Attendees spend a full week fishing, shooting, hiking, canoeing, identifying plants and animals and much more.  All campers have a chance to earn their hunter’s safety certificate and a special week sponsored by Safari Club International- Novi Chapter gives youth the opportunity to earn their IBPE bow hunter certification as well.

Camp in 2010 promises to offer even more excitement from our amazing volunteers and partners as we work to develop new “theme weeks.”  Kids will get to choose from fishing, upland birds, outdoor survival, whitetails and more.  MUCC’s clubs and volunteers have risen to new heights and are embarking on projects that will make the camp function even better than before.  Michigan International Speedway has come on board as a sponsor.  The United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America is using their trade school to provide much needed repairs to the cabins and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources is working with MUCC to develop joint programs.

This camp is a triumph in many ways and is a great example of the type of successful partnership that can be created between state agencies, NGO’s and the business community.  The word it out; connecting kids to the outdoors is critical for the future protection of our natural resources and MUCC’s camp program strives to make a difference in that battle.

For more information about Camp for Kids please contact Gary Haner, Manager Institute for Conservation Education, MUCC <ghaner@mucc.org>.  All images provided by Michigan United Conservation Clubs.