Summer camp provides the ultimate experience for kids and teens to develop skills that build confidence while creating lifelong memories and cherished friendships in the magical lake-studded land of Northern Michigan. Use this Northern Michigan Summer Camp Guide to help you find the camp best suited to the age, location, and interests of your children.


Camp Hayo-Went-Ha, Torch Lake & Traverse City
Ages: 3rd to 11th grade
For more than a century Camp Hayo-Went-Ha has been offering outstanding camp experiences. Natural Beauty meets adventure at Hayo-Went-Ha where campers learn about group vitality in cabin units and are free to choose afternoon activities like sailing, soccer, kayaking, tennis, drama, arts and more. This accredited camp has two locations, one for Boys Camp located on Torch Lake and the other for Girls Camp located on Lake Arbutus. Features include a ropes course, climbing tower, a scuba program (at the boys camp) and equestrian program (at the girls camp). Camp Hayo-Went-Ha offers 2-week and 4-week sessions.

Camp Tanuga, Kalkaska
Ages: 1st to 9th Grade
Tanuga offers an array of traditional camp activities like canoeing, sailing, water skiing, archery, drama, arts, and basketball, as well as horseback riding, in-line skating, wakeboarding, guitar and soccer. Campers choose up to 6 instructional activities as part of their daily schedule. After dinner in the Mess Hall overlooking Manistee Lake, campers round the campfire for story-telling and songs, or enjoy special programming like skit nights and mock rock. Camp Tanuga offers 2 week to 7 week sessions.

Camp Daggett, Petoskey
Ages: 7 to 14 years
Located on the west arm of stunning Walloon Lake, Camp Daggett’s mission is to “provide quality character building experiences for young people through educational and recreational activities.” Housed in rustic cabins, Campers are immersed in a classic camp experience with activities including nature studies, hiking, archery, sailing, canoeing, sports, and arts & crafts. Family-style meals are served in the picturesque log dining room that overlooks the blue waters of Walloon. Camp Daggett offers eight 1-week coed sessions.

Interlochen Arts Camp, Interlochen
Ages: 3rd to 12th grade
Nestled into an idyllic woods & water setting, Interlochen hosts a world-class Arts Camp for kids and teens who express a passion for the arts in fields like creative writing, dance, motion picture arts, music, theatre and visual arts. Interlochen’s 1,200 acre campus is home to 120 cabins and dozens of performance venues where campers have the opportunity of a lifetime to study with talented instructors.

Grand Traverse Bay YMCA, Traverse City
Ages: 3 1/2 years to 9th grade
The Grand Traverse Bay YMCA offers a broad range of camps including Young Explorers for ages 3 1/2 to 4 at the Early Childhood Education Center, Adaptive Camp designed for youth with physical and mental needs, as well as camps for enthusiasts of sports, science & nature, and the arts.

Camp Walden, Cheboygan
Ages: 2nd to 11th grade
Campers at Walden design their days with fun activities like arts & crafts, outdoors recreation, horseback riding, gardening, yoga, mountain biking, and the performing arts. Founded in 1959 by two young Detroit school teachers, this coed overnight camp stretches along the shores of Long Lake, just south of Cheboygan. Camp Walden offers 2 to 7 week overnight sessions.

Crystalaire Adventures, Frankfort
Ages: 12 to 17 years
Voyages of creative discovery and a sense of belonging while gaining the skills necessary to make friends are at the heart of Crystalaire Adventures where campers “discover what it feels like to sleep under the stars.” Teens gain first-hand wilderness experience by choosing their adventure: The Ontario River Trip, The Sojourn, U.P. Commnunity Service Trip, Schooner on the Sweetwater Sea, Isle Royale, and the Manitou Islands. Trips range from 2 days to more than a week.

Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp, Twin Lake
Ages: 5th to 12th grade
The Manistee National Forest is home to this 1,400 acre arts camp that provides instruction in music, art, dance and drama to 5,400 campers. Entering it’s 50th season, Blue Lake inspires young artists to achieve their potential as they discover, learn and experience while enjoying cabin life in a natural setting and traditional camp activities like swimming, beach volleyball, basketball, and kickball. Sessions are 11 days and run throughout the summer.

Wolverine Camps, Wolverine
Ages: 5th to 12th grade
Wolverine hosts a variety of camps throughout the Summer focused on developing individual talents: Cross Country Camp, Basketball Camp, Soccer Camp, Visual Arts Camp, Band Camp, Vocal Theatre, Lacrosse.

Camp Lookout, Frankfort
Ages: 8 to 15 years
Located on a wooded peninsula hugged by Lower Herring Lake and Lake Michigan, Camp Lookout adventure begins by simply getting to camp—by boat! Activities include sailing, kayaking, canoeing, horseback riding, mountain biking, art, sports skills, etc. or may include things like creating a large outdoor sculpture, organizing a theme meal, working on a creative writing project, and more. Evenings are filled with games such as Capture the Flag, talent night, fantasy night or a campfire. Lookout offers 3 to 12 day sessions.

More Northern Michigan Kids