Every summer is a special experience

When kids go away to a summer camp, it seems they return transformed. It's more than the sunshine, the campfires and fresh air. Campers of every age develop a new sense of self and their place in the world at large.

Some northern camps include Camp Tanuga in Kalkaslka, Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park at Indian River, the all-female Camp Seagull in Charlevoix, Camp Walden near Cheboygan and YMCA’s Hayo-Went-Ha Camps near Traverse City.

For those who enjoy athletics, there are camp programs for most every sport, from USA Junior Hockey in Sault Ste. Marie, to Broneah’s Kiteboarding in Traverse City. Many of the resorts offer tennis and golf camps on premise.Crystal Mountain Resort is rated by Golf Magazine as one of the Top 25 Golf Schools with 90 school programs, including all female classes. The Jim McLean Golf School in the Grand Traverse Resort offers many junior programs for teens starting at age 12 including one offered over the winter holidays.

There are also internationally acclaimed performing arts camps for music and dance. Among them are Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp nestled in the Manistee National Forest and the Interlochen Arts Camp with 2,000 students from more than 40 countries. They produce for Northern Michigan visitors and residents more than 400 presentations in dance, theater, creative writing, visual arts, motion picture arts and music.