Welcome

North Star Reach
Camp-At-Home

Wherever you are, come celebrate what it means to be connected to one another. Together, we’ll create a community where friendship, laughter and kindness are what matter most. A place where we’ll reach for the stars and remind ourselves that anything is possible. We’re so glad you’re here.

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Photo: Eric Bronson, Michigan Photography

Love the Mooseness

Letter from Our
Director of Camping

We’ve always known that our camp is not about the place, but the people. People who clear away the everyday to make good things happen for children who live with serious illnesses and often miss out on chances to just be kids. That feeling of community coming together to create a brighter world for others, and ourselves, is something we call “mooseness.” Follow the link below to hear more about our remarkable community, and this moose I know.

More About Mooseness

Patrick Smith

North Star Reach Director of Camping

Photo: Eric Bronson, Michigan Photography

Love the Mooseness

We Are Here for You

Parents & Caregivers

We are proud to announce a series of new programs designed to deliver support, resources, improved well-being and hope to parents, guardians and caregivers of seriously ill children.

Parents & Caregivers

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May 5

Summer is approaching quickly, and we would love t

Summer is approaching quickly, and we would love to have you join us around our virtual campfire! Each of our six summer sessions help connect campers with similar medical conditions and provide community-building experiences through secure online gathering spaces. But wait, there’s more! Campers will enjoy an engaging lineup of real-time camp clubs with special guests, game-themed programs, all-new camp-in-a-box experiences, cabin chats, and more. To register and join in on the fun simply visit the link in our bio.

#seriousfuncamp #campathome #lovethemooseness #virtualcampfire

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May 4

Our first family camp-at-home session of 2021 is i

Our first family camp-at-home session of 2021 is in the books and it sure was a weekend to remember! There were many surprises along the way...but we do not want to give away too much, as we have our second family camp later this month. However, we would be a "lion" if we said it wasn't a roaring good time! 😉

At North Star Reach, we have a tradition where we close out family camp by inviting everyone to share one word that describes how they felt about the weekend experience. On Saturday one word in particular -- "community" -- shined brightest of all. Thank you to each and every camper, volunteer, and staff member who contributed to creating this incredible community. Our hearts are full! We can’t to see all our friends back at camp soon. ✨

#intothejungle #moosenessmystery #familycamp #seriousfun #spring2021

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May 3

MOOSENESS CHALLENGE: It’s #NationalNursesWeek! F

MOOSENESS CHALLENGE: It’s #NationalNursesWeek! For this week’s challenge, we're taking time to send our love and gratitude to the nurses who care for our campers and children with chronic illnesses. Won’t you join us in celebrating their dedication and courageous work during this pandemic? To send a cheer to nurses everywhere – especially our beloved camp nurses – simply share a heartfelt emoji or a message below. Anyone who comments will be entered into our free t-shirt drawing giveaway this Friday. Even better, you will help us send a big camp cheer to these amazing healthcare professionals as they continue caring for our communities every day.

#nursesweek2021 #healthcareheroes ##loveourcampily

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Apr 30

MOOSENESS CHALLENGE: Hey everyone, how do trees ge

MOOSENESS CHALLENGE: Hey everyone, how do trees get on the internet?...They “log” in! 🤣 AND We are tuning in for another #moosenesschallenge drawing with Jo Ellen, one of our incredibly hardworking staff members. This week our challenge was for all of you to drop a comment or DM about planting new seeds in honor of Earth Day! Watch as we announce the winner! Be sure to check out our Instagram on Monday for the next #moosenesschallenge! 🌍🌲💐

#moosenesschallenge #earthday #savetheplanet

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Apr 29

CAMPER MEETUP WINTER SEASON FINALE: As we wrap up

CAMPER MEETUP WINTER SEASON FINALE: As we wrap up our winter camper meetup season, we are taking time to reflect on the terrific time that we have had with our camp friends. Last night, our Camper Meetup for kids ages 7-12 enjoyed a 'no-hands' spaghetti dinner! Campers have also enjoyed connecting through virtual scavenger hunts, baking s'mores bars, and playing North Star Reach BINGO! We can’t wait to see our friends this summer during our Camp-At-Home virtual programs. Camper parents: Be sure to register your child today by visiting our summer registration page through the link in our bio.

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Apr 28

CELEBRATING GENEROSITY: We are tremendously honore

CELEBRATING GENEROSITY: We are tremendously honored to have recently been awarded a $25,000 grant from the Harry A. and Margaret D. Towsley Foundation in support of our upcoming caregiver and camper programs. Our deepest thanks to the Foundation for its belief in the positive change North Star Reach is making in our communities.

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Apr 27

Continuing with our series of celebrating North St

Continuing with our series of celebrating North Star Reach volunteers, we’re shining a spotlight on another amazing Young Professional Board (YPB) member, Mike Scarborough, who is also a longtime program volunteer. We were so proud to hear of Mike’s acceptance to our YPB where he says he gets to use his “time as a camp counselor and unit director to help create more opportunities for the magic of camp to be displayed.” He loves working on the YPB because “there’s a space and a role for everyone” – just like at camp! Having program volunteers, like Mike, on our YPB is incredibly beneficial because they are able to bring the silliness, community and traditions of camp to any event, fundraiser, or program. To Mike, camp is “a place where you’re supported and able to showcase the best version of yourself.” Mike’s favorite part of camp? Seeing “campers and counselors breaking new ground and becoming stronger and more confident.”

Thank you, Mike, for supporting camp in everything you do to help camp and put a smile on everyone’s face. We are honored to have you as part of our “campily!”

#youngprofessionalboard #supportcamp #seriousfuncamp #campcommunity #volunteersmakeitpossible

#youngprofessionalboard #supportcamp #seriousfuncamp #campcommunity

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Apr 26

MOOSENESS CHALLENGE: In honor of #EarthDay last Th

MOOSENESS CHALLENGE: In honor of #EarthDay last Thursday, for this week’s challenge, we’re asking you to think about planting new seeds. With Spring finally upon us, it’s time to plan for the summer! If you could plant anything for the coming season, what would it be? It can be a type of flower, fruit, or vegetable. It can even be something from your imagination that doesn’t exist yet! Some of our staff favorites include lavender, tomatoes, and a tree that grows chocolate chip cookies!🍪

Let us know what you’re thinking of planting by commenting below or sending us a DM. Anyone who plays will be entered into our Friday drawing for a chance to win one of our NSR camp t-shirts. We look forward to reading your submissions!

#moosenesschallenge #seedsofhope #seedsforthefuture #plantinspiration

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Apr 24

Our first spring delivery of camp magic is on its

Our first spring delivery of camp magic is on its way to camper families! We can’t wait to see everyone who registered for our first camp-at-home spring session this coming Friday (keep an eye out for your special FedEx delivery this week).

If you’d like to join us for our second virtual “General Session” spring family camp (May 21-22), we encourage families to sign up before May 10 to ensure you receive the VIP Camp Care Package prior to the opening event. Families who have never attended a North Star Reach program are welcome! To be eligible, the child who has a serious health challenge must be 17 years old or younger. See link in bio.

Also, we’re still looking for a few awesome program volunteers to help participate in our community-building, game-themed events this Friday and Saturday. Please email Coach (mike@northstarreach.org) if you’re interested. We’d love to have you join our team in bringing camp magic to our camper families.

#lovethemooseness #familycamp #seriousfun

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Apr 22

We are thrilled to announce that our summer camp-a

We are thrilled to announce that our summer camp-at-home registration is now open. Our six summer sessions connect campers with similar medical conditions and provide community-building experiences through safe and secure online gathering spaces. New in 2021: game-themed events, a terrific series of real-time camp clubs with special guests, all-new camp-in-a-box experiences, and--best of all!--a chance to connect with friends. Visit our camp-at-home website (link in bio) to see the complete summer schedule and register today!

#seriousfuncamp #campathome #lovethemooseness

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Apr 20

Our first 2021 Spring Family Camp-At-Home session

Our first 2021 Spring Family Camp-At-Home session (April 30-May 1) is completely full. Don’t worry, though! Registration is still open for our second session (May 21-22), and we invite new and returning camper families to join us for a re-imagined virtual camp experience featuring live camp activities, family games and challenges, and an entirely new camp-in-a-box care package delivered straight to your home. Our weekend camps are general sessions, meaning they are open to any family caring for a child who has a serious medical diagnosis. (If you are a parent with an eligibility question, please contact Jessica at campers@northstarreach.org). New families are welcome! Please note: our second session registration deadline for the full camp experience, including VIP Camp Care Package, is May 10th. We can’t wait to connect with you soon! To learn more and to register today, please click link in bio.

#campathome #springfamilycamp #joydelivered #campfiretogether #campcommunity #campconnections #northstarreach #medicalcamp #seriousfuncamp #childrensnonprofit

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Apr 19

MOOSENESS CHALLENGE: For this week’s challenge,

MOOSENESS CHALLENGE: For this week’s challenge, we’re celebrating #NationalVolunteerWeek by asking our friends to send a virtual camp hug to our amazing program and medical volunteers. Simply comment with a big-hearted emoji or a few words of gratitude and your name will be entered into our giveaway t-shirt drawing this Friday. Whether volunteering in-person or virtually, the time, talents, kindness, and generosity our incredible volunteers give our campers and their families truly makes the magic happen. Please join us in sending them some love for all that they do! 😍 🙏 💛

#weloveourvolunteers #volunteerweek #seriousgratitude

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Apr 18

April is #NationalDonateLife. We have many opportu

April is #NationalDonateLife. We have many opportunities to thank the generous donors who have given gifts of time, money and talent to make camp possible. Today, in honor of #NationalPediatricTransplantWeek, we’d like to recognize those who have given the gift of life. The campers we host during summer and family Transplant Camp sessions have had their lives saved by donors. This summer, Transplant Camp will be held virtually June 15-18. Applications will open soon for our entire summer camp-at-home season – stay tuned!

P.S. – If you haven’t done so already, please consider signing up as an organ donor. Visit @giftoflifemich to register today.

#kidstransplantweek #donatelife #transplantcamp #campmichitanki #northstarreach #medicalcamp #seriousfuncamp #childrensnonprofit

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Apr 17

On this #WorldHemophiliaDay, we join others in rai

On this #WorldHemophiliaDay, we join others in raising awareness for inherited blood disorders, especially pediatric patients. Our team is privileged to serve children with sickle cell disease, hemophilia, and other bleeding disorders through our family and summer camps. Together, we can strive to reach “treatment for all.”

#WHD2021 #hemophilia #bleedingdisorders

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Apr 17

Welcome back to another Mooseness Challenge Drawin

Welcome back to another Mooseness Challenge Drawing! This week, Colleen, one of our staff members, will be announcing our #MoosenessChallenge winner!

We asked all of you to reflect on a year spent in quarantine, and to share at least one thing you attempted or a skill that you acquired this past year by commenting or sending a DM! Tune in to see who wins. See you on Monday for our next challenge! ⚽️

#moosenesschallenge #lifeinquarantine #reflectlearngrow #seriousfuncamp

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Apr 16

Today’s the day: we’re so thankful to all the

Today’s the day: we’re so thankful to all the runners who have been logging their daily mile in the name of raising awareness for mental health. Together, we can continue to help e-race the stigma! Thank you to our friends at @epicraces for hosting the Probility Ann Arbor “Mile-A-Day” Marathon Challenge and selecting North Star Reach as a charity partner. We are honored to be one of the local organizations committed to this cause. Today, all participants are invited to gather on Epic Races Zoom channel to run the .2 together for a total of 26.2 miles, virtually crossing the marathon finish line together. Thank you to everyone who has supported camp through this incredible race and congratulations to all the runners who finish their marathon toady – we applaud your commitment to staying active during these challenging times!

#epicraces #mileadaychallenge #eracethestigma #onedayatatime #charitypartner #mentalhealthmatters #mentalhealthawareness

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Apr 15

#ICYMI: Be sure to check out the recorded talks fr

#ICYMI: Be sure to check out the recorded talks from our “Coping with Loss” conference hosted in March. You’ll find some incredibly thoughtful presentations about processing life-changing losses. A very special thanks to our friends at @elesplaceannarbor for partnering with us on this inaugural conference. Click link in video to access conference presentations.

#serioussupport #resourcesforcaregivers

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Apr 14

It’s #InternationalMomentofLaughterDay! At camp,

It’s #InternationalMomentofLaughterDay! At camp, love is high fives, late night cabin chats, and – of course – belly laughs. High fives are as much a greeting as they are about saying “You did it!” and celebrating and supporting each other as we grow. Today, we celebrate all the moments of laughter and smiles of summer that have happened both in person and virtually.

#laughteristhebestmedicine #laughterheals #spreadjoy #northstarreach #medicalcamp #seriousfuncamp #childrensnonprofit

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Apr 13

CAMP CLUBS NEXT SATURDAY (4/24): Camper families – we hope you’ll join us next Saturday from 1-3pm (EST) for our last camp clubs of our winter programming series, hosted by our incredible volunteers. This month’s featured clubs are Music & Drama and Story Studio. Our fun-filled activity hours will feature music, songs, and of course – tons of imagination! To learn more and sign up for community-building fun, please click link in bio.

#campclubs #campcommunity #northstarreach #seriousfuncamp

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Apr 12

MOOSENESS CHALLENGE: For this week’s challenge,

MOOSENESS CHALLENGE: For this week’s challenge, we’re celebrating one of our guiding values at camp: to reach high and go beyond. This core practice applies to our programming, activities, and even our staff, volunteers and campers themselves. We’re always striving to create places for our campers to continue to stretch themselves and provide opportunities of growth to try new things and to learn different skill sets. Of course, in everything we do, it’s always challenge by choice, giving campers the power to choose how they want to participate.

Since we are unable to gather safely just yet, for this week’s challenge, we’re asking you to reflect on your year spent in quarantine. This past year taught us many things as an organization and revealed new areas of growth for us. What did you learn or discover this past year? Were you able to learn or develop a new skill – perhaps something like learning how to a ride a bike, baking or cooking a meal, reading more books or trying a different sport? Our challenge for all of you this week is to share at least one thing you attempted or a skill that you acquired this past year by commenting below or sending us a DM. Anyone who plays will be entered into our Friday drawing for a chance to win one of our NSR camp t-shirts.

We look forward to reading your submissions. By commenting below, you will help spark ideas for our community and perhaps even encourage or inspire someone to try something new!

#moosenesschallenge #lifeinquarantine #reflectlearngrow #seriousfuncamp

Get in touch!

EMAIL

info@northstarreach.org

PHONE

FAX

North Star Reach Camp

1200 University Drive
Pinckney, MI 48169

FINANCIAL SUPPORT

North Star Reach is an independent nonprofit medical speciality camp based in Pinckney, Michigan. We provide life-changing camp experiences for children living with serious illnesses and their families, at no charge to them. You can support us today by making a donation.

Click Here & Donate

Stay Connected

PHONE

North Star Reach Camp

1200 University Drive
Pinckney, MI 48169

Stay Connected

FAX

EMAIL

info@northstarreach.org

FINANCIAL SUPPORT

North Star Reach is an independent nonprofit medical speciality camp based in Pinckney, Michigan. We provide life-changing camp experiences for children living with serious illnesses and their families, at no charge to them. You can support us today by making a donation.

Click Here & Donate

GuideStar Platinum

North Star Reach is a platinum-level
GuideStar participant

American Camp Association

American Camp
Association Accredited

Visit North Star Reach

Photo Credit: Leisa Thompson Photography