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.

Photo: Eric Bronson, Michigan Photography

Love the Mooseness

Welcome 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.” After you’ve experienced our programs, we hope you too will come to love the 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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Jan 27

SPRING CAMPILY RETREATS: Can you hear that? We are

SPRING CAMPILY RETREATS: Can you hear that? We are buzzing with excitement that our spring Campily Retreats are approaching quickly! These newly designed Campily Retreats will adapt traditional Family Camp Weekend programming to ensure COVID-19 precautions while giving families a chance to enjoy a camp getaway experience. To see our Campily Retreat schedule and apply today visit the link in our bio!

#CampilyRetreats #WeAreCampily #LoveTheMooseness

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Jan 26

Roses are red, Violets are blue, We're hosting a g

Roses are red,
Violets are blue,
We're hosting a game night
and would love to see you!

Join us for our first Family Game Night of 2022 on January 28th from 7-8 pm (EST) on Zoom! To register, simply follow the link in our bio.

#LoveTheMooseness #FamilyFun #GameNight

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Jan 25

Did you hear the news?! 86% of @seriousfun_camps a

Did you hear the news?! 86% of @seriousfun_camps alumni surveyed say camp had a major influence on their self-identity. Check out the latest study on the lasting impacts of camp through the link in our bio! We’re proud to be part of such an awesome community of camps and programs around the world.

#SeriousFun #LastingImpacts

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Jan 24

With spring just around the corner (hard to believ

With spring just around the corner (hard to believe with the recent heavy snowfalls), our program and medical teams are working hard on plans to safely welcome campers back to camp. Today we have two important announcements about the upcoming season:

Summer Camp Date Change: We wanted to let you know before we open summer camp registration that we have made a change to our previously released summer schedule. After hearing that many of our families have delayed school release dates and considering the transmission rates of COVID-19 in schools, together with our medical team we have decided the best thing for our camper families is to delay the start of camp this summer. See the new summer camp dates above. Applications will open later in February.

Campily Retreat Applications Are Open: We’re excited to announce that our 2022 Spring and Fall Campily Retreat applications are now live! These newly designed “campily retreats” adapt Family Camp Weekend programming to ensure COVID-19 precautions while giving families a chance to enjoy a camp getaway experience. Visit link in our bio to learn more and apply today.

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Jan 23

Sunday snow day. ❄️ 📷: Jo Ellen

Sunday snow day. ❄️

📷: Jo Ellen

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Jan 22

Winter shine. #pattersonlake #staywarmcampfriends

Winter shine. #pattersonlake #staywarmcampfriends

📷: Jo Ellen

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Jan 20

Join us next Friday, Jan. 28 (7-8 PM, EST) for the

Join us next Friday, Jan. 28 (7-8 PM, EST) for the first Family Game Night in our winter/spring series. Camper families, camp alumni, and volunteers are welcome! Click link in bio to register for this free event and get ready for an evening of some serious fun. #lovethemooseness

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Jan 19

Attention, attention! 🚨 Looking for your next

Attention, attention! 🚨

Looking for your next summer job?! NSR is hiring Seasonal Unit Directors, Seasonal Cabin Specialists and Seasonal Activity Specialists from June to mid-July. ☀️

Spend your summer on Patterson Lake while living, playing and working in the great outdoors with our incredible campers. To find out more about being a seasonal specialist at North Star Reach in 2022 and to apply, please visit the link in our bio. See you this summer!! 🏕

Email our Program Director, Colleen, for more details (colleen@northstarreach.org).

#summercamp #seriousfuncamp #summerjobs

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Jan 17

“Life's most persistent and urgent question is,

“Life's most persistent and urgent question is, 'What are you doing for others?'" - Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Consider answering the call on this #MLKDay and apply to join our amazing program volunteer team this summer. You will help serve up life-changing camp experiences for kids living with serious health challenges. See link in bio to apply.

#MartinLutherKingDay #heartsfullofgrace #joyofservice

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Jan 14

Join Dr. Becky as she shares the answer to our 'Ca

Join Dr. Becky as she shares the answer to our 'Camp Closeup' photo, the winner of this week's Mooseness Challenge, and some reminders on how to stay safe and healthy!💛💚💙

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Jan 13

WINTER/SPRING VIRTUAL CAMPER MEETUPS: We are excit

WINTER/SPRING VIRTUAL CAMPER MEETUPS: We are excited to announce that our virtual Winter/Spring Camper Meetups start up next week! Camper Meetups are an opportunity for North Star Reach campers to meet and connect with their camp friends while having fun playing games and trying new activities! Last season was full of exciting games, wacky outfits, and a lot of laughter!

Our Camper Meetups will meet every other week during the months of January to April via Zoom. All meetups are free of charge and are exclusively for participants who have previously attended a North Star Reach in-person or virtual summer or family program. Participants will be placed in groups with their peers of similar ages/developmental abilities and are supervised by a minimum of two trained adults. For more details about our Camper Meetup schedule and to register, visit the link in our bio!

#CamperMeetups #LoveTheMooseness

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Jan 12

It's true! Program and medical volunteer applicati

It's true! Program and medical volunteer applications are now open!

At North Star Reach, we rely on dedicated volunteers to help keep campers and their families safe while providing an amazing camp experience. Being a volunteer at camp can be extremely rewarding. But don't just take our word for it! Here's what a few past volunteers have to say about their time volunteering with North Star Reach:

💛"Each time I volunteer, I learn something new and am impacted in a new way." -Sami

💚"I first volunteered for camp as a way to give back. I never expected camp to give me so much in return." -Jason

💙"Camp has been a second home for me, and my life has been changed so much by it." -Megan

To find out more about being a volunteer at North Star Reach in 2022 and to apply, please visit the link in our bio!

#findyourcampfire #seriousfuncamp #nonprofit #volunteersmakeithappen #volunteer

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Jan 11

A HUGE congratulations to Matthew Denenberg, M.D.,

A HUGE congratulations to Matthew Denenberg, M.D., on his new appointment as chief of pediatrics for Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak; chair of pediatrics for @oaklandu William Beaumont School of Medicine; physician executive for Beaumont Medical Group pediatric subspecialties; and chief of the Pediatrics Service Line for @beaumonthealth. Dr. Denenberg is Chair of North Star Reach’s Medical Advisory Board, a member of North Star Reach’s Board of Directors, and a longtime medical volunteer at our camp programs (pictured here during 2018 Epilepsy Camp inside The Observatory). We are excited for Dr. Denenberg’s new role as a pediatric medical leader in Michigan, and beyond, and deeply honored to have him as part of North Star Reach’s leadership team. Read the full article through the link in our bio.

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Jan 10

MOOSENESS CHALLENGE: Did you hear? Our plans to be

MOOSENESS CHALLENGE: Did you hear? Our plans to begin safely welcoming campers back to onsite camp are well underway! To celebrate, this week's Mooseness Challenge is a game we all know well called 'Camp Closeup'! Examine the picture and read the hint below to see if you can guess where the photo was taken.

Made of wood and colorful letters too
After years of standing tall, I look just like new
I help you find your way to an important trail
And make sure you find camp, without fail
I'm there to greet you as you come around the bend
Seeing you again as the week comes to an end
What am I?

To enter this week's Mooseness Challenge either comment or send us a DM with your guess as to what part of camp the closeup photo displays. Anyone who plays will be entered into our giveaway to win a camp prize! We will reveal the location of the photo and the Mooseness Challenge winner this Friday. We look forward to your submissions!

#MoosenessChallenge #CampCloseup

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Jan 7

HELLO, 2022!!! ✨We are excited to share our plan

HELLO, 2022!!! ✨We are excited to share our plans to begin safely welcoming campers back to camp onsite. We are also proud to continue evolving our year-round virtual programs. Our program and medical staff, together with our Board of Directors, have been working hard to create a reopening plan that focuses on safety first, which informed the changes to our Family and Summer Camp schedule.

While no one knows how the pandemic will play out, we believe the reduced capacity schedule is in line with the values at the heart of our Camp Code: Safety, Respect, and Love. See link in our bio for more details about Summer Camp and Campily Retreats, which adapt traditional Family Camp Weekend programming to ensure COVID-19 precautions while giving families a chance to enjoy a camp getaway experience. (Online registrations for all in-person programs will open in the coming weeks.) Follow link in our bio to also learn more about our upcoming lineup of virtual camper meetups, parent support groups, family game nights, and more.

Spring Campily Retreats
April 22–April 24: General Session
April 29–May 1: General Session

Summer Camps
June 12–17: Transplant & Cardiology
June 22–27: Epilepsy/Neuro-Oncology & Cardiology
July 2–7: Sickle Cell Disease

Fall Campily Retreats
Sept. 9–11: General Session (Epilepsy)
Sept. 23–25: General Session
Oct. 21–23: General Session (DMUM)

We are grateful to our incredible community, especially donors and volunteers, for helping us to make our upcoming 2022 season possible. (Program and medical volunteers: be sure to visit link in bio for volunteer opportunities.) We can't wait to connect with our campily soon! 💛💚💙

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Jan 5

Sending sunshine to warm your hearts on this winte

Sending sunshine to warm your hearts on this wintery Wednesday☀️

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Jan 4

Camp changes lives. You know that! We know that. B

Camp changes lives. You know that! We know that. But did you know that the benefits last long after camp? According to a recent study, 2/3 of SeriousFun alumni credit camp for the development of many personal, health, and social qualities — like empathy, self-confidence, and perseverance. Learn more about the study findings and the lasting impact of camp through the link in our bio!

#seriousfun #lastingimpacts

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Jan 3

MOOSENESS CHALLENGE: 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, and we're back

MOOSENESS CHALLENGE: 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, and we're back! With a new year and a new Mooseness Challenge! During mealtimes at North Star Reach, campers are invited to share something they have tried for the very first time that week. These accomplishments are written down on a star and together we celebrate these 'bursts of firsts'! Although trying new things can be a little scary at first, it can also be a fun way to challenge yourself and find a new hobby. As we look forward to all that 2022 has to offer, we'd like to hear from you! What new hobby do you plan to try out this year for the very first time? Some new hobbies chosen by our North Star Reach staff for 2022 include journaling, running, and painting!

To enter this week's Mooseness Challenge, simply comment below (or send us a DM) with an emoji that represents the new hobby you have chosen to try this year. The North Star Reach staff will then try to guess what your new hobby will be based on the emoji that you share! Anyone who plays will be entered into our giveaway drawing on Friday for a chance to win a very special prize to kick off the new year! We look forward to your submissions!

#moosenesschallenge #newyear #burstsoffirsts #hobbies

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Jan 1

On behalf of the entire North Star Reach team, we'

On behalf of the entire North Star Reach team, we'd like to wish you a very Happy New Year!

Thank you to all of the camp families, volunteers, donors, and partners for making 2021 a huge success.

We hope you all have a year full of happiness, health, and camp magic!

💛💚💙

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Dec 30

THANKS & GIVING: Today, we celebrate the life of A

THANKS & GIVING: Today, we celebrate the life of Amanda Cohen and the incredible generosity of the entire Cohen family.

"My daughter, Amanda, was a camper at North Star Reach for three summers and became a volunteer as soon as she was old enough. She was supposed to work as part of the Seasonal Staff during the summer of 2020, but because of COVID, she volunteered virtually from our home. Camp gave her many things, but most importantly, it gave her friends that understood her struggles, friends that shared her experiences of being in hospitals for weeks on end, never knowing when you may land in the ER, and of having to finish high school classes during the summer because you missed too many days of class, all the while others were relaxing by the pool. Amanda passed away this summer just after her 21st birthday.

We were fortunate in the months after she passed away to be able to participate in a few fundraising events for North Star Reach – gathering our family and friends to remember the joy Amanda gave us and to celebrate that we can help give laughter to kids who have more tears than they deserve. We woke up earlier than anyone should have to in order to watch her uncles swim a 10K in Swim to the Moon. We enjoyed music and games at a BBQ raising money in her memory. We gathered a team from across the country to walk/run the NSR Interstellar 5k Trail Run on a beautiful October morning. Through all of these events, we were able to share our memories of Amanda and how proud we are of her with the world and for that (and many other reasons) I want to thank the North Star Reach campily as I’m not sure what we would have done without you."

Thank you, Kim, for sharing these heartfelt words with us. Amanda has been a shining light at North Star Reach. She truly embraced the magic of camp and has touched the hearts of countless campers, volunteers, and staff members. We are grateful to have known such an amazingly kindhearted individual and hope to honor Amanda by continuing to provide moments of camp magic with the help of our generous donors and volunteers.

#thanksandgiving

Get in touch!

EMAIL

info@northstarreach.org

PHONE

FAX

North Star Reach Camp

1200 University Camp 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 Camp 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