Overnight Camp

Selecting Your Week to Attend

Campers may attend only one week of summer camp and, if aged 13-15, one Wilderness Trip. Our system shows real-time availability for spots. If you choose more than one week (excluding Wilderness Trips), your camper will be removed from all but one. You have 30 minutes to complete registration and pay the deposit; otherwise, the spot will reopen for others.

Waitlists

Our system displays real-time availability. If your preferred week is full, you can join the waitlist for that week. You may only select one week, either open or waitlisted, but not both. Waitlisted applicants are contacted in order if a spot opens.

Deposit and Payment

A $100 deposit per camper is required at the end of the application. Full or partial payments can be made anytime by logging into the system, with the total balance due by May 1. Payments can be made via Visa, Mastercard, Discover (3% fee for credit cards), or electronic check (ACH) with no additional charge. Deposits are non-refundable and non-transferable.

Cancellation Policy

Please be aware that deposits are non-refundable and non-transferable. If you need to cancel, we will refund payments (minus the deposit) for cancellations made before May 1st. After May 1st, we will make every effort to refill your camp spot, and if we are successful, we’ll issue a refund (less the deposit). Refunds are not permitted for cancellations made within one week of your camper’s arrival. Additionally, no refunds will be provided for children sent home due to disciplinary or medical reasons.

We do our best to accommodate cabin mate requests, but we cannot guarantee them. From our experience, placing three or more requested campers in the same cabin can affect group dynamics. For this reason, campers may request only one cabin mate, and the request must be mutual to be considered. Both campers must be within one year of age and must list each other on their registration forms. Campers may be placed in younger cabins depending on your requests, which could impact their ability to participate in older cabin activities, such as adventure programs or the canoe overnight camp out. All cabin placements are final upon arrival on Sunday, no exceptions.

Camper will arrive to camp on Sunday afternoon to check in for their week of camp. Arrival will be split up into two sections by last name:

A-L: 3:00pm-4:00pm

M-Z: 4:00pm - 5:00pm

Families will drive down into the main part of camp to begin their check-in process.

You will meet on our Recreation Field to begin your check in process. Campers will be assigned a cabin here as well as get a camper photos taken for our records. Campers will then be asked to move to Lice Check in the recreation building. Following that, you will move to the Health Cabin to confirm if you have any medications or forms that need to be turned in. Finally, you will head to Mac Hall for a body check where counselors will document any scrapes, bruises or marks on the camper prior to camp starting.

As part of the camper registration process, parents of campers who require medications will meet directly with the Camp Health Director at the Health Cabin to discuss your camper’s needs and to check-in all medications. Medications will be distributed throughout the week during meals and at the health cabin at night. These measures are meant to uphold and respect the privacy of our campers.

PLEASE NOTE: All medications must be brought to camp in their original bottles and/or packages.

Additionally, camper belongings are not allowed in cabins until after the registration process has been completed.  Please, refrain from heading to cabins until all steps of the registration process are complete.

Camp Departure

When you arrive on Saturday to pick up your camper, you will be directed by Camp Daggett staff on where to park. You will then be able to head to your campers cabin to help them grab their items. You will then be asked to exit camp through the ID Check Point where you are verified as an approved pick up for the camper. You will also recieve any medications your camper had for the week at this check point.

A week at Camp is a wonderful opportunity for our young campers to grow and develop important life skills, such as independence and self-reliance. Due to this fact, parental visits during the week are NOT allowed. We also do not allow campers to be checked out mid-week to attend appointments, practices, and other commitments. This can be disruptive to both the camper’s and their cabinmates’ experience.

Equipment and Gear

Pillow, sleeping bag, water bottle, flashlight. Recommended: a bottom-fitted twin bed sheet

Optional

Books, musical instruments, journal or diary, playing cards, stationary and stamps

Clothing for 6 Days—Don’t be Afraid to Bring Extras!

Shirts, Shorts, Pants/sweats, Sweatshirts, Undergarments, Socks, Shoes, Sandals, Rain jacket or poncho, Bathing suits – should be suitable and safe for vigorous physical activity, Towels for swimming and showering, Dirty laundry bag

Toiletries

Soap, shampoo and conditioner, hairbrush and/or comb, toothbrush and toothpaste, deodorant, sunscreen, bug spray

Walloon Lake occasionally has swimmer’s itch. Although we take measures to minimize this, some campers might still experience it. We recommend sending your camper with Aquaphor, waterproof sunscreen, or Swimmer’s Itch Guard for use before engaging in water activities.

Optional: white items to tie-dye – white Camp Daggett shirts are also available for purchase at drop-off

Necessary Medications*

*As part of the camper registration process, parents with campers who require medications will meet directly with the Camp Health Director in the health cabin to discuss your camper’s needs and to check-in all medications. Medications will be distributed throughout the week in the privacy of the health cabin. These procedures are meant to uphold and respect the privacy of our campers. All medication must be in original packaging.

Prohibited Items: These items are not allowed at Camp and will be confiscated by Camp staff.

Drugs, alcohol, tobacco products – including cigarettes, vapes, and chewing tobacco, all electronic devices, cell phones, smart watches, matches and lighters, flammable substances, weapons, sharp implements – including knives and hatchets

Special Note: Snacks and drinks (excluding soda pop, gum and candy) are now allowed in reasonable quantities. Please be advised that all snacks and drinks will be stored and monitored by cabin counselors. Due to the nature of summer camp, we advise that no items of sentimental or monetary value are brought to camp. Camp Daggett is not responsible for any lost, damaged or stolen items.

Morning

Before breakfast, campers have the opportunity to participate in two activities:

Polar Bear Club: A refreshing dip in Walloon Lake

Early Morning Recreation: A rousing game on the recreation field

Flag Raising & Breakfast

We begin each day by raising the flags (American flag & State of Michigan flag) and reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. Cabins take turns raising and lowering the flag. Once this is done, campers are dismissed to Mac Hall for breakfast.

After Breakfast

All cabins take part in two activities:

Camp Capers – Brother and sister cabins work to spruce up a part of camp before the day begins.

Cabin Cleanup – Children work together as a unit to clean their cabin area inside and out.

These activities are judged by our Camp Daggett Camper Aides and awards are given each day at lunch to the best performing cabins!

Morning Activity

Younger cabins take part in water classes in the morning; these include sailing, swimming, and canoeing. The older cabins spend the morning rotation on land doing arts & crafts, nature, and recreation activities.

Lunchtime

Lunch is always a big hit at Camp Daggett, both for the food and for the singing and entertainment that take place in Mac Hall! After lunch, the campers have an hour rest period which is spent in their cabins. This is a good time to read, talk quietly, or write letters to home.

Afternoon Activity Periods

After rest hour, the campers trade places. The younger cabins take part in land classes while the older cabins are on the water.

Free Water & Free Land

After each pair of brother and sister cabins have been to each area of camp, campers are given the opportunity to return to their favorite areas. During free water, the Swimming, Canoeing, and Sailing Area Directors plan an activity to practice what was learned that day. Then, for free land, the Arts & Crafts, Nature, and Recreation Directors plan activities for campers to choose from.

Dinner

At dinner time, some cabins will venture out on their overnight campouts. We have various sites that cabins will visit, such as “Sunset Ridge,” “Beaver Hole,” “The Meadow,” and others. The oldest cabins have the chance to canoe to their campsites, which are accessible only by water!

Free Time

This is an opportunity for campers to gather in the central camp area for informal games of volleyball, lightning, tetherball, or just to visit with fellow campers from other cabin groups.

Flag Lowering

At the end of the day, it is time to lower the flag and contemplate how fortunate we are to live in a country that provides us with such wonderful opportunities.

Night Activity

Each night, a unique and fun activity is planned for the campers to take part in. These include camp-wide team games or special events such as county fair, water carnival, mock rock, capture the flag, Camp Olympics, etc. Camp Daggett is well-known for our creative and exciting night activities!

Campfire/Friendship Circle

Campfires and singing are big at Camp Daggett, and often the entire camp will gather at the fire circle to sing a few favorite songs before ending the day. Our Friendship Circle is how we officially end the day and wind down in preparation for bed. Announcements are made at this time for any special activities that may be taking place in the morning before breakfast, and then Taps is sung as a hand squeeze is passed through the camp.

Camp staff will make every effort to work closely with parents and campers to ensure a safe camping experience at all times. In order to help facilitate this process, we ask all parents/guardians to please clearly identify all food allergies that your child has, prior to attending Camp, that may cause a concern for your child while they are here.

Our Health Director reviews all camper applications prior to the start of each camping session and will contact parents, ahead of each week, to clarify any health concerns that may exist, as well as, to develop a plan of action for your child. There will also be an opportunity during check-in for parents to meet with our Health Director to update any food allergy issues and discuss potential concerns. Additionally, Camp Area Directors, Counselors and kitchen staff are all notified about campers with special dietary restrictions or concerns. Those campers who require suitable food alternatives (as instructed by a family doctor) will be accommodated to ensure your child’s safety and well-being.

PLEASE NOTE:

When sending snacks with your child, please try to avoid peanut-based products. When there is a camper with airborne allergies to nut products, the counseling staff will request peanut-based products are removed from the cabin.

Our counseling staff are responsible for watching ten campers each week and our kitchen staff prepare meals for around 175 people each day. We cannot guarantee that individual meals can be prepared for children with food allergies, but we work hard to make sure safe options are available at each meal.

Special foods brought into Camp for your camper must first be submitted to the Camp Health Director, who will coordinate with kitchen and counseling staff.

Be sure your child is ready for overnight camp. Arrange overnight stays at friends’ homes or with their grandparents.

Spend time reviewing what activities your child will be participating in while at camp. Our website contains an example of a “typical day,” which walks through our daily schedule. There are also photos to view on our website and our social media pages.

Be positive about the upcoming experience; share your excitement for all the new activities as well as the friendships your child will experience during their stay.

If you have concerns, share them with another adult such as your spouse or the Summer Camp Director. Sharing concerns with your child will only cause more worry and anxiety.

Pack plenty of letter writing materials; be sure to include self-addressed, pre-stamped envelopes. We do not allow campers to phone home while at camp, so letters or postcards will be your mode of communication with your child for the week.

Never make deals for early pick-ups if they do not like it. This removes any chance the staff has for helping your child stay and work through the homesickness. If your child were to experience uncontrollable anxiety while at camp, you would receive a call from the director.

The Camp Store will be open during check-in and check-out. We will have Camp Daggett tie-dye shirts, special 2024 t-shirts, and more available. Payment can be made by card only. We no longer allow parents/guardians to prepare a camp store gift bag to be delivered during the camper’s week.

We ask that you please limit the number of snacks sent with each camper during the week. Your child will be well-fed and will receive nightly snacks during his/her stay with us, thus, there is little time for your child to enjoy snacks sent from home. Furthermore, managing large quantities of snacks only burdens our counselors and takes away from the valuable time they have to spend with your child in other activities. Please be advised that all snacks and drinks will be monitored by cabin counselors and staff.

Reminder: As stated in our Prohibited Items Policy, soda and candy are NOT allowed in Camp. Such items will be confiscated and returned to you at the end of the week.

Camp Daggett operates as a youth summer camp licensed by the State of Michigan. We implement high quality programming while adhering the licensing standards set Michigan’s Camp Licensing department. Below are some pertinent policies and protocols for our Summer Camp program. This is not a comprehensive list of Camp Daggett policies – additional policies may apply.

Gender Identification Policy

Camp Daggett prohibits discrimination against or harassment of any person in any of its programs or activities on the basis of sex, gender identity, gender expression, and sexual orientation. Summer camps must ensure that they do not discriminate against individuals (including youth campers, adult volunteers, and staff) on any of these bases. While this policy is not new, the Camp Daggett Board of Trustees are seeking guidance each year on how to update and implement this policy.

Camp Daggett staff will address all campers by the name the camper choses. Cabin assignments will be made based on the camper’s sex assigned at birth (as recorded on their birth certificate). Accommodations will be made for private bathroom, shower and changing areas for those requesting such accommodations.

Social Networking Policy

In general, we at Camp Daggett view social networking sites (e.g., Facebook and Instagram), personal Web sites, and Weblogs positively and respect the right of campers to use them as a medium of self-expression. However, we share the concerns of many families, schools, and camps regarding the dangers associated with young people’s use of social networking Web sites. Therefore, it is our feeling at Camp Daggett that if a camper chooses to identify himself or herself as a camper at our camp on such Internet venues, some readers of such Web sites or blogs may view the camper as a representative or spokesperson of the camp. In light of this possibility, our camp requires, as a condition of continued participation in the camp, that campers observe the following guidelines when referring to the camp, its programs or activities, its campers, and/or employees, in a blog or on a Web site.

Campers should be respectful in all communications and blogs related to or referencing the camp, its employees, and other campers.

Campers should not use social networking sites, blogs, or personal Web sites to disparage the camp, other campers, or employees of the camp.

Campers should not use social networking sites, blogs, or personal Web sites to harass, bully, or intimidate other campers or employees of the camp. Behaviors that constitute harassment and bullying include, but are not limited to, comments that are derogatory with respect to race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, color, or disability; sexually suggestive, humiliating, or demeaning comments; and threats to stalk, haze, or physically injure another person.

Furthermore, our pledge is to put your children in the company of the most trustworthy and capable young adults we can hire—counselors who are well suited to the task of caring for campers. The effort we put into screening and selecting our staff is part of that pledge. Our staff members work with your children in the context of a visible, well scrutinized environment that has many built-in checks and balances. Counselors are supervised by senior staff guided by clear, firm policies regarding behavior. Their actions are also visible to co-workers and campers. In general, we discourage our staff from having contact with your children after camp and from sharing information through social networking sites, blogs, or personal Web sites, since we cannot supervise it. We hire our staff for the camp season and train them extensively in such policies, but we cannot take responsibility for their behavior off-season. We also respect their desire for continued privacy during the off-season.

We recommend that you as the parent supervise your child’s online activities just as you do other aspects of their life in your home, and we hope that, in particular, you will discuss this information with your child. Please know that we remain committed to the health and safety of all members of our community. As always, we appreciate your support and welcome your comments.