Monday, November 9, 2015

 Seeking Counseling Staff for Summer 2016

It is impossible to convey the importance of being a summer camp counselor in one post. The years I have spent on the shores of YMCA camps offered me tremendous opportunities for growth in my life. I am the person I am today because I took a leap of faith and became a summer camp counselor. 
Teaching children the importance of caring, honesty, respect and responsibility ingrains those values unto yourself. After 10 weeks of putting a group of children's needs before your own, you will grow into a person who has a greater understanding of what it means to be a citizen of the world. You create bonds with children whom you may never see again, but who have made a spot in your heart that only they can fill. Guiding children will make you grow more as a person than you could at any other time. 
There is a special sort of magic that happens when you are in charge of someone else's most prized possession for a week at a time. For 7 days you are there to keep those children safe, happy and awestruck by your amazing skills at the archery range or your lanyard creations. You become a role model that fills children with the knowledge that they can accomplish great things. A trip to the top of the climbing wall teaches campers to trust in others while they are on belay, to rely on their cabin mates when they couldn't quite see that hand hold that was a bit to the left, and to trust in themselves. Even if they do not make it to the top their effort of getting their sneakers off the wood chips shows them that a small step in the right direction can lead to big changes in their lives. All the while as a counselor you are watching this magnificent metamorphosis and realizing that your presence is letting all of these experiences come together to help the world be better, one camper climbing the rock wall at a time. 
Our world is better because of summer camp, better because we teach campers how to speak to one another face to face while sitting in the sun eating grapes, instead of through a screen alone in their room. Summer camp lets campers jump into an ice cold lake at 7:00 in the morning, lets them fling Jell-O at their friends across a field, or lets them "smuggle" snacks out of the kitchen while the program director is "asleep" on guard. It makes magic out of sweeping, and adventures out of walks to the bath house. Its all amazing, all at once, and there is so much more to it than that.
All of this is possible if you choose to spend your summer at a YMCA resident camp. We choose to work for others as opposed to serving ourselves. We choose to help children grow, and in turn help the world grow into a more tolerant and peaceful world. Working at a YMCA Camp brings you into a movement of thousands of people who want to change the world, who want to give children new experiences, and who are comfortable in a job in which lake showers are a regular hobby. 
The summer 2016 applications are now open, and if you are a creative and hardworking individual we hope to see your application. Being a camp counselor is the most challenging position you can take on, but I promise there is none more special, or more rewarding. 

Tuesday, September 8, 2015

THE KIDS ARE BACK TO SCHOOL, NOW I’TS BACK TO YOU! Join us for the 2nd annual RENEW Women’s Wellness Retreat, October 2 – 4, 2015 AT MYSTIC LAKE YMCA CAMP!


REWEW women’s weekend was designed to help YOU to renew, in the beautiful, natural setting that Mystic Lake YMCA Camp has to offer. Enjoy a variety of activities designed to empower women of all ages. Saturday and Sunday activities will include: Zumba, Yoga, Tai Chi, Good Form Clinics, hiking, bike riding (bikes available or bring your own), meditation, trail running or walking, kayaking, pontoon cruises and more.
The weekend can be as active or as laid back as you would like it to be. Read by the lake; talk with friends around a camp fire. 

Check in Friday at 7:00pm and check out Sunday at 12:00pm (noon). Fee includes all classes and workshops, lodging, snacks, three meals on Saturday and breakfast Sunday morning. Must provide own transportation to and from camp.

Last year’s retreat was a great experience for everyone that attended.  Women share their life experiences, laughed, ate and enjoyed a weekend of fun, friendship and food! 


Call the Y for more information or to register! (517) 827-9660 or (517) 827-9656. 

Monday, July 20, 2015

90 Years of Mystic Magic


Where will you be Sunday, September 6?
WE HOPE AT MYSTIC LAKE YMCA CAMP!


We will be celebrating 90 years of camping at the most beautiful place on Earth! Our special Alumni Gathering and 90th Anniversary will take place on Sunday, September 6, 2015.

All friends of Mystic Lake are welcome to this free event! Whether you were a camper, a parent, a teacher, a counselor, a director, or any other supporter of camp we want you here! We are hoping to meet campers and staff from all decades of our long history. Share this date with everyone you know!

Stay tuned for more details!

We can't wait to see you and share all of our Mystic memories together!

If you have a memory of Mystic that you would like to share with fellow alumni please email your story to Amiee at awoodrow@ymcaoflansing.org and we'll post it on the blog!

Thursday, May 14, 2015

Camp Starlight


Michigan Dyslexia Institute and Mystic Lake YMCA Camp formed a partnership over nineteen years ago.  This partnership has enabled us to work together to help and encourage numerous campers.  This year Camp Starlight will celebrate its 20th anniversary with Starlight campers, counselors and the extended family of Mystic Lake. The dates for Camp Starlight are June 21-27, 2015.


Camp Starlight is one-week overnight camp.  The camp is specifically for children with dyslexia and provides campers with the chance to gain a better understanding of dyslexia, build self-esteem, enhance social skills, and most importantly to have fun.  The camp atmosphere gives campers an opportunity to interact with other children with dyslexia in a positive, supportive environment.  Many of the campers return year after year and develop lifelong friendships.

Goals and Objectives
Demonstrate to campers they have the ability to become strong and independent leaders
Encourage campers to reinforce their strengths
Teach self-advocacy
Present adult guest speakers who share their real life experience and how dyslexia is an advantage

If you are interested in finding out more about Camp Starlight, please feel free to contact Michigan Dyslexia Institute at 517-485-4000.


Friday, April 24, 2015

Mystic Joins In!

Raggers begins this summer 2015!


The Raggers program has been a part of YMCA resident camping for 99 years. This goal setting and personal growth program will make it's Mystic debut this year.

The program is designed to help campers take a closer look at themselves in relationship to their own strengths and weaknesses, religious beliefs and relationships that surround them. It provides an opportunity to promote positive personal growth. Growth in spirit, mind and body is incorporated into the program. This program also follows in line with what YMCA's strive to accomplish through our mission.


Each Rag has a specific challenge and is accompanied by a personal goal developed by the individual. All of our campers who choose to participate in the program will be accepting the challenge of a blue rag this year, which will be the challenge of loyalty to their God, country, one's best self and the Ragger's Creed.

The raggers creed: 


I would be true, for there are those who trust me;
I would be pure, for there are those who care;
I would be strong, for there is much to suffer;
I would be brave, for there is much to dare;
I would be friend to all - the foe, the friendless;
I would be giving, and forget the gift;
I would be humble, for I know my weakness;
I would look up, and laugh, and love and lift.

We're looking forward to sharing this program with our campers!


"CONFERENCES." Rag/Leather Programs. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Apr. 2015. <http://www.christianleadershipconf.org/rags>.

Thursday, March 12, 2015

Drum roll please!

I now present the summer Leadership Staff of Mystic Lake YMCA Camp 2015!

Executive Director- Ricky Wright
Going into a remarkable 22nd summer at Mystic Lake Ricky can be found gallivanting around with Bruno and taking his mule for a spin. Ricky is most looking forward to meeting the new families who will be joining our great big Mystic family this summer!


Program Director- Amiee Woodrow
This is Amiee's second summer on the shores of Mystic. You can find her swimming in the lake searching for Oscar during her free time. You can always expect to see her furry sidekick Larry to be checking out camp too. Amiee is excited to go star gazing on the athletic field!



Senior Village/ Specialty Camp Village Director- Ezra
This is Ezra's ninth summer on the shores of Mystic Lake and he's looking forward to devotions on Pine Point with the senior campers. Ezra's favorite place to be is at the high ropes course, so he can see everything that is happening at camp!




Pioneer Village / Challenge Village Director- Blaid (on the right)
Hailing from  England Blaid will be leading our youngest campers through the best summer of their lives! Throughout this summer you can be sure to find Blaid casting spells with the Harry Potter class or making a foil dinner over a fire on cookout night!


Barn Director- Carrin
Carrin has been leading the barn at Mystic for many years now. If there is a dragon on the loose or the deed to camp has been stolen, you can bet that the wranglers are up to something. She is looking forward to taking the horses swimming at the waterfront this summer!


Waterfront Director- Katie K.
This is Katie K's second summer ensuring all swimmers are safe at the waterfront, and her fourth year at Mystic. When Katie isn't guiding lifeguards and doing buddy checks she can be found floating on a paddle board in the middle of the lake.


Health Officer- Kelli
Kelli joins Mystic this summer to ensure the safety and health of all of our campers. Kelli is currently accepted to the KVCC nursing program. She is most excited to help campers feel safe and have their best week ever while they're here!

The rest of the returning support staff include Tami and Jane who help our campers get registered, Krystel and Bobbi who will be leading the kitchen this summer, Jim and Ron who make sure everything stays in tip top shape and Marcia who will be patrolling the cabins for cleanliness this summer. 

We can't wait to meet all of you! Check back to meet the rest of the summer staff! Counselors are up next!

Wednesday, February 11, 2015

What Does Mystic Lake Mean To You?


Mystic Lake asked one of our current staff members what it means to be a part of our Mystic Family. She shared with us her Mystic experiences of being a part of our staff. 


Camp is summertime and blue skies and sunshine. Camp is a lake all to yourself. Camp is coming back as a staff member after four years away and not knowing what’s in store.
            Maybe on the first day of staff training, everybody else seems so close, and you have no idea how you’ll fit in. Maybe this wasn’t even your first choice for the summer and you’re a little disappointed that you didn’t get that internship in D.C. that you wanted.
            But everything happens for a reason. Just you wait and see.
            Because that curly-haired redhead will become one of the best friends that you’ve ever made. In fact, they all will. And all of these first impressions that you make of people so that you can try and figure it all out – they won’t matter. You’ll realize that who a person is isn’t defined by where they come from and who they were or what they’ve done. You’ll never imagine having a boss that you’ll look up to as much as the one you have here, and even the staff in the kitchen will end up as your family.
            Because you can see more stars out here than most other place you’ve been. And you’ll look up at them – from the athletic field, from the waterfront, from paddleboards, from the top of the rock wall – so many nights, talking about life and time and the universe and things that matter. You’ll go stargazing with your cabin and every one of your girls will make a wish on a shooting star that makes your heart melt.
            Because a seven-year-old will wake you up at one in the morning when she had a bad dream, and you’ll rub her back and read her a story and she’ll end up falling asleep on your shoulder. A ten-year-old will say some of the wisest things you’ve ever heard. After a round of makeovers, one of your campers will tell you, “You look like you belong on the cover of a magazine, but you were even more beautiful before.” Girls will cry on your shoulder or even in group hugs when the week ends and it’s time to say goodbye, and every single Friday night, during the closing ceremony and slideshow, you’ll have to excuse yourself to the bathroom because in one week, so much magic can happen.
            You will explore every corner of that lake from every angle. Lifeguard training in the rain. Kayaking the outskirts. Jumping off of the pontoon. Getting up early every Friday morning to swim across to the docks on the opposite side with two of your closest friends. Hiking around the lake and learning all of the trails, or cantering down them with horses and learning how to fly. You’ll find Lost Lake and it will be the most serene moment you’ve ever experienced. You’ll do yoga on the boat docks and never want to leave. You’ll pick fresh raspberries out by the barn with your campers and your taste buds will forever thank you.
            Because those twenty-four hours off every weekend are precious. You’ll go paddle boarding and learn more about beautiful people. You’ll take road trips to Lake Michigan. You’ll go to a real restaurant in actual human civilization and forget that you don’t have to scrape and stack after the meal is over and you can, indeed, put your elbows on the table without the fear of a camper or coworker chanting at you to run around the table.
            Because you’ll use every bit of free time you have to plan and prepare the best activities possible for your campers. You’ll stay up way too late at the end of every week, writing them letters about how wonderful they each are and how much they’re going to change the world. You’ll ride out to get ice cream with your bikers every Friday morning. You’ll sprint across camp multiple times preparing a cardboard, spray painted dragon costume that will be destroyed in less than an hour. And it will all be worth it, just so that you can see your campers laughing and hugging and dancing and having the time of their lives. You’ll watch groups of girls that you never thought would connect understand each other and still become the best of friends.
            Because you will keep every picture from every week. Because the wax from the candles you hold during closing ceremony will drip onto your hand, but you wouldn’t blow it out or drop it for anything. Your cabin letters at the end of the week will have a million scribbles and revisions all over them, so that they can be perfect. Because you miss people who will sing camp songs with you at every moment you think of one – and there is one to think of during almost every moment. Because you kept the collection of string bracelets your campers made for you around your wrist for months until they started fraying and falling off. Because when you’re stressed out, the only place you’ll want to be is Pine Point. Because you will remember every word of the Dr. Seuss book you read to your campers on the last night every week. Because there will come a point later on when you will forget that there is a world where you don’t need cell phones or makeup. The world is waiting and the best things in it are free. You can laugh as loud as you want and be whoever you are.
            When you go back, you will remember. That world exists. That world is camp. It is, and always will be, home.

Thank you Liz!


Thursday, January 8, 2015

Camp Wish List!

We recently had an alumni ask us what we need at camp! Included is a wish list that would help make our upcoming 2015 Outdoor Education and Summer Camp better than ever! 


Craft supplies: Popsicle sticks, markers, crayons                                              
Playground equipment: balls, jump ropes, hula hoops
Birdseed                                                             
Bike equipment: inner tubes and tires
Outdoor cooking equipment                     
Fire rings
Office supplies                                                 
Archery equipment
Waterfront equipment                               
Lifejackets
Trolling motors                                                  
Backpacking gear
Tents                                                                    
Lawn games
Fishing gear                                                        
Binoculars
Magnifying glasses                                         
Nature identification books
Children’s books                                             
First aid supplies: Gloves, band aids, gauze, medical tape
Compasses                                                         
Michigan animal pelts/mounts for Nature Center
Bug nets
Empty and washed peanut butter jars for insect collection!

Mark your calendars for spring Work or Shirk! If you'd like to donate your time to getting camp in tip top shape for 2015 we provide housing and you provide the labor! April 24-26!