Only 26 more days till Session 1!

Meet Maggie, Nicole, Mauricio and Parker!

Hi everyone! My name is Maggie! I am from Okemos, MI and this will be my second year on staff at Mystic. 

My favorite thing about camp is getting to meet new people and try new things. This summer I'm super excited to have lots of shaving cream fights and steal cookies from Amiee! 

My name is Nicole and this will be my first year on staff at Mystic Lake, wohoo! I go to Central Michigan University so I currently live in Mount Pleasant, however I am originally from Walled Lake, Michigan. I am looking forward to making lifelong connections and becoming a better leader. My favorite thing about camp has yet to be determined, but I’m sure it will be a tremendously long list. I look forward to meeting all the wonderful staff and campers! Go Mystic Lake! 

Hi everyone! My name is Mauricio and I am from DeWitt, MI. This will be my 6th summer at Mystic and my first summer being a counselor.  My favorite thing about camp is being outside all the time and having fun with everyone! I am most looking forward to paddle boarding around the lake and hunting for Pokemon!

Hi everyone! My name is Parker and I am from East Lansing, MI.  I am super excited to spend my second summer at Mystic Lake but my first summer as a counselor. I am super excited to tie dye and go on camp outs.  I can't wait to meet you all! 

See you next Sunday for 5 more staff! 

Only 35 more days till Summer Camp!

Welcome Tyla, George, Taylor, Emily and Abby to the Mystic family! 

My name is Tyla, fun fact, my name is an acronym that stands for Theresa. Yvette.Love.Always. I'm originally from a small town in Illinois, Carbondale but was raised in the big city, Chicago. This will be my first summer at Mystic Lake, so I'm the most excited to meet everyone and the camp atmosphere. I enjoy all camp activities that call for creativity and collective work. Sports are aligned with some of my favorite activities but understanding nutrition is one of my greatest heart's passions. See you soon!

I am George and am from Sheffield in the beautiful county of Yorkshire in England. I am so excited to be joining my first summer camp in June! I love all sorts of sports, especially soccer and I am a really big music fan and like all sorts from Willie Nelson to Avicii to Pearl Jam! I am looking forward to spending quality time with so many new friends of all ages and from so many different places. I am looking for an escape from the rainy British summer days and hope that Mystic Lake will be surrounded by sunshine all summer so that we can make the most of the fabulous setting and activities. Counting down now to my big summer adventure.

Hello, I am Taylor. I have been traveling from Lansing, MI for the past 12 summers, 9 as a camper and 3 as a counselor, to experience the Mystic Magic. My favorite part of Mystic summer camp is giving campers new experiences and seeing how much they can grow in one week, and also learning from my campers everyday! I am looking forward to making friendship bracelets and tie-dye while reconnecting with old friends and making new ones! 

My name is Emily. I have been a camper at Mystic for eight years, and this upcoming summer will be my first as a counselor. I am from the small town of Tecumseh, Michigan. I love everything about camp, but my favorite thing by far is kayaking. Mystic lake has been a big part of my life, and I'm thrilled to be spending the summer helping kids have the same great experiences at Mystic that I have had.

My name is Abby and this will be my first year working at Mystic as a Cabin Counselor. I was a camper for 4 years and cannot wait to meet all the new and returning campers this summer! I am from Lansing, MI but recently moved to South Carolina to study sea turtles. My favorite thing about camp is fishing and doing arts and crafts. Can't wait to meet everyone in a couple weeks!!

Make sure to check back in a week to meet 5 more Mystic Lake staff members!!

More Staff Introductions!

Meet Brittany, Emma, Bob, Carlee and Michael!

Hello! My name is Brittany and I’m excited to be spending my first summer at Mystic Lake, as a senior counselor! I am originally from the Metro Detroit Area, specifically, Madison Heights, MI. Currently, I am a student at Central Michigan University, going into my 4th year, pursuing a degree in Recreation and Event Management and Child Development. My favorite thing about camp is getting the opportunity to explore new things, while working outside all summer and doing what I love. The thing that I am most looking forward to this summer is getting to meet new people, that share the same passion for kids, recreation, and development, as I do!!







Hi everyone! My name is Emma and I'm from East Lansing, MI. This is my 7th year at Mystic and my first year as a counselor. My favorite thing about camp is making new friends and I am most excited to tie dye and go on fairy hunts!










My name is Bob and I'm from Hiram Ohio. This will be my 8th summer on a camp staff and my 2nd at Mystic Lake. My favorite thing about camp is the closing ceremony and I'm looking forward to seeing all of the memories and lifelong friendships that are created this summer.

My name is Carlee , I am from Holt/Lansing and this will be my third summer as a counselor at Mystic! My favorite thing about camp is all of the wonderful campers and staff and I'm most looking forward to seeing the horses, watching the sunsets, & making new friends this summer.











My name is Michael and this is my first year working at Mystic Lake and I‘m coming to camp all the way from a town called Mansfield, right in the middle of Robin Hood country in England. I’m very excited to experience camp for the first time and am looking forward to all aspects of the job and meeting new and friendly people.











Session 1 is in just 41 days! See you next week for 5 new faces! 

Staff Introductions Round 2!

Meet Natalie, James, Haley, Ben and Claudia!

Hey everyone! My name is Natalie and I will be your Summer Camp Director for the second summer! I have been a long time camper and counselor, spending 18 summers at camp. I love everything about camp and I am beyond excited for this summer. I am most looking forward to cookouts, rendezvous activities, connecting with old and new campers and getting to share my love of nature and the outdoors with everyone! See you in just 48 days!

Hi! My name is James (on the right). I'm from Leicester, England. My city's claim to fame was being the underdogs who won the premier league last year. 2017 will be my first summer ever visiting the US. Being from the UK I'm really looking forward to being able to enjoy a summer with warm weather.

Hi! I'm Haley and I am back on the shores of Mystic for my second summer! I'm originally from Clare but now live in Mt. Pleasant where I attend Central Michigan University. I love pontoon jumps, the giant swing, and going out on cookouts, all while drinking coffee of course! I can't wait to see past campers and spread Mystic's magic to new ones this summer! See you SOON!

Hello! My name is Ben, I'm from Fraser, MI and this will be my second year as the Trips Counselor at Mystic! My absolute favorite thing about camp is being outside and experiencing nature and fun every moment. I'm really looking forward to spreading a passion for all things natural, from trees to clouds to even snakes! 

Hello all! My name is Claudia and I come from the bountiful lake filled Waterford, MI. This will be my fourth year at Mystic! Picking a favorite is so hard but it's tie between the horses and the high ropes course. This summer I can't wait to see all the returning faces and the newcomers! I'm also super excited for all the s'macos a girl can eat! 









Stay tuned for next week! 

Staff Introductions!

It's time to begin meeting the Mystic Lake staff for summer 2017! Each Sunday we will be introducing people that are full of positive energy, fun, passion and ready to give campers memories that will last a lifetime. 

First up is Amiee, Maddy, Matt A, Maddy, and Matt S! 

My name is Amiee and I will be starting my fourth year here at Mystic as the Program Director. I am super excited to meet new campers and families and to share the Mystic magic with as many people as possible this summer. I am most looking forward to campfires and telling the Squirrel Story.

My name is Maddy and I will be your Waterfront Director this summer. This will be my 7th summer at Mystic Lake. My favorite thing about camp is getting to go on exciting adventures and create lasting memories with campers each summer. I am especially looking forward to Friday canoe trips and paddle boarding on the lake.

My name is Matt and this is my first summer at Mystic Lake. I will be your Health and Wellness Director for the Summer! I hail from Illinois, where I am about to finish my degree at Southern Illinois University. Although I have never been to Mystic Lake before, I am excited to create new bonds with fellow staff and campers! My favorite thing about camp is soaking up some sun while paddling the day away and spending most of my day outside.

I am Liz and I am back this summer as the Equestrian Director. I am from Holt, MI and have been coming to camp for a total of 9 years, 5 as a camper and 4 on staff. My favorite part about camp is seeing campers discover horses, new friendships, and themselves. I am especially excited for BARN OVERNIGHTS!! 

I am Matt and will be returning to the Mystic Lake team this summer as the High Adventure Director. I come from Kalamazoo, MI and have been coming to camp for 15 years, 4 of them (including this summer) have been working at Mystic. My favorite thing about camp is the ability to connect with others and the outdoors. I am most excited for great songs around the flag pole every morning!

See you next week for a new round of staff introductions! 

Summer Reflections from Haley! 

Being a counselor is the best job in the world. Take minute to find out why we feel that way. 

Last summer, during the last week, of my first summer of being a camp counselor I had a recurring thought, “Is it possible to miss a place that you haven’t even left yet?” Surely it wasn’t possible for me to get so attached to a place that I had only known for a total of 3 months. I know now that the answer to my question was “yes”.  Working at a camp, you are told about the impact that you will have on your campers lives, but I was never prepared for the impact that camp would have on mine. It was profound.

Summer camp is a place that it is easy to be your best self. It’s a place where you come as you are and that’s all anyone expects. It’s a place where bonds grow faster than I’ve ever seen, in an environment so different from your outside world that it is shocking how quickly it feels like home.

I feel myself missing camp, my campers, my fellow staff, and all the memories that we were able to fit into those short 8 weeks more often than not. It’s hard to describe the “magic” of camp, but it’s undoubtedly there. It’s in the air at campfire, inside of campers when they conquer the high ropes course, in the chants at meals, in the tie dye sitting outside to dry, and it sticks around for long after you leave. For a child to go to camp is a tremendous opportunity, they will be able to spend a week in an environment where they’re active, trying new things, and accepted just how they are. To work at a camp is not only a job, but a privilege; you are given the opportunity to change lives – both your campers and your own.

More Than A Summer Camp

Want to learn more about what happens at camp outside of summer? Read on!

That's right. Mystic Lake creates wonderful memories and builds strong relationships outside the warm sunny months of summer. We run Outdoor Education classes for many schools from all over Michigan. Most schools come for a three day, two night, experience either from Monday-Wednesday or Wednesday-Friday. On these trips we try to fit as much camp magic into their stay as we can.

Most of their trips start with the traditional sing-song camp welcome and is followed by settling into their cabins and coming down for lunch. Once we are finished with lunch then the real fun begins. We will organize by travel groups on the front porch and one of the amazing staff will lead them to their first outdoor education experience. These experiences are the main reasons that schools want to bring their children to Camp. In just a short three days time kids can experience a wide range of Outdoor Education classes. They can learn about the native wildlife and capture and identify dozens of aquatic wildlife in our Pond Study class. Team challenge course is a place at camp that allows kids to grow their communication skills, team building, problem solving, and building confidence in themselves all while they think they are just having fun! Staff can lead kids out to our own private bog where they can learn about the pitcher plant, lambs ear, wintergreen, oak, pine, birch, maple, animal tracks, the difference between a bog and a lake, and of course a little bit about our legendary BRUNO!

There are so many other fun and educational classes that we offer but the day time is just the beginning. A lot of our outdoor education kids tell us that their favorite times at camp are our evening programs. Going on night hikes, winning dutch auctions, planning and performing for skit nights are just a few of the traditional evening programs we run here at Mystic Lake in the school year. But the things we hear kids talk about the most are learning how to square dance to both traditional square dance songs and some music of their taste from the pop top 40's, and enjoying S'mores at a campfire followed by the oration of the Legend of Bruno!

But unfortunately all good things must come to an end. Once all of the luggage is packed, all of the kids are on the bus and the engines are rumbling, it comes time to wave goodbye. This usually takes the image of the Mystic staff singing our farewell song as the kids are smiling and waving out of the bus windows yelling "goodbye" or singing their favorite song from the campfire the night before. For the kids their time at camp has come to a close, but for the staff we clean up camp, dust ourselves off, and do it all over again.