Behavioral concerns — social workers, daily camper evaluations
Our job is to help campers learn from, and accept responsibility for, inappropriate words and actions. This requires clearly defined acceptable behaviors, staff trained to react constructively, and consequences meted out swiftly and fairly. Walden's on-site social workers partner with senior staff and counselors, meeting daily to discuss individual camper concerns. Early in their stay, campers complete formal, private evaluations of their experience, which also helps us identify potential problems.
90-acre property on the shores of Long Lake in Northern Michigan (near Cheboygan), featuring woods and meadows.
Accreditations stated by camp
American Camp Association
Activities
Waterfront
Canoeing
Kayaking
Sailing
Fishing
Waterskiing
Wakeboarding
Land Sports
Fencing
Arts & Creative
Photography
Outdoor Adventure
Camping
Clues to fit
Counselor training — eight-day orientation covering homesickness, safety, inclusion
The counseling and support staff participate in an eight-day orientation led by the directors, senior staff and visiting professionals. In addition, staff are required to complete several hours of online-training workshops prior to their arrival. Topics include safety/emergency procedures, positive behavior-management techniques, coaching/teaching skills, inclusion, homesickness, and hygiene.
First-timer — making friends across states, away from electronics
Our daughter had a wonderful experience during her first summer at Camp Walden! She made friends from Texas, California, and Michigan which is exactly what we had hoped for — for her to find her 'happy place' away from her every day life, meet new people, experience new things, be away from electronics, and thrive on her own.
Homesickness — mail call at Punch & Cookies, setting expectations before camp
At Camp Walden, one of the highlights of the day is mail call; letters from home are handed out during evening 'punch and cookies', making it a special moment your camper will look forward to. Setting those expectations ahead of time can help them feel more secure and connected, even from a distance.
Welcome to our summer home on the shores of Long Lake. Since 1959, campers have moved to the Walden neighborhood to explore our woods and meadows. Each camper charts an individual path, but together we find a sense of community in this pristine natural setting.
In the evenings, cabin groups partake in programs that range from athletic to artsy: Insanity Night, a digital photo scavenger hunt, dodge ball, GaGaGa, 'Brainstorm Bonanza,' cake decorating or team-building games. Tuesdays and Saturdays are Special Days, reserved for our biggest and most popular programs, like Color Clash, Capture the Camp, Soap Box Derby, the trip to Mackinac Island… and more.
Leadership — directors Liz and Scott, since 2006, family legacy since 1959
Since 2006, Scott and Liz have sought to nourish camp values and traditions while modernizing Walden for today's families. Liz spent her first 22 summers at Walden as camper and staff. They are fervent believers in the social/emotional learning that an overnight camp experience uniquely provides and personally invested in the well-being of every Walden camper.
Rick Crane — camp's life-altering impact, confidence and perseverance
"For me Camp Walden was truly people, places, friends not soon forgotten. The life skills camp taught me provided the confidence, perseverance, independence to move forward successfully out into the world. But even more importantly than that — camp was fun. Incredibly fun. This scholarship fund is my small way of paying back the debt I owe to Camp Walden for a lifetime of gratitude."
Boys at camp — social workers on staff, male therapist, breadth of activities
Since 2021, Walden has added a team of social workers to our roster specifically to support kids as they navigate these waters. In 2025, that team will include our first male therapist, alum Simon Ziff. At Walden, where boys choose all their own activities, they are free to explore outside a traditional sports-centered path. Our breadth of class offerings exposes boys to options they may have never considered: radio broadcasting, improv comedy, wilderness skills, fencing and more.
Cabin facilities — 32 cabins with bathrooms, electricity, heat
Our 32 camper cabins feature between six and eight bunk beds each, as well as built-in shelves for camper personal belongings. All cabins have electricity and bathrooms with showers, toilets and sinks. Cabins have operable windows, exhaust fans and heaters (for those chilly Up North nights!)
Camper communication home — letters, no phone calls except birthdays
Campers are encouraged to write letters home and deposit those letters in the camp mailbox. Our office staff deliver the letters to the Cheboygan post office daily. Walden does not offer campers the opportunity to call home. Only if a child has a birthday while at camp can he/she/they arrange for a call from home.
Food allergies — peanut-free, tree nut-free, vegetarian, vegan options
Walden is a peanut-free/tree nut-free camp and works with campers who have allergies to a wide range of foods. Additionally, our kitchen has years of experience with special dietary requirements, including lactose intolerance and Celiac disease. We serve a vegetarian option with every meat meal and offer a salad bar with vegan proteins (tofu, beans) at lunch and dinner.
Health and wellness — preventative care, tick checks, closed-toed shoes policy
Keeping campers physically healthy is our top priority. Simple preventative steps make a big difference: wearing sunscreen and bug spray, eating a balanced diet, and getting a good night's sleep, for starters. We ask campers to wear closed-toed shoes after 8 p.m. every night and hold weekly all-camp tick checks!
Health center — rotating doctors-in-residence, 15 minutes from ER
Each week, a new doctor resides on-site at Walden. Doctors and Camp Health Officers (CHOs) live in the health center and rotate 'on-call' every night. Three rooms with multiple beds are reserved for campers who are unwell or simply need to rest. Doctors see campers at a formal 'sick call' after breakfast and dinner, and CHOs deliver mealtime medications to campers at the Mess Hall. Walden is a 15-minute drive from the McLaren Northern Michigan-Cheboygan Emergency Room.
