West Branch, MI
At YMCA Camp Timbers, your child will have the opportunity to experience a variety of activities including zip lines, a climbing tower, team challenge course, high ropes course, giant swing, archery, swimming, canoes, kayaks, and paddleboards, GaGa Ball, art and crafts, nature hikes, fishing, STEM challenges, and hammock hikes.
Explore on the camp’s website ↗Missing home is totally normal while at camp. Our main way that you will be able to keep in touch with home is via mail. Letters are a great way to let your family know that you miss them and tell them about all the fun things you are doing at camp.
Our goal is that every camper will walk away with at least one new friend! Our staff will do activities and reflections that foster deep connections within your cabins.
Each cabin is home to a small group of 8–12 campers and their counselors, creating a close-knit, supportive environment for your child. Cabins have built-in bunks, heating, and electricity, and are within easy walking distance of our recently renovated bathhouses — the Mill and the Hollow Stump — both completely renovated in 2018.
Our High Adventure area includes two zip lines, a three-sided climbing tower, a giant swing, and a high ropes course, offering a variety of challenges for campers of all thrill levels. Some activities have age and weight requirements for safety.
The Campfire Amphitheater is the perfect venue for our iconic Opening and Closing Night Campfires. Surrounded by nature, it seats over 200 people and is the ideal location for songs, skits, and unforgettable moments that create lasting memories for campers.
Camp is a lot of fun; we also want a camp experience to make a lasting impact. This growth is fostered by inspirational, value-based morning messages, small group reflections through the day, intentional evening cabin reflections, and opportunities to practice 21st-century skills — collaboration, teamwork, conflict resolution, problem solving, critical thinking, creativity, and stewardship.
Located on 300 acres of beautiful Northern Michigan forest, with Piper Lake — our private, spring-fed lake. The Perfect Size — large enough for extensive activity options, and small enough (capacity of 180 campers) to feel like family.
Explore on the camp’s website ↗Piper Lake, our 30-acre spring-fed lake, is the centerpiece of outdoor activities at YMCA Camp Timbers. It offers a safe, enclosed swimming area, opportunities for kayaking, canoeing, paddleboarding, and fishing. All activities are supervised by certified lifeguards, and campers must take a swim test before swimming. For safety, all boaters are required to wear life jackets at all times, and we use a buddy system for swimming.
Explore on the camp’s website ↗Up to 10 campers and 2 counselors per cabin, grouped by age and gender. Our counselors set out to make sure every camper knows that camp is a place they belong, feel accepted, and can be themselves.
Read more on the camp’s website ↗If you have a friend attending camp who is close in age (within 2 years) and of similar gender, you can request to be in the same cabin, and we'll do our best to make that happen!
Read more on the camp’s website ↗Our Food Service Team prepares three nutritious meals and two snacks each day. We take care to provide a variety of options, including a fresh salad bar and fruit with every meal. All breakfasts come with milk, juice, yogurt, cereal, and fresh fruit. We are a nut-free camp and can accommodate most special dietary needs — please contact us in advance to discuss any dietary considerations.
Read more on the camp’s website ↗The Camp Health Center, located within the Woodland Lodge, is staffed by trained health officers who are available 24/7 during each camp session. All medications are securely stored in the Health Center, and our team manages medication administration. We have a physician who reviews our health policies, medical orders, and provides virtual consultations as needed to ensure our campers' health and safety.
Read more on the camp’s website ↗