8650 Mullen Road ,
Delton, MI 49046
5.0
3 Reviews
I went to CPC for summer camp starting when I was 7, and worked there for three summers as a counselor. In addition to being one of the most beautiful places on the planet (Western Michigan can't be beat imo), it helped me develop friendships, interests, values, and a confidence in myself for which I will forever be grateful! CPC was one of the first places that made me feel celebrated and welcome for things I felt ashamed about in myself (being nerdy and having lesbian moms), and also through relationships with counselors and campers as well as camp programs was one of the first places that exposed me to things that were affecting other people like police brutality, income inequality, and fracking, and what I could do about them together with other people. CPC has taught me so much about what it means to care about people and place and how working together can works better for not only achieving goals but also finding joy and fun in the day to day. I love this funky, gritty, creative, goofy place so much and can't recommend it highly enough to other families!
Our son went to camp at Circle Pines Center for the first time when he was 10 years old. We signed him up for the first session but, since he wasn't sure he wanted to stay the whole 2 weeks, we chose for the one week option. When we went to get him at the end of the first week he asked if he could stay for the second week and we decided "yes." The announcement was made at lunch that he would be staying and the entire dining room erupted in cheers! It made us feel so good, especially since he was a bit shy, that the other kids and staff were so happy he was staying.
Since that summer, nine years ago, our son has gone to camp at Circle Pines every summer and is about to work his second summer there as a counselor. I call CPC the "no bells and whistles camp." Its a small community that is about being together in a variety of ways: swimming, cooking, crafts, cleaning, games, music, construction, discussions, gardening, folk dancing, and other activities. Unplugged, inclusive, and just plain fun.
Circle Pines Center is a very special place: both my son and grandson have attended camp there for a total of 5 years and our son was a counselor there for 4 years. While it has all the activities of other camps it has several things that make it special: in the mornings after breakfast children and youth work together with adults on cooperative projects, outdoors. There is great emphasis on cultural arts, music, dancing and theater than most camps, while there is still plenty of sports. Swimming is in a beautiful lake with its own beach. The food is outstanding, much of it being organic and all of it being non-GMO with delicious meals for everyone-omnivores, vegetarians, vegans, gluten free. The camper to staff ratio is low so that each child and youth gets the attention they need. I wish I had known about Circle Pines when I was that age.