Summer
Summer Program Registration
ATTENTION: all our summers camps are now FULL.
Please join the wait list.
JOIN OUR WAIT LIST
VOLUNTEER
CAMP DETAILS
Friendship Circle Day Camp
Day Camp combines learning critical social skills with a fun and engaging camp experience. Friendship Circle is offering six weeks of summer fun on Friendship Circle’s Meer campus with exciting field trips out in the community. Campers will receive a memorable and active summer experience while developing friendships with teen volunteers and their peers.
Activities
This summer, campers will have the unique experience of combining exciting field trips and fun activities at the Meer campus!
At the Meer campus, campers will rotate through an engaging and unique schedule. Rotations include: arts and crafts, sports, water play in our NEW splash pad (in honor of our friends Phillip and Estelle Elkus), music, dancing, singing and more! Campers will also have the opportunity to enjoy special guests and local entertainers.
Several days a week, campers will also get the opportunity to participate in field trips across the metro-detroit area. From hands-on museums to thrilling playscapes, campers will have unique experiences while fostering relationships within the community.
CAMP DETAILS
| Session 1: | June 20 – July 1 |
| Session 2: | July 5 – July 15* |
| Session 3: | July 18 – July 28** |
| Times: | Mon – Fri, 10am-3pm |
| Ages: | 4+ |
| Location: | Friendship Circle Meer Campus |
FEES FOR CAMPERS
Save 2 ways. Register early to save up to 20% off. Walk4Friendship Fundraisers can get up to 35% off.
VOLUNTEER
DAY CAMP EXTRAS
BEFORE & AFTER CAMP
WITH ILLUMINATE ABA THERAPY
Illuminate ABA Therapy will provide before and after care built around our camp schedule. Illuminate focuses on building socially significant behaviors through reinforced strategies to develop language and communication skills, social skills, and learning skills. If you are looking to extend your day, either before or after camp while gaining ABA skills, please click here and Illuminate will contact you with more information.
To learn more about Illuminate ABA Therapy visit illumtherapy.com or contact info@illumtherapy.com, 248-846-8700
FAMILY EVENT
All Friendship Circle families are invited to participate in an end-of-camp event at Friendship Circle. This will be a time to reminisce on fun camp memories and connect with summer camp families while enjoying amazing food.
Date: Thursday, July 28
Location: Friendship Circle Meer Campus
Rubin Family Summer Camp
Overnight Camp at North Star Reach
Friendship Circle provides an incredible overnight camp experience for individuals with special needs. Located at the beautiful Camp Northstar Reach in Pinckney, MI, campers will enjoy the great outdoors while receiving a safe and unforgettable overnight camp experience.
Activities
Our time will be filled with swimming, canoeing, nature walks, sports, talent shows and much more! Campers will have the opportunity to engage in nature themed arts and crafts, roast marshmallows over a campfire and enjoy the experience of sleeping in a cabin with all of their friends.
CAMP DETAILS
| Week 1: | August 1 – 5 |
| Week 2: | August 8 – 12 |
| Times: | Monday Afternoon – Friday Morning* |
| Ages: | 6+ |
| Location: | North Star Reach, Pickney |
FEES FOR CAMPERS
Save 2 ways. Register early to save up to 20% off. Walk4Friendship Fundraisers can get up to 35% off.
VOLUNTEER
GENERAL CAMP INFO
SAFETY
At Friendship Circle’s summer camps, safety is our number one priority. Friendship Circle will ensure that there is a minimum of one adult counselor for every four campers. In addition, we will work to provide teen volunteers on a 2:1 basis. Friendship Circle has a designated task force to ensure safety is the priority during all camp sessions. All staff are heavily trained in Friendship Circle’s safety guidelines and are followed meticulously during all camp programming.
STAFF & VOLUNTEERS
All staff and camp counselors are handpicked for their experience and dedication to working with individuals with special needs. Our camp counselors are specially trained and briefed on each camper to ensure that participants have the safest and most exciting summer possible. We aim to pair our campers with a volunteer on a 2:1 basis. Please keep in mind, many volunteers go away for the summer, so we cannot guarantee that your child will always have the same volunteer.
COVID-19 GUIDELINES & POLICIES
Friendship Circle continues to strictly adhere to CDC guidelines and the policies put forth by our state health department. Thankfully, our Summer 2021 Programming was successfully run under the guidance of a local doctor and our thorough COVID policies. We will continue to work with local medical professionals and will be consulting them on our continued COVID program plan for our Summer Camps.
FEES
At our current pricing, only 12% of Friendship Circle’s budget comes from fees and tuition. Nevertheless, our goal is to allow all families to participate in at least some sessions if they find paying the full tuition challenging.
SCHOLARSHIP
One of the ways we are able to support families is through a scholarship in honor of Shay Ziff, of blessed memory. Shay Ziff was a camper at Friendship Circle Summer Camp and her family wants to make sure that everyone has a chance to enjoy camp as much as she did. Please click here to complete the Shay Ziff Sends a Kid to Camp Scholarship application. Friendship Circle will be in touch when the Ziff family selects recipients.
For more information, contact Erin Berry, erin@friendshipcircle.org or 248-788-7878.
