Cabins & Facilities

Camp T is located on Birch Lake in Vandalia, Michigan. With over 40 acres and 9 cabins, we are ready to provide the best summer experience ever to your child or teen!

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Our Facilities

Camp T moved to its present site site on Birch Lake in 1930. At that time, the property included a 9-acre lot with approximately 900 feet of waterfront on the north shore of Birch Lake. There were two buildings on the property in 1930: a farmhouse that became the hub of Camp in the early years and which we now call Main Lodge, and a sleeping cottage, which is now the handcraft building and Phair Trading Post.

Over the past 90+ years, we have expanded and improved upon the camp facilities. The property has grown from its original 9 acres to our present approximately 43 acres. There are now 9 camper cabins, a Dining Hall that seats 200, the shower house, Main Lodge (which is now the staff lodge), the Kiwanis Health Center, the Phair Trading Post and Handcraft building, a Cook's cabin, and multiple sheds and storage buildings.

There is a tennis court and basketball court, volleyball court, and sports field. In the woods you'll find campsites for cookout and campout nights, the trail to the Princess Tree and Lost River, and our Low Ropes Teambuilding Course. There is an archery range, an amphitheater, a gazebo, and a stage for our evening song circles. Down at the waterfront we have a boat shed, a swimming area pier, a boating pier, and a fishing pier.

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Camper Cabins

There are 9 camper cabins in camp: Cardinals & Wrens, Robins & Woodpeckers, Wallace, Sassafras, Tamarack, Chapple Lodge, Firefly, Lotus, and Morris Lodge. Our four newest buildings (Sassafras, Tamarack, Firefly, and Lotus) were built in Spring 2024. All of the other buildings have been renovated in the past 10 years.

The Bird Yard

Cardinals & Wrens and Robins & Woodpeckers make up the area of camp we refer to as "The Bird Yard." Each of these buildings can house up to 25 people (typically 21 campers and 4 counselors during the summer). These two cabins have bathrooms in the cabin (toilets and sinks - but not showers). These cabins are set up with 2 camper bedrooms, and a counselor bedroom in the middle. Cardinals & Wrens is typically the youngest girls, and Robins and Woodpeckers is typically the youngest boys, though the age groups change from week-to-week depending on camper registration numbers. Wrens is *generally* girls ages 6-8, and Cardinals is *generally* girls ages 9-10. Similarly, Robins is *generally* boys ages 6-8, and Woodpeckers is *generally* boys ages 9-10.

Interior of cardinals wrens identical to robins woodpeckers 39146396025 o 2048x1536

Bathrooms in cardinals wrens and robins woodpeckers cabins 39146395605 o 2048x1536

The Back Cabins

Wallace, Sassafras, and Tamarack make up the area of camp we call "The Back Cabins". These cabins house our older boys during the summer camp season. Wallace houses up to 17 people, typically 14 campers and 3 counselors. Sassafras and Tamarack can each house 20 people, generally 16 campers and 4 staff. All three have electricity, but do not have bathrooms in the cabin. They are very close to the Shower House. The age exact groups change from week-to-week depending on camper registration numbers, but Wallace is *generally* boys ages 11-12, Sassafras is *generally* boys ages 12-13, and Tamarack is *generally* boys ages 14 and older.

The Front Cabins

Chapple Lodge, Firefly, and Lotus make up the area of camp we call "The Front Cabins". These cabins house our middle girls during the summer camp season. Chapple Lodge houses up to 24 people; typically 20 campers and 4 counselors. Firefly and Lotus can each house 20 people, generally 16 campers and 4 staff. All three have electricity, but do not have bathrooms in the cabin. They are very close to the Shower House. The age exact groups change from week-to-week depending on camper registration numbers, but Chapple is *generally* girls ages 11-12, and Firefly and Lotus are *generally* girls ages 12-13.

Interior of chapple lodge 39334222794 o 2048x1536

Morris Lodge

Morris Lodge has recently undergone a multi-year restoration to make it the "crown jewel" of cabins at Camp Tannadoonah. Built in 1938, Morris Lodge houses our oldest girls during the summer camp season (*typically* girls 14 and older). It has 3 camper bedrooms ("Left, "Right" and "Back") for up to 19 total girls, and 2 staff areas. The 3 counselors for Morris Lodge live in "West Morris" and program staff or members of the leadership team live in "East Morris" upstairs.

Morris has a large central gathering area, with a fireplace, comfortable seating areas, tables for card games and board games, and space to hang out. It also serves as program space on rainy days. There is a brand new deck on the south side of the building, overlooking the lake, and a nearby fire pit for cookout night.

Morris Lodge also has its own bathroom facilities, which have just been completely renovated and upgraded. The bathrooms are designed to provide privacy so that they can be used by user groups who may have males and females in the cabin at the same time. There are 2 fully enclosed showers with dressing areas, 2 fully enclosed toilet stalls, and 2 sinks.

Shower House

The shower house / bathroom facility is located near the center of camp behind the Dining Hall. On the girls' side of the shower house, there are 6 sinks, 6 toilet stalls, and 6 showers. On the boy's side of the shower house, there are 6 sinks, 4 toilet stalls, 4 urinals, and 5 showers.

Cardinals & Wrens and Robins & Woodpeckers each have their own bathrooms (but no showers). Morris Lodge has its own bathroom facilities (including showers).

Laura B. DeRhodes Dining Hall and Kitchen

Our Dining Hall is located in the center of camp. We eat most of our meals in the Dining Hall, except on cookout nights. There are 24 tables, with 4 benches at each table, for a total of 196 seats. The total capacity of the dining room is 200, but we can add additional seating on the porch for large groups if the weather permits. The Dining Hall has two large fireplaces, and a full commercial kitchen. The dining room floor was refinished in 2022 with a beautiful epoxy coating!