Frequently Asked Questions

All of the programs at Camp Fire and Camp T are co-educational. Though Camp Fire was founded in 1910 as "Camp Fire Girls," the organization became co-ed in 1976 and Camp T started accepting male campers in 1978.

We also welcome and affirm LGBTQ+ campers and staff. While our program is focused on young people finding their spark in the outdoors, our staff are trained to navigate age-appropriate conversations and questions as they arise. Here are some of the practical ways we support LGBTQ+ campers:

• Campers have the opportunity to share their pronouns in their introductions and during icebreakers. Pronouns are how we refer to each other when we don’t use a name – examples include: she/her, they/them, he/him, etc.
• Many of our staff display their pronouns on their name tags, and we encourage others to respect those pronouns.
• We house trans and non-binary campers and staff in accordance with their gender identity and preference.

In 2025, 55% of campers registered for camp as female-identifying, 44% male-identifying, and 1% non-binary.

Campers LOVE to receive mail! We have daily mail service at camp, and letters are distributed after free swim each afternoon (around 5:30). We recommend you send letters early, as it sometimes takes a while for them to get to us! Here is the address:

Camp Tannadoonah
Your Camper’s Name
14751 Harvey St.
Vandalia, MI 49095

What NOT to send

Please do not send the following items to your camper while they are at camp:

• Gum, candy, or other food. We try not to have food in the cabins as it tends to attract critters and bugs.
• Money. Campers are not allowed to carry cash at camp. They may put funds in a store account during check in on Sunday, but we do not accept cash at the camp store during the week.
• Fireworks, sparklers, “pop ’ems”
• Anything electronic. Campers are not allowed to have phones, tablets, video games, or other electronics at camp.
• Sharpies or other markers. We are trying to keep our cabins free of graffiti and ask that markers stay at home.

Letter Writing Tips for Parents

• It’s the small things. Include small surprises in a letter: cut-outs from a newspaper or magazine, drawings or letters from a sibling (or a pet!), and stickers are all great additions to the envelope.
• DO write about… Ask lots of questions about camp life. What activities has your camper tried? Which are his favorites? What is her favorite camp meal so far? Ask about bunk mates, school friends, siblings, and new pals. This invites them to write back to you with answers! It’s also great to remind your campers that you can’t wait to hear everything about camp, that you are proud of them, and that you hope they are learning new skills. This is a great comfort, and it reminds your children that you’re happy to send them to camp.
• DON’T write about… Be careful about mentioning what your camper is missing at home, and try not to say “I miss you” too much. Send your love, not your anxiety! To minimize worry and homesickness, save mild bad news for when your camper comes home (for example, if the family pet isn’t doing so well). If you have serious bad news to share, always call us (574-387-6095) instead of including it in a letter.
• If you get a homesick letter… When responding to a letter from your homesick camper, empathize with how they’re feeling, but reiterate that you’re proud of them for going to camp. It’s also important to remember that letters are mostly written during down time – which is when homesickness can occur. More resources about homesickness are available from the American Camp Association.
• Time flies. Remember that by the time you receive a “low” letter, it is already a few days old, and your camper’s concerns have likely already been solved and forgotten about! If you are truly worried, call us (574-387-6095) and we will check in with your camper’s counselors.

The camp staff has been trained on how to handle this expected hurdle. It is usually a temporary period, and the staff helps to overcome this feeling by channeling your child’s energies towards other activities. By the time you receive a “low” letter, your child is probably feeling much better!

We do not allow campers to call home during the week, as this generally only makes homesickness worse. If we have concerns about your child, we will have a staff member contact you. You are also free to contact us if you have any questions or concerns during the week. The phone number at camp is 574-387-6095. You can also reach the camp staff by email at info@tannadoonah.org.

Here are some tips for preventing homesickness:

DO talk about homesickness! It is so important to talk with your child about how normal it is to feel homesick at camp. Talk about what they should do if they experience homesickness at camp. Let them know that you can be homesick AND still have a great time at camp!

DO set some camp goals with your child. In addition to making friends and having fun, camp is about trying new things and learning new skills. We encourage all of our campers to set some personal goals, whether it is learning how to water-ski or becoming a better photographer.

DON’T tell your camper that you won’t be okay without them! Of course it is okay for them to know that you will miss them, but we want to avoid them worrying about mom or dad at camp. Try saying, “I am going to miss you so much, but I know you are going to have the best time!”

DON’T make the “pick-up deal” by telling your child that you will come pick them up from camp if they don’t like it. Children typically lose any motivation to succeed at camp if they think a parent will come get them. They will hold you to this deal and it will make it much harder for us to help your camper adjust to life at camp. Part of camp is learning to work through situations that may not always be easy. Please know that the directors and counselors are taking great care of your child; we are committed to helping them throughout the week so that they can have a positive and successful camp experience.

For more tips on how to handle homesickness, check out the American Camp Association's resources. We also recommend checking out Dr. Michael Thompson's book, Homesick and Happy.

We do our best to accommodate all bunk requests. When you fill out your camper’s registration form, there is a section called "supplementary information" to fill in any bunk mate requests. We are generally able to honor all of those requests, but we ask that parents limit bunk mate requests to campers who are the same age/grade or no more than one year apart.

If campers are more than one year apart in age or grade, we cannot promise that they will be together. We try to keep the campers in the cabins fairly close in age – for instance, the Cardinals cabin might have 3rd and 4th graders, and Wallace might have 5th and 6th graders. When we have bunk mate requests for kids of different ages to bunk together, our policy is to move the older camper down to the younger group. But if the request is for campers who are farther apart in age than one year, it’s difficult either way we handle it: a 5th or 6th grader doesn’t want to be in a group with 3rd and 4th graders, and most parents wouldn’t want their 3rd or 4th grader in a cabin with 5th and 6th graders.

We also don’t recommend that parents request for siblings to be placed together in a cabin. We want every camper to have their own special camp experience, and the older sibling may feel pressured to look out for the younger sibling. The younger siblings do just fine without an older brother or sister in the cabin!

If we have a very large group of campers request to be together (more than 5), it may be difficult for them to all be together. We do our best, but some of the rooms in the cabins have a capacity of five. We can sometimes keep larger groups together, but it depends on the ages of the group, as well as the number of campers attending camp that week.

We can accommodate many dietary restrictions or special diets, but we need to know in advance so we can plan for specific meals. Please let us know of any special dietary needs at least two weeks in advance of your child’s camp attendance.

If your child needs a gluten-free diet, for instance, our cook can send you the menu for the week in advance, and you can identify any foods your child cannot eat. We ask that parents help by sending substitute foods whenever possible.

If your child has severe food allergies (such as a peanut allergy), we can work with you to determine what accommodations need to be made. For instance, we can mark all food in the Trading Post that contains peanuts or is manufactured in a place where peanuts are processed. We can provide the labels for food served in the Dining Hall to make sure it is peanut-free.

If your child is diabetic, our nurse and cook can work with you and your child to determine the carb counts for each meal.

For picky eaters, we always provide the option of salad or sandwiches if they do not want to eat the meal that is being served. For breakfast, a variety of cereals are always available, in addition to the hot breakfast being served.

Each day at camp, we have four scheduled activities periods, each 45 minutes in length. Campers may pre-register for up to two activities, which will fill two of their four activity periods each day. The other two periods will be left open for "free choice" activities.

Pre-scheduled activities meet at the same time every day, for all five days of the session. Campers will receive a schedule card on Monday morning, showing which periods are filled with the pre-scheduled activities, and which periods they have a free choice block. During their free choice periods, campers can choose a different activity each day.

When you register your camper for camp, you will have the opportunity to select your camper's preferred activities. You can make changes to those selections up to ONE WEEK before your camper arrives at camp. However, many activities have a limited number of spots, and may not be available if you wait to sign up. To make changes to your camper's activities, please log into your UltraCamp account.

We ask that campers do not make changes to their activities at check-in. If a change is requested at check-in, we will try to accommodate it, but because the schedule is already set for the week by the time they check in, we may not be able to get them into their preferred activities, or align their schedule with friends.

Sample Camp Schedule

Each camper has their own unique schedule for the week. We do our best to align campers' schedules with their bunk mate / friend requests.

During free choice periods, campers can choose between crafts, drama, nature, sports & games, gaga ball, archery, and chill zone. They can change their free choice selections daily.

At breakfast each morning, counselors announce what they are doing at each free choice that day. For instance, "Today at sports and games, we are playing capture the flag," or "Today at handcraft we are making bead buddies."

You will have the opportunity to choose two activities during the signup process on UltraCampwhen you register your camper for camp. You may only choose two pre-registered activities.

If you don't add the activities during the initial registration process, you can always log back into your camper's profile and add them later. If you need to remove an activity, please email us or call our office at 574-387-6095 and we can help with that. Feel free to contact us with any questions about activities and scheduling.

More information on activity schedules work and the daily schedule.

All of our camp staff are trained on what to do in the event of an illness or injury at camp. During Staff Training, before campers arrive, we teach staff about their responsibilities for camper care, and what to do in the event of different types of emergency situations. There are First Aid kits located at each cabin and each activity area in camp.

We have a registered nurse (RN), licensed practical nurse (LPN), or nurse practitioner (NP) on site at camp each week to serve as the health officer. The health officer lives at camp throughout the week, in our Kiwanis Health Center, and is responsible for the administration of all medications, and providing care for injuries and illnesses.

All of our cabin counselors and activity leaders are trained in Red Cross Basic First Aid and CPR, and our waterfront staff are certified in Red Cross Lifeguarding, and CPR / First Aid for the professional rescuer.

In the event of a minor injury, the staff member(s) present will administer basic first aid, and will contact the camp health officer to document the injury, the treatment performed, and to have the injury evaluated to determine if further care is needed.

The camp health officer will be responsible for assessing the situation and determining if additional steps need to be taken. If the health officer determines that professional medical care is necessary, they will either (1) contact Cass Family clinic - for minor injuries or illness that do not require emergency care, (2) transport the camper to Three Rivers Health - for injuries or illness that require immediate evaluation and care, or occur when the Cass Family Clinic is unavailable, or (3) call for an ambulance - for severe injuries or illness that require emergency medical services.

In any situation where outside medical care is needed, the Health Officer or Camp Director will contact parents immediately, by telephone. If the situation is not an emergency, parents may have the option to pick their camper up and transport them to receive care. In an emergency situation, the Health Officer will request that the parents or guardians meet us at the location where the camper is transported.

For illnesses or injuries where outside medical care is not sought, the Health Officer or Camp Director will contact parents if the camper is restricted from normal camp activities for more than 60 minutes. For instance, if a camper has a persistent headache, stomachache, or injury that prevents them from participating in normal camp activities. In most cases, the Health Officer will make contact with parents or guardians to discuss the situation when the camper is not present. However, if the parent or guardian requests to speak to their camper, the Health Officer will facilitate that call.

We have a Health Officer on site each session during camp, following Michigan Licensing Guidelines and American Camp Association (ACA) accreditation policies. The Health Officer lives in the Kiwanis Health Center, located in the center of camp. The Health Officer administers all regular medications, and is available to deal with all medical needs that may arise during camp.

The State of Michigan requires that our Health officer be one of the following:

1. A licensed physician
2. A licensed physician's assistant
3. A licensed nurse practitioner
4. A registered nurse
5. A licensed practice nurse
6. A licensed emergency medical technician
7. A licensed medical first responder
8. An adult who is certified as a wilderness first responder
9. If less than 20% of the camper population are campers with a disability, the Health Officer may be an adult who has satisfactorily completed training and certification that is equivalent to the requirements in American Red Cross manual number 656137 (Responding to Emergencies).

Typically, our Health Officer is an RN or an LPN who is the parent of campers attending camp that session.

In the event of an injury or serious illness, we would transport campers to the Beacon Three Rivers Health Center, located 13 miles from camp. If necessary, an ambulance could be dispatched from the Newberg Township Fire Department, which is located 4.5 miles from camp.

In a non-emergency we could transport campers to the Cassopolis Family Clinic, located 11 miles from camp.

If a camper is injured or becomes ill while at camp, the Health Officer will evaluate the situation. The Health Officer will determine if we need to transport the camper to a clinic or to the hospital. Any time a camper is referred to medical attention outside of camp, parents will be contacted by phone.

Please make sure that your emergency contact information is up to date in our registration system! Your family accident/health medical insurance will be billed, and you will be advised of and billed for any other medical expenses such as special medication and/or supplies advised by the physician.

CAMP WIDE EMERGENCIES

If we experience an emergency that affects all of camp, we will keep parents up to date on the situation via several communication methods. We will:

• Send email updates to parents
• Post updates to our Facebook Page
• Post updates in our current year Facebook Group
• Send text updates via UltraCamp

To make sure you are receiving all emergency communications, please make sure that your email address is correct in the camper registration system. You can also "Like" our Facebook Page, join this year's closed Facebook Group (you will receive an email on how to do this once the group is set up for the year), and sign up for text updates (instructions below).

Camp T is located on the north shore of beautiful Birch Lake. The waterfront is the hub for many activities at camp, including swimming, fishing, canoeing, kayaking, sailing, stand up paddleboarding, waterskiing, and wakeboarding. All of our water activities require a highly-trained, vigilant staff to keep our campers safe.

LIFEGUARD TRAINING

We train all of our waterfront staff right here at camp. Miss Amber, our CEO, has been a certified Lifeguard since 1995, and spent five summers as a member of the waterfront staff at Camp T, and also worked as a lifeguard and swim instructor for the Davison Athletic Club and for South Bend Parks and Recreation. In 2001, Miss Amber served as the Waterfront Director. Miss Amber is a Red Cross certified Lifeguard Instructor, and personally trains and certifies our lifeguards at camp prior to the start of each camp season.

All of our lifeguards are also required to arrive at staff training a few days early for a special waterfront training session. During this session, the Waterfront Director provides training specific to our waterfront environment, and confirms that all of the lifeguards are capable, vigilant, and mature individuals. We know that when it comes to water safety, there is no substitute for watchful, well-trained staff!

The waterfront training session includes rehearsing emergency procedures, practicing rescue techniques, and learning the curriculum and procedures for each of our waterfront activities. In addition, the entire staff (even those who do not normally work at the waterfront) receives training on basic rescue techniques and waterfront emergency procedures, in case a non-waterfront staff member is present when an emergency arises.

WATERFRONT ACTIVITY MONITORING

All waterfront activities are staffed by at least one trained waterfront staff member. This includes swimming lessons, fishing, canoeing, kayaking, sailing, stand up paddleboarding, waterskiing, and wakeboarding classes. In addition, there is a certified lifeguard on duty as lookout during all waterfront activity periods. For all boating activities, waterskiing, and wakeboarding, campers and staff are required to wear a Coast Guard Approved flotation device (life jacket).

SWIM TEST & LESSONS

All campers must complete a swim test prior to participating in any waterfront activities. Swimming takes place only in our designated swim area. This area is divided into three camper swim areas: beginner, intermediate, and advanced. Non swimmers are automatically placed in the beginner area, where the maximum depth of the water is approximately 4 feet.

To be eligible for boating, waterskiing, or wakeboarding, a camper must earn either an intermediate or advanced swimming band. To earn an “intermediate” band, campers will be asked to swim two lengths of the waterfront without assistance and without stopping to rest (approx 50 meters). To earn an “advanced” band, campers must swim a third length.

Classes for all Red Cross swimming levels are offered, so lessons are appropriate for campers of all ages and swimming abilities. Campers who plan to take lessons are tested on Sunday evening to determine to which of the 6 Red Cross Swimming levels they will be assigned. At the end of the week campers who took lessons will be tested to see if they have met all of the Red Cross Requirements, in order to move on to the next swimming level.

BUDDY SYSTEM

Campers “check in” and “check out” of the swim area in pairs, using a “buddy number” system. Each camper is assigned a buddy number for the week, and they have a tag on the buddy board that they use to indicate that they are checking in or out of the waterfront. During free swim times, there are at least 5 certified lifeguards and at least 3 other aquatic observers or lookouts on duty. If there are an unusually large number of swimmers in the water, additional guards and observers are assigned. During free swims, there is a buddy check at least every 10 minutes, to confirm the location of all swimmers.

Camp T adheres to all State of Michigan licensing regulations and American Camp Association guidelines on waterfront safety, including a strict prohibition on nighttime waterfront activities.

National Accreditation:

Camp T is accredited by the American Camp Association (ACA). We take our accreditation process very seriously, and feel that it is very important to maintain it in order to provide the best, and safest, camp experience for your camper.

In order to be accredited, our camp has to meet a series of requirements or standards in the following areas:

• Core / Foundational Practices
• Administration, Human Resources, and Operational Management
• Facilities and Transportation
• Health and Wellness
• Staff Training, Qualifications, and Supervision
• Program Design
• Aquatic Safety

There are mandatory standards that cover areas such as staff screening, emergency exits from buildings, first aid, aquatics personnel requirements, storage and use of hazardous materials, emergency transportation policies, health record keeping, and many other topics. We are visited every three years by an accreditation official to determine whether or not we are in compliance with all of the ACA standards. The standards are continually changing and adapting to make sure we are keeping up with current issues that may be facing camps.

You can read more about ACA accreditation on the ACA website.

State Licensed:

Camp T is licensed by the State of Michigan. We are committed to keeping your campers safe by making sure that we stay in compliance with all of the state licensing requirements. In order to maintain our licensed status, we have annual inspections by the local Health Department (Cass / Van Buren County), a yearly visit from our Camp Licensing Official, and biennial inspections by a State of Michigan Fire Marshall. We also have to submit water samples from each of our wells for quarterly testing by the State Water Lab in Lansing.

For an overview of the Michigan Licensing requirements for summer camps, you can visit the Michigan Licensing and Regulation Site for Camps. The requirements include supervision ratios, counselor qualifications, waterfront safety guidelines, camp nurse qualifications, Camp Director qualifications, and many others.

We are currently licensed to serve campers ages 5-17 and have an overnight camp capacity of 160 camper and 50 day campers per session.

The balance of camp fees (for ALL sessions) is due no later than June 1. Your camper’s space may be forfeited to a camper on the waiting list if final payment is not received by June 1.

You may make a payment online at register.tannadoonah.org. You can also call us at 574-387-6095to make a payment by phone. Or you can mail a check or money order to:

Camp Fire
PO Box 459
Notre Dame, IN 46556.

Please email us or call 574-387-6095 if you have any questions regarding your camper’s balance.

If you need to cancel your camper's registration, please review the cancellation policy before contacting us about the cancellation.

Your camper's spot at camp is reserved only after you have completed the online registration, AND paid the deposit. The deposit is non-refundable.

The following is the cancellation policy in effect for the 2026 camp season:

• If you cancel your camper's registration by May 31, 2026, we will issue a refund of any payments made, less the non-refundable deposit.

• Beginning June 1, no refunds will be issued unless the cancellation is for a documented medical reason, accompanied by a doctor's note.

• All remaining camp balances are due by June 1, 2026. If your account is not paid in full by June 1, 2026, you may forfeit your spot to a camper on the waiting list, and will not receive a refund for any payments made to date.

• No refunds will be issued once a camper has arrived at camp, unless they are sent home at the request of the camp health officer for a verified medical reason.

Cabins are assigned based on the age and gender identity of the campers. We try to have no more than 3 grades in the same room or section of a cabin. For instance, Robins might have 1st and 2nd grade boys, while Woodpeckers might have 3rd and 4th grade boys. Sometimes because of the proportions of age groups or camper bunk-mate requests, there is some mixing of age groups (e.g., a few 2nd graders might end up in the 3rd and 4th grade room, or a few 3rd graders might end up in the 1st and 2nd grade room).

We have 9 camper cabins in camp, and during a typical week there are 4 boys’ cabins and 5 girls’ cabins in use. We will tell you your camper's cabin assignment when you arrive at check in.