About 60% of our campers are from Michigan, 25% from other Midwestern states and the remainder from all parts of the US and, at times, from Europe, South American and Asia. We tend to get the largest group of campers from Ann Arbor and the East Lansing in Michigan and from the greater Chicago area.
Staff reflect the geographic makeup of the camper population, to some extent, with many from Michigan colleges and universities. About 25% of the staff will be international. The past few summers, we have had staff from England, Australia, New Zealand, Poland, Russia, Canada, Ukraine, Italy, Moldova, Sweden and Holland.

Roughly 25% of the staff will be former campers from either Camp Lookout or Crystalaire Camp.

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Although it is not uncommon for a number of first time campers to come to camp with a friend or relative, campers who do try it on their own usually make friends very quickly. We attempt to make cabin groupings that have a good mixture of former and new campers, campers from various cities, etc.

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General suggestions--
Send easy care, rugged clothes. Camp is hard on clothes.

Label all belongings with child's first & last name, not just initials. Items with names tend to be easily returned; initialed items tend to remain unclaimed.

Some families have found that a list of items taped to the inside of the footlocker helps a camper keep track of his/her belongings.


Luggage--
The best luggage choice for short sessions is a single, easy access suitcase or duffel bag and a smaller "carry-on" bag. Remember, at Lookout, luggage needs to be carried onto the pontoon boat and then to the cabin. For longer sessions, a footlocker or hard plastic storage box with cover (which will slide under the camp beds) and a duffel bag work well. For ease of travel, some families ship luggage to camp via UPS; we will also ship it back to you following the session.


Bedding--
For longer sessions, bring cot or twin sized sheets, blankets, pillow and a sleeping bag (preferably one that could unzip and be used as a comforter). For shorter sessions, a sleeping bag should suffice.


Towels--
Towels will get wet and dirty-- so bring several towels and wash cloths. Bath towels tend to work better for most campers than big beach towels as the larger towels are more likely to be dragged in the sand.


Laundry bag/laundry service--
Please send a mesh or fabric laundry bag. Do not send a lightweight plastic bag as rip easily under normal "kid" use. Most importantly, never send a black garbage bag to be use as a laundry bag. Most black plastic garbage bags get tossed into the dumpsters without checking to see what they contain! No laundry service is available during sessions except for emergencies.


Clothing--
Shorts, jeans, tops/shirts, sweatshirt, sweater, underwear, socks (some warm and heavy), swimming suit, cap/hat for the beach, pajamas/sleepwear, light jacket, rain gear


Shoes--
Sneakers (a couple pair if you have them, in case one pair gets wet), boots or hard soled shoes if going horseback riding, sandals, shower sandals, water shoes/booties (especially for use while swimming in Lower Herring Lake because of Zebra mussels)


Other stuff--
~ toilet articles (soap, shampoo, etc) in easily carried container, such as a little plastic bucket or toilet kit
~ flashlight, extra batteries
~ disposable camera
~ stamped, self-addressed postcards and envelopes
~ pens and pencils
~ reading materials (books/ magazines)
~ playing cards/quiet (rainy day) games (we also have some available)


Optional items--
~ sports equipment you'd enjoy having at camp-- swim fins, mask, hackysack
~ daypack or small back-pack
~ costume or items for use at skit night or talent show
~ musical instrument that can handle life at camp

~ a walkman or iPod **note-- camp rules are that these devices may be used only in your cabin, during rest hour, free time or before bed, and may not be used on trips, during activities, while at the beach, etc. Remember that personal music devices will isolate the listener, and that one of the reasons to go to camp is to meet and interact with others! In addition, the camp is not responsible for iPods lost, damaged or stolen!


Basically, pack from the above list according to the needs of your child and the length of the session. Keep in mind that camp is informal and that most campers don't tend to need the number of clothing changes they might need at home. Pack for warm and cool days plus occasional rain-- Michigan weather is very changeable! Best advice is that if you think you are sending too much, you probably are!


What shouldn't be brought to camp?
-- cell phones (questionable tower connections, limited possibility for usage, easy to damage or lose)
~ No expensive jewelry, watches, expensive musical instruments or other easily damaged items.
~ Skateboards and inline skates (there is no place to use them!)
~ Hairdryers (this is camp-- no need to look perfect!)
~ Radios, CD players, televisions, tape decks (camper cabins do not have electricity plus camp is supposed to be an escape from suburban/urban life)
~ Gameboys (tends to isolate the player-- camp is to meet and be with people!)
~ Your own private snackbar---chips, peanuts, candy, soda and all that kind of stuff. Use good judgement about snacks/food and pack only minimal amount of "treats". Minimal means no more than 8 ounces. See information on "Care Packages" for rationale.
~ Firearms and other weapons.
~ Cigarettes, non-smoking tobacco or alcohol.
~ Fireworks.
~ Pets. Herman the hamster and Fluffy the dog have to stay home.

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It is always fun to receive a package! The best care packages (from a camp management point of view) would contain a copy of a favorite newspaper or magazine, a couple of books, clothing, a small game or puzzle, deck of cards, a stuffed animal, makeup, sports equipment or similar items. Campers have received daily packages containing local sports news and weekly packages containing several current magazines. And when the Harry Potter books were first coming out, UPS made many deliveries from Amazon.com!

Keep the packages small-- maybe no larger than an 8"x10" padded envelope. A package or letter could contain one or two SMALL items of food or candy as a special treat. Again, the key word is "small"-- a 16 oz bag of M&M's, or 10-12 small packs of Skittles, or a 20 oz. package of Oreo cookies are not small items!

So what about sending food? If you must send some food, please make it a MINIMAL part of the package, no more than 8-10 oz. Remember that
~ Food packages (and wrappers, etc) kept in cabins or luggage attract chipmunks, squirrels & skunks
~ Food packages tend to be divisive within a cabin group-- "I'm going to eat some of my candy and you can't have any"
~ Food package contents can be used to attempt to "purchase " friendship or group status
- And it has happened that a camper will contact friends and family, requesting that each send food.

As a general practice, when a package appears to contain a large amount of food, campers will be asked to open it in the presence of the program director and any food in excess of the suggested 8-10 oz will be stored and return for the trip home.

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Mail is the best communication at camp as everyone likes to receive mail. In fact, both campers and their parents like to receive it! So families should often write short, newsy, letters. Keep in mind that letters from downstate or out of state will often take 3-5 days to get to camp. Consider mailing a brief note several days prior to the opening day of the session so that mail will be waiting for your camper. And be certain to send stamped addressed postcards or envelopes to facilitate production of letters home. Although we require at least one letter home (as a meal ticket) from each camper, it is possible that you may not receive frequent letters from your child. Past experience has indicated that few letters home usually mean that a camper is having a busy, happy time.

Email may be sent TO campers using this address-- campers@lookoutsummer.com. Please write the first AND last name of the camper in the subject line. Email is downloaded and printed each afternoon and given to campers with the US mail, shortly after dinner. Campers do not have access to computers, thus no email response from campers is possible.

Because we have 80+ campers and staff and one phone line, phone calls to/from campers would be highly unusual. We no longer have a dedicated fax line. If you wish you send a fax, please contact the camp office at 231-352-7589.

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Because there will be 55 campers and 25 staff in camp at one time, it is logistically impossible to provide phone access for both the camp business needs and campers and staff personal phoning. Thus, telephone lines at camp are reserved for business use. Telephone communication from both home to campers and campers to home is usually limited to serious needs or emergencies.

It is now fairly common for many campers to have a cell phone. We recommend that campers do not bring a cell phone with them to camp. Camp is to be a retreat from everyday life-- and cell phone call interruptions quickly destroy that quality. Sometimes parents, however, may feel more comfortable if their child has phone access while he or she is away from the family home. If this is the case, please let the camp director and/or your child's counselor know that your child will have a cell phone and work out with them what kind of usage you expect. Worst case scenario could be campers phoning each other every evening after going to bed; imagine cell phones ringing throughout camp!

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We have no special visiting day. As our sessions are short-- 5 & 12 days-- a stay at camp without
visits from home are very feasible for most children. Visiting days originated at camps with a single, 8 week session, thus a couple "visiting" days in the middle of the summer were both welcome and needed by parents and campers.

As most of our camper's homes are 4-8 hours from camp, it would be unrealistic to expect parents to make the drive to and back from Frankfort more than at the beginning and end of each session.

In anticipation of a possible visitor, a camper will tend to give up camping or out of camp trips and even key roles in skits and presentations, preferring, instead to be immediately available.

Please encourage grandparents, aunts, uncles, friends, etc., to keep in touch with your child by letters or email and discourage personal visits except for exceptional, special cases.

Campers may leave camp with relatives/friends ONLY with the written permission of parents/guardians.

Finally, on closing day, when picking up your child, spend as much time as you wish visiting with staff and your camper's friends. Have your child give you a tour of the camp-- letting him/her introduce you to "her/his" camp. Both campers and parents will enjoy it!

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A waterfront director, who has current lifeguard/CPR and first aid certifications, is responsible for all water activities-- swimming, kayaking, sailing, etc. This person is responsible for knowing the swimming ability of all campers and staff and, to find our the abilities, oversees swim tests for everyone during the opening days of each session. The waterfront director also tests each staff member for swimming ability at the beginning of staff employment and trains those people who will guarding waterfront activities in correct waterfront procedures.

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The camp waterfront swimming area is open several times during the day for swimming. Campers and staff may not swim unless the waterfront has been opened by the waterfront director-- and lifeguards are in place. At each swimming activities, there will be one certified lifeguard for every 10 swimmers. In addition, campers use a buddy system when swimming. Each camper checks into the swimming area with a "buddy" and they swim together-- and watch out for each other. Lifeguards are required to do frequent formal buddy checks whenever campers are swimming.

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Typically, a cabin group will have between 5-8 children and a counselor, and, often a junior counselor.

During activities, there will usually be one staff member for every 5-8 participants and in any activity which has more than 10 participants there will be 1 additional staff member for every 10 additional campers. It is our intent to achieve the lowest staff/camper ratio practicable. Thus, activities involving 1 or 2 campers with a staff member are possible and welcome.

In risk activities, staff to camper ratio are higher than in normal activities. For example, bicycle trips will have 2 staff members for each 8 campers, canoe trips will have 2 staff for each 8/9 campers, etc.

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The health officer lives at camp and, when absent, designates another qualified staff member as substitute. A local physician from Frankfort works with the health officer and gives that person the standing orders under which the health officer works. The camp physician's office is in Frankfort as is Paul Oliver Hospital, with a fully staffed/equipped emergency room.

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All medications are dispensed at the health center by our health officer during health calls which are held immediately after each meal and, if necessary, just before going to bed at night. No camper or staff member may keep any medication in his/her luggage or cabin.

In addition, on the opening day of a session, campers and parents meet briefly with the health officer to review the medical history/exam forms, discuss any current health or medication needs of the camper, and to collect any medications.

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All campers and staff must have a health history and proof of a physical exam form on file at camp. The health history and physical exam form may be downloaded and printed from this website.

The health history form is to be completed by a campers parent and contains the camp's primary information in the event of sickness or emergency. The physical exam form is to be completed by a camper's physician. Every campers and staff member needs proof of a physical exam done within the last 24 months. A copy of a physical exam for school, sports or other reasons will be acceptable.

Although you may bring the completed form with you to give to the camp nurse upon arrival, it is probably easier to mail the form to the camp office when you have completed it.

RETURNING CAMPERS who had a physical exam in preparation for camp in 2009 will not need to get one for this summer. Contact the camp office if you are uncertain if you child needs to complete a new health exam.

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Lookout does not carry camper sickness or accident insurance. Your family health insurance usually covers any problems which may arise at camp. parents or family insurance will be responsible for all physician office visits and/or emergency room billings. Both the camp physician's office and the local hospital require a copy of your insurance card. Please attach a copy to your camper's health form.

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Along with the initial registration form, parents of registered campers need to complete and return the following forms to camp:

1) health history and physical exam form
2) permission/release form (download from this website, sign and return prior to the start of the session)
3) release of a camper to a non-parent. You must give written permission if you wish to have your child released from camp to anyone other than the parent/guardian named on the registration. For example, if you are unable to pick up your child at the end of camp and want him/her to travel with the Davis family, your neighbors, we need written permission from you authorizing Camp Lookout to release you child to Don Davis. Email permission is acceptable

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Lunches and dinners at camp are served family style; breakfasts are served cafeteria style. At all meals, there is usually enough variety and choice to meet everyone's needs. In addition, a vegetarian option is always available. Special diets-- milk free, wheat free, etc., can usually be provided by the kitchen with input from the parents, camper or staff member involved.

In addition, the camp menus reflect the following:
~ Minimal sugar desserts; minimal sugars at breakfast-- fruit is the preferred dessert
~ Hot dogs are to be turkey or all beef products
~ Minimal pork served-- rarely will breakfast meats be served
~ A variety of breads will be served, not just white
~ Meals will reflect "kid" preferences, yet attempt to enlarge campers' experiences with unfamiliar foods
~ Meals will reflect a preference toward less red meats
~ Because of the additional sugars and chemicals they contain, processed foods are to be avoided.
~ Foods prepared "from scratch" are preferred. We attempt to avoid frozen cookie dough, frozen entrees, canned pasta with sauce, artificial dessert toppings, breakfast pop-tarts, etc. There will, of course, be some tradeoffs and some processed foods will be used.
~ Ethnic meals are welcomed and encouraged

Campers also have input into menu planning and meal preparation. We will operate an open kitchen as much as possible with campers assisting with meal preparation when ever feasible. To this end, campers also serve as "cruisers" and dishwashers for at least one day each session.

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The Inn at Watervale, located on the south shore of Lower Herring Lake, has information on their web site about making arrangements to stay there during the summer. Click here for more information.

In addition, there are many motels, resorts and private cottages in the Frankfort and Beulah-Benzonia area. Contact the Benzie County Chamber of Commerce for a complete listing-- 231 882-5801

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We do not do graces before meals. Upon entering the dining room, campers and staff stand behind a chair where they will be seated for the meal and wait for the "thought for the meal" to be given by the meal host. A "thought for the meal" may be a short poem, prose piece, observation, or a brief comment on something that has happened that day, e.g., "Before we start the meal, I want to direct your attention to Louise and her sculpture group. They worked hard on their project this morning and you can see the great results just outside the dining room after lunch. Congratulations to them."

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There is no religious affiliation and we offer no religious services.

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Sure-- although winter visits are not too exciting-- mostly snow and closed buildings! But visits during the warmer months and during camp are great. Please either email or phone Dave Reid at the camp office to set up when you would like to come.

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We would be happy to connect you with camp families from your city with whom you could speak about camp. Email or phone Dave Reid at the camp office.

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