North Star Reach

06/03/2026

🫎 Wishlist Wednesday: The Final Countdown to Camp ☀️💙

In just a few short weeks, children and families will begin arriving at North Star Reach for another season of camp magic.

The campfires will be lit. The pool will be full of laughter. New friendships will be formed. Lifelong memories will be made.

And thanks to the generosity of our Campily, we're getting closer every day to being ready.

As we prepare to welcome campers to our 105 Acre Wood, there are still a few items on our Amazon Wishlist that will help support our upcoming Residential Summer Camp sessions.

Whether it's a program supply, a sensory support item, a medical resource, or a piece of equipment that helps camp run smoothly, every item plays a role in creating a place where children with serious health challenges and their families can belong, thrive, and experience the joy of camp.

💙 This may be our final Wishlist Wednesday before summer camp begins, and we're grateful for everyone who has already helped bring Mooseness to life through a wishlist purchase, donation, volunteer service, or simply by sharing our story!

👉 Explore our Wishlist: https://a.co/02tvQX6I

✔️ Choose an item
✔️ Ship it directly to camp
✔️ Help us put the finishing touches on an unforgettable summer

Because the magic of camp begins long before the first camper arrives ... and it happens because of people like YOU! 🫎✨

06/03/2026

🫎✨ The Livingston Post is helping us spread the word about a very special milestone!

On July 1, 2026, North Star Reach will celebrate 10 years since we first opened our gates to campers and began creating life-changing camp experiences for children with serious health challenges and their families.

What started as a bold vision has become a community filled with friendship, belonging, confidence, joy, adventure, and a little thing we call Mooseness. Over the past decade, thousands of campers, families, volunteers, donors, healthcare partners, and supporters have helped write this story, and we can't wait to celebrate with you.

Join us on Wednesday, July 1, from 12–2:30 pm for our 10-Year Anniversary Ribbon Cutting & Camp Tour, hosted in partnership with the Howell Area Chamber of Commerce. Enjoy a ribbon cutting ceremony, lunch with campers during Resident Summer Camp - Session II presented by the Epilepsy Foundation of Michigan, and a guided tour of camp.

Whether you've been part of our story from the beginning or are just discovering North Star Reach, we'd love to celebrate this milestone with you.

Thank you to The Livingston Post for sharing our story and helping us celebrate 10 Years of Mooseness!

💙 Registration information can be found in the shared article below.

North Star Reach celebrating first decade with community celebration on July 1. https://thelivingstonpost.com/north-star-reach-celebrating-first-decade-with-community-celebration-on-july-1/

06/03/2026

💙 Thank You, Voices of the Staff! 💙

Earlier this spring, nearly 50 current and former participants in the University of Michigan Voices of the Staff program spent an afternoon volunteering at North Star Reach, helping us prepare for another summer of camp magic during our Year of Mooseness.

From cleaning windows and spreading mulch to weeding flowerbeds, splitting wood, and painting moose tracks throughout camp, these dedicated volunteers rolled up their sleeves and made a lasting impact on our 105 Acre Wood.

Their efforts help ensure that children with serious health challenges and their families arrive to a camp that is welcoming, beautiful, and ready for adventure, friendship, belonging, and joy.

We are grateful to Rich Holcomb, the Voices of the Staff alumni network, and everyone who joined us for this special Half Day of Service. Thank you for sharing your time, talents, and commitment to service with our Campily.

🫎✨ Because of volunteers like you, the magic of camp is possible!.

Interested in bringing your company, department, employee resource group, alumni network, or community organization to camp for a future volunteer day? We'd love to welcome you to the Campily. Group volunteer projects help prepare camp for children with serious health challenges and their families while creating meaningful team-building experiences for participants. Reach out to learn more about volunteer opportunities at North Star Reach!

📖 Read the full story from University of Michigan Human Resources in the comments below.

06/02/2026

💚 Tuesday Trivia Time!

June is National Camping Month, and there's no shortage of favorite camp activities at North Star Reach! 🏕️🦌

❓ Which of these activities can campers experience at North Star Reach?

A) Archery
B) Arts & Crafts
C) Fishing
D) Campfires
E) All of the above

Drop your guess below and tell us your favorite camp activity in the comments! 💚✨

06/01/2026

🌟 Exciting News! Our June Trail Mix Newsletter is Out! 🌟

🗞️ In This Issue:
1. Summer Camp Starts Here: Moose is Getting Ready
2. Step Up to the Plate with the Lansing Lugnuts
3. Double the Mooseness: We’re Over Halfway There!
4. Unlock the Moose Vault: Camp Designs Through the Years!
5. 2nd Annual MOOSE-ic Festival Festival Returns This August!
6. Find Your Campfire – Volunteer Profile | Janae Stephenson
7. Lasting Impact – In Our Own Words | The Taratsas Family

Don't miss out! Visit https://conta.cc/4wU4Pi6 to read the full newsletter and stay connected with our camp community! 📬🌲

06/01/2026

🎉 Happy Birthday, Jeff! 🎉
Facilities Director | North Star Reach

What makes Jeff smile every time he thinks about camp? Watching buildings, trails, and gathering spaces transform into places filled with laughter, adventure, and lifelong memories ... and knowing his work helps make all of that possible.

To Jeff, Mooseness means pitching in, staying positive, and tackling every project with a team-first attitude … plus a little humor along the way. 🛠️😄

His favorite time at camp is the quiet kind:
🌅 Early mornings, walking the grounds as camp slowly wakes up.

What keeps him coming back is simple and powerful: the mission, the people, and the belief that a safe, welcoming camp starts with strong facilities.

When it’s time to celebrate his birthday, Jeff keeps it just right: good food, good company, and time spent outside.

As we lean into our Year of Mooseness, Jeff is most excited about making camp even better ... and seeing everyone bring that Mooseness energy to life across every corner of camp.

🫎 One word Jeff uses to describe the North Star Reach community: awesome

Today, we celebrate you, Jeff, and the care, craftsmanship, and Mooseness you bring to camp every single day! 🎂✨

05/30/2026

💍🫎 Welcome to Camp, Haylie & Dominic! 🫎💍

Today is an especially joyful day at North Star Reach as we welcome back two very special members of our Campily.

North Star Reach camper alumni Haylie and Dominic are celebrating their wedding reception right here at camp today ... a beautiful full-circle moment during our Year of Mooseness! 💙

There is something truly magical about seeing campers grow up, build lifelong friendships, and create futures filled with love, belonging, and joy. While camp may begin with campfires, laughter, and shared adventures, the connections made here often last far beyond a single season.

Today is a reminder that the magic of camp, the Mooseness, stays with us in ways we never could have imagined.

Please join us in congratulating Haylie & Dominic and wishing them a lifetime filled with love, happiness, adventure, and plenty of Mooseness! 🫎✨

📺 Earlier this year, CBS Detroit shared their story and connection to North Star Reach: https://www.cbsnews.com/detroit/video/michigan-couple-to-marry-at-michigan-summer-camp-where-they-met/

Congratulations, Haylie & Dominic ... and welcome back to camp! 💙

05/29/2026

✨ In Case You Missed It ✨ Lasting Impact 💜 | In Our Own Words: The Szyszkowski Family

For the Szyszkowski family, camp became something they had always hoped for ... but weren’t sure they would find: a place to truly belong.

When their daughter Anastasia was diagnosed with autism at age three and later began experiencing seizures, making and keeping friendships became a challenge. As a parent who cherished summer camp growing up, there was a deep hope to one day share that same magic with her children.

That hope became reality at North Star Reach. 💫

What started with a Work Weekend quickly turned into something more. From bunk beds and campfire songs to the unforgettable No Hands Spaghetti Dinner, their family fell in love with camp at first sight!

But the real magic?
✨ Anastasia and her sister Katerina found their tribe
✨ Their family found a community that understands without explanation
✨ A place where they never have to apologize ... only belong

“North Star Reach feels like family,” they shared. “It’s a space where we finally feel like we belong.”

That’s Mooseness. 🫎💜

💫 Want to learn more about camp?
Discover how families find connection, joy, and belonging:
👉 https://www.northstarreach.org/camp-information/

📰 From our Trail Mix eNewsletter—don’t miss a story.

05/29/2026

✨ In Case You Missed It ✨ Find Your Campfire 🔥 | Volunteer Profile: Alia Ferdaous

Ten years ago, Alia Ferdaous answered a simple Facebook post and found something that would shape her life forever.

What began as a way to give back quickly became something much deeper. During her first week at camp, the campers she came to support became her teachers ... showing her resilience, joy, and the power of community.

“Places where kindness is a way of life do exist,” Alia shared. “If you’re lucky enough to experience one, you’ll come out stronger and more fulfilled.”

Now, a decade later and with multiple degrees to her name, Alia still considers camp her greatest achievement. She’s continued her journey across multiple SeriousFun Children's Network camps, but North Star Reach remains a place that helped her discover purpose, connection, and joy!

“Camp fun makes me feel like a kid again,” she said. “And those moments are rare and precious.”

One small decision. A lifetime of impact. That’s the power of Mooseness! 🫎✨

💫 Want to be part of the magic?
Learn how you can volunteer, give, or get involved:
👉 https://www.northstarreach.org/get-involved/

📰 From our Trail Mix eNewsletter—don’t miss a story.

05/27/2026

🫎 Wishlist Wednesday: The Countdown to Camp Is On! ☀️💙

Summer camp is almost here at North Star Reach … and we’re getting ready to welcome campers back to our 105 Acre Wood for another season of friendship, adventure, belonging, and Mooseness! ✨

Behind the scenes, our team is hard at work preparing for everything from campfires and swimming to arts & crafts, sports, songs, and quiet moments of care and connection.

And every detail matters.

💙 Through our Amazon.com Wishlist, our Campily is helping bring camp to life, supporting:
🏕️ Family Camp Weekends
☀️ Residential Summer Camps
🏥 OutReach Programs in children’s hospitals

From medical and sensory supports to program supplies and camp activities, every item helps create a place where children with serious health challenges can simply be kids.

👉 Explore our Wishlist: https://a.co/02tvQX6I

✔️ Choose an item
✔️ Ship it directly to camp
✔️ Help create moments that campers and families will remember forever

Because camp magic doesn’t just happen ... it’s created by a community that cares! 🫎✨