North Star Reach

06/16/2026

💚 Tuesday Trivia Time!

As part of our Year of Mooseness, we've unlocked something special from the past ... 🦌✨

❓ What can you find inside the Moose Vault?

A) Vintage camp photos

B) Throwback North Star Reach merchandise

C) Designs inspired by past camp seasons

D) All of the above

Drop your guess below and check back next Tuesday for the answer! 💚

06/14/2026

Welcome to Camp, Campers! 🫎💙☀️

Today, 50 incredible campers arrive at North Star Reach for the first session of our 2026 Summer Residential Camp season!

For the next week, our campers will spend their days swimming, boating, creating, exploring, laughing, making new friends, and discovering all the magic that comes with being part of the Campily. They'll sing songs around campfires, challenge themselves in new ways, build confidence, gain independence, and create memories that will last a lifetime.

Most importantly, they'll be surrounded by people who understand their journeys and celebrate them for exactly who they are.

At North Star Reach, camp is more than a place. It's a community where children with serious health challenges and their siblings can simply be kids ... free to have fun, try new things, and experience the joy of belonging.

As we begin our 10th Anniversary and Year of Mooseness summer season, we couldn't be more excited to welcome these 50 campers to camp!

We're also deeply grateful to the partners who help make these life-changing experiences possible, including our Resident Summer Camp - Session I presenting sponsor, the University of Michigan Transplant Center, along with grant support from the A.A. Van Elslander Foundation and Eagles for Children. Special thanks as well to Kalitta Air, MAD Creative Concepts, Sciens Building Solutions | Elite Fire Division, and Walmart for helping ensure every camp experience remains free of charge for the children and families we serve.

Campers, counselors, volunteers, medical staff, and supporters ... the wait is over.

Summer Camp 2026 starts today. Let the Mooseness begin! 🫎💙

06/13/2026

Welcome to the Campily, Medical Volunteers! 💙🩺🫎

Today, our 13 Medical Volunteers arrive at North Star Reach to begin training and preparation for an incredible week ahead.

This Sunday, they will help welcome campers living with serious health challenges and their siblings for our first Summer Resident Camp session of 2026. Throughout the week, these dedicated physicians, nurses, and other healthcare volunteers will provide around-the-clock care, ensuring campers can safely experience all the joy, adventure, friendship, and independence that camp has to offer.

Their expertise makes something extraordinary possible: a place where children can focus less on their diagnosis and more on being kids.

From administering medications and monitoring health needs to offering reassurance, encouragement, and plenty of smiles, our Medical Volunteers are an essential part of the Campily. Their commitment helps create an environment where campers can challenge themselves, build confidence, make lifelong friends, and discover new possibilities.

As we celebrate our 10th Anniversary and Year of Mooseness, we are deeply grateful for every medical volunteer who has chosen to spend part of their summer caring for our campers and families.

We also extend our heartfelt thanks to the partners whose support helps make these life-changing experiences possible, including our Session I, the University of Michigan Transplant Center, along with grant support from the A.A. Van Elslander Foundation and Eagles for Children. Special thanks as well to Kalitta Air, MAD Creative Concepts, Sciens Building Solutions | Elite Fire Division, and Walmart for helping ensure camp remains free of charge for every camper and family we serve.

Please join us in welcoming our Medical Volunteers to camp and thanking them for the care, compassion, and expertise they bring to the Campily! ⬇️

06/12/2026

Welcome to the Campily, Program Volunteers! 🫎💙

Today, our 27 Program Volunteers arrive at North Star Reach for two days of training, preparation, and connection before welcoming campers this Sunday for the start of our first Summer Resident Camp session.

These incredible volunteers come from near and far, bringing their energy, compassion, creativity, and enthusiasm to help create life-changing camp experiences for children with serious health challenges and their siblings. Over the next week, they'll lead activities, cheer on campers, share laughs around campfires, build confidence, encourage new friendships, and help make camp feel like home.

Simply put: camp wouldn't be possible without them.

As we kick off our 10th Anniversary and Year of Mooseness, we are grateful to every volunteer who chooses to spend part of their summer helping children discover joy, independence, belonging, and all the magic that comes with being part of the Campily.

We're also deeply thankful to the partners whose support helps make these experiences possible, including our Resident Summer Camp - Session I presenting sponsor, the University of Michigan Transplant Center, along with grant support from the A.A. Van Elslander Foundation and Eagles for Children. Special thanks as well to Kalitta Air, MAD Creative Concepts, Sciens Building Solutions | Elite Fire Division, and Walmart for helping ensure camp remains free of charge for every camper and family we serve.

Please join us in giving our Program Volunteers a warm Campily welcome in the comments below! ⬇️

06/12/2026

🫎💙 Welcome to the Campily!

Please help us welcome Miguel Teran to North Star Reach as a member of our 2026 Summer Program Team!

Miguel is a self-described history nut who enjoys board games, volunteering with his former robotics team, and sharing his love of learning with others. In fact, one of his goals is to become a teacher, making camp a natural place for him to help young people learn, grow, and discover new possibilities.

What inspired him to join North Star Reach? A lifelong love of camp.

After growing up attending .america camps, Miguel wanted to spend a summer giving back. But after working at camp for the first time, he discovered something even more meaningful.

"Once I spent one summer working at camp, I knew that this was something I wanted to continue to be a part of. This camp leaves me every night knowing I've done my daily task and done my daily best."

One quote that inspires Miguel comes from Katharine Wright, sister of the Wright brothers: "Imagination is the hardest part to endure. When you walk up to the dreaded thing, it loses half its terror."

For Miguel, those words are a reminder that our minds often imagine challenges to be larger than they really are and that growth happens when we take the first step forward.

📻 Fun fact: Miguel has made approximately 50 recordings on an 1877 Edison-Bergmann Tinfoil Phonograph, combining his love of history with a truly unique hobby!

As he returns for another summer of camp magic, Miguel is looking forward to continuing to grow, preparing for a future career in education, and helping campers create unforgettable memories along the way.

Welcome to the Campily, Miguel! Thank you for sharing your talents, curiosity, and enthusiasm with campers during our Year of Mooseness.

💙 Help us give Miguel a warm Campily welcome in the comments!

06/12/2026

✨ In Case You Missed It ✨ Step Up to the Plate with the Lansing Lugnuts ⚾🫎

This June, North Star Reach is teaming up with the Lansing Lugnuts for two exciting opportunities to celebrate community, inclusion, and camp magic!

🐶 Peanuts Night | tonight, Friday, June 12
Enjoy a fun-filled evening at the ballpark while supporting North Star Reach. Proceeds from the special Peanuts-themed jersey auction will help create life-changing camp experiences for children with serious health challenges and their families.

⚾ Breaking Barriers Night | Tuesday, June 23
Join us as we celebrate inclusion and belonging, and help cheer on North Star Reach camper Harrison Brewbaker as he throws out the ceremonial first pitch! Stop by our table, say hello, and enjoy an evening of baseball and Mooseness.

These partnerships remind us that camp magic doesn't stop at our 105 Acre Wood ... it travels with our Campily into communities across Michigan!

👉 Join us at the ballpark:
https://www.milb.com/lansing/tickets/single-game-tickets

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

06/11/2026

💙 💙

Some camp memories last a lifetime.

As campers, Dominic and Haylie found friendship, belonging, and unforgettable experiences at North Star Reach. This spring, they returned to camp to celebrate one of life's biggest milestones, hosting their wedding reception surrounded by family, friends, and plenty of Mooseness.

CBS Detroit recently shared a follow-up story featuring photos and video from their special day, and we're excited to share it with our Campily!

Their story is a beautiful reminder that camp isn't just a place. It's a community that stays with you long after a session ends.

As we celebrate our Year of Mooseness and 10th anniversary, we're reflecting on stories like Dominic and Haylie's that showcase the friendships, connections, and life-changing moments that have made North Star Reach so special over the past decade.

💍 Join us in congratulating Dominic and Haylie in the comments!

🎥 Watch their story: https://youtu.be/lgS7BsQYBKo

🫎 Have a North Star Reach story of your own? We'd love to hear it as part of our Year of Mooseness celebration: https://www.northstarreach.org/year-of-mooseness/

When Dominic and Haylie first came to North Star Reach, they were c...

06/11/2026

🫎💙 Welcome to the Campily!

Please help us welcome Olivia Supitilov to North Star Reach as a member of our 2026 Summer Program Team!

Olivia is someone who believes in the power of creativity, connection, and lifelong learning.

She enjoys painting, writing, and reading, all of which allow her to explore new ideas and express herself in meaningful ways. In fact, her love of books runs deep ... she has three bookshelves in her room filled with stories that have inspired her imagination, expanded her perspective, and helped shape who she is today.

One quote that has always resonated with Olivia is: "Reading gives us some place to go when we have to stay where we are." – Mason Cooley

For Olivia, books have offered comfort, inspiration, and hope during difficult times, while reminding her that there is always another story waiting to be discovered.

📚 Fun fact: Olivia recently graduated with her Associate's Degree in Health Science and plans to continue her education toward becoming an ultrasound technician. She is passionate about healthcare and looks forward to building a career centered on helping others.

What inspired her to join North Star Reach?

Olivia was drawn to the Campily because of its welcoming, supportive community and the opportunity to spend her summer helping create meaningful experiences for others.

As she begins her North Star Reach journey, Olivia hopes to challenge herself, build new relationships, develop new skills, and make a positive impact on the campers and families she serves.

During our Year of Mooseness, we're grateful to welcome team members like Olivia who bring curiosity, compassion, creativity, and a desire to help others thrive.

Welcome to the Campily, Olivia! We can't wait to see the magic you'll help create this summer.

💙 Help us give Olivia a warm Campily welcome in the comments!

06/10/2026

🫎💙 Welcome to the Campily!

Please help us welcome Kara Sparks to North Star Reach as a member of our 2026 Summer Program Team!

Kara brings a love of adventure, the outdoors, and helping others to North Star Reach this summer.

When she's not exploring a trail or paddling across the water, Kara enjoys making music. She spent seven years playing percussion in both concert and marching band and still loves opportunities to play and share music with others.

🏕️ Fun fact: Kara has traveled to more than 30 national parks, giving her plenty of opportunities to hike, explore, and experience the beauty of the outdoors.

One quote that inspires her is: "We may not get to choose what we write with; however, we get to choose how we write with it."

For Kara, this quote is a reminder that while we can't always control what happens to us, we can choose how we respond, grow, and allow those experiences to shape us for the better.

Kara was inspired to join North Star Reach after learning about the organization's mission to ensure children with serious health challenges can experience the joy, friendship, and memories that camp provides.

"I was inspired to join North Star Reach when I read about their mission to help kids with medical needs get to experience camp and make great memories."

This summer, Kara hopes to gain a deeper understanding of how to support children with medical needs while creating experiences that help campers feel confident, included, and encouraged.

As we celebrate our Year of Mooseness, we're excited to welcome team members like Kara who bring curiosity, compassion, and a spirit of adventure to the Campily.

Welcome to North Star Reach, Kara! We can't wait to see the memories you'll help create this summer.

💙 Help us give Kara a warm Campily welcome in the comments!

06/09/2026

🎉 North Star Reach Has Been Nominated for Best of Michigan! 🎉

As we celebrate our Year of Mooseness and 10 years of providing life-changing camp experiences for children with serious health challenges and their families, we're honored to be nominated for Best of Michigan in the Charitable Organizations category.

If North Star Reach has touched your life, we'd be grateful for your support.

🗳️ Vote for North Star Reach:
https://www.guidetomichigan.com/best-of/vote/community-organizations

Voting is open through Tuesday, June 30, and you can vote once per day.

Thank you for helping us share the magic of camp and celebrate a decade of Mooseness! 💙🫎