DAC at Camp Manitou: Adventure, Friendship & Growth

How has this idea enhanced your club's operation, etc.?

Developed through a partnership with Camp Manitou’s leadership, the inaugural DAC at Camp Manitou was a custom, DAC-exclusive camping experience designed specifically for the Club. Camp Manitou brought its staff, programming expertise, and philosophy to Michigan’s great outdoors, creating a co-ed summer camp for ages 8–17 that extended the spirit of the DAC beyond the clubhouse. The experience emphasized independence, friendship, and outdoor adventure—while maintaining the Club’s standards for safety, care, and organization.

Turnkey Youth Programming: The Camp Manitou partnership allowed the DAC to offer a premium, fully supported summer camp experience without owning or operating a remote facility. This model provides access to high-quality outdoor programming while preserving Club resources.

Strengthening Member Connection: The camp expands the DAC’s youth-programming portfolio, supporting family retention and helping children form early emotional ties to the Club—often a critical factor in shaping future member engagement.

Scalable Growth & Demand: The inaugural DAC at Camp Manitou program welcomed 22 participants, confirming demand for a Club-led, off-site youth experience. Interest has grown significantly for year two, with strong early demand for the DAC-exclusive program at Camp Manitou’s flagship property in Maine, demonstrating both scalability and long-term potential.

How was this idea implemented, and what have been the club members' reactions?

Implementation

Partnership & Program Design: The DAC first established a partnership with Camp Manitou leadership to develop a program that met the Club’s expectations for safety, communication and high-quality youth engagement. Camp Manitou and DAC staff collaborated on logistics, schedules and parent communication to ensure clarity and comfort before and during the program.

Location & Experience Structure: Hosted at Camp Newaygo’s 200-acre property on Lake Pickerel, the camp offered a blend of traditional outdoor adventure and structured daily routines. Days began with a Polar Plunge, followed by rotations through ropes courses, zip lining, rock climbing, tubing, canoeing, swimming, gaga ball and evening campfires.

Life Skills & Responsibility: Campers took on shared responsibilities—cleaning cabins, setting tables for all meals and participating in daily inspections—helping them develop independence, accountability and teamwork in an age-appropriate way.

Member Reactions

Campers described the week as “so fun,” “great,” and “I wish I could do it for another week,” and expressed pride in new skills and responsibilities. Parents highlighted the strong communication, organization and care provided by DAC and Camp Manitou staff—and many families plan to participate again.

Summary Statement

By partnering with Camp Manitou, the DAC created a signature youth experience that blends outdoor adventure, responsibility and friendship—strengthening families’ connection to the Club and nurturing the next generation of engaged members.