Group Use
Whether you are planning a School Camp, Staff Training, Seminar, or Retreat… We have the place for you! Over 3000 people enjoy camp each year!
We also have family programs and women’s weekend programs which are open to anyone, Camp Cavell hosts organizational camping for groups of 30 or more…read more!
CAMP CAVELL is… a beautiful facility located on Lake Huron! You can arrange to use it for a night, week, or weekend. It is the perfect place for your group’s next seminar, retreat, meeting or conference. Only 90 miles north of Detroit, Camp Cavell is a beautiful facility located on 1800 feet of Lake Huron Shoreline. We will be glad to work with you to create a special camp experience.
It is well suited for… outdoor education, retreats and conferences. Rental Groups include: bands, chorale groups, churches, school groups, children’s organizations & sport teams as well as many others. CAMP CAVELL is also “Accessible to All” so people with disabilities can join in our programs.
Facilities Includes…a lodge for indoor recreation, a large dining hall and kitchen, a health cabin, staff housing, ecology building & three units of cabins, each with a common unit building. Its outdoor facilities include riding stables, sport fields, volleyball courts, camping sites, and other recreational activities.
There is plenty to do… at camp! Arrangements can be made for horseback riding, challenge activities, swimming, hay rides and other programs depending on availability. Fees vary. We will be glad to help you in your planning.
A Bit of History… CAMP CAVELL is over 100 years old and has been on its present site since 1927. Pieces of an old shipwreck from the late 1800’s can be found along it’s shore. Fossils can be found in its clay cliffs, and rocks, including Petoskey Stones…read more!
Your group deserves an amazing getaway.
Please give us details about your group size, meals, lodging and other special needs.
Facilities
Camp Cavell has 1800 feet of Lake Huron shoreline and 55 acres of woods, and meadows. Two streams cross the property with two scenic bridges. Camp is divided into two areas 1. Main Camp and the 2. South Camp. The Northwood and Southwood units are in Main Camp and Brookside Unit is in South Camp. There are entrances to both sides, as well as one to the Equestrian Area located in the center near M-25 (Lakeshore Road).
Facility Use Manual for Groups
(more information will be emailed once you have decided to come to our site)
DINING HALL
• Commercial kitchen facilities • Experienced Staff • 200 person capacity dining room with fireplace • 50 person capacity enclosed porch with fireplace • Family style seating – 10 to a table (250 total) •Men’s & Women’s Restrooms (accessible) •Projection screen, chalkboard, and booster chairs
FARNSWORTH LODGE
• 1 large recreation room with hardwood floors, two stone fireplaces and stage area with lighting and accessible ramp • 1 large meeting/activity room with a fireplace • Men’s & Women’s Restroom (accessible) • Pop machine • Large open porch with outdoor fireplace • Projection screen, white boards
PATIO / PICNIC AREA / BBQ
• Patio area decorative cement with benches • Beautiful 30 x 50 picnic shelter with cement floor, electricity, lights, and water • Gas Barbecue 4 x 8 feet
UNIT HOUSE (3 on camp)
• Located in central area of each unit • Large meeting/activity room with fireplace • Sleeping accommodations include two bedrooms that sleep two each • Two washrooms, one with a shower • Kitchenette with fridge, stove, sink & some dishes
NORTHWOOD UNIT
• A unit house (houses 4) • 8 cabins housing 10-12 each with bathroom, accessible shower and counselor’s room
SOUTHWOOD UNIT
• A unit house (houses 4) • 8 cabins housing 10 -12 each with bathroom, shower and separate counselor’s room
BROOKSIDE UNIT
• A unit house (Houses 4) • 8 cabins housing 10-12 each with counselor’s room • Central shower house with bathrooms
HEALTH CABIN
• 2 Patient rooms, 2 treatment rooms • Accommodations for nurse • 2 Bathrooms, 1 with shower, 1 with bathtub • Storage and refrigeration for medication • Emergency Phone (upon request)
STAFF CABIN
• Living room • Bedroom (accommodates 2) • Bathroom with shower • Large porch • Small Refrigerator (upon request)
RECREATIONAL FIELD
•Open field •90 feet long and 145 feet long • Overlooking Lake Huron with a cool breeze. •City water faucet •Can run 110 electric cord •Field is orientated east to west. • Three to four minute walk from the Northwood and Southwood cabins and one minute from the Brookside cabins. •Port-o-john available in the summer time
PRIMITIVE SITE
•Drinking water •Campfire circle grassy area for tent sites •Latrine
Your group deserves an amazing getaway.
Please give us details about your group size, meals, lodging and other special needs.
Activities
Parts of the property have been developed for Activity Programs. The use of some of these areas requires the presence of a Camp Cavell certified instructor which can be arranged through our Office.
List of Activities
Educational & Nature Programs • Wood shop • Arts & Crafts • Horseback Riding • Tree Climbing • Hay Rides • Archery
• Group Initiatives • Boating • Great Lakes Session • Recreational Facilities • Trading Post
CRAFT CABIN (heated)
Our staff is happy to provide creative Arts & Craft activities for your group. We have many projects that can fit any age level, children and adults alike. Some of our most popular projects last year were beach shale necklaces, tetrahedral kites, leather craft, printing, bead animals, dream catchers, and picture frames. You can contact Camp for more projects!
Time Needed: 1 hour
RIDING STABLES (not heated)
Our riding schedule fills up quickly so contact us for availability.
Horseback riding is available from first of June to mid-August. We ride English style in a riding ring. Participants who are new to riding can be led until they, the horse, and the staff feel comfortable with their riding experience. We provide riding helmets that must be worn and everyone must follow the camp riding policies. Riders will not be allowed to ride without long pants and sturdy shoes. A sample ride lasts about 10 minutes, but you will be at the equestrian area for 1/2 to 1 hour. We may have time for riding lessons, call to make arrangements.
Area: Stables with 10 stalls • Storage barn and feed room • Drinking water • Riding Ring & Corral • Latrine
Ages: 7 & up
Time Needed: 1/2 to 1 hour
TREE CLIMBING AREA (not heated)
This activity is an exciting program. Climbers use arborist safety equipment that includes a rope system and harness to work their way up a tree. We climb up to 35 feet up in our beech trees. Kids get to climb up to twice their age in feet (12 year old and older can go to the top, if they wish). Most beginners spend about 30 minutes actually in the air climbing, but classes run one hour.
Ages: 7 & up
Time Needed: 1 hour
YURT (not heated)
Educational & Nature Programs
Use the camp environment to learn more about our world. We can offer programs that help relate science, reading, writing, math, physical education, and other areas to the natural world we live in. Sessions are always geared toward learning using a fun, hands on approach. With a diverse property that includes the lake shore, open meadows, young and old growth forest, two streams and a turtle pond, we are able to offer a variety of sessions at the same time.
One to two hours depending on program choice and fee.
HAYRIDE (not heated)
Our hayride takes you for an enjoyable tour out into the rural community for a 30-50 minute ride. It can hold up to 25 people and has straw bales to sit on. We ask that you do not throw hay along the way; it gets in the eyes of the people at the back of the wagon. When the wagon returns people who do not like hay fights disembark and then the rest of the group has a supervised hay fight. Singing is required.
Minimum 25 people
Ages: Open to everyone
Time Needed: Generally 1 hour
ARCHERY RANGE
Try your hand at Archery! It is offered all season. We provide a trained instructor who will give basic instruction and a safety orientation. The archery range is located at the north end of the dining hall.
Ages: 7 & up
Time Needed: one hour
GROUP INITIATIVES & COOPERATIVE ACTIVITIES
These activities are goal orientated and are used to develop an aspect of group dynamics such as cooperation, team building, communication, problem solving, etc. This activity is open to any age. During the session, the group is first given an orientation, then they are given a challenge that the group as a whole must overcome. Each activity is processed at the end to bring out valuable lessons learned during the interaction in the group.
Time Needed: 1 to 2 hours depending on program choice and fee.
BOATING (Kayaking and Canoeing)
This program is offered from the late spring too early fall. Ages for boating are 10 years old and up. If the lake is too rough, we can transport the boats into the local town of Croswell about 7 miles inland and paddle on a slow open river/pond. The kayaks we use are Old Town Loons and are special kayaks that are very stable for the beginner. We will do introductory lessons and go over boating safety to help ensure that no one tips. Everyone must wear a life preserver and stay near the lifeguard.
Time Need: 1 to 2 hours depending on program choice and fee.
GREAT LAKES SESSION
Our Great Lakes Session is a walk and talk on the Great Lakes. We take about 15 minutes for an orientation and then spend the rest of the hour looking for treasures along the shore. We cover topics such as fossil identification, how sand is formed, beach mechanics, lake formation, zebra mussel invasion, mining for iron ore in the sand, and much more.
Time Needed: 1 hour
Bags/buckets for collecting provided
RECREATIONAL FACILITIES
Waterfront (accessible ramp to the beach) • Basketball Courts • Volleyball Nets • Large Recreational Field • Cookout/ Campfire Sites • Nature Trails
WOODSHOP (not heated)
A great place to create a wood project. Projects from last year for the younger children included pencil holders, cutout flowers, and rubber band paddle boats. Projects for the older children and adults included birdhouses, clocks, and jewelry boxes.
Ages: 7 & up
Time Needed: 1 and 1/2 hours is best.
Building: One large room • Screened windows • Woodworking tools
TRADING POST
Sweatshirts • T-shirts • Hats • Flash lights • Post cards • Stuffed animals • Toys • Toiletries
Your group deserves an amazing getaway.
Please give us details about your group size, meals, lodging and other special needs.
Availability
Camp Cavell has several different types of accommodations to suit your needs. Whether you’re having an intimate family gathering or entertaining a large number of people, there is a place for you at Camp Cavell. Our easy to access location, our beautiful view of Lake Huron, and comfortable atmosphere are sure to be the perfect backdrop for your special event…and you won’t break the bank!
Sample Menu Plan
Group Arrangements… The camp can be rented as a complete facility including food service which has a well-planned menu in ample quantities, and other program activities. Arrangements can be made to use the lodge and dining hall at no additional charge.
We will check your dates for availability and send you a quote. Once you have the quote and would like to book the dates, just call or email and we will work out the final details and send you a Community Group Use Agreement. You must send a 20% non-refundable deposit with the signed agreement to confirm your dates.
Your group deserves an amazing getaway.
Please give us details about your group size, meals, lodging and other special needs.
FEES & INSURANCE
FEES… A complete breakdown of fees is included in the rental information to tailor the rental to your needs. Fees are determined by number of meals served, nights lodging, programs, and other special arrangements. Average room and board for a weekend will cost $70 – $155 per person. Cavell Activity Fees(PDF).
INSURANCE, ACCREDITATION, & LICENSING… Rental groups must have insurance coverage for their own participants. Groups serving children (without parents present) for more than 5 days must be licensed by Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs. (LARA) We will be glad to assist you in obtaining the license and provide resource material.
You will be given a COMMUNITY GROUP USE MANUAL with information in it.
Your group deserves an amazing getaway.
Please give us details about your group size, meals, lodging and other special needs.