DAY CAMP AT CAMP SCOTTIE
HOWARD CITY, MICHIGAN
Entering Kindergarten - 5th Grade in the Fall
Want Summer Fun and Excitement without Staying Overnight at Camp?
Camp Scottie in Howard City provides daytime-only, five-day sessions (Monday through Friday, 8:30 am - 4:30 pm)
Faith is integrated throughout our day in a variety of ways.
Classic camp activities such as swimming in Lake Gordon, nature crafts, archery, and epic games will keep you playing outside!
Campers will be placed in groups of 8-10 campers where they will meet friends their age.
Larger group activities with the entire camp will keep camper moving all day.
Join us for one session, the whole summer, or anything in between!
Free bus transportation is available. Request bus transportation while registering for day camp.
Faith is integrated throughout our day in a variety of ways.
Classic camp activities such as swimming in Lake Gordon, nature crafts, archery, and epic games will keep you playing outside!
Campers will be placed in groups of 8-10 campers where they will meet friends their age.
Larger group activities with the entire camp will keep camper moving all day.
Join us for one session, the whole summer, or anything in between!
Free bus transportation is available. Request bus transportation while registering for day camp.
Day Camp FAQ
What is the daily schedule for Day Camp & How do you integrate the theme?
Every session of Day Camp is filled with a variety of daily activities that provide your child with a taste of everything summer camp has to offer. Drop off is 8:00 AM - 8:30 AM and pick up is at 4:30 PM. Your child will enjoy a packed lunch and two snacks over the course of the day.
Our weekly themes will be integrated into sessions by our Special Program Coordinator. Your child will interact with the theme during one of their group's adventure rotations at an age-appropriate level.
Our weekly themes will be integrated into sessions by our Special Program Coordinator. Your child will interact with the theme during one of their group's adventure rotations at an age-appropriate level.
Will my camper make friends at camp?
Yes! At Day Camp, campers are placed into animal groups by grade and age. When registering, you are welcome to request one or two groupmates (WITHIN ONE GRADE of each other) for your camper. Campers who attend alone will leave camp with many friends! Our counselors are intentional about helping campers build friendships.
Does Camp Scottie provide bus transportation?
Yes! When you register your child for day camp, you may also register your child for bus transportation at no additional charge. Our bus rides are fun! We start our programming when your child boards the bus. Our staff engages with campers through singing, seated games and activities.
The bus routes include the following bus stops:
Click below for the route with locations and schedule. The 2025 bus route details will be published in the spring.
The bus routes include the following bus stops:
- Grand Rapids - Sibley Elementary School, 943 Sibley Street NW
- West River Drive – Metro Health, 4200 Division Avenue N, Southeast Corner of Parking Lot
- East Rockford – The Acorn Resale Shop, 6780 Martin View Drive NE, North Parking Lot
- Rockford – Subway/Sprinkles, 8467 Algoma Avenue NE, North Side of Building on East Side of Driveway
- Cedar Springs – Meijer, 3700 17 Mile Road NE, Parking Lot North of Post G
Click below for the route with locations and schedule. The 2025 bus route details will be published in the spring.
What can I expect at drop-off and pick-up?
Day Camp programming runs 8:30 am - 4:30 pm each day during the session. Please make sure your camper is feeling well before arriving for camp. On opening day, the person dropping off the camper will be required to complete a short health assessment asking about recent illness or injury. This brief health screening is necessary before boarding the bus or being dropped off at camp.
Below is a general overview. More specifics are published in our Summer Camp Guide sent to registered campers with their confirmation email and available on the Get Ready for Camp webpage in the spring.
BUS STOP DROP-OFF AND PICK-UP
Please be at your designated bus stop at least 5 minutes before the scheduled drop off/pick up time.
When the bus arrives to pick up your camper, a Camp Scottie staff member will sign each camper in.
When retrieving your camper from the bus stop at the end of the day, a Camp Scottie staff member will sign each camper out. Campers will only be released to authorized persons based on names provided during registration, and they may be asked to show their ID. Please call the Camp Scottie office at (231)937-7999 or the Transportation Coordinator at (231)480-6142 to update this information if necessary.
CAMP SCOTTIE CAMPUS DROP-OFF AND PICK-UP
On opening day and throughout the session, if you arrive earlier than 8:00 am, please wait in your car in the front driveway until the bell rings. Drive to the designated drop-off spot where you will be greeted by our staff. Campers should stay in their vehicle until greeted. Parents should remain in the car during drop off. Continue around the loop of the drive as you leave, going back out to the front gate.
When retrieving your camper at the end of the day, a Camp Scottie staff member will bring your camper to your car to sign the camper out. We request that you stay in your car during this time. Campers will only be released to authorized persons based on names provided during registration, and they may be asked to show their ID. Please call the Camp Scottie office at (231)937-7999 or the Transportation Coordinator at (231)480-6142 to update this information if necessary.
Below is a general overview. More specifics are published in our Summer Camp Guide sent to registered campers with their confirmation email and available on the Get Ready for Camp webpage in the spring.
BUS STOP DROP-OFF AND PICK-UP
Please be at your designated bus stop at least 5 minutes before the scheduled drop off/pick up time.
When the bus arrives to pick up your camper, a Camp Scottie staff member will sign each camper in.
When retrieving your camper from the bus stop at the end of the day, a Camp Scottie staff member will sign each camper out. Campers will only be released to authorized persons based on names provided during registration, and they may be asked to show their ID. Please call the Camp Scottie office at (231)937-7999 or the Transportation Coordinator at (231)480-6142 to update this information if necessary.
CAMP SCOTTIE CAMPUS DROP-OFF AND PICK-UP
On opening day and throughout the session, if you arrive earlier than 8:00 am, please wait in your car in the front driveway until the bell rings. Drive to the designated drop-off spot where you will be greeted by our staff. Campers should stay in their vehicle until greeted. Parents should remain in the car during drop off. Continue around the loop of the drive as you leave, going back out to the front gate.
When retrieving your camper at the end of the day, a Camp Scottie staff member will bring your camper to your car to sign the camper out. We request that you stay in your car during this time. Campers will only be released to authorized persons based on names provided during registration, and they may be asked to show their ID. Please call the Camp Scottie office at (231)937-7999 or the Transportation Coordinator at (231)480-6142 to update this information if necessary.
What health care is available for my camper?
Camp Scottie's staff is trained extensively to prioritize camper safety. Our standards and practices go above and beyond the requirements of the State of Michigan and the American Camp Association. When campers are at Camp Scottie, a Certified Health Officer is on-site, and a family medical practitioner is on-call for medical advice.
Before your camper arrives at camp, a parent or legal guardian is required to complete the online health form (available May 1). A doctor's visit and signature are not necessary. At camper drop-off, guardians will turn in the camper's daytime medication to our health officer in the original containers. The health officer will dispense and document the medication properly and on time throughout the session.
Before your camper arrives at camp, a parent or legal guardian is required to complete the online health form (available May 1). A doctor's visit and signature are not necessary. At camper drop-off, guardians will turn in the camper's daytime medication to our health officer in the original containers. The health officer will dispense and document the medication properly and on time throughout the session.
Does my camper need to bring a lunch?
Each day, campers should bring a lunch with two small snacks. We will break for a mid-morning snack, lunch, and a mid-afternoon snack. From time to time, campers will be given an additional snack by our staff that goes along with a special theme. They may be given a freeze pop on an extra hot day, or they may roast marshmallows for s’mores.
Do you have swimming at Camp Scottie?
Yes! We have a beautiful pond (Lake Gordon) that is perfect for swimming! Several times a week, campers have the opportunity to swim in designated swimming zones, shallow or deep. Lifeguards are posted at all times and swimmers must use our buddy system. Every few minutes buddy counts are taken along with ongoing head counts. Every camper that swims in the deep end is required to wear a swim vest. Campers using the shallow end have the option of wearing a swim vest. (Swim vests are provided.)
Throughout the session, your camper has the chance to engage in other water activities (such as running through sprinklers). We may not use them each day, but we ask that you pack a swimsuit and towel each day, as well as shoes or sandals that can get wet and dirty. A detailed packing list is included on the Day Camp Guide attached to the confirmation email and available on the Get Ready for Camp webpage in the spring.
Throughout the session, your camper has the chance to engage in other water activities (such as running through sprinklers). We may not use them each day, but we ask that you pack a swimsuit and towel each day, as well as shoes or sandals that can get wet and dirty. A detailed packing list is included on the Day Camp Guide attached to the confirmation email and available on the Get Ready for Camp webpage in the spring.
Will someone ensure that my camper puts on sunscreen & bug spray?
Please put sunscreen and bug spray on your child before arriving at camp. Our counselors will remind campers to reapply these important things throughout the day. A spray bottle of sunscreen is always helpful instead of cream. There are always extra bottles on site, and our counselors are available to help. Camp Scottie has plenty of mosquitos, and we have found that bug spray with Deet works better to keep them away from campers.
What if my camper gets homesick?
We want every camper to have a positive experience at camp. To help ensure that, our counselors are trained in how to provide comfort for a child who is missing his or her home and loved ones and in normalizing these feelings. We work with campers to get them involved in activities, helping them find things that they enjoy doing. Our leadership staff encourage them and develop strategies specific to the camper's personality that will help them have a fun and successful time at camp. If a camper is having a particularly hard time, we will not hesitate to call a guardian so that we can work together to help the camper.
What if my child leaves personal belongings at camp?
Lost and found items are gathered daily and taken to the Camp Office, located inside Tamarack Lodge. At the end of each session, Lost and Found items are placed in a tub and brought back to Camp Roger's Rockford campus. Contact the Director to claim your items.
Please label your camper's items by first and last name. Camp Scottie is not responsible for lost items, so please do not send your camper with their best or favorite items to camp. Any items left are stored through the end of our summer camp season. Camp Scottie staff may be able to help locate a lost item after the session. Picking up or returning the item to the camper will be the responsibility of the guardians, not Camp Scottie staff.
Please label your camper's items by first and last name. Camp Scottie is not responsible for lost items, so please do not send your camper with their best or favorite items to camp. Any items left are stored through the end of our summer camp season. Camp Scottie staff may be able to help locate a lost item after the session. Picking up or returning the item to the camper will be the responsibility of the guardians, not Camp Scottie staff.
