Freddy's Friends Camp
Summer Camp for Individuals with Special Needs
Freddy’s Friends Camp at Pine Ridge is an extra special camp opportunity that provides a safe, fun, and interactive experience for youth and adults with developmental disabilities. Pine Ridge is one of the few Christian Camps in Michigan who offers this type of camp experience to campers with developmental disabilities. Freddy’s Friends is designed to embrace each camper’s physical, social, mental, and spiritual capabilities and allows them to participate at their own level.
Camp for people with Down Syndrome, autism, Asperger's Syndrome, cerebral palsy, physical challenges, and other disabilities
Camp is for you, too! We are proud to offer an inclusive, residential camp environment for people will special needs, challenges and disabilities. Read more about eligibility to learn if camp may be right for your loved one. Campers range in age from 16-70.
Eligibility
Physical Ability:
Each camper must be ambulatory and able to move from place to place with little to no one-on-one assistance. Campers should also be able to adequately communicate daily living needs and desires (either verbally or non-verbally). Campers must need little to no assistance with eating/drinking, showering, dressing/grooming, and toilet needs or menstrual care. The age range of our campers is approximately 16-70.
Medical Needs:
Campers must have medical needs that can be met by staff trained in basic first aid. One-on-one care or supervision is limited and not possible at all times. We are unable to accept campers with communicable diseases that are easily transmitted during regular camp activities. We also do not accept seizure active campers or campers who require frequent monitoring, care, or assistance by a trained health professional.
Social Ability:
Campers must be able to willingly integrate into and participate at their own level in our camp setting and camp activities in a non-disruptive manner, including a group environment for housing, eating, instruction, and recreation. Campers must not display harmful or aggressive behavior toward self or others. Campers must also be able to communicate at a level that our staff can comprehend and that the camper will benefit from our learning activities.
All potential campers for the Freddy’s Friends program must be interviewed by Pine Ridge to be accepted into the program. Once accepted, the interview is not necessary again unless the physical, behavioral, or mental status of the camper changes. The interview is typically at the Pine Ridge Office and will take approximately 30 minutes. Please email linda@pineridgecamp.com to arrange for the interview.
| Session | Dates | Costs |
|---|---|---|
| Session 1 | June 6-10 | $480 |
| Session 5 | July 5-8 | $410 |
Summer Camp Discounts
Pine Ridge strives to make camp as affordable as possible. However, we realize that families sometimes still need additional support. The first thing to consider is participating in one of our Camper Fundraisers. We have two Food sale fundraisers with dates in March and April, and we also have a Key Card fundraiser that can be done at anytime. With much gratitude to many friends of Pine Ridge, we are able to offer generous scholarships to help those that can not participate in a fundraiser. We have made a $40 scholarship request simple this year as a way to offset the significant price increase due to inflation. This simple, no application, request expires on April 30.
Camper Scholarships
Here are some helpful important useful things you should know about Summer Camp.
Pine Ridge has helped campers make unforgettable memories and life-changing impacts since 1946! Through the years, we have a great track record of providing a safe and affordable summer camp for campers.
Summer camp has many benefits in all areas of life development. For instance, child experts agree that playing outside is very healthy and beneficial. Camp provides these types of real hands-on experiences and challenges. Our activities are not virtual, but they are live and real!
Summer camp also provides some great social development opportunities. Camp by design is structured for temporary communities to be developed. In other words, camp is a great place to meet new friends and grow other friendships deeper.
Camp will also be a place to try and learn new things. Besides our fun activities, campers might learn to build a fire, or study an ecosystem, or feed a goat. Eating healthy (yes, we still have food kids love) is also encouraged.
Finally, campers will be challenged to consider the truths from God’s Word. Along with this comes character growth and life changing decisions. We have heard parents tell us over the years that after a week at camp, their child might obey better or get along with siblings better.
All in all, summer camp at Pine Ridge is awesome. Campers that attend will create some memories that last forever, make some new friends, and be spiritually nurtured.
All camp check-ins are from 9-10:30 am on the first day of the camp session. You are welcome to come any time between those hours.
Most camp sessions will conclude on the last day in the following manner (please check confirmation letter for any exceptions to this schedule).
Check out tables are open from 9:15 am until 10:30 am. For security of the campers being picked up, photo identification is required to match the pick-up information that Pine Ridge gathers. Please bring your photo I.D.At 9:45 am there will be an optional parents meeting. This meeting will cover highlights of the week and information on other Pine Ridge news. Coffee and sweet rolls will be provided for parents attending the meeting.
At 10:00 am the camper awards and videos will be presented at the chapel. Parents are invited and encouraged to attend the closing chapel.
Final dismissal of campers is at 10:30 am.
Pine Ridge has a snack shop, camp store, and craft room. On registration day, Pine Ridge places all spending money into a card system. This system keeps money from being lost or stolen. All excess funds are refunded at check out. Typically, $20-$30 will suffice for the camp session depending on what purchases are made.
Typically, campers will go to snack shop twice a day. The snack shop sells a few healthy snacks as well as pop, ice cream, candy, and chips. We also sell Camp T-shirts, sweat shirts, water bottles, Bibles, and flashlights at our camp store. The Camp craft room has many low cost options to choose from. Most of these options are less than $5 in cost.
There will also be a Missions Offering taken that allows campers an opportunity to give to our selected mission project or missionary.
Pine Ridge has been blessed with generous donors who understand the value of children attending a Christian camp. A limited number of camperships are available each season, and they are awarded based on financial need and available funds. Families may apply for financial aid, but we also strongly encourage families to first consider participating in our Food Sale Fundraisers. These food sales are excellent means for your camper to earn his or her way to camp. Also, many churches offer financial assistance.
- T-Shirts
- Shorts
- Sweatshirt (1-2)
- Jeans (1) (1 per day if doing horsemanship)
- Rain Jacket/Small umbrella
- Modest Swimsuit- one piece or tankini (may need 2 if doing watersports camp)
- Toiletries: toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo, and soap
- Towels and wash cloth (1 for beach and 1 for shower)
- Athletic shoes (1) (Closed toed shoes needed for battle games, horsemanship, and high adventure activities)
- Sandals/Flip-flops (1)
- Bible, Pen/pencil, notebook
- Sleeping Bag or Sheets & Blankets
- Pillow
- Prescription Medications in ORIGINAL CONTAINERS
- Spending money (the funds are deposited at check-in to a card system with remaining funds returned at End of Week check-out)
Optional Items:
- Sunscreen
- Bug spray
- Flashlight
- Swim Goggles or Ear Plugs
- Camera (needed to participate in Photography camp)
- Dirty Clothes Bag
THINGS TO LEAVE AT HOME:
- Any weapons
- Electronic Devices (we encourage this to happen so campers can focus on building relationships with campers, staff members, and Christ)
*Place camper name on the labels of everything!
Any clothes left at Camp and unclaimed by the completion of our summer programs will be given to a worthy charity. Pine Ridge is not responsible for lost or stolen articles.
Summer Camp Activities
