(734) 996-9622 (phone) | (734) 661-8005 (fax)
What are the cabins like?
Our rustic cabins sleep eight campers and two counselors and promote peer interaction, friendship and fun. Each camper is provided with a wooden bunk and shelving or under the bed storage space to keep person items.
What are the bathrooms like?
Campers have access to modern, convenient bathroom facilities, complete with hot water and showers with private changing stalls. The girls’ bath house was built in 2003 and the boys’ bath house was renovated in 2004.
How will I communicate with my child while they are at camp?
Campers also receive mail and care packages, delivered daily by the US Postal Service, FedEx and UPS.
If you are sending mail, please send it to our P.O. Box:
If you are sending a package via FedEx or UPS, please send it to our street address:
Campers often look forward to receiving care packages. Books, crossword puzzles, cards and magazines are all suggested. Camp also does allow campers to have a reasonable amount of snack food, but only if it is stored in airtight container. Boxes full of candy and other treats are an invitation for squirrels, raccoons, skunks and chipmunks; their sense of smell is much more sensitive then ours and packages containing food are easy targets for hungry animals. Airtight containers keep animals and insects out of the food and away from our buildings. Camp Al-Gon-Quian will not provide airtight containers or be responsible for lost or stolen food items or packages destroyed by animals foraging for food.
Phone calls to or from campers are discouraged. Any messages that need to be relayed to a camper will be done so through our directors. All phone calls to camp, except emergencies, should be done during regular office hours, which are between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Please do not promise your child that they will speak to you on the phone while at camp. We believe phone calls home can disrupt the camp experience for campers.
May I visit my child while they are at camp?
Parents are free to tour our camp during check-in days between 2:00 and 5:00 pm. Camp Al-Gon-Quian welcomes visitors, but please arrange this with the camp office prior to visiting. While Camp Al-Gon-Quian welcomes visitors, please keep in mind that visiting campers during their session can disrupt the camp experience. All visitors must register at the camp office. No pets are permitted on camp property without a leash. Drinking of alcoholic beverages or use of any tobacco products on camp property is prohibited
What if my camper becomes homesick?
It is the policy of the camp to try and keep our campers involved in constant activity so as to reduce the feeling of homesickness. Temporary homesickness is a normal reaction, particularly for new campers. With proper handling by the staff, campers and parents it can be overcome. We welcome this opportunity to help youngsters grow in this area and we train our staff to handle homesickness in constructive and loving ways. However, if homesickness is extreme after a brief adjustment period, we will call the parents to discuss the situation. By working together with you, we are confident of a healthy adjustment.
What is the daily schedule like?
Typical Daily Schedule |
|
Time |
Activity |
7:25 |
First Bell |
7:40 |
Second Bell |
8:05 |
Flag Raising |
8:30 |
Breakfast 1 / Cabin Cleanup |
9:00 |
Breakfast 2 / Cabin Cleanup |
9:20 |
Assembly |
9:45 |
1st Hour |
10:45 |
2nd Hour |
11:45 |
Free Swim/Store |
12:30 |
Lunch 1 |
1:10 |
Lunch 2 |
1:30 |
Rest Hour |
3:00 |
3rd Hour |
4:00 |
4th Hour |
5:10 |
Flag Lowering |
5:30 |
Dinner 1 |
6:10 |
Dinner 2 |
6:30 |
Free Time/Store |
7:30 |
Evening Activity |
9:00 |
Green Trees and Taps / Announcements |
9:15 |
Get Ready for Bed |
9:30 |
Cabin Time |
10:00 |
Lights Out – Miamis and Crees |
10:30 |
Lights Out – Ojibs, Nips and LITs |
What is the food like?
Meals at camp vary from week to week. All meals are intended to nutritious, delicious and kid friendly. Foods your child is likely to be served at camp include:
Breakfast: Main dishes: eggs, pancakes, French toast, egg and ham sandwiches, waffles
Side dishes: sausage, hash browns, toast, bagels, muffins, donuts
Cold cereal, oatmeal and fresh fruit are an option at every breakfast
Lunch: Main dishes: grilled cheese and tomato soup, tacos, pizza, corn dogs, chicken nuggets, chicken sandwiches, sloppy joes, bbq beef sandwiches, subs
Side dishes: tator tots, French fries, potato chips, onion rings, carrots and celery, pasta salad, chicken salad, tuna salad, soup, desserts
Salad, fresh fruit and peanut putter and jelly sandwiches are an option at every lunch
Dinner: Main dishes: spaghetti, hamburgers and hotdogs, roast beef, fish, baked chicken, lasagna, ham, pizza, Indian, burritos, tacos, ravioli,
Side dishes: beans, corn, peas, carrots, baked potatoes, mashed potatoes, coleslaw, pasta salad, soup, rice, desserts
Salad, fresh fruit and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches are an option at every dinner
Beverages: Milk, orange juice, bug juice (kool aid, lemonade, etc.), water, hot chocolate, tea. Both 2% and skim milk are provided.
My camper has special food needs (vegetarian, vegan, lactose intolerant, nut allergy, does not eat pork, red meat, seafood, etc.)
Vegetarian meals, with protein substitutes, are prepared for our vegetarian staff and campers, and there is always at least one option to the main course. Our cook and kitchen staff are always willing to make necessary adjustments for children with food allergies or special needs. If your camper is a vegetarian or has special dietary needs, please include this on the enclosed health form so that our kitchen staff has time to prepare. If you child has a food allergy with which they cannot be in the same environment with please call the camp office at least a month prior to your child’s session.
Who are the counselors?
At Camp Al-Gon-Quian, we take pride in our qualified, caring staff members who spend their summer ensuring that your youth or teen have a positive camp experience. Our staff members are selected for their experience, maturity, enthusiasm, desire to be a positive role model for children and dedication to our core values: HONESTY, RESPECT, RESPONSIBILITY and CARING. Men and women are recruited from colleges and universities around the country, many of who are former Al-Gon-Quian campers. Our entire staff is CPR and First Aid certified and participate in an intensive training program that covers safety, supervision, counseling and camp procedures and have been screened which includes reference checks, and driving and criminal background checks. A 1:5 ratio of counselors to campers ensures that you child will receive that best care and attention.
In 2004, 85% of our staff were returning AGQ staff members and 75% were Al-Gon-Quian campers themselves!
What are the staffs’ qualifications?
Before camp begins all waterfront staff are lifeguard certified, and our health officer completes intensive medical training to ensure that we are prepared to deal with health issues on camp. The health officer is also supervised by a local physician to ensure that campers receive proper care. Furthermore, every member of the staff completes a rigorous training program before campers arrive. This program includes CPR and First Aid, how to deal with behavior issues and homesickness in a positive and effective manner and how to work with children to ensure that their experience will be as safe, positive and fun as possible.
What if my child wants to bunk with a friend?
Campers may request to be housed with a friend if they wish. The request is required to appear on both campers’ forms. Frequently one camper requests another without discussing it first. If the request is not agreeable with both children (and their parents), it can create an unhappy situation between all parties on arrival day. If you are requesting that your child not be placed with a certain child, it is your responsibility to inform the other family prior to arrival at camp. Please limit cabin mate requests to one friend of the same age or grade in school and sex. Group requests larger then 2 may not be honored.
When two campers of different ages request to bunk together, the older camper will be placed with in the younger bunk if, in our opinion, the age differential is not too significant. Please remember that even if campers are not in the same cabin, there are many opportunities to spend time together at camp. Total session enrollment, grade level and age, cabin size and camp programming are all taken into account when assigning campers to cabins. We reserve the right to place campers in the cabin we feel offers them the best experience. Going to camp with your best friend can be an annual delight, but there is always room for new friends.
What if my camper is on medication?
All Al-Gon-Quian campers are given a health screening by our camp health officer on the first day of camp. If you send medication of any kind to camp with your camper, it must be clearly marked, in the original container, with the camper’s full name, exact description of contents and complete instruction for dosage. All medication will be kept and handled by the camp health officer for the duration of the camp session. Unmarked medication will not be dispensed. Please make sure there is enough medication to last the duration of the session. Please have all medication accessible so you can give them to the health officer at the check-in table. No medication will be permitted in the cabins. Medications will normally be distributed at meal times and before lights out.
What if my child has an emergency medication (inhalers, EpiPens etc)?
Emergency medications are kept in a common area where they can be accessed day or night at a moment’s notice by staff. This is for the protection of your child and other campers. If your child has extreme asthma or allergy and it is necessary for your child to carry an emergency medication while at camp, please send two prescriptions of their medication to camp. One to be stored in the emergency medical cabinet and the second for your camper to keep.
What if my camper gets sick or injured while at camp?
We do our best at YMCA Camp Al-Gon-Quian to make your child’s experience accident and illness free. However, in the event something happens we are well prepared. Tylenol and over the counter cold and allergy medicines are available from the health officer, if needed, at no charge. Our camp health officer also treats minor cuts, scrapes and illnesses. Campers needing more medical attention than our health officer provides will be taken to Indian River to see the physician affiliated with camp, to the Petoskey Hospital or the Petoskey Emergency Care. We will make every attempt to reach parents in this event. If you cannot be reached, your signature on the health form authorizes us to secure proper medical attention.
How much money should I put in the camp store?
We suggest $40 for every week your camper is at camp. The store gives campers the opportunity to purchase one pop and one candy per day, along with souvenirs from camp. Trail rides, day trips and stay-over laundry are all deducted from campers’ store accounts.
How does YMCA Camp Al-Gon-Quian handle lost and found?
Lost and found items are collected and displayed at camp. Our counselors make every effort to insure that your child will return with everything they brought to camp. But your child is ultimately responsible for what s/he brings. Please be sure all items brought to camp are plainly marked with your child’s name and counsel your child to keep close track of all items. Be especially thorough on check out day as sometimes laundry or luggage bags are left. If you discover something is missing upon your return home, call as soon as possible. The more time that passes the less likely it will be found. Unclaimed articles are sent to the Ann Arbor YMCA after the close of the session. Articles are held until September 14th, at which time they are donated to a local charity. Camp Al-Gon-Quian is not responsible for anything lost or left behind.
What is ACA Accreditation?
ACA is the only independent accrediting organization reviewing camp operations in the country. Its nationally-recognized standards program focuses primarily on the program quality, health and safety aspects of camp’s operation. The ACA-accreditation program has a fifty-year history and is continually evaluated and updated to reflect current best practice in camps. American Camp Association collaborates with experts from The American Academy of Pediatrics, The American Red Cross, and other youth service agencies to assure that current practices are current and sound. ACA standards are revised based on research in the public, legal, youth development, and camp arenas.
Camps and ACA form a partnership that promotes summers of growth and fun in an environment committed to safety. For us at Camp Al-Gon-Quian, it is a regular, independent health and safety audit of camp operations. ACA Accreditation is a behind the scenes risk-management process that assures us that we are prepared for the uncertainties so we can concentrate on the campers. For parents, the ACA-accreditation camp sign symbolizes excellence and our accountability and ongoing commitment to the children we serve.
What is the difference between state licensing of camps and accreditation by ACA?
Accreditation is voluntary and ACA accreditation assures families that camps have made the commitment to a safe, nurturing environment for their children. Licensing is mandatory and requirements vary from state to state. ACA standards are recognized by courts of law and government regulators as the standards of the camp community.
How do ACA standards exceed state licensing requirements?
ACA goes beyond the basic requirements for health, cleanliness, and food service into specific areas of programming, including camp staff from director through counselors, emergency management plans, health care, and management. ACA applies separate standards for activities such as waterfront, horseback riding, and adventure and travel.
