> The Michigan Out-of-Doors Youth Camp
Our Youth Camp
The Michigan Out-of-Doors Youth Camp is an educational program run by Michigan United Conservation Clubs (MUCC). We are located on Cedar Lake at the Cedar Lake Outdoor Center in Chelsea, MI. The camp has been in operation since 1946, and since then has had over 58,000 campers come through our programs.
Our camp differs from others in that we have a focus on conservation and engaging kids in the outdoors around them. Campers get the chance to attend residential or day camp programs that teach them conservation-based curriculum.
We also offer a FREE hunter safety course to all residential campers. after completing and passing their tests, they get to spend a day on our archery and .22 shooting range.
Each year, the camp director works to improve the facility, update and add to camp programming, and plan as much fun as possible for our Michigan youth to enjoy!
MUCC YOUTH CAMP TIMELINE
In 1946, the MUCC Youth Camp was offered to boys only, ages 14 to 17 at Higgins Lake. The Michigan Department of Conservation (DOC) allowed campers to spend time with the DOC Foresters, Fish Biologists, Wildlife Specialists and Conservation Officers
At some point after Higgins Lake, the camp program moved to Allegan State Park and then to Ludington State Park. At Ludington in 1973, female campers were finally allowed to attend camp. The girls had seperate programs and occured on different weeks than the boys.
The camp program moved from Ludington State Park to Mill Lake, which is down the road from where camp is currently held in the Waterloo Recreation Area.
The camp went co-ed for the first time. Popularity of the program led MUCC to open a second camp location at Proud Lake Recreation Area near Detroit. After a few years, Mill Lake remained one location and the Proud Lake location moved to Ocqueoc Lake Outdoor Center. In 2000, the Mill Lake location closed, and only the Ocqueoc location remained for the camp.
The Michigan Out-of-Doors Youth Camp found its home at the Cedar Lake Outdoor Center in Chelsea, closing both the Mill Lake and Ocqueoc locations.
Throughout all the decades and moving locations of camp, the Michigan Out-of-Doors Youth Camp continues to run outdoor education and conservation based programming during the summer months. We offer both day and overnight programs for youth ages 6 to 16. Some of our most popular activites include archery, the MI Hunter Education Course, kayaking, and fishing. We have 250 acres of property to explore, lakefront access to Cedar Lake, and multiple hsirotic and rustic buildings full of history.
