Volunteers help Bay Cliff Health Camp prepare for summer

BIG BAY, Mich. (WLUC) – A summer camp for children with disabilities is gearing up for another summer, and it is getting help from the community.

“This is one of the places that they can get that support over the summer. We need help to make sure our campers are happy, healthy, and safe,” said Tori Grovis, Bay Cliff Health Camp therapy director.

Seventy-five kids are enrolled for this summer at Bay Cliff Health Camp in Big Bay. The camp specializes in providing speech and counseling services to those with disabilities.

To help the camp prepare, a dozen Northern Center for Lifelong Learning (NCLL) members helped clean up the camp’s grounds Friday morning.

“Lots of hands make light work. We are having fun. It gives us some meaning and interactions. There are some people here that didn’t know each other, so we are going to know each other by the end of the day,” said Carol Steinhaus, NCLL program planning co-person.

Friday’s “work bee” was a reunion for Susan Holliday. She worked as a community health nurse at the camp in 1986 while finishing her bachelor’s degree at NMU. She said the camp has changed a lot, and it is important to give back.

“It gives a presence that the community cares for children with disabilities,” Holliday said.

Staff said their goal is to have 80 kids for this summer. To help meet the large number of campers, the camp is still looking to add more staff.

“We really need help in the kitchen and therapy, especially in counseling. Without counselors, we won’t have as many campers,” said Taylor Burgos, Bay Cliff Health Camp children’s services director.

Staff orientation for the traditional summer camp is at the beginning of June, but Marquette County youth camps will use the space as early as next week.

If you are interested in enrolling a camper or joining the staff, you are encouraged to call the camp for more information.

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