Family Camp
Family Camp is designed to help you pause. There are 175 acres of meadows, wooded trails, and lake front to explore. There is no cooking or cleaning. If you have small children, we provide family assistants to make your life easier. You can enjoy the various activities, or maybe an afternoon nap sounds relaxing. This is a place where you can escape the daily routine, and just rest.
With a lot of those day-to-day worries out of the way, you'll be able to reconnect with God and with your family like never before. Each day, the entire family worships together, and dynamic speakers lead the adults, youth, and children in specialized sessions. You get to go on a date while we watch the kids. Even the silliness and activities are designed to keep you thinking about your relationships.
After pausing and reconnecting, it's time to return to your daily routine. But it's our hope that you will be going back having made some life changes. We hope that you'll find ways to intentionally engage everyone you know in life changes of their own.
Join us for a week of summer or fall fun; or, if you can’t make it for a whole week, consider attending one of our new Family Weekends!
Family Camp 2012
June 4-9
Tom Harmon
Tom is a former football player and Michigan State Trooper. His simple, transparent approach to God’s Word is both encouraging and challenging. He and his wife, Joyce, have four grown children.
June 11-16
Tom Harmon
Tom is so well loved that we gave him two weeks in our schedule. He has also been the speaker for our Momentum men's retreats and Resolution New Year's retreat.
June 18-23
Jimmy Herdklotz
Jimmy first came to the camp over 20 years ago as a youth counselor. He has been the Camp Director for the last 15 years. He knows first-hand how camp can change a life forever. He and his wife, Lori, have four boys.
June 25-30
Laine Johnson
A Louisiana native, Laine stayed south during his first years of ministry. In 1996, he and his wife, Janet, came to Life Action, and now share their burden for revival all over the nation. They are the parents of six children.
July 2-7
Steve Canfield
As the most experienced Life Action revivalist, Steve has shared God’s Word with over a million people. He is an effective biblical counselor on personal and family-related issues. Steve and his wife, Debby, have six children.
July 9-14
Murrill Boitnott
After pastoring for eleven years, Murrill traveled with Life Action for three years. He is founder and president of Macedonian Call, spreading the revival message around the world. Murrill and his wife, Deborah, have three children.
July 16-21
Trent Griffith
Trent and Andrea traveled with Life Action teams for fifteen years, are national speakers for FamilyLife marriage conferences, and recently planted Harvest Bible Chapel of Granger, Indiana. They are the parents of four children.
July 23-28
Mark Vroegop
Mark is pastor of College Park Church in Indianapolis. He serves a variety of other ministries, including Strategic Renewal Ministries, ABWE, 6:4 Fellowship, and Life Action. Mark and his wife, Sarah, have four children.
Cottage
The cottage is our finest offering. It is a centrally located, 1800-square-foot home with 3 bedrooms (1 king, 1 queen, 1 queen w/ bunk), 2 full baths (1 with tub), a full kitchen, a living room with fireplace (and sofa bed), a screened porch, and a washer and dryer.
Flat rate (for as many as ten people)
Family Camp 2012
$2850
Chalet
Also centrally located, each chalet offers 3 bedrooms (1 queen, 1 full w/ bunk, 1 single w/ trundle), a loft with a twin bed, 2 full baths (1 with tub), a full kitchen, a living room (with sofa bed), a washer and dryer, and a sunroom overlooking the lake.
Flat rate (for as many as ten people)
Family Camp 2012
$2300
Hilltop
These centrally located rooms sleep 2 adults and up to 3 children. Each room has a queen bed, bunk bed, single bed, climate control, private bath, mini-refrigerator, microwave, coffeemaker, and screened porch.
Price per person based on age
Family Camp 2012 - 13-Adult $340
8-12 200
4-7 175
0-3 50
Guest Room
These rooms sleep 2 adults and up to 10 children. Each room has a queen bed, bunk beds, climate control, private bath, mini-refrigerator, microwave, and coffeemaker.
Price per person based on age
Family Camp 2012 - 13-Adult $315
8-12 190
4-7 155
0-3 50
Cabin
These units sleep 2 adults and up to 6 children. Each cabin has a queen bed, bunk beds, climate control, mini-refrigerator, and microwave. A shower house is nearby.
Price per person based on age
Family Camp 2012 - 13-Adult $260
8-12 165
4-7 140
0-3 45
RV Site
Our sites have full electrical, water, and waste hook-ups. A shower house is nearby.
Price per person based on age
Family Camp 2012 - 13-Adult $230
8-12 130
4-7 115
0-3 45
Tent Site
Pitch your tent in our grassy, shady areas near the shower house.
Price per person based on age
Family Camp 2012 - 13-Adult $185
8-12 110
4-7 95
0-3 25
The following schedule is a sample only and is subject to change.
Monday
1:30 – 5:30 Arrival and registration
5:30 Supper is served in the lodge
7:00 Chapel in the tabernacle
followed by a snack in the lodge
Tuesday
7:45 – 8:30 Optional men’s coffee and devotions
8:30 – 9:30 Breakfast is open
10:00 Chapel
12:30 – 1:30 Lunch is open
1:30 – 5:30 Free time with optional family activities
5:30 – 6:15 Supper
7:00 Chapel
followed by a snack in the lodge
Wednesday
8:30 – 9:30 Breakfast is open
10:00 Chapel
12:30 – 1:30 Lunch is open
1:30 – 5:30 Free time with optional family activities
5:30 – 9:30 Date night for Mom and Dad
(Children's activities provided)
Thursday
7:45 – 8:30 Optional men’s coffee and devotions
8:30 – 9:30 Breakfast is open
10:00 Chapel
12:30 – 1:30 Lunch is open
1:30 – 5:30 Free time with optional family activities
5:30 – 6:15 Supper
7:00 Chapel
followed by a snack in the lodge
Friday
8:30 – 9:30 Breakfast is open
10:00 Chapel
12:30 – 1:30 Lunch is open
1:30 – 5:30 Free time with optional family activities
5:30 – 6:15 Supper
7:00 Chapel
followed by a snack in the lodge
Saturday
8:30 – 9:30 Breakfast is open
9:30 – 10:30 Kiss and cry time
Do we need to bring our own bedding?
We will provide sheets, blankets, and pillows for full-size beds; crib sheets; and bunk bed rails (upon request).
You need to bring sheets, blankets, and pillows for bunk beds, plus bath towels and any additional towels for swimming.
What kind of clothes do we need to bring? Is there a dress code?
Please feel free to dress casually for all meetings. Wednesday night is set aside for parents as "Date Night." (Fall camp has a date afternoon on Wednesday.) While everything is still casual, you may want to dress well enough to impress your date.
In the summer, the weather is usually warm (upper 70s and 80s) during the day, but sometimes cool (50s) in the mornings and evenings, so you'll want to bring a light jacket or sweatshirt. You may want to bring some old sneakers and clothing for some activities or for a rainy day. Be sure to prepare for insects by bringing insect repellant, avoiding perfumes, and avoiding light-colored clothing in the evenings.
In the fall, the days are pleasantly cool (60s during the day and 40s at night). You'll want to bring clothes you can layer, like sweatshirts or jackets. Once again, you may want to bring some "grubbies" in case of inclement weather. The insect population has usually dwindled by this time.
You can click here to see Buchanan's normal climates presented by the Weather Channel.
For your convenience, we have coin-operated laundry facilities on the property.
As for a dress code ... we desire to provide an atmosphere of modesty and decency that is in line with biblical principles, but we also recognize it is the husband/father's responsibility to determine his family's dress standards. While we rejoice in the freedom that we have in Christ, we ask that discretion and deference be the ruling factors in your choice of clothing worn at camp.
What about swimsuits?
Our beach is open each afternoon for the entire family to enjoy together. We ask that ladies wear modest swimsuits at the beach and cover-ups when not around the lake. Although the beach is sandy, some people prefer to wear water shoes or sandals when walking in the lake.
On our sample schedule you will find that the entire afternoon is open for family recreation. Many people choose to spend this time around the waterfront. We have a beach, a water slide, a BLOB, and a ski boat. Every family gets a free half hour for our driver to take you tubing on the lake. If there are extra slots open, you can sign up for another half hour for $20.
What else should we bring?
Bibles and notebooks, bedding for children, swimsuits, towels, casual clothes, jacket or sweater, tennis shoes, water shoes, suntan lotion, sunglasses, and a heart open to God.
What about bikes?
You are welcome to bring your bikes. (Don't forget your helmets!) If you prefer not to travel with your bikes, we have rental bikes available for $1/day and $5/week.
Can I bring my laptop?
Many times the laptop can be a distraction, pulling your mind back to work or hobbies that normally steal time from your family. Therefore, we have not wired the guestrooms for Internet access, and we ask that you prayerfully consider leaving behind your computers as well as your pagers and hand-held games. However, we understand that there are some situations that require being accessible for contact. You can ask at the office for a password that will give access to our wireless network.
What about pets, tobacco, alcohol?
Of course, service dogs are always welcome, but to ensure the comfort and safety of all, please leave your pets at home. Our entire campus is also alcohol- and smoke-free.
Should we bring any food?
Our food service staff prepares meals that are nutritious, tasty, and kid friendly. Besides the chosen menu for the day, we usually offer a salad bar, a sandwich bar, and a variety of fruit juices and hot beverages. There is also a snack shop on site where most items are 75 cents, and soda machines are in various locations.
If you have special dietary needs, we are equipped to help you. Please contact us before your week of camp so that our food service staff can properly take care of you.
Is there anything else that might cost extra?
You can enjoy the entire week without spending anything beyond your camp fee.
The only things with extra cost are optional.
* As previously mentioned, there is a snack shop, coin laundry, bike rental, and extra sessions on the ski boat.
* There is a new line of Life Action Camp apparel each year.
* We offer an afternoon of paintball ($30 for rental equipment and paintballs).
* Most of the local attractions have entry fees.
There are a lot of actvities on the schedule. What is required?
Family Camp is designed so that you can pick and choose what you would like to do. We schedule many things simply to provide a wide range of options. Some families even leave the campus for the afternoon to visit local attractions. The only thing we ask is that you attend the chapel sessions.
What do our kids do during services and during date night?
Before daily services, our nursery (0-24 months) and Sonshine Club (ages 2-3) will open. Even at the Sonshine Club level, we believe that your children are learning many things. Going beyond baby-sitting, your children will hear a Bible story, then play games, have snacks, and sing songs that keep reminding them of that story, reinforcing the lesson with all of the senses.
Happy Heart City (ages 4 through 1st grade) and Base Camp (2nd through 6th grades) attend the first part of the service with you. It is important for them to see the honor that Mom and Dad give to God, and it's good for them to enter into worship with you. Before the teaching begins, they will be dismissed to their clubs, where our children's ministers will use their gifts to engage your children with age-appropriate skits, games, and Bible lessons.
The youth are usually dismissed at this same time for teaching that addresses their needs and shows them the answers that are contained in Scripture. Sometimes they are invited to remain in the adult sessions, depending on the material being covered.
During Mom and Dad's date, all of the children come to the tabernacle for a picnic while the parents have a quiet meal at the lodge. After the kids eat, they may go on a hayride, make a craft, or go on a hike. Then they have a session in their clubs. The youth leaders usually have some outrageous activities planned for this occasion. All of this activity gives the parents a few hours to enjoy each other's company without worrying about the children.
What is a family assistant?
Depending on the number of volunteer staff on hand, we make every attempt to help families with young children. Even in the fall, when there are fewer staff, family assistants will be on hand to help you through the buffet line at meals. You decide if you want them to seat the children while you prepare a plate, or they can walk through the line and help the little ones.
In the summer weeks, we usually have enough staff to provide an assistant for each family with younger children. They can be involved with your family as much or as little as you desire. Many families love their assistant so much that, by the end of the week, they practically adopt them into their own families, especially when they see what great role models they are and how they encourage children to obey their parents.
When are check-in and check-out times?
Your family may arrive after 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time on Monday. The first thing on the schedule is Monday's supper at 5:30. Saturday breakfast at 8:00 a.m. and farewells are the final official family camp activities.
May we arrive early?
You may arrive on Sunday after 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time. The cost for early arrival is $75 for all lodging units, and $65 for RV sites. This fee includes lodging and Monday brunch (10:00 a.m.) for your entire family. Please call and let us know that you are planning to arrive early.
If you would like to register for any event, you may contact our office by calling 269-695-2191 or emailing info@lifeactioncamp.com for details and availability. Office hours are 8:30 - 5:00 Monday through Friday.
Now Accepting Registrations for 2012!
1. Select a weekend.
Decide on first and second preferences of the weekend you would like to attend.
2. Select your housing option.
Decide on your first and second preferences of housing.
3. E-mail our office. (There is no online form at this time.)
Click here or send an email to info@lifeactioncamp.com
to make your request and tell us your preferences.
Please include the following information:
* Parents' first and last names
* Children's names and ages (at the time of camp)
* Address
* Phone (and best time to be reached by phone)
* E-mail address
* 1st and 2nd choices of weekend
* 1st and 2nd choices of housing
* If you had to choose between your particular choices of weekend or housing,
which is more important?
After you have sent your request, we will process your request and contact you within one week. At that time we will confirm your registration and you can make your initial deposit.
4. Pay your deposit fees.
When we confirm your registration, a series of non-refundable, non-transferable deposits will hold your place.