Pioneer campers will enjoy the best of summer camp fun, including swimming, ziplining, climbing our rock wall, arts and crafts, sailing, canoeing, and making new friends. Staff selected to supervise this age group work on creating a tight-knit cabin group, with an emphasis on fun, safety, and supporting one another.

As Pioneers, campers delve further into YMCA Hayo-Went-Ha Camps’ wilderness adventure trips alongside their two-week counterparts, the Pathfinders. They’ll spend three days at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, hiking up sandy dunes for breathtaking views and enjoying time on the shores of Lake Michigan. When Pathfinders return to camp, Pioneers will continue on their excursion to South Manitou Island, where campers will spend three days exploring the island’s iconic lighthouse, visiting migratory bird nesting grounds, and discovering historic shipwrecks—all while living in tents and embracing the natural beauty of Lake Michigan. Your child will deepen their knowledge of backcountry living through this trip, setting up camp, sleeping in tents, hiking, and assisting staff with cooking meals over a camp stove.