Frequently Asked Questions

Q.  Is there financial help available?

A.   Yes, the Detroit Conference has scholarship assistance available to those in need. The application process is easy and sensitive to your privacy. AND you may wish to check with your pastor as many UMC congregations routinely pay a portion of the camp fee for their youth.

Q.  What equipment do I need to send to camp with my child?

A.   All Kinawind campers will need a good sleeping bag or sheets/blankets. Generally, campers need sturdy, warm outdoor wear – dress up clothing is not appropriate in our rustic setting. Some events have more specific needs.   Campers will get a detailed list from their dean prior to camp. PLEASE NOTE: We have extras of almost everything.  If the cost of purchasing items is a concern, please contact your dean or the camp director to see if items are available for borrowing.

Q.  My child has a food allergy OR is a vegetarian. Will the kitchen make accommodations?

A.   Yes, our Head Cook is very sensitive about such issues and does a good job with special needs. Please make sure such concerns are clearly noted on the Health Form and explained to our Health Officer during registration.

Q.  My child gets homesick. May I call to speak with her/him occasionally?

A.   We discourage such calls. Campers are not often near a phone. Pulling a camper from their group is disruptive and can cause other campers to start thinking about their own homesick issues. Generally campers do better when parents encourage them with comments like, “I will miss you too, but I am confident that you can handle this experience. It is ok to feel sad once and a while but then I know you will get involved in the group activities and have a good time.” We encourage letters. You can send them ahead of time so they receive one early in the week. OR you can write five or six, date the envelopes and give them to the dean at registration asking that they be delivered on the assigned dates. Check out our Parent Handbook for more helps with homesickness.

Q.  May I send emails to my child?

A.  Many camps are facilitating such contacts.  Kinawind is located in a remote area where the only internet access is dial-up. It is very slow. Our staff are generally out with the campers and not near the computer. We are sorry, but we are not able to facilitate camper email at the present time.

Q.  Will I be able to see pictures on the web of my child at camp?

A.  We are trying to do better in this area. Click here for photos. Our dial-up internet connection makes this a very slow process. Your camper will come home with a DVD of their week. This should facilitate discussion of their week and provide you with a good sense of their experiences. 

Q.  What does it mean when you describe Kinawind as rustic?

A.   Rustic means that we are out of doors most of the time. It means that we desire to experience nature as much as possible. One camper told of sleeping on the top bunk in his tent cabin and having a 360 degree view through the screening. He thought it was very cool when he woke up early and watched a deer walk past. Cabins are designed to provide adequate shelter but not the comforts of home. Younger campers stay in hard sided cabins with an electric light. Restroom facilities with flush toilets are nearby. Older campers stay in tent cabins some with flush toilets nearby and some with old fashioned outhouses. Voyager campers stay in tents and move from site to site. There are no heated buildings at Kinawind. It can be very cool at times. Warm clothes are good.

Q.  My child is a computer geek and a couch potato. Should they attend somewhere else?

A.   Maybe! That is a family decision. If being away from electronics and being very physically active will ruin the experience for them, then you should look for a different camp setting. If camping in a rustic, natural environment might awaken or create an interest in nature and physical activity, then camping at Kinawind might be an excellent choice. Good luck with the decision!

Q.  How do I decide which camp and/or which event would be best?

A.   You might consider choosing the dates that work for you, the camps that are within your driving range, and the programs that seem appropriate for your child’s needs – AND then let them choose from that list. Campers with some control over such decisions generally participate with a more positive attitude, generally have more fun and tend to be more open to the Christian message.

Q.  Is there help available for transportation?

A   Yes…some. There is a bus for some of the weeks. And you may wish to look into car pooling possibilities.

Q.  Why do the kids get to have all the fun?

A.  They don’t. Check out the camp brochure. We offer a number of adult and family events also.

Q.  Is it true that there are mosquitoes at Kinawind?

A.  Yes, sightings are common. We do have a healthy environment including mosquitoes and many other creatures. We have nesting bald eagles about 300 yards from our swim area. The loons often sing us to sleep. Long clothes and insect repellant take care of the majority of the mosquito problem. Dressing for function not for fashion is a good motto for being happy in the out-of-doors.

 Q.  My older child needs a job.   Do you hire young people?