Camp New Day U.P. provides summer experience for kids affected by incarceration

MARQUETTE, Mich. (WJMN) — Everyone knows what summer camp entails: arts and crafts, the Great Outdoors, and new best friends. But not every child gets to experience a summer camp.

Staff at Camp New Day are working to change that, and to provide positive role models for its campers—all of whom come from households where a loved one has been incarcerated.

Camp Director Meghan Erickson says Camp New Day is not a “therapy” camp, but an opportunity for kids who have been affected by incarceration and wouldn’t otherwise get the opportunity to attend a summer camp to experience one.

Arts and crafts, boating, fishing, cooking and scavenger hunts are just some of the activities in which the campers at New Day partake.

“It’s exhausting at the end of the day, but [the campers] love it,” says Program Director Rachel Placeway.

Returning campers and camp counselors site many reasons for coming back year after year, but all say the fun, positive atmosphere and friends made each summer are what make the experience special.

One camper, Jaedamae, says she appreciates all that staff members do to make the campers have a fun time at New Day. “Just everything that they’ve done for us, just to have fun while we’re going through a hard time. I just really like that they did all this for us,” she said.

The counselors says the campers’ smiles are “all that matters,” and the staff is happy to see many people return year after year.

Camp New Day is free to attend for children ages 9-14 who have or have had a parent of loved one incarcerated. Transportation to the camp is also provided, thanks to grant money and the generous donations that make the camp possible.

For those interested in attending next year, either as a camper or a counselor, and anyone interested in volunteering can find all the camp’s details on their website .

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJMN - UPMatters.com.