NORTH STAR REACH
North Star Reach offers children with serious health challenges a piece of childhood they might not otherwise experience—campfires and s’mores with new friends, paddling a canoe across the lake, catching fireflies at dusk, or shooting a bow and arrow for the first time. Our mission is to provide life-changing, barrier-free camp experiences—always free of charge—for children with serious health challenges and their families.Â
Every gift, no matter the size, helps create moments of joy, belonging, and lifelong connection for children and families at North Star Reach.
As we celebrate our 10th anniversary and the Year of Mooseness, your generosity fuels the next decade of camp magic.
Volunteers help North Star Reach stretch every dollar to make the greatest impact on our campers and, in return for the gift of time, find a place filled with community and belonging themselves.
North Star Reach is proud to announce that Chief Executive Officer J.J. Lewis has been named runner-up in the Not-for-Profit category of the 2025 CEO Pinnacle Awards, a national program recognizing exceptional chief executive leadership across sectors. Angela Williams, President & CEO of United Way Worldwide, was selected as the category winner.
North Star Reach proudly announces the election of Dr. Allyn Shaw to its Board of Directors. Dr. Shaw, a distinguished higher education executive leader, longtime advocate for student belonging, and dedicated volunteer, was unanimously elected by the Board at its Annual Meeting.
North Star Reach is honored to announce that it has been awarded a $150,000 grant from The A.A. Van Elslander Foundation. This transformational investment will fully support one of North Star Reach’s two week-long 2026 Residential Summer Camp sessions and one of its four Family Camp Weekends, ensuring children with serious health challenges and their families can experience medically supported, barrier-free, joy-filled camp experiences entirely free of charge.
Apply to join us Friday, May 1 through Sunday, May 3 for our Family Camp Weekend!
Join us Friday, April 17 through Sunday, April 19 for our Spring Work Weekend!
Explore a variety of camp events, engaging programs, important dates, and everything you need to know about North Star Reach, all in one convenient and easy-to-access place!
We are thankful for the support of our community!
Since North Star Reach opened in 2016, generous donors have made it possible for more than 3,500 children with serious health challenges and their families to experience the magic of camp. Thanks to the support of our incredible community, we continue to create spaces where kids can make lifelong memories, build friendships, and discover their inner strength—all at no cost to their families.
We extend our deepest gratitude to the visionaries who helped make North Star Reach a reality. Their generosity and dedication have laid the foundation for countless moments of joy and connection.
