FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | July 20, 2026
CONTACT: J.J. Lewis, CEO | (517) 618-1874
Week-Long Camp Experiences Will Bring the Joy and Traditions of Camp
Directly to Children Receiving Medical Care
Pinckney, MI – North Star Reach is expanding its recently relaunched OutReach Program with the introduction of “Camp Beyond the Cabin,” a new initiative that brings the magic, connection, and traditions of camp directly to children receiving inpatient care at three of Michigan’s leading children’s hospitals.
This summer, North Star Reach’s OutReach team will transform pediatric hospital units into places of laughter, creativity, friendship, and belonging through immersive five-day camp experiences at:
- Corewell Health Children’s – July 27–31
- Children’s Hospital of Michigan – August 3–7
- University of Michigan Health C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital – August 3–7
Camp Beyond the Cabin builds on the momentum of North Star Reach’s OutReach Program, which was relaunched earlier this year to extend the organization’s mission beyond its 105-acre barrier-free camp in Pinckney. The initiative reflects a simple belief: every child deserves the opportunity to experience the joy of camp, even when medical treatment prevents them from attending in person.
Throughout each week, children will participate in many of the same experiences that define North Star Reach, including camp songs, adaptive sports and games, storytelling, arts and crafts, nature activities, indoor archery, fishing, waterfront-themed experiences, and a closing campfire celebration. Each day is designed to encourage creativity, confidence, friendship, and play while remaining accessible to children receiving medical care.
“North Star Reach believes that camp changes lives,” said Patrick Smith, Chief Program Officer. “For some children, however, the journey to camp begins in a hospital room. Camp Beyond the Cabin allows us to meet children where they are, introducing them to the joy, confidence, community, and traditions of camp while they’re receiving care. It’s another way we’re ensuring every child has access to the North Star Reach experience.”
Camo Beyond the Cabin is led by North Star Reach staff and experienced volunteers who have previously served at camp. Their familiarity with the organization’s traditions, medically supported programming, and culture of “Mooseness” helps ensure children experience the same warmth, encouragement, and sense of belonging found on North Star Reach’s campus.
“I am looking forward to creating camp magic with an incredible group of experienced volunteers,” said Kathryn Hulbert, OutReach Coordinator. “As a Certified Child Life Specialist, I understand the impact hospital experiences can have on development and the importance of supporting childhood joy in that environment. I am excited to engage with patients as hospital campers—recognizing that they are much more than a diagnosis. Our camp activities are designed to promote choices, mastery, and control while also fostering creativity, connection, and belonging. I feel grateful to be able to share camp which I am incredibly passionate about with some children who may need it the most.”
North Star Reach thanks the Children’s Foundation of Michigan, whose investment in the organization’s OutReach Coordinator position this year has helped launch and grow the OutReach Program, creating new opportunities to serve children and families beyond the camp setting.
“As we celebrate our 10th anniversary this year, we’re also looking toward our next decade,” said J.J. Lewis, Chief Executive Officer. “North Star Reach will always be a place where children come to camp, but we’re also an organization that brings camp wherever children need it. Whether on our campus, in a hospital, or one day in communities across Michigan, our mission remains the same: helping children with serious health challenges discover joy, belonging, and hope.”
Lewis noted that Camp Beyond the Cabin represents the beginning of a broader vision for North Star Reach’s OutReach Program.
“Our goal is to expand these experiences to additional hospitals and communities across Michigan as resources allow,” Lewis said. “With additional philanthropic investment, we can grow our team, develop new programs, and ensure that more children and families experience the life-changing impact of camp, wherever they are.”
North Star Reach is currently seeking philanthropic partners, including foundations, corporations, service organizations, and individual donors, to help expand Camp Beyond the Cabin and future OutReach initiatives throughout Michigan.
To learn more about North Star Reach’s OutReach Program or to support its expansion, visit www.northstarreach.org.
