Camp Chickagami
a place where the distance between heaven and earth feels just a little smaller.
about
Camp Chickagami, as an Episcopal camp, has been welcoming people to the shores of Lake Esau and Lake Huron since 1929. Owned and operated by the Episcopal Diocese of the Great Lakes, we are a place for summer youth camping, adult retreats, and community gatherings — a site for religious camping, education, and recreation rooted in the Episcopal tradition.
We are also, simply, a place of particular beauty. A coastal wetland fen. Pitcher plants, Dwarf Lake Iris, & Houghton’s Goldenrod. Old-growth forests. Clear water. Wide sky. Birdsong in the morning and stars at night. People come here, and something in them slows down. We think that matters.
Camp Chickagami is a thin space — a place where the distance between heaven and earth feels just a little smaller.
our mission
Camp Chickagami's mission is to bring each person into relationship: with God, with creation, and with one another. We are rooted in the Episcopal Church and shaped by its commitment to openness, dignity, and the welcome of all people. We strive to be a brave space — one where young people can grow, adults can rest and be renewed, and every guest can encounter the holy in the ordinary rhythms of camp life.
We are passionate about welcoming a rich diversity of campers and guests across national origin, creed, religious belief, race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, family structure, and ability.
You are welcome here.
our history
Camp Chickagami sits on land that has a history longer than our nearly one hundred years here. Before it was a camp, before the Fletcher family donated it to the Episcopal Church in 1928, before the Fletcher family acquired this land, this land was home and Mother to the Anishinaabe peoples. We are learning to hold that history with honesty, and to let it shape how we care for this place.
The Fletcher family, prominent figures in Michigan's lumber industry, offered the Diocese land near Presque Isle that they believed would make a good camp. The first sessions were held under canvas tents in 1929. From those beginnings, Camp Chickagami grew into a multi-week boys' camp serving youth, families, and churches across the diocese.
Youth camping continued through 1980, when the Diocese of Michigan chose to consolidate programming. For the next two decades, Camp Chick remained active as a rental and retreat facility for families, congregations, and community organizations. In the early 2000s, diocesan youth camping returned — now through the Diocese of Eastern Michigan (today the Episcopal Diocese of the Great Lakes) — beginning with a single co-ed week each summer. That one week has grown into eight weeks of programming for youth, families, and adults, with a vibrant retreat season throughout the year.
We are approaching our centennial in 2029 with gratitude for what has been and openness to what is still becoming. That includes asking honest questions about how we name and tell the story of this place. We believe that kind of inquiry is part of faithful stewardship.
licensing & accreditation
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Camp Chickagami is licensed by the State of Michigan, with biennial renewal and regular visits from our state consultant, the Presque Isle County Health Department, and fire inspectors.
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We also hold accreditation from the American Camping Association — a standard that exceeds state requirements and reflects our commitment to the safety, development, and wellbeing of every camper in our care.
We know that when you send your child to camp, you are trusting us with something precious. We take that seriously.
