April 25^th, 2012

For many of us going to camp was an exciting adventure where we got to meet new people, and experience new things. It’s a place where we grew and made memories. But for many youth in West Michigan, camp is a luxury and families cannot afford to send their children to camp. Their summers are spent at home within the confines of their city block where there is little access to enrichment opportunities, nature, healthy food, and the attention of caring role-models.

Billy’s story is a new beginning and the start of a journey that will continue to provide him the confidence to lead and succeed in life. Shy and awkward he came to camp last year for the first time ever. The staff could tell he lacked confidence, exhibited low self-esteem and had a hard time making new friends. His cabin counselors encouraged him to sing in the talent show, try the high ropes, and provided him with opportunities to lead his cabin group. Billy experienced the high ropes and loved it! He sang a solo, and even led camp songs during meals with the staff. He helped dissolve a bullying situation in his cabin with his new found self-confidence. After his first week, he begged us to come back again for another session. We couldn’t say no and had him back again the next week.

At the end of camp season, Billy wrote us saying, “Thank you for letting me come to camp again, it was awesome! I met some new people, made some new friends, and I hope I can go back!”

Donate Now!

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February 22^nd, 2012

On Saturday, March 17, 2012, The 2nd Annual Irish On Ionia will close Ionia street from the blocks of Weston to Oakes and will consume city lot #3 across from McFadden's (58 Ionia S.W. Grand Rapids, MI). The event will include a stage with live Celtic bands, Celtic dancers, DJ's, drum & pipe players, beer tents, and an Irish inspired food pavilion.

From 4-7pm there will be a VIP Party on the 3rd Floor of McFadden's to benefit Camp O'Malley's summer Camp program for West Michigan Youth. Tickets are $15 and include an "All Access" pass to all Irish on Ionia festivities as well as the VIP Party which includes an Irish Buffet, Drink Specials, DJ, and dancing. Come and show your support!! It will be a fantastic time!!

The $15 VIP Tickets can be purchased ahead of time or at the event.

Irish on Ionia officially begins at 7am on Saturday, March 17th, 2012 at McFadden's for their annual "Keg's and Egg's Breakfast". The Irish on Ionia outdoor festival opens at 10am, with live bands, DJ's, food, and contests throughout the entire day.

Show your support for Camp O'Malley and tap into your green side!

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February 16^th, 2012

2012 Camp O’Malley Summer Schedule

Staff Training
May 29-June1 & June 4-8
*Staff report the day (Sunday) before each session for a staff meeting. Meeting starts at 7pm.

Session Dates

Session 1 – MLK Leadership Academy Week
(8-11 year-olds) - June 11-14
This special session is set aside just for Martin Luther King Jr. Leadership Academy students. Join us for the best of the best camp experience filled with swimming, sports, fishing, campfires, songs, rock climbing, biking and much more!

Session 2 – X-Treme Team Challenge 
(11-14 year-olds) - June 18-22
Do you crave adventure, challenge and excitement? Tackle a different task with your team everyday including Mohawk walk, high ropes, zip line, canoeing, Nitro Crossing, and the climbing wall!

Session 3 – Ultimate Adventure Week
(8-11 year-olds) - June 25-29
Looking for a week of Adventure? Here it is! Conquer the wall, Capture-the-Flag, explore wilderness trails, defeat “Life Aquatic” in the pool, venture across the Nitro Crossing, and show off your skills at the Camp O’Malley Show!

Session 4 – Blah Buster Week
(11-14 year-olds) - July 2-6
Bored sitting on the couch just watching TV? Fend off those mid-summer blahs and make new friends! Spend the week playing games at the pool, Minute-to-Win-It activities, climbing the wall, biking, Nature Adventures and team-building!

Session 5 – High School Adventure Week
(14-17 year-olds) - July 9-13
This will be a week filled with all of your favorite Camp experiences! Spend the week tubing, canoeing, climbing the wall, doing the high ropes course, swimming, biking, teambuilding, and playing an extreme game of Capture-the-Flag! Come and chill with us, meet new people and have a blast!

Session 6 – Discovery Camp
(6-8 year-olds) - July 16-18
This camp is a great week for the first-time camper! Campers will get a taste of what camp is all about with this three day, two night experience! Enjoy swimming, arts & crafts, the climbing wall, games, songs, exploring nature, and fishing! Learn what Potato Round-up, Grannies’ Candies and the Talent Show are all about!

Session 7 – Girl Power Week
(8-14 year-old Girls) - July 23-27
“Girls just wanna have FUN!” Join this all-girls camp for arts and crafts, swimming, dance parties, late nights, talent shows, relaxing and all your other favorite camp activities!

Session 8 – Superhero Week
(8-11 year–old Boys)  July 30-Aug.3
Kapow! Spend the week like a superhero would! Join forces with the staff to become the ultimate superhero! Climb walls, make your own comic book, catch a super villain, dress in disguises, act out your favorite superhero comic, swim, and capture-the-flag!
 

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December 22^nd, 2011

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August 24^th, 2011

With school starting just around the corner, Camp O’Malley is quiet without the sounds of laughter, water splashing, camp songs, fire crackling, bouncing balls, whistles and cheers of excitement. The Camp just completed another successful summer serving 454 campers over a 7 week period.

The Camp focused on the Heart of West Michigan United Way’s desired outcome of helping children increase healthy behaviors. At Camp O’Malley, staff educate Campers about healthy living through physical activities that for many may be a new experience, game, or activity. Campers hopefully will have fun being active want to continue the physical activities after their Camp experience. “Teaching Campers to make healthy choices and be active is a natural fit with the population we serve, our outdoor setting and mission,” explained Becky Reed Missad, Director of Camp O’Malley.

The Camp Staff, made up of positive adult role models, teach healthy behavior including eating healthy, staying active, setting goals, staying involved in extracurricular activities, having a healthy self-esteem, and encouraging one another. The Camp teaches these important messages at time of year when at-risk youth do not often have access to enriching summer opportunities.

Camp O’Malley serves kids ages 8-14 through a residential summer Camp experience. No child is ever turned away because they cannot afford to pay. This summer, 94% of our Campers fell below the poverty line qualifying them for a Camper Scholarship. Campers who attend our adventure Camp participate activities like the climbing wall, swimming, canoeing, tubing, high ropes course, team-building, low ropes, sports, arts & crafts, hiking, biking, fishing, dance, healthy living, and nature exploration.

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April 25^th, 2011

Click HERE to donate now!

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March 16^th, 2011

After a great 2010 summer, Camp O'Malley is getting ready to welcome in a new bunch of campers for the 2011 summer season. There are seven camp sessions ranging in activties including rock climbing, high and low ropes courses, archery, swimming, canoeing, arts & crafts, and so mcuh! Click here to learn more about each session.

Registration has begun and fills up on a rolling basis. Once a session is full, it is full; so be sure to get your registration form now! Click here to register.

Every child deserves a chance to experience summer camp, and Camp O'Malley works hard to make this possible for youth in West Michigan. If you would like to learn more about Camp O'Malley, please click here and browse the Camp section of our website.

If you have any questions, you can directly contact our Camp Director, Becky Reed.

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March 11^th, 2011

Dear Friend of Camp O’Malley, 

Last summer Camp O’Malley welcomed 455 kids to our beautiful Camp on the shores of the Thornapple River. For a whole amazing week, youth ages 8-14 had the chance to get out of the city and go to a place where they got to be kids all day, every day.

At Camp youth discover a place where they are safe, engaged in fun outdoor activities, exercising, eating healthy, trying new things, exploring nature, making new friends and creating life-long memories. 

Camp O’Malley is a place where young people grow as individuals and as valued members of our community. Which is why, each spring, we ask friends old and new to invest in our community’s youth. The success of this annual fundraising effort sends the message to our Campers that even though times are tough for their parents, community and school —we all care about making sure they have the opportunity to attend summer Camp.

Camp O’Malley has a policy: No one is ever turned down because they can’t afford to pay. In fact, an overwhelming 9 out of 10 of our campers fell below the poverty line in 2010, qualifying them for a camper scholarship. Based on our sliding-fee scale, many families qualify to pay as little as $35 per child. But we must cover the rest — totaling $300 per child.

This is why we ask for and deeply appreciate your gift. Your gift allows us to remain steadfast in our effort to provide a memorable and important summer Camp experience to each Camper.

Thank you for thoughtfully considering how you can help. If you have already contributed, we respectfully ask you to consider, as you are able, an additional gift during our spring fund drive.

Gratefully,

Chief Kevin Belk, President 
Boys & Girls Club Board of Directors 

Becky Reed Missad
Director, Camp O’Malley

P.S. Donate online HERE (Choose Camp O'Malley). Questions? Call Becky at (616) 233-9370 ext. 106.

"Camp O'Malley allows me to experience opportunities that I never, otherwise, would have. With the fun activities and supportive staff, this camp has always carried many of my most fun memories, and I'm always excited to go back to camp every year! "Due to limited income, I would not have been able to enjoy the camping experience that I've had at Camp O'Malley." -Lionel, age 15

"I like Camp O'Malley so much because the activities are so much fun! And even though I've been to other camps, I wanna come back to this camp every year because with new counselors and new peers, it seems like each year is so much different than the one before." -Lyndale, 13

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