Requirements to be a part of the Good & Plenty Kids Camp are so stringent that enrollment has only gone from three to five in the camp’s 12 years of existence.
Camp leaders Elaine and Cal Darbee, who host the annual event at their home, just on the Oxford/Orion border, said they have a special bond with the five participants.
You see, the five Good & Plenty Kids Camp campers are their own grandchildren.
Elaine started the camp when Alex and Jeni Carmichael were five and three-years old, respectively, and cousin Matt Wyman was only one.
Twelve years later, Alex and Jeni are high school students in Grand Rapids and Matt, whose family resides in Bloomfield Hills, is joined at camp by younger brother Jack, 10, and sister Kacy, 4.
‘We have a lot of traditions that we do,? said Elaine, who is in the process of writing a book about the camp called ‘Drop Everything, the Grandchildren are Coming.?
She said the book will be a ‘looseleaf guidebook? that will naturally contain plenty of stories from her 12 years of hosting the grandchildren.
‘You could do it if you have one grandchild or a whole bunch,? she said. ‘You give your attention to them and you reap what you sow.?
The camp traditions range from making tie-dye shirts to treasure hunts orchestrated by Cal. Two of the larger traditions revolve around artwork and creating a play to perform for the parents when they return.
In the past, the garage served as the art center, but the Darbees recently completed an art studio on their property, and created work areas for each of the grandchildren.
‘The best addition this year is the studio,? said Jeni, now 14, something that put a smile on the face of her grandmother, a retired art teacher.
Jeni was also responsible for writing the ‘Four Little Bears,? a takeoff on the classic tale of Goldilocks, that will be performed as part of a variety show on the Darbee barn stage by 17-year-old Alex when the parents come to watch.
Elaine said her two daughters (who grew up in Oxford and attended Lake Orion schools) often travel together with their husbands while their kids are at camp, but this year opted for separate trips to Italy and Chicago.
The campers, meanwhile, get to take some trips themselves.
‘We’ve been to Upland Hills many times,? noted Elaine, who also took her grandchildren on one poignant field trip to visit an old friend of hers, Sue Niazy.
Niazy owned a framing business until she became severely ill. She has undergone multiple kidney transplants, but continues to engage in the activities she loves, such as clay work and gardening, in spite of her handicaps.
Elaine said their meeting with Niazy was ‘truly inspirational. She is such a positive person and we were glad to have her influence us.?
The visit fit in well with the camp’s motto, ‘All About Me,? which Alex said focused on the harmony of the mind and body.
‘It’s about how we interact with the world and what our influences are,? he said.
Elaine said her grandchildren all spend time in their gazebo, which is surrounded by woods, reflecting on anything and everything – while also getting some first- hand looks at nature and its creatures.
The five grandchildren, who bring their pets (two dogs and a cat) along with them to camp are responsible for doing chores around the house, such as helping to cook and doing the dishes, while they are in town.
‘My main job is to make sure the kitchen stays clean,? joked Cal, a former secondary teacher, and tennis coach at Lake Orion High School.
‘These are great kids,? Elaine said. ‘No matter what we do, we have a great time.?
Elaine added that the hands-on activities that allow her to interact with all of the campers is what she enjoys the most.
‘There’s just way too much,? she said. ‘That’s why I need to write a book.?
Elaine has already talked with a publisher about the book, but said there is no official timeline for its release yet.
‘I have friends with young children that are saying ‘hurry up and finish it.??
‘Since camp is ‘cousin memories,? we see no end to camp,? Elaine said. ‘We will always get together and make memories. Camp is in our souls.?