My grandsons have been going to this camp for several years and they have been transformed with…read moreconfidence and care for others! I cannot say enough wonderful things about the camp in their staff. Recently, we discovered a glitch in registering a family. The Camp staff knocked themselves out in order to provide a space for a child in need. I cannot say enough about the professionalism and integrity of the camp staff and everyone related to Lake Louise Christian Community!

From the owner: Summer Camp Programmingread more

Ok, I might be a little old to be writing this review, but I just can't leave Maplehurst without a…read morelittle love. I started going to this camp when I was only eight years old. I went until I was sixteen and each year I stayed the entire time of eight weeks. Maplehurst was definitely the scene of some my greatest moments of all time. Someitmes, when I try to explain it to other people I always come back to one word, mystical. I could go into glorified details about the late nights, the first kiss, the first friend lost but every child in their life goes through these shape setting stages...I was just lucky enough to have them at Maplehurst. So, even when times were bad, and life felt tough I can always look back at those moments with fondness because of Maplehurst. I've met the best of friends there, and it seriously shaped me into the person I am today. Growing up in a cookie cutter town Maplehurst was my escape and allowed me to meet all kinds of people and experience "life on my own". I am not going to pretend that Maplehurst taught me hiking techniques, and survival skills for the mountains but it made my childhood happy, and it made my summers unforgettable. Maplehurst...I owe it all to you.

My husband and I came for a ride on 10/4/25 and had the best time! The owners were very friendly,…read morethe horses were the sweetest! The property was beautiful! We can't wait to come back!

We had a beautiful winter trail ride. The experience was truly one of a kind! The horses were…read moreperfectly matched to our abilities and the guides were knowledgeable.

Loooooooove Camp Barakel so much. We have had many great weekends here while enjoying couples and…read morefamily retreats. This is a Christian camp, and they preach God's Word and apply it in a meaningful way. They tell about God's grace and Jesus's forgiveness, and bring it full circle to teach about improving and healing relationships. Every time we have attended, we have been blessed by it. Thank you!!!!! They are on a beautiful spring-fed lake, and there are tons of activities and opportunities to get back to nature. And as a true Yelper I can honestly attest: The food is good, too! Some of the sleeping accommodations are more rustic than some newer ones, but they are in the process of renovating every cabin, as I understand. The newer lodges are really nice!! I'm sure they can fully fill you in about where you would stay if you call. Life is simple here and it provides an opportunity to focus on what is most important. I have huge respect for their dedicated staff. They treat others with such love, and you can feel an attitude that demonstrates their care and dedication in their ministry. I have seen their worship leaders gracefully serving others as staff in the dining hall. There is a lot of walking involved. My dad went with a walker and could get around, but some places were a little harder than others, and a few were just too hard. There are two camps, one on each side of the lake, so they can run two different camps at once, or one big camp. I also love singing hymns in chapel, especially Ancient Words. It really sums up what they are trying to do here. Holy words long preserved for our walk in this world, They resound with God's own heart Oh let the ancient words impart. Words of Life, words of Hope Give us strength, help us cope In this world, where e'er we roam Ancient words will guide us Home. Ancient words ever true Changing me and changing you, We have come with open hearts Oh let the ancient words impart. This is not just a summer camp or a lake getaway. Barakel means "The place where God has blessed" and we have encountered Him here. Barakel is not fancy, but it's real, and I mean that in deepest and best sense of the word.

I just spent a weekend fishing while at a Christian Men's Retreat at Camp Barakel in Fairview, Mi…read more(near Mio in Oscoda County), and I wanted to blog my experience because I could find no fishing information for the camp's privately owned Shear Lake. https://www.bing.com/maps?q=shear+lake+michigan&FORM=HDRSC4 https://www.campbarakel.org/ Shear Lake is a shallow, clear water, spring fed lake with a sandy bottom and sparse aquatic vegetation. The perimeter of the lake is peppered with many lay downs of fallen trees. While staying at Camp Barakel, the campground provided small rowboats, canoes, kayaks, and paddle boats for recreational use. At peak times of the day, there can be a lot of campers using the small lake, so fisherman will need to be patient with the recreational users who are attempting to paddle around it. Prior to fishing on Shear Lake, the only fishing information that I could find was that the lake contained Blue Gills. Having fished the lake last fall and this spring, I can verify that Shear Lake has Large Mouth Bass, Rock Bass, Perch (some are jumbo size, being12 inches or larger), and Blue Gills. The lake is rumored to have Pike, but I am not aware of any being caught. Although the lake may contain only a few lunkers (last fall, I failed to set the hook with a weedless frog on what was probably around a four pound bass), the overall Large Mouth Bass fishing seems to be quite good. Some 16 to 18 inch bass were caught while while standing on the docks. Even though the lake has sparse vegetation, the lake's shallowness makes it easy for lures that come in contact with it's sandy bottom to constantly pick up clumps of plant material and algae. Also, it's easy to get hung up on the many branches and tree trunks that line the shore. Consequently, weedless lures (like a Texas-rigged soft plastic worms), plus mid-water and top-water lures (which are fished away from the shore) work well. I caught ten Large Mouth Bass (12 to 16 inches) and one Rock Bass last weekend on a Texas-rigged soft plastic worm. Some had good luck using spinners or top water lures that worked in the mildly windy conditions, like Jitterbugs. Others had good luck with live baits such as Big Red Worms or Minnows. Last fall, I had some luck swimming small curly tail jigs, but I now now prefer to drag Texas-rigged worms along the lake's bottom, near the many fallen trees.

After the CEO got involved I did receive a full refund. That doesn't excuse their major medical…read moreoversight, but at least we didn't have to pay for such an experience.

Amazing place for young boys and men to learn leadership. They have so much to do. Sailing,…read moreswimming, archery, rifles, high-ropes, camping, kayaking, crafts. Plus out of camp trips to Alaska, Caribbean and Canada.

I've had my son there for over a year. My experience has been that they take just as good care of…read moremy son as I do. I have never once worried about his care at LL. Speak to Jonni, LeeAnn, Ashley, or Jessica. They are all-star caregivers that have constant interaction with my son. I wouldn't even begin to hesitate to have any one of them care for him. Their passion for the children is apparent and I count myself blessed to have my son in their care as well as both him and I making some great friends.