Registration is now open for the Big House Big Heart Race that will now take place in the Spring instead of its usual Fall date.   The exciting race will now be on Sunday, April 15th, 2012.  It will include a 10k, 5k, and 1-mile run/walk all finishing on the 50 yard line of the famous University of Michigan Stadium – the Big House.   Sign-up today and choose North Star Reach as your charity of choice to get a head start on raising funds to send more kids to camp this year!  Thank you for your support!

For more info check out www.thebighousebigheart.com

Register today to run the Super 5k in Novi, MI on February 5th, 2012 – Super Bowl Sunday.  That way you can eat nachos, wings, pizza or whatever you want during the big game. Join the Running Fit/North Star Reach Team and help raise money for camp!  Click here for more info http://www.runsuperbowl.com/

Enjoy a variety of wild game dishes, share hunting stories, play games, win prizes, and help support the purchase of archery equipment for North Star Reach.  Join us January 28, 2012 from 6 – 8 pm at Shalom Lutheran Church 1740 E M 36 Pinckney, MI 48169-8148

Click on the flyer below for more details.  Hope to see you there!

WILD GAME DINNER flyer

You can count on Don Sanford like the sunrise.  His dedication to North Star Reach is seen in many ways, but none as evident as out at camp.  Working behind the scenes is not as glamorous as other roles, but it sure makes a difference.  His skills and expertise have single-handedly removed the fallen trees from blocking the road, fixed the leaking roofs and broken windows, beautifully maintained the grass and grounds, plowed snow and helped to re-establish the beach area.  Don has made it a personal mission to maintain the property and facilities at camp and eagerly awaits the construction phase.

 About three years ago Doug Armstrong and I were at a conference together for Haz-Mat response teams. Doug was telling me about a camp he was building near Pinckney. It turned out I knew the camp property, I had been there with my family when I was a kid. Well talking about the camp brought back a lot of memories of the great times we had out there, and I thought it would be great to help give some other kids those memories.

When my family was out at camp it was from about 1962-70. It was a three or four day weekend with a group of families that belonged to the same Square Dance club that my mom and dad did. Somehow the club rented the camp from U of M and about twenty families got together out there for the weekend. It was great because us kids could play in the woods, swim and canoe in the lakes and dance with our parents in the dining hall. The old dining hall was a lodge style building with wood floors and huge fire places. We ate together there, everyone helped out with cooking of the different meals. Then the meal was cleared away and cleaned up, the tables moved and the fun began! Well between the dancing, playing in the woods and of course the campfires the families all grew closer together, and us kids created a whole new group of friends.

This is what I hope can be created by the kids who come to North Star Reach. I volunteer my time and equipment because I have seen what kind of magic that camp can create and want the kids who have many more challenges in life than I ever thought of to have a chance to see that magic. To be able to go into the woods and see a deer or turkey. To learn about different trees, plants and bugs. To look into the dark night sky and see stars that they can’t see at home because there are too many street lights. Or just to get away from the hospital and drudgery of being homebound because the cost of care eats up any hope of a vacation.

I have donated time, fuel and replacement parts for my equipment (including flat tire repair on my trailers, tractor and mower).  My endless case of poison ivy and some other interesting allergic reactions sometimes lead to frustration because the camp isn’t built yet.  Then when I am on my mower or walking a path I look at the grounds and think about what the camp was and what it will be again.  I realize the camp doesn’t owe me anything and I owe the camp for the wonderful memories it gave me and the special memories it will give generations to come. That’s why I volunteer at camp.

Eagle Scout Projects

In late August, Life Scouts Patrick Oakley and Brett McKinney completed their Eagle Scout Leadership Service projects at North Star Reach.  The Scouts with the support of their troop, constructed four accessible picnic tables and a Ga-ga pit.  Eagle projects require Life Scouts to plan, develop and give leadership to others in a service project helpful to your religious institution, school or your community.  The picnic tables will be used all throughout camp and are a specially designed to accommodate one or many children in wheelchairs.  Ga-ga is a version of dodgeball that has become popular at many summer camps.

We are truly grateful to Patrick and Brett for their service and congratulate them on the completion of this important step toward earing their Eagle Scout award.

Stop by and visit the Usborne book fair at U of M Hospital (in the triangle) Monday & Tuesday, October 17 &18 from 10am-4pm.  Proceeds from the book fair will go to North Star Reach.  They are hosting an E-fair on their website as well for NSR !!  Here is the link: www.myubam.com/BF48568

North Star Reach is so excited to be a winner of an additional $10,000 in the Art Van Charity Challenge.   This money will help fund our Camp on the Move program and allow us to take more children with serious health challenges to camp.

We are thrilled to partner with Art Van to give these kids a life-changing camp experience.  Thank you to Art Van and to all of you that voted for North Star Reach for helping us make a difference in so many kids and families lives!

North Star Reach is honored to have received $20,000 from Art Van’s Million Dollar Charity Challenge.  Now we have the opportunity to win $10,000 – $25,000 more!  We just need your help – log onto www.artvancharitychallenge.com and Vote for North Star Reach – Today and Every day through September 30th!  We can win with your help and support!  Thank You!

Here’s all you have to do to make this camp a reality for so many kids:

• For the next two weeks, you have the opportunity to vote DAILY for North Star Reach as your favorite charity on the Art Van Charity Challenge website.

• After clicking on the above link, just register your name and email address (of course, there is no charge and you only have to do this one time.)

• Art Van will email you back immediately asking you to verify confirmation by clicking on the link in their email.

• Verifying will take you to the “vote” page.

• Scroll down and check the North Star Reach box and then scroll down a little bit and click “vote.”

Check out this link to the Crain’s article for more information on the Art Van Charity Challenge!

North Star Reach Friends and Family Benefit Gathering

Date:         September 7, 2011

Time:         4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Location:   South Branch Tavern and Grille, 100 S. Wacker Dr., Chicago, IL (www.southbranchchicago.com)

The event has no cover and attendees will pay their own way except for FREE light appetizers.  Camp Director Patrick Smith will be a special guest at the event.

Present this flyer to the Max & Erma’s restaurant at 445 E. Eisenhower, Ann Arbor on Wednesday, August 1oth to help support North Star Reach.  20% of your bill will benefit our camp!  This includes lunch, dinner and carry-out all day.

Thank you for your continued support!

Max Ermas Proceed Flyer