Our Programs + Activities

“I promise to have fun. On the field, on the lake, and in the bunk I will laugh. With energy, humor, and respect I will represent the very best of Mah-Kee-Nac. And with my friends, I hereby swear to make this summer extraordinary.”- MKN Summer Oath

What Makes a Mah-Kee-Nac Camper?

Many of our boys who attend Camp Mah-Kee-Nac take full advantage of the variety of activities that we have to offer. While they might be very busy with athletics or extracurriculars at home, they recognize that camp is a place where they can ALSO comfortably explore many other interests such as our waterfront sports, our MAK Adventure program, and our Media and Arts programs.

Elective-Based Program:

During the days at Mah-Kee-Nac, campers enjoy our Elective-Based Program. The program is built around age-appropriate options and provides each camper with a unique opportunity to explore his own interests throughout the summer.

Campers choose five activities for their GREEN schedule (3 days) and another five activities for their WHITE schedule (3 days) with one activity each day being a daily elective. Green and White schedules last for three days in a row giving campers an opportunity to try, practice, and succeed at an activity. Each week, our boys change their schedules to include new activities as well as keep ones that they loved for the following week.

Our Junior Campers, completed grades 2-4, follow a more blended “guided-choice” schedule. We offer them a hand-picked menu of activities to choose from when they create their schedules. We also build in team sports, Ropes/adventure, tennis, swim instruction in our pool as well as waterfront instruction in our lake. This allows us to emphasize exposure and create a balance of individual and group activities for our younger campers while still empowering them to choose most of what they’d like to do.

Under the guidance of our exceptional staff, Mah-Kee-Nac campers can take full advantage of our Elective-Based Program. It allows boys to both try new things and focus on familiar interests. They gain confidence from exploration and from mastery of skills. Every child is different and we pride ourselves on being able to support each camper’s individual growth.

Healthy Competition at MKN:

The Mah-Kee-Nac athletic program is based on inclusiveness and Healthy Competition. Boys come to Mah-Kee-Nac with three basic ranges of athletic experience. Some boys have little or no experience with certain sports, while others have a moderate level of experience and tend to play in “rec” programs. The third group of athletes at Mah-Kee-Nac is those that are more avid competitors that tend to play on travel teams at home. Our individualized instruction is designed to support the development of all our young athletes. Additionally, with our intra-camp, intercamp, and tournament games, all Mah-Kee-Nac boys have an opportunity to compete at a level appropriate to their experience and ability.

Evening Activities

Camp doesn’t stop in the evenings! Each evening our campers and staff participate in exciting evening activities. Some grouped by bunk or division, and many all-camp as well, including some of our coveted special events (Tough Mudder, Lip Sync Battle, Fox Hunt, Avengers Infinity Wars, The Tobias Maher Film Festival, and MANY, MANY more). These activities allow boys to build friendships with fellow campers of all age groups and contribute to the sense of family and community that is an important characteristic of Camp Mah-Kee-Nac.