What is the Skyline Experience?
In this place we welcome all who seek some peace among these trees
Flora and Fauna of Skyline
Here at Skyline, we seek to create a place for connections. Whether that means getting outside to climb trees or explore the trails, sitting around a table with a puzzle, or taking time to center yourself in the Labyrinth, we welcome you to take a breath and find some peace here.
This is an overview of some of the places at camp, in addition to your rental building(s), you may have access to when you come here. Many of the activities you can do in these areas can be done with no or minimal Skyline staff assistance needed.
When planning your stay, please make sure to mention what areas of camp or activities your group is interested in. During your stay, when using any of our facilities, items, or grounds, we ask that you leave them clean and undamaged, and any campfires and indoor woodfires are fully extinguished after you’re done with them.
If you have particular questions about what camp has to offer, email Zoe Kerchen at zoe@campskyline.org.
Your Skyline experience might start here:
Kitchen and Dining Hall (K&D)
Our busiest building at camp is our dining hall, which houses most of our offices, kitchen, and has space for about 90 people to eat indoors in two dining areas. There are two decks, which are set up with tents and picnic tables for additional dining space from May-mid October. This is where you will check-in when visiting, unless otherwise instructed.
Gazebo
An open but quiet sitting area near the K&D. There’s space for about 12 people to sit on the benches. A small skylight in the roof to let in a little sun to the structure.
The Zone
The Zone is a whole area of camp, down the hill from the K&D, dedicated to free play and adventuring! Across the field from the pool, the Zone starts with our volleyball net and mud kitchen, and continues into the woods beyond…
The Zone Woods
After following the path behind the volleyball net, you’ll find yourself surrounded by trees, sticks, mushrooms, birds, and half-built forts from previous days of Zone play. Get wild!
Sports Court
Part of the Zone is our sports court. It’s where our basketball hoops, tennis nets, human foosball court, and sports equipment live, as well as having two trail entrances nearby, both of which lead to the part of camp we call Wilderness.
Wil-deer-ness Trail
One of our newest and wildest trails was blazed in the summer of 2025 as part of a camper project. One end of this trail starts behind the fences of the Zone, the other end along the main trail to Wilderness. Watch your step for roots and stumps!
Wilderness
Following one of trails leading to the back of camp will take you to a glade in the tall maples, Wilderness. There’s a few picnic tables and benches surrounding a campfire, seating about 24 adults. It’s a great place for a daytime picnic and play or nighttime stars and s’mores party!
Pavilion
Our largest covered outdoor space is our Pavilion, which sits on a hill near the center of camp overlooking the soccer field and Pond. There’s a number of outlets, overhead lights, and a drinking fountain that’s hooked up in warmer months, typically May-October. A small number of benches and picnic tables are kept around the structure, which can be moved to sit around the campfire pit on the north side of Pavilion.
Soccer Field
Our soccer field is standard sized, meaning it’s great for both games and cloud gazing. There’s a water fountain that is seasonally hooked up, usually May-October. Alternatively, this area can be used as a parking space for events held at Pavilion, Labyrinth, or Pond, as there are limited spaces where cars may be at camp.
Pond
Our Pond is home to a great variety of wildlife, including frogs, fish, turtles, insects, and dozens of water-loving plant species. We practice catch and release fishing, to preserve this environment for years to come. Following a narrow trail cut along the edge of the pond there’s a secluded opening in the woods with great climbing trees.
Farm
At the Skyline Farm, we have a number of animals we care for and you’re welcome to visit. We have a herd of goats, flock of chickens, and a large rabbit named Monty, as well as two wandering farm cats named Eight Ball and Blitzen. This is where our large garden and hoop house are, and herbs, flowers, and fruits are grown in warmer months.
Barn Trail
This trail connects the High on a Rise and Labyrinth campfires to the Farm, ending near the goat pasture. This is one of the more well-travelled trails at camp, with small, gently rolling hills that are, after a heavy snow or rain, covered in animal tracks in the snow or mud.
The Labyrinth Campfire
Beyond the closely packed evergreens off the Barn trail, there’s a secluded campfire, surrounded by benches and tall trees. There’s seating for about 50 adults. Here, there’s space for quiet reflection and wild play.
The Labyrinth
The Labyrinth is a spiral of stones down in a clearing in our evergreen woods— an excellent place to meditate, great for walking or running, whatever your heart and feet desire.
Gaga/Octo Ball Pit
Our permanent gaga ball pit is a great place to jump around before warming up at the campfire, or hold an afternoon gaga ball tournament.
Fitness Trail
Our Fitness Trail runs along the middle of camp. The terrain is fairly flat, for Skyline; the trail is named for the structures built along it that target moving other parts of the body that you’d usually use on a hike. This trail also has an apple tree that sometimes bears tasty fruit in early autumn.
High on a Rise
When following the trail that goes past our pool, you may come to yet another campfire, called High on a Rise. The open lawn has seating for about 60 people in a half circle around the fire, and a few fun climbing trees scattered nearby.
Chapel/Amphitheater
On your drive in, you’ll pass our chapel on a hill. A few rows of wooden benches, seating about 70, face the main stage— if you hike past them, you come to a hidden trail running along the top of the hills…
Lost Trail
The Lost Trail runs along the most dramatic hills of camp, with two of the entrances sitting at the top of camp (behind Focus Hall) and the bottom of camp (by the parking lot at the entrance) This trail is great for the exploring woods and building forts, or running up and sliding down the steep valley trail, or sitting on a bench or fallen tree.
Big Meadow
After finishing a hike along the Lost Trail, you may decide to continue your trek and cross Sandhill Road, on a trail cut through autumn olive shrubs and thorny black locust trees. The trees and brush thin out into a wide meadow perfect for frolicking, bug catching, birdwatching, and stargazing.
Creek & Wetlands
At the other end of the trail through the meadow is a boardwalk. The boardwalk allows you to walk above the marsh, which holds all sorts of creatures and plants. One edge of the marsh is held by a small creek, the boardwalk depositing you on the bank at a narrow spot to step across it into a wider clearing. This side of the marsh can also be accessed by a trail that starts at the top of the far hill and opens on Sandhill Road across from the Farm.
Ready to Plan your own Skyline experience?
Seasonal Areas and Activities
Some areas of camp are only maintained for seasonal use; these are some of these areas. If you have particular questions about what will and will not be available during your stay, please email Zoe at zoe@campskyline.org or call (810) 798-8240 ext. 106
Cabins
Though our cabins are used mainly during our summer camp programs, they do remain an option from May until late September if your group is interested in having a more rustic experience. The cabins are unheated and uninsulated, though there are a few outlets and overhead lights in each.
Bathhouse
We have a number of port-a-johns around camp, but this is one of a few indoor plumbing bathrooms at Skyline— in the warm months, this is an toilet option for those playing near the soccer field, pond, or Labyrinth.
Indoor Fireplaces
In the Lodge and Focus Hall, we have fireplaces in the main rooms of both buildings. We can provide fuel, fire starters, and matches in the colder months for these.
Sledding
We have a great number of hills that are fun to roll and run down, and some of those hills are great sledding hills when we have snow. We are happy to point out our suggested areas, but you’re welcome to explore to find your own! Please bring your own sleds.
Hammock Hallow
During the warm months, we have a number of hammocks strung up about a minute’s walk from the K&D. Take a moment to hang out in the trees…
Kitchen Garden
In warm months, our smaller garden by the K&D might be available for exploration. There’s herbs like mint and oregano, and plants with pretty flowers or interesting leaves, to feed your belly and your eyes. There’s also a small sandpit that must be covered when not in use, but you’re free to dig in the sand to see what treasures have been stashed there.
Farm Garden
When visiting the goats or chickens at the Farm, you may walk the woodchip paths of our large garden and see what we’ve grown that summer. There’s herb boxes, with plants like mint and chives, as well as numerous other plants that may be in season. Please let us know if you’re interested in looking through the garden, and we can direct you towards things ready to try.