Life is driven by experiences. A chance encounter leads to a new job, for instance, or a record collection handed down by an uncle spurs a lifelong passion for music.

At the Leelanau Outdoor Center, nestled in the shadow of Pyramid Point, kids are immersed in the natural world. Whether they’re from urban areas downstate or just a few miles away, these kids live and breathe nature, if only for a few days.

Odds are that the seeds planted during their time at LOC have and will lead some of them to take up careers that champion the environment.

“When they see it in first person, right there in front of them, then they care more about it and they want to learn more about it,” says Katie Duntley, LOC director. "And eventually down the line, maybe they'll take more steps to protect it and preserve it.”

But while saving the natural world is unquestionably important, leaders at LOC believe it’s equally critical to save the human world. That means more empathy, understanding and kindness.

“We’re pretty light on the science education and pretty heavy on the character education,” says Weldon Rutledge, executive director of the foundation that oversees LOC and the associated camps Leelanau and Kohahna. “Even when we're doing pond study or dune school or salmon life cycle on the Crystal River, we're really teaching more about care, team building, working together, listening to each other – some of those qualities that are really important.”

The LOC was established in 1994 to make year-round use of the 214 acres that in the summertime house Camp Leelanau (boys) and Camp Kohahna (girls). Both camps date to the early 1920s and were founded by the same group that started the Leelanau School. While the camps have a religious affiliation (Christian Science), the LOC does not.

Students come to the LOC for stays of less than a week and partake in a variety of activities. Aside from treks in nature, there’s a heavy focus on team building and adventure activities like the high ropes course, zip line and climbing wall. In 2023 alone, LOC served almost 1,900 students from schools from all over the state.

“It's imperative for kids to be able to get off of TikTok and YouTube and all of those things and actually have a face-to-face conversation with someone, especially in this environment where they're doing activities that they've never done before,” Duntely says. “And when they're having these hands-on experiences with their peers and stepping outside of their comfort zone together, it creates not only personal growth, but it forms really cool friendships and bonds that will then benefit them for the rest of their school lives.”

And while everyone seems to appreciate the outdoor setting, Duntley and Rutledge especially love the extra wide eyes on urban kids who don’t have much exposure to the natural world.

“Because we live here, we take it a little bit for granted, but the peace that they see and they get to experience here is very special,” Rutledge says. “We are at the literal end of the road surrounded by a national lakeshore. So when they get up on the bluff and they see Lake Michigan, or they see the night sky and they haven’t ever seen the stars that bright…it’s just so unique for them, so different. There’s such a value in being in nature and finding that peace.”

For its 30-year anniversary, LOC is hosting a community open house/fall festival from 1-5 p.m. on Oct. 5. Participants can climb the rock wall, fly down the zip line, go on a hayride, carve a pumpkin, shoot a bow or partake in other activities.

The $15 per person entry fee will raise money for the LOC’s endowment, which provides tuition assistance for low-income students.

For more information, click here.