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2315 Harmon Lake Road
Mayville, MI 48744
Tel (989) 673-2050
Fax (989) 673-6355
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The Fowler Center - For Outdoor Learning
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The Fowler Center is an outdoor recreation and education facility that provides programs with particular emphasis on people with developmental and physical disabilities.
The Fowler Center was founded by pioneer and visionary, John Fowler. In 1957, John, a special education teacher, realized the need for summer camping programs for his students.
Together with his wife, Reta, John started camping that summer for 9 boys who had mental impairments in the school's field.
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The Fowlers both believed strongly that confidence and self-esteem could be built and fostered with an away-from-home outdoor experience. It is that belief upon which The Fowler Center has been built. In the last 3 years, over 10,000 children, teens and adults have had an outdoor experience at The Fowler Center.
To read the story of The Fowler Center, visit our History page
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What The Fowler Center Offers
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The Fowler Center serves thousands of people each year by providing access to the outdoors in a safe, comfortable, loving environment that fosters a sense of accomplishment, independence and increased self-esteem.
Our programs and facilities are specifically designed to meet special physical, social, intellectual, emotional and motivational needs of participants.
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Emphasis is placed on the ability of each camper to participate in the camping experience according to their physical, mental and psychological abilities. A concerted effort is made to remove any possible barriers and to create a secure, positive and reinforcing environment.
Our Programs section contains information about Camp Fowler, the 9-week summer camp. Additionally, there is information about Spring sessions, monthly weekend respite camps, Camp Barefoot for adults with traumatic brain injuries, Travel Adventures, Winter Camp and Group Events. The Fowler Center also offers the Mah Meh Weh Horse Ranch Program with two or three one-week sessions, dependent on enrollment, for teenaged girls without disabilities
For information about our many programs, visit our Programs page.
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The Fowler Center's Campers
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The Fowler Center has programs for children, teens and adults. Each program has been created to accommodate each person's needs.
The Fowler Center works with persons who have many kinds of developmental disabilities, including mental impairment, autism, schizophrenia and emotional disturbance.
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Associated physical disabilities range from those resulting from closed head injuries in accidents to Spina Bifida, Muscular Dystrophy, Cystic Fibrosis, Multiple Sclerosis, Cerebral Palsy, Down Syndrome, schizophrenia, epilepsy and HIV/AIDS.
The Fowler Center maintains a 1:4 staff to camper ratio during adult and youth summer sessions, and adult weekend respites. A 1:3 staff to camper ratio is maintained during youth respite weekends. Any camper that will be successful in this ratio is eligible. Some campers require one-on-one assistance for medical or behavioral reasons, or due to parental/guardian request. One-on-one aides may be provided by an appropriate agency approved by The Fowler Center at an additional fee of $100, or by staff at The Fowler Center, depending on staff availability, at an additional fee of $250. The Super Camp adult session in the summer program and the adult spring sessions are designed for campers who need more time to complete a project as well as physical assistance with eating, dressing and hygiene. The Fowler Center staff will determine eligibility and help you find an appropriate session on an individual basis.
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The Fowler Center's Experienced Staff
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Throughout the history of The Fowler Center, our staff's training, both in pre-camp sessions as well as during the camp sessions, has been given high priority. The reason, of course, is to assure that each camper receives adequate programming, maintains a healthy record and enjoys a satisfying, happy camping experience. Each year this staff training becomes more inclusive because of the years of experience in camping and the new innovations which assist in making the procedures more efficient and meaningful.
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Night Staff: Campers at Camp Fowler have always enjoyed the security and comfort in knowing that four counselors sleep in the same cabin as they do. Counselors are available around the clock to monitor and comfort special needs.
Additionally there is a regular rotation of two night staff who are awake and do hourly rounds and bed checks to further the safety and security of each camper.
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Certified Quality
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The Fowler Center is accredited by the American Camp Association. The Center is licensed as an Adult Foster Care Camp and Children's Camp by the State of Michigan. Both agencies monitor the quality of the site, programs, staff and administration.
The Fowler Center is a member in good standing with the Michigan Assisted Living Association. All Programs are routinely monitored for the physical and emotional safety of all participants.
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For additional information, please contact us at: info@thefowlercenter.org.
You may also choose to verify our accreditations using online resources available at:
American Camp Association
Family Independence Agency
Michigan Assisted Living Association
To answer your questions or concerns about the camping experience, visit the American Camping Association informational pages. |
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Our Environmental Pledge
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The Fowler Center Camp is located in a beautiful mixture of open meadows, dense forest, lakefront, creek, pasture and open hills. It is home to numerous varieties of trees, animals and plants. To preserve the area, The Center uses conservation techniques that include a vigorous recycling program, organic gardening, erosion control and the commitment to cut use of paper products and rely on recycled material whenever possible.
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