FRUIT CAMP 2025
For over 40 years, the Huntington Woods Fruit Camp program has provided children with a wonderful summer experience!
Due to the high demand for Fruit Camp spots, a lottery is held to determine the session rosters. Please see directions below to register for the Lottery.
Below is a brief description of each camp. Please note that camps are based on your child’s CURRENT age or school grade (not the grade they will be entering in the Fall). There are no exceptions for age/grade requirements. Camps are designed to meet the needs of a specific age group for an optimal and rewarding experience.
If you have any questions about Fruit Camp, please contact Jenny Morgan, Director: jmorgan@hwmi.org or 248.541.3030.
STRAWBERRY/BANANA CAMPS (current Pre-K, TK)
Camps are play-based and provide many creative and fun activities, including art, music, water play, large and small motor activities and more. Children must be completely toilet-trained (Pull-Ups are not allowed). A copy of the camper’s birth certificate is required with registration for 1st time fruit campers. Tropical Storm is not offered with these camps.
NOTE TO TRANSITIONAL K: Current Transitional Kindergarten students are ONLY eligible for Camp Banana.
Strawberry/Banana Session Dates
Session A: June 16 - June 27 (no camp June 19)
Session B: June 30 - July 11 (no camp July 4)
Session C: July 14 - July 25
CAMP STRAWBERRY - 1/2 day
2-week sessions, 9:00 am-12:00 noon (no lunch)
Age: 3½ (by 6/16/2025) – 4½ years. Limit 20 campers per session.
Cost: $260/session
Before Camp Care (BCC), After Camp Care (ACC) are NOT available for Camp Strawberry.
CAMP BANANA - full day
2-week sessions, 9:00 am-3:00 pm
Grade: Entering Kindergarten in Fall 2025. Limit 20 campers per session.
Cost: $520/session
Included are field trips and pool time.
Before Camp Care (BCC) and After Camp Care (ACC) ARE available for Camp Banana.
WATERMELON, KIWI, HONEYDEW AND PINEAPPLE CAMPS
(Current Kindergarten – 5th Grade)
Fruit Camp staff plan age appropriate, fun-filled activities including games, arts and crafts, sports, field trips, free swim and more. No electronics, no movies - just good old summer FUN in the SUN!
Watermelon/Honeydew/Pineapple Session Dates
2-week sessions, 9:00 am - 3:00 pm
Session A: June 16 - June 27 (no camp June 19)
Session B: June 30 - July 11 (no camp July 4)
Session C: July 14 - July 25
Session D: July 28 - August 8
CAMP WATERMELON
Current Kindergarten* - 1st grade
Limit 30 campers per session
Cost: $550/session
*if your child does not attend Burton, proof of current Kindergarten enrollment is required.
CAMP HONEYDEW
Current 2nd - 3rd grade
Limit 30 campers per session
Cost: $550/session
CAMP KIWI – 8 weeks
Current 2nd – 3rd grade
One 8-week session: June 16 – August 8 (no camp June 19 or July 4)
Limit 30 campers.
Cost: $1,850/8 week session
CAMP PINEAPPLE
Current 4th - 5th grade
Limit 25 campers per session
Cost: $570/session
On July 4th all campers are welcome to join Fruit Camp in the HW parade, regardless of their session.
Costs are for Huntington Woods residents. An additional 10% is added for Royal Oak Section and other non-residents. Non-residents must also pay the annual $50 Facility Fee, if they haven’t already for 2025.
FRUIT CAMP LOTTERY
Due to the popularity of Fruit Camp, a Lottery is used to determine camp rosters and a maximum of 2 sessions per child is allowed. Once Lottery registration is done, the Lottery is generated and applicants are randomly placed in sessions, according to their preferences.
Applicants requesting to be placed in a second session are drawn in additional Lottery rounds. Applicants will be placed on a waitlist if their requested session has filled.
To participate in the Lottery you must be a Huntington Woods resident or grandfathered Royal Oak Section resident. Grandfathered RO Section families should contact the Rec Center directly (hwrec@hwmi.org) to register.
Non-grandfathered Royal Oak Section and other non-residents can register for camp at a later date (please see details in 2025 Camp Deadlines & Important Dates section).
LOTTERY REGISTRATION
Registration for the Lottery begins online on Monday, December 9 at 8:30am and closes on Monday, January 6, 2025 at 11:59pm.
If you prefer to not register online, please contact hwrec@hwmi.org or go to the Rec Center front desk for a Lottery Application Form. Lottery Application Forms are due no later than 5:00pm on Monday, January 6, 2025.
Please be sure to read the Fruit Camp FAQs below before beginning your registration.
To register for the Lottery, go to Register Now!>Camps>Fruit Camp & Specialty Camps>Fruit Camp
- Choose the camp based on your child’s age or grade:
Strawberry: ages 3½ (by 6/16/2025) - 4½ years
Banana: entering Kindergarten in Fall 2025
Watermelon: current Kindergarten and 1st Grade
Honeydew: current 2nd and 3rd Grade
Kiwi: current 2nd and 3rd Grade
Pineapple: current 4th and 5th Grade
- You will be prompted to answer questions:
- Provide your child’s current grade
- Select the number of sessions you want your child to attend (1 or 2)
- Indicate your session priority
Session A = 6/16 – 6/27
Session B = 6/30 – 7/11
Session C = 7/14 – 7/25
Session D = 7/28 – 8/8 (K-5th grade camps only)
- For Kiwi only, indicate session priority for Honeydew should your child not get into Kiwi
- Choose your child’s t-shirt size
- Pay the $50 Lottery deposit per session ($200 for Kiwi)
FRUIT CAMP REGISTRATION FAQs
SESSION CHOICE
Children can attend a maximum of 2 sessions, per camp.
Take time when prioritizing sessions. Is your child attending another camp? Will you be on vacation? If so, select the “no – no other dates work for us” choice for that session. If all sessions are good, select the “no preference - any session is fine” choice for each session. You will be waitlisted only for requested sessions. And, if you get into your first choice and only want 1 session, you will be removed from the other waitlists.
KIWI or HONEYDEW
Both camps are for current 2nd/3rd Graders. Kiwi is an 8-week camp. Honeydew is offered in 2-week sessions. The camps have different staff members but sometimes do activities together. When you register for Camp Kiwi, please answer the Honeydew session question when prompted. If your child is placed on a waitlist for Kiwi, they will automatically be entered into the Honeydew Lottery, based on the preferences you entered.
LOTTERY DEPOSIT
A $50 deposit per session ($200 for Kiwi) must be paid upon registration for the Lottery.
LOTTERY RESULTS
Notification of camp placement will be received via email, by mid-February. NOTHING on your account is finalized until you receive a welcome email with your session details. Activity visible on your account prior to receiving the notification email is not finalized.
PLACEMENT CHANGES
If you need to drop a session that you are in, please see directions below. Families cannot swap placements because of existing session waitlists.
MISSED THE LOTTERY
If you missed the Lottery deadline, registration for any available spots is held in March. Please see Fruit Camp Deadlines & Important Dates below.
BALANCE PAYMENTS
Balance payments are due no later than Monday, April 7 @ 11:59pm. Balances can be paid in full any time prior to the due date. To pay a partial balance before the due date please contact hwrec@hwmi.org.
REQUIRED FORMS
You will receive email notification from CampDocs with required camp forms, which need to be completed electronically. All camp forms must be completed and submitted no later than Monday, April 7 @ 11:59pm.
Please refer to late paperwork fee details in the Fruit Camp Deadlines & Important Dates list.
SESSION CHANGE FEE
- A $10 fee will be charged for any Fruit Camp session changes requested by April 7, 2024.
- A $25 fee will be charged for all Fruit Camp session changes requested after April 8, 2024.
- For Fruit Camp drops, please refer to the next section.
CANCELLATION/DEPOSIT/PAYMENT REFUNDS
DROPPING A SESSION/CAMP
- Review the Fruit Camp Deadlines & Important Dates list for cancel/refund information.
- To drop a camp/session, complete and submit a Fruit Camp Drop Form to hwrec@hwmi.org or the Rec Center front desk.
- Also find the Drop Form under About Us>Forms or request it via email hwrec@hwmi.org.
- After the request is reviewed, your household account may be credited for the camp deposit/payment minus the drop fee, based on the date submitted (please see Fruit Camp Deadlines & Important Dates list).
- Household credits can be applied to other Rec Center activity fees or refunded via check.
DROPPING FROM A WAITLIST
- Email hwrec@hwmi.org to be removed from a session waitlist.
- After the request is received, your household account will be credited in full for the camp deposit, if the deposit has not been applied to another session of Fruit Camp your child is attending.
FRUIT CAMP DEADLINES & OTHER IMPORTANT DATES
REGISTRATION
Monday, January 6, 11:59pm: Registration must be completed on recreation.hwmi.org to be included in the Fruit Camp Lottery (HW residents and RO Section Grandfathered households only). Families not registering online must submit their Lottery Application Form and deposit payment to the Gillham Recreation Center front desk by 5:00pm on 1/6/2025.
Monday, March 3, at 6:00pm: HW/RO Section Grandfathered households Post-Lottery registration, for open spots (if available) and adding to waitlists, online or at the Rec Center. First come, first served.
Monday, March 10 at 6:00pm: RO Section and Non-Resident registration for open spots (if available) and adding to waitlists, online or at the Rec Center. First come, first served.
PAYMENTS
Monday, April 7, 11:59pm: All balances and forms due. Full payment and completed forms must be submitted by 11:59pm. After 11:59pm:
- a 10% late fee will be applied to all unpaid balances
- a $25 late fee will be charged for any forms not submitted
Monday, April 28, 11:59pm: If full payment is not received by April 28, your camp spot will be forfeited. No monies paid up to this date will be refunded.
DROPS/REFUNDS
Monday, March 17, 11:59pm: Last day to drop camp sessions with a full refund (less $10 drop fee per camper, per session). A Fruit Camp Drop Form must be submitted, via email to hwrec@hwmi.org or to the Rec Center front desk, to request a camp cancellation.
March 18 – April 7: Camps may be dropped, but deposit is forfeited. Balance payments will be refunded if a replacement camper is secured from our waitlist.
April 8 – July 14: Camps may be dropped, but deposit is forfeited, and there is no balance refund unless a replacement camper is secured from our waitlist. If a replacement camper is found, a $25 fee per camper, per session will be deducted from the balance refund. If you request to drop from a waitlist, and your deposit has not been applied to another session of Fruit Camp, your deposit will be refunded in full.
PARENT MEETINGS
Wednesday, June 4, 6:15 pm: Strawberry/Banana Parent Meeting
Wednesday, June 4, 7:00 pm: Kiwi, Watermelon, Honeydew, Pineapple Parent Meeting
BEFORE (BCC) & AFTER CAMP CARE (ACC)
REGISTRATION BEGINS FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28 @ 8:30am
Before Camp Care (7:30 - 9:00 am) and After Camp Care (3:00 - 6:00 pm) are available June 16 - August 8 for Banana, Watermelon, Honeydew, Kiwi and Pineapple at an additional cost:
BCC = $9.40 per day
ACC = $15.00 per day
Watch for information in your Fruit Camp confirmation email.
IMPORTANT: We have been selling out BCC and ACC spots quickly in the last few years. Do not wait to register as spots might not be available.
If you have any questions about Fruit Camp, please contact: Jenny Morgan, Director: jmorgan@hwmi.org or 248.541.3030.
If you have any questions about registration, please contact Jan Alpert: jalpert@hwmi.org or 248.541.3030, or visit the Rec Center front desk.
END OF SUMMER CAMP OPPORTUNITIES
Extend your child’s camp experience the week following the end of Fruit Camp, August 11-15:
ADVENTURE SQUAD
Current Grades: 6 – 8
Monday - Friday, 9:00am – 3:00pm, but potential later end time depending on the activity.
This camp is filled with thrills and chills with fun field trips daily, including a trip to Cedar Point! Meet at the Gillham Recreation Center daily. Please note that there is NO Before or After Camp Care for this program. Field trip details will be emailed to families prior to the start of camp. HW residents only.
Cost: $420
FRUIT SALAD
Current Grades: K – 5 (Transitional Kindergartners are not eligible)
Monday - Friday, 9:00am – 3:00pm
Fruit Salad provides campers with a field trip every morning and open swim at the pool most afternoons! The camp is held at the Gillham Recreation Center. Please note that there is NO Before or After Camp Care for this program. Field trip details will be emailed to families prior to the start of camp. HW residents only.
Cost: $400