Camp Kohahna for Girls was founded in the early 20’s by Maude Beals Turner, the sister of Leelanau founder, Skipper Beals. She was encouraged by her brother to come from Oregon to tutor the sisters of the boys at Camp Leelanau.
The academics she and her brother had taught during the summer provided an inspiration for the founding of a year round academic program at The Leelanau School. “MB,” as she became known, took this opportunity to further develop a unique summer program based on activities and encouragement. MB successfully operated Camp Kohahna for over forty years on its early Pyramid Point site overlooking Lake Michigan.
In 1971 Camp Kohahna moved to join Camp Leelanau on the facility it shared with The Leelanau School. From 1981 – 1988, the Camps were located in Northport. The Camps and school maintained a close relationship until 1988 when the non-profit Camp Leelanau and Kohahna Foundation, Inc., was formed to take responsibility for the Camp operation. Camp Kohahna joyously returned to its early site on Pyramid Point in 1988, the new home for both of the Camps.
The exciting waterfront and beautiful property, surrounded by the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, make a perfect home for the Camps. Although the facility has been thoroughly refurbished and modernized, the original beauty of the Camps has been preserved. The Camps look forward to the continued use of this beautiful facility.
Kohahna (an Ojibway word for “Achievement”) provides the perfect setting for a summer of new activities, adventures, and friendships. Cabins perched atop the sandy bluffs of Pyramid Point, overlooking the endless blue waters of Lake Michigan, are home to the girls of Kohahna. Campers share a cabin with girls their own age in groups of five to ten. The daily schedule for all ages includes cabin cleanup, morning activities (scheduled weekly), afternoon activities (selected daily), and evening group activities. Caring counselors encourage the girls to excel in familiar activities, and support them in trying new ones. Whether it be on the trail, the lake, or the stage, Kohahna campers are always taught to do their best.
The team of counselors at Kohahna is comprised of strong, capable, young women from across the country. Their goal is to bring out the most in their campers and to love, support and challenge them. For the younger campers, this means being good sisters and role models. For the older campers, this means having a keen sense for unspoken needs and an ability to bring out a growing young woman’s potential.
Each day provides for dedicated study of the Daily Bible Lesson from the Christian Science Quarterly. There is time for each camper to expand her love and understanding of God. Counselors help reveal how the Lesson can provide solutions to life’s challenges and how Christian Science can be applied every day at camp and at home.
