Heritage Camp Hotels

This year we have a choice of 2 different Country Inn & Suites

locations; however the rates and phone numbers for making

reservations are different! Rooms at both locations now have a microwave and

mini-fridge in all rooms. Both have the same great amenities, including a hot continental

breakfast buffet, pool, whirlpool, fitness room, laundry, game room, and fresh cookies

throughout the day.

Country Inn & Suites

3251 Deposit Dr. N.E.

(at the intersection of E. Beltline and I-96)

Grand Rapids, MI 49546

(616) 942-7000

4 miles from Camp

• $ 99.99 (plus tax) for a standard king or double-queen

• $119.99 (plus tax) for one-bedroom king or queen suite

Rooms may be reserved under the group name “HERITAGE CAMP”

Rates guaranteed thru May 23, 2013 ~ then based on availability.

Country Inn & Suites

5399 – 28th Street, S.E.

Grand Rapids, MI 49512

(616) 977-0909

9 miles from Camp

• $ 82.00 (plus tax) for double-queen guest rooms

• $102.00 (plus tax) for king suite (No queen suites available at

this location)

• Complimentary light dinner Monday-Thursday, 5-7 p.m.

Recently remodeled lobby and rooms.

Rooms may be reserved under the group name “HERITAGE CAMP”

Heritage Camp Information :)

2013 Heritage Camp

Camp Dates:  Tuesday, June 18-Friday, June 21, 2013   9:00a.m-2:00p.m.

Location:  Knapp Forest Elementary School, 4243 Knapp Valley, Grand Rapids

New for Heritage Camp 2013:

1. Market Place will not be selling candy; please take note J
2. Opening Ceremonies will be held at 1:30 on Tuesday, June 18.
3. PON will be changed; there is some information below, but more will information will be available on Tuesday, June 18.
4. Medical/Allergy bracelets will be mailed home a week prior to Heritage Camp.  If you indicated on the registration form that your camper has allergies, you will receive a set of bracelets.

End of Day Dismissal Plan: As in past years, we are asking that parents check in with their camper(s) teacher(s) on Tuesday to note who will be picking up the camper at the end of each day.  Each class will have a “Sign Out” sheet.

Lunch Menu: The “Official” Camp Menu:

Tuesday: Eastern European Cuisine (Stroganoff)

Wednesday: Global Camp Cuisine (to be announced)

Thursday: South American Cuisine (Delicious stew, rice)

Friday: Asian Cuisine (Bulgogi, Long-life noodles, Mondu)

It is perfectly acceptable to send a “brown bag” lunch with your child if they prefer.  Parents with concerns about food are encouraged to contact our Kitchen Coordinator, Luanne (jhoekz@comcast.net) with their questions, or to arrange to go over food labels.

Please Note:  The kitchen prepares its budget to serve ONLY registered campers and volunteers.  Unfortunately, we cannot invite visitors for lunch.  We have 368 campers and about 160 Adult volunteers this year.

T-Shirts/Name Buttons: Each camper and volunteer will receive the official 2013 Heritage Camp T-shirt and a Name Button.  Please be sure to wear your button at all times; this is how you “earn” your lunch J  Only volunteers with the “official” name button will receive lunch on scheduled work days.  Thanks!

Daily Activities:  Your child will participate in music, games, attend assemblies each day, and be with peers learning about the history and culture of the country of their birth.

International Marketplace: Multicultural items will be available for purchase from 8:30-2:30 Tuesday through Thursday, and 9:00-1:00 on Friday. 

Heritage Camp Picnic: See the enclosed flyer, please.

What to bring: Campers may want a light jacket or sweatshirt; the school is air-conditioned.   Because your child will be involved with classroom activities and playground fun, tennis shoes/running shoes may be a better choice.  It would be best to leave flip-flops and Heelies at home.

Campers are also encouraged to bring playground/sports equipment (labeled with your first and last name) if they wish.  Campers may also bring money for the International Marketplace, but your child’s teacher cannot be responsible for the money.  If your child brings a brown-bag lunch, please make sure to label that with first and last name, too.

Please do not allow your child to bring electronic devices such as an ipod, Gameboy, ipods, ipads, or cell phone to Heritage Camp.  FFIC, Forest Hills Public Schools and/or Knapp Forest Elementary School cannot be held responsible for missing or damaged electronic devices.  If your child must bring a cell phone, it must be turned off and left in a backpack/book bag during the day. (Cell phone service at this school is horrible.) Mr. Miller may have different requirements for Teen Campers J

Parade of Nations:  The PON has undergone some changes for 2013. Heritage Camp is so big, and we are grateful for all our campers and volunteers, that we simply cannot have everyone gather in the gym.  We violated Fire Code last year and it can’t happen again this year.  So, PON will begin at 1:30 on Friday, June 21.with weather permitting, the parade will happen outside. We will then convene on the soccer field behind the school to sing the “Camp Song” and have Closing Ceremonies.    More information will be available during Camp week. Your child may wear a “Cultural Outfit” or their Camp T-shirt. 

Facebook:  FFIC Heritage Camp has a Facebook page; check it out.  We also have an awesome web-site that includes a blog.  We will make every attempt to keep the blog up-dated, but we are technologically impaired J

More questions?  Feel free to contact us at:

Cathy Wood 616.260.7195   616.365.0916  amycathydave@comcast.net

Pam Eggers 616.460.6080  pam@thinkboxcreative.com

Heritage Camp 2013; Dates and Changes

Heritage Camp 2013

Heritage Camp will be held June 18-21, 2013

Opening Ceremonies will be June 18 at 1:30.  This is a change from previous years, when Opening Ceremonies were held in the morning.

Heritage Camp Picnic will be Wednesday, June 19, 2013.  

Parade of  Nations and Closing Ceremonies will be held Friday, June 21.  The Parade of Nations will begin at 1:30.

The International Market Place will be open for a short time after Parade of Nations.

Heritage Camp 2013 Information

Heritage Camp 2013

     Planning for Heritage Camp 2013 is well under way, and we are all looking forward to another wonderful year.

     Registration closed April 1, and our amazing Registration Coordinator, John Bekker, has already sent lists of registered campers to the Camp Directors and Camp Coordinators.  Now the individual Camp planning really begins.  The Camp Coordinators will begin meeting with their classroom leaders to plan activities, order supplies, and get ready for action. Soon, our Kitchen Coordinator will start ordering food, including the beef used to prepare everyone’s favorite dish; Bulgogi!

     The design for the Heritage Camp 2013 t-shirt will be selected in late April, but…the winner won’t know who they are until everyone sees the shirt!! 

     Mark your calendar for the Heritage Camp 2013 Picnic; Wednesday, June 19, 2013.  Please be sure to join us for fun, food, and the chance to make new friends.

We still need volunteers for Heritage Camp 2013, though, so please consider helping make Heritage Camp 2013 even more successful by serving as: 

Opening/Closing Ceremonies Coordinator:  This person will organize country flags, make sure there is a flag bearer for each flag, and announce each country as its flag enters/exits Heritage Camp 2013. (We might even be able to find someone to do the mic work if you are shy J)

Multicultural Games Coordinator: This is the position for someone who wants to play games all day.  There is a giant binder of suggested games, but if you have ideas, they are welcome, too!  Over the course of Heritage Camp, each Camp, or group of Camps (China, Korea, Latin America, Eastern Europe, Global, Preschool) will spend time in the gym playing games native to the country.

Camp Directors in Training for Heritage Camp 2014: This is my last year, and Pam will be done after Heritage Camp 2014.  We have served as Camp Directors for the past five years, which is not what is supposed to happen.  The original plan was that each Camp Director served two years, but due to a lack of volunteers, and our immense love of Heritage Camp, Pam and I have continued to serve in this position.  When I say “immense love” I am SERIOUS.  I have been a Heritage Camp Volunteer for 13 years, and seven of those years have been as Camp Director; you can see that the job will not kill you J  Consider joining Pam and I to finish the Heritage Camp 2013 year, and work with Pam for the Heritage Camp 2014 year.  Like the Peace Corp (but closer to home), it’s the toughest job you’ll ever love!!  Truthfully, if you have a great co-worker, it’s not even a tough job!

T-Shirt Designs Needed :)

Needed:  Your design for the Heritage Camp 2013 t-shirt.

Create a design that makes you think of Heritage Camp, 

draw it on a piece of 8 x 11 paper, and send it to me.

Remember, your design can only be printed in one

color, but you are welcome to send in colorful designs.

Please be sure to include "Heritage Camp 2013" in 

your design.

I need to receive your design by April 25, 2103.

Send your design to:

Cathy Wood

1889 Orchard Lane NE

Grand Rapids, MI 49505

T-Shirt Artists

Calling all T-shirt artists!!

We are still accepting t-shirt designs for the Heritage Camp 2013 t-shirt.  If you are going to be a camper at Heritage Camp this year, and you like to draw, here is your chance to have 300+  people wear your design.

Send in your design, on  8 x 11 paper, to the address below.  I must have your design by April 20, 2013.  Your design needs to include the words "Heritage Camp 2013", but the rest is left up to your imagination.  Please remember, your design will be printed in one color of ink, usually black or white. Ink colors will depend on the t-shirt color, but multiple colors of ink make the shirts too expensive.  

Please send your design to :

Families for International Childern 

Cathy Wood

P.O. Box 2053

Grand Rapids, MI  49501

We will be selecting a design at our next Heritage Camp Coordinators meeting, which is April 27. So, get out your paper, markers, sense of fun, and submit a design for this year's t-shirt!!

Heritage Camp 2013 Dates to Remember

Heritage Camp 2013

Dates to Remember:



Registration - March 1 through April 1, 2013 

*We will not take registrations after April 1*


T-Shirt Designs need to be submitted by April 15, 2103.


Next Coordinators Meeting - April 27, 2103


Heritage Camp - June 18-21


Come join the fun; you can register on-line at the link below: 

http://www.fficgr.org/camp.html