CAMP MIRAGE: 40 flavors of summer camp fun (without phones)

To the delight of kids and their parents throughout southeast Michigan, Plymouth-based Camp Mirage is not a mirage — it’s the real deal.

And Camp Mirage is not your grandparents’ summer camp when parents dropped off their kids on Sunday night in a wilderness-centric setting and picked them up the following Sunday.

It offers an innovative approach to summer camp that allows kids to sleep in their own bed at night — and they sleep well considering their days are packed with action-packed adventure in a cellphone-restricted environment.

The inspiration of Plymouth married couple Jason and Cara Trost, Camp Mirage is as refreshing as a warm summer breeze as it offers more weekly camp options than Baskin Robbins has flavors of ice cream — and parents pick their kids up at the end of each camping day, not at the end of the week.

Residents of Plymouth, the Trosts have strong local ties. Cara graduated from the Plymouth-Canton Educational Park before attending Michigan State University to pursue a degree in communications.

As Cara Trost explains, the origins of Camp Mirage are as compelling as the business’s unique format.

“Twenty-five years ago, I was hired by the owners of the Oasis Entertainment Center (located at 39500 Five Mile Road in Plymouth Township) to run a summer camp,” she reflected. “There was an 18-hole par 3 golf course on the site, but the property it was on was sold and re-developed. Oasis’s owner wanted an alternative way to generate some revenue.”

The Trosts came up with the brilliant idea to offer over 40-differently-themed weekly camps that range from pickleball to Harry Potter.

“We found out quickly that there was a high demand for a summer camp like ours,” Trost said. “It’s done really well since Day One.”

Camp counselors are amazing

Trost said one of the primary reasons for the success of Camp Mirage is the hard work and passion of the staff/camp counselors.

“Eight-five percent of our camp counselors were once campers here themselves,” Trost said. “They loved the camp so much they decided to return as counselors.

“I believe kids like our camp so much because they can sign up for a different themed camp every week. They can participate in a flag football camp one week, a soccer camp the next and an arts and crafts camp after that. There’s a lot of variety. Parents can sign their kids up for one or two weeks — or put together a schedule for the entire summer.”

Five years ago the Trosts opened a second Camp Mirage location at United Methodist Church on North Territorial Road in Plymouth. Kids between the ages of 4 and 8 attend the newer location while 8- to 18-year-olds meet at the Oasis location.

Trost said the feedback they receive from campers and the campers’ parents is resoundingly positive.

“We do really well with kids that are too old for daycare situations and too young to stay home all summer,” she said.

Franchise opportunities available

In a reflection of Camp Mirage’s immense popularity, the Trosts are offering franchise opportunities for perspective entrepreneurs. Franchisees will soon be launching Camp Mirage Michigan-based sites in Canton, Farmington Hills, Troy and Brighton.

The franchise is also going national as there will be at least one Nashville, Tennessee, site available this summer as well as two in Tampa, Florida.

“Our camps are memory-makers for the kids who attend,” Trost said. “We felt it was too good of a thing not to share with potential franchisees.

“When I first started this camp at Oasis 25 years ago, I never imagined it would take off like it has. But our camps are normally sold out ahead of time, which created a demand for more locations. We’re just thankful for the direction this is going.”

Win-win situation

Trost said Camp Mirage is a win-win for campers and their parents.

“The kids get the camaraderie and fun that makes summer camp special, and they get to sleep in their own bed at night.”

Among the most-popular recently-added camp options is “The Floor Is Lava”, which teaches teamwork and team-building.

“And no electronics are allowed,” Trost added. “When the kids are picked up at the end of the day, they’re exhausted and their hands are dirty, but in the best positive way. They wake up the next day and they’re ready to go for another day of adventure and fun.”

To check out everything Camp Mirage has to offer — and to register for camps before they’re sold out — visit its website here.

Ed Wright can be reached at 734-664-4657 or edwright@socialhousenews.com.