Tag Archives: Action Wake Park

Festivals and more as West Michigan heads into summer

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By WKTV Staff
joanne@wktv.org

Summer is officially in full swing with lots of activities taking place throughout Grand Rapids and the West Michigan area.

Courtney Sheffer, from the West Michigan Tourist Association, recently stopped by the station to share some of the summer activities taking place.

Lansing’s Common Ground Music Festival takes place June 27-30. (Supplied)

Happening this weekend is Lansing’s Common Ground Music Festival, taking place June 27 -30. In its 20th year, the event features a variety of music groups from pop rock to hip hop. This year’s headliners include three-time Grammy Award winner Brandi Carlile, DJ Zedd, and country music singer Cole Swindell. 

Sheffer said the festival is general admission, but it is limited. For more information on the Common Ground Music Festival, visit commongroundfest.com.

Hudsonville’s Action Wake Park is offering Actions Camps for students 7-16 years of age. (Supplied)

Have some children who are looking for a fun activity or just something different? In Hudsonville, one a few minutes away from Kentwood and Wyoming, is Action Wake Park, 3320 Hudson Trails Dr. The first full-size cable wakeboard park in Michigan, Action Wake Park provides guests the opportunity to learn how to wakeboard, water ski, and kneeboard in a controlled environment without the need for a boat. 

Sheffer said for the summer, the park is offering Action Camps for students who are 7-16 years of age. The camps, which are one and four days, provide students with watersport instruction. For more information about the camps or Action Wake Park, visit actionwakepark.com.

National Wildlife Federation’s Family Nature Summit comes to Shanty Creek Resort in Bellaire, Michigan, July 20-26. (Supplied)

The National Wildlife Federation’s Family Nature Summits comes to Michigan this summer, running July 20-26. The Family Nature Summits provide an immersive experience with programming for every age.

This year’s event will be in Bellaire at Shanty Creek Resort, Sheffer said, adding that there will be workshops led by experts in geology, freshwater ecology, hiking, birdwatching, and more. Hundreds of people from across the nation attend, so sign up early to reserve a spot, Sheffer. For more information, familynaturesummits.org.

For more summer festival, trip ideas, or the West Michigan Lighthouse tour, visit wmta.org.

Blend education with your vacation in West Michigan

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Waters Edge Golf Course

By Jeremy Witt, West Michigan Tourist Association

 

With school out, kids have a lot of free time on their hands. Instead of having them stay home all summer long, give them an educational vacation! There are hands-on, interactive, and genuinely fun educational experiences that will have kids of all ages learning throughout summer break, whether they know it or not. There are even educational vacations for adults, including in-depth winery and brewery tours. Make sure that the whole family is having a fun summer, while still learning, in West Michigan.

Learn a New Hobby

With the Action Summer Camps at Action Wake Park in Hudsonville, your kids will be introduced to the world of wakeboarding. These camps are the perfect place for eager wakeboarders to expand their skills in a safe and controlled environment. Action Wake Park camps supply your camper with everything they’ll need, including professional instruction. For dates and sign up information, visit Action Wake Park’s website.

 

Waters Edge Golf Course in Fremont offers golf lessons throughout the summer. In their Junior Program, the less-experienced golfers will learn basic golf instruction, USGA rules, and proper course etiquette. Intermediate to advanced golfers will improve their skills, prepare for competitive golf, and participate in weekly competitions.

 

Check out the Creative Chocolate Class at Chocolates by Grimaldi in Grand Haven. Designed to cater to your sweeter, more artistic side, the 90-minute class is an adventure that you’ll want to be sure to add to your schedule. You will have the opportunity to learn about chocolate while socializing with friends, family, and other chocolate enthusiasts.

 

Chocolates by Grimaldi

Drop into Gull Lake View Golf Club & Resort in Augusta every Wednesday for a half hour group lesson from their PGA pros, five holes of golf, and happy hour food and drinks during their Five-Hole Happy Hour! Cost is only $25 per week, and you’ll golf alongside pros who will offer course tips.

 

 

Saskatoon Golf in Alto hosts Junior Golf Lessons and Leagues, perfect for any beginner, intermediate, or advanced player looking to hone their skills. The Junior League requires players to be familiar with golf basics and etiquette. The nine-week league places teams in a bracket to see who can come out on top. Enroll your kids in these lessons or leagues today to see if they have what it takes to rule the greens!

West Michigan Tourist Association offers up a few unique summer camps

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Mosquitos, campfires, and cabins, or maybe its tents, either way, attending a summer camp is a right-of-passage for many.

 

Some families probably already have their children’s summer camps selected, but in case you do not, West Michigan Tourist Association Marketing Manager Jeremy Witt offered a few suggestions during a recent visit visit to the WKTV Journal. 

 

Kid’s STEM Camp

July 23 – 27

Michigan Maritime Museum 

260 Dyckmam Ave., South Haven

michiganmaritimemuseum.org

 

“Kids can continue their education with this camp in really cool, fun hands-on way,” Witt said. “They get to do things like go the museum’s tall ship, the Friends Goodwill, going on Lake Michigan. The museum has activities all over their campus and they even have a 19th century replica of a riverboat that the students get to go out on.”

 

Film and Acting Camps

June 18-22

Compass College of Cinematic Arts

41 Sheldon Blvd. SE, Grand Rapids

compass.edu

 

“Technically two camps but they kind of work together,” Witt said. “So the film camp, students will be putting together this movie, producing it, writing it and directing it. Then the acting camp, they will actually be performing in it.”

 

Witt noted that both camps will have professionals mentoring the students and at the end of the week, there is a red-carpet premiere. The camp is designed for kids 13-18.

 

TreeTop Resorts

June 12-Aug. 31

TreeTop Resorts

3962 Wilkinson Rd., Gaylord

treetops.com

 

“If you are heading up north or maybe you live out there, this is a good one to send your kids to,” Witt said. “They offer it both daily and weekly, so you can fit it around your schedule.”

 

The camp is one of Gaylord’s oldest summer camp programs, Witt said, adding that it is designed for students ages 5-12. TreeTop offers a lot of the traditional camp activities such as arts and crafts, science, team games, sports, and music while building skills and focusing on positive attitudes. The camp does have a no bullying policy.

 

Camp Action

Select dates in June, July and August

Action Wake Park

3320 Hudson Trails Drive, Hudsonville

actionwakepark.com

 

“This is good for any eager wakeboarders who want to get into the sport,” Witt said. “What they do is they are on this little man-made lake and they have a machine in the middle that will kind of go at a certain pace.”

 

The camp provides the students with everything they need, cable park passes, equipment, t-shirts and instruction, Witt noted.

 

 

Lake Michigan Lighthouse Map and Circle Tour

The 30th anniversary of the Lake Michigan Lighthouse Map and Circle Tour has been released. There are 105 lighthouses on the map which covers four states. Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois and Indiana, as the tour travels around Lake Michigan. Maps are available through WMTA.org or at the WKTV Station, 5261 Clyde Park Ave. SW.