By Sarah May
Sarah May is working with Camp to collect stories and memories of the Camp Arcadia experience all season long. She has seen that everyone has a Camp story to tell – no matter whether they’re a generational guest or a first-time camper! Sarah lives in Arcadia, MI, with her husband Chip and their three children.
Disney fans may adore Mary Poppins, but Camp Arcadia has the one and only marvelous Miss Janice. She has brought joy and wonder to all who have journeyed with her through the magical forest of Camp Arcadia. She has been a true blessing to my children and the hundreds of preschool-aged campers she has cared for during her 26 years as the Ark Director. We celebrate her legacy as she retires from this role at the end of the 2025 season.
Chip May, Executive Director, commented, “Janice has had an enormous impact on generations of preschool kids at Camp through the Ark program. Her creativity and storytelling abilities have captured the imaginations of Ark kids for over two decades. For so many kids, this is their first memory of Camp Arcadia, and it is an excellent foundation for years to come.”
“Miss Janice was an important part of my earliest memories of coming to Camp, which helped instill in me a deep love for Camp Arcadia and, most importantly, she pointed me to the love of Christ,” said Nolan Janke, former Ark kid and Camp staffer. His brother, Nathan Janke, added, “She shared the wonder, love, trust, and fun of Camp Arcadia with me and all those campers who were fortunate to know her through the years.”
Like many other young campers, the Ark Program was the highlight of my children’s summer during their preschool years, thanks to Miss Janice. She has a gift for making each kid feel special. Her warmth and genuine love for children make her a kid magnet. I would often see her walking about Camp after the morning program was over with a group of kids following her like she was a famous rock star. She always made time for them and enjoyed engaging in conversations, no matter the subject matter.
As the beloved Ark Director, Janice has helped create these lasting memories for so many young campers. She first served in this role in 1999, the same year she and her husband, Tom, moved into the little white house on the corner across from Juniper Cottage. Previously, the Ark was led by college-aged staff. Janice brought her preschool teaching experience and incredible imagination to improve the Ark program.
She recalled, “I just fell in love with it from the very beginning. At Camp, I saw an amazing opportunity to create a program that would help young children build their faith. I knew that being a grandma figure to the kids could be comforting to them as they learned how to transition from being with their parents all the time to attending the morning program.”
“When my boys first started going to the Ark, they were nervous and unsure about being away from me. Janice knew exactly how to engage with them to make them feel welcome and at ease. She can easily redirect and is a wonderful storyteller. After just one week with Janice, I knew my boys had a special connection with her. They love her dearly and have the biggest smile every time they hear a ‘yoohoo!’ from across the street,” shared Callie Marano, Camp’s Landscaping Supervisor and mom of two.
Known for her storytelling, Janice was inspired by the paintings in the Ark Room. She introduced the Ark kids to Squeaky Pete, a friendly mouse who is pictured taking a bite out of the artist’s apple on the wall. Since Squeaky Pete lives just outside the Ark room, Janice would often remind the kids that he doesn’t like loud noises, so they should sing, not scream. Each week, the kids would leave a trail of popcorn near his house. As the years went on, Janice expanded her stories to include Rocky the Raccoon, Titus the Turtle, Benjamin the Bear, Jodi the Puppy Girl, and a few other characters.
Her gift of storytelling was passed down to her from her grandfather, who would entertain her with his stories when she was a young girl. She shared, “I started telling these stories to teach them about getting along with others. I saw how their faces lit up when I talked about the animal friends. Each character had different personality traits that the kids could relate to. At this age, the stories felt very real to the kids. Through the years, I have had lots of former Ark kids return to let me know how much they loved those stories.”
Throughout the week, Janice would share these stories, inviting the children to add their ideas, culminating in the Friday walk in the woods. During the weekly walk in the woods, the Ark kids would discover where some of the animal friends lived along the Chief Trail. Once they came to Benjamin the Bear’s house, to their surprise, Jodi the Puppy Girl (Janice’s real-life miniature schnauzer) would appear to the delight of the kids. Kate May remembered, “I always loved the walk in the woods. To me, it was magical. I’ll never forget it!”
In addition to storytelling, Janice also incorporated field trips around Camp to give the Ark kids the opportunity to see the operations of Camp. Each Tuesday, they would go to the Trading Post, enjoy some popcorn and lemonade, and learn about manners. On Thursdays, they marched off to the kitchen to visit the Shanty, where the staff eat their meals. They understood the importance of following directions and being safe by keeping their hands in their pockets while touring the kitchen.
Janice also shared her Christian faith with the kids through the songs she taught and the Bible stories she shared with them. “She was a ray of sunshine to my boys when they were in the Ark, reflecting God’s love for them. With her servant heart, she showered them with her kindness and compassion,” said Karen Dancey, Family Week Guest. Each week, she enthusiastically led the Ark kids in performing their favorites, “Who’s the King of the Jungle” and the “Noah’s Ark Song,” at the Camper Talent Show. The kids loved these songs with their fun motions and animal sounds.
Even decades after being in the Ark, some campers are still singing these songs. Nancy Janke, a longtime Family Week guest, shared that her kids, now in their 20s, recently sang the “Noah’s Ark Song” on Christmas morning. She said, “Miss Janice has had an immeasurable impact on our family over the last twenty-five years. She always exudes joy, kindness, fun, laughter, and the love of Jesus to all she meets. The Ark was magical for our kids, from “rata tat tat” to Squeaky Pete and her stories, to the Camp kitchen tours. Our kids are in their 20s now, but the friendships she has built and nurtured with them are priceless gifts that will be treasured for a lifetime!”
When reflecting on her many years in the Ark, Janice said, “I have so many wonderful memories from my time at Camp and have loved watching these kids grow up. I still stay in contact with many of them since I feel like I am part of their extended family. Spending my summers with them brought me immense joy. Deciding that this would be my last season was such a difficult decision to make. In the future, I hope to participate as a guest storyteller and occasionally lead a walk in the woods. Thank you to the Camp Arcadia community for embracing me and letting me be part of your lives. This experience has blessed me beyond measure.”
We give thanks to God for Janice and her ministry at Camp Arcadia over the years. Please share your favorite memory of Miss Janice in the comments below. You are also welcome to send a card for her at Camp Arcadia, PO Box 229, Arcadia, MI 49613. Camp Arcadia will have a special recognition of Janice on Wednesday, July 30, at 8pm at the start of the Patio Carnival.
A Fond Farewell from Squeaky Pete and the Gang:
Dear Janice,
We are so sad to hear that you are leaving the Ark. How will we survive without you? You were the first to discover us and have given us so much throughout the years, especially the popcorn. Thanks for all the lessons you have taught us and all the adventures we have shared!
Remember when…
…Rocky the Raccoon took Titus and Gabby out for a nighttime adventure and got lost in the magical, mystical Camp Arcadia woods. Rocky fell into the hole and had to be rescued by Sammy the Snake.
…Squeaky Pete first took a bite of the artist’s apple.
…Benjamin the Bear, the shyest of all the animals, got sprayed by Samantha the Skunk with her stinky juice.
…Jodi the Puppy Girl would meet the Ark kids on their walk through the woods every Friday.
Thank you for sharing our stories with the Ark kids. We will never forget you!
With all our love,
Squeaky Pete and the Gang
P.S. Please make sure to tell the next Ark Director how much we love the popcorn!
