MACATAWA TRIBE CAMPING WEEKEND
70+ fathers and daughters from the Macatawa Tribe spent a magical weekend in the wilderness.
A Weekend in the Wilderness with Dimitra
This past weekend, I traded airports, meetings, and phone calls for pine trees, campfires, and quality time with my daughter, Demi.
We headed into the mountains for the Macatawa Tribe Indian Princess father-daughter camping weekend at Camp Arbolado, located deep in the wilderness of Angelus Oaks, California. Hosted through the YMCA of Greater Whittier, the weekend was designed around one simple concept: fathers slowing down and being fully present with their daughters.
And honestly… that’s exactly what it became.
There’s something special about disconnecting from the normal noise of life and reconnecting in nature. No business pressure. No schedules. No distractions. Just tents, fresh mountain air, hiking trails, camp activities, laughter, and conversations that probably never happen the same way at home.
Watching Demi experience the outdoors, build memories with friends, and fully embrace the adventure reminded me how important these moments really are. As parents, we spend so much time focused on building businesses, careers, and responsibilities that sometimes we forget the biggest investment we can make is simply our time.
The weekend was filled with classic camp moments:
• Campfires under the stars
• Outdoor activities and games
• Father-daughter bonding events
• Wilderness adventures
• Early mountain mornings and cold fresh air
• Stories, laughs, and memories that will last forever
Camp Arbolado itself was incredible — surrounded by towering trees and tucked away in the San Bernardino Mountains, it created the perfect environment to unplug and reconnect.
These are the moments our daughters will remember years from now. Not the emails. Not the meetings. Not the flights.
They’ll remember that dad showed up.
Grateful for weekends like this. Grateful for Demi Dimitra. And grateful for organizations like the YMCA and the Macatawa Tribe that continue creating opportunities for fathers and daughters to build lifelong memories together.
Until next year.
📍 Camp Arbolado, YMCA of Greater Whittier, Angelus Oaks, California
“These moments are a reset and a reminder how precious the time is with your little ones.”
So proud to see Demi persevere. After not making it across the course on her first attempt, she sat there, studied, and tried again and was the only female in her tribe to complete the course. You are a rock star, honey.
