MSU annually hosts nearly 200 different conference groups for youth and adult groups. These groups range from academic to sport camps.

“The programs like to come here because it’s a Big Ten campus, but it’s also beautiful,” Gierman said. “Groups like being here because there are extracurricular activities to do outside their program.”

These groups are placed in dorms based on their needs. Gierman said Shaw Hall is meant to be a youth group hall, while sports camps are generally held in South Neighborhood in close proximity to athletic facilities. She added Brody Complex Neighborhood is gaining popularity as well.

Some of the larger groups that come to campus include Odyssey of the Mind, 4-H Exploration Days and the MS 150 Bike Tour.

“We have a very good return rate for our conference groups,” Gierman said.
Gierman added that the exposure MSU receives from the camps has the most important impact on the university.

“When you can get a preteen to visit campus, they fall in love with Michigan State,” Gierman said. “That’s when they decide they want to be a Spartan.”

Spartan Debate Institute, or SDI, a summer debate workshop in its 22nd year on campus, currently is housed in Bailey Hall.

“The residence halls work really hard to tailor the summer living situations (for) each group,” said Casey Harrigan, director of debate for SDI.

Harrigan said the residence halls worked well for SDI’s needs, and students and staff loved Brody Complex Neighborhood.

Bob Patterson, the chief financial officer for the MSU division of Residential and Hospitality Services, said he predicts the camps will raise $3.5 million in revenue for the 2013-14 fiscal year.

Patterson said funds generated from the camps are first used to recover food and labor costs. Whatever is left over is then reinvested into the facilities to renovate residence halls and to buy new furniture.

“It’s not a major part of our renovation budget, but anything helps,” Patterson said. “It really helps to keep our facilities in good shape.”

Patterson added all of the extra visitors also provide an economic boost to the entire Lansing community.

Nick Bakerjian, shift leader at Insomnia Cookies, 603 E. Grand River Ave., said the bakery has seen a boost as a result of the camps.

“The past three or four days, our deliveries have been pretty much all the dorms and all the camps,” Bakerjian said. “It really does help out during the summer when (demand is) low.”

Patterson said the various camps also aid with fulfilling MSU’s mission of community engagement while providing modern facilities at an affordable price.

“It’s a win-win opportunity,” Patterson said. “We’re very happy to host them.”