Stories of adventure, brotherhood, and growth from Camp Chippewa. Join us to learn more about the power of the outdoors, why summer camp matters, and much more!
True North: Our Journey Begins
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Summers at Camp Chippewa are about giving boys chances to find community, disconnect from technology, build relationships, and expand their comfort zones. After the always-too-short summer flies by, we yearn for more days in the Northwoods, surrounded by incredible people (and the best camp cookies). To celebrate and connect with you year-round, we are excited to launch a new bimonthly newsletter. We’ll share stories of all sizes, from Camp, the field of youth development and leadership, and beyond. We’d like to welcome you to the True North. --- Not too long ago, a boy named Sammy arrived at Camp Chippewa from California. It was his first time in Minnesota. His first time away from home. Being teased in school added to his apprehension about going away to a brand-new place. But at Camp, Sammy found a home. People knew his name right away. They celebrated when he passed the test to earn his first rank in sailing. They laughed at his jokes during Skit Night in Knutson Hall. Eight years later, after completing his final canoe trip as a camper at Camp Chippewa, he said, “Camp taught me I can do hard things, no matter how tough they are. More than anything, I learned to believe in myself.” Now, like nearly all young people who go away to summer camp, Sammy is thriving in college. He plans to pay forward the support he received by working as a social worker. Our mission is simple: to build character through adventure, inspired by tradition. --- For 91 years, boys’ lives have been changed for the better as they live out that mission at camp. This newsletter is an extension of our mission. You will hear from us (Sam and Ryan), from staff, from alumni, and even from campers. Celebrating stories like Sammy’s is a good reminder that our boys all come to the shores of Cass Lake from far and wide, each on their own journey. Camp Chippewa is the community of support along the path and, more importantly, gives our boys the tools to navigate life’s inevitable twists and turns. A summer in the Northwoods helps our boys find their True North. With gratitude, Sam, Ryan, and the Camp Chippewa team |
Camp Chippewa for Boys
Stories of adventure, brotherhood, and growth from Camp Chippewa. Join us to learn more about the power of the outdoors, why summer camp matters, and much more!
Part-time, I teach for the National Outdoor Leadership School. At faculty meetings, we are often reminded that being an educator requires curiosity and humility. Falling into false mastery is a trap that educators need to avoid. False mastery is resting on your laurels. It is complacency. The opposite is reflective mastery. Educators who are lifelong learners. Who ask questions. Who know their stuff and seek out even better ways. This struggle between false and reflective mastery is relevant...
Hi there, I hope you're having a wonderful winter so far. I am in my home office in Asheville, and out of my window, the Smoky Mountains have a fresh layer of snow. I recently had a great catch-up conversation with a camp colleague who reminded me how great Seth Godin’s book Purple Cow is. In it, Godin argues that the only way to survive in business is to be "remarkable." The title comes from a simple metaphor: if you’re driving past a field of brown cows, you eventually stop looking. But if...
Hello Reader, Today, I (Sam) was texting with a staff member who recently moved to Los Angeles. His exact words: “LA is great, but it’s missing a Cass Lake.” I couldn’t have said it better myself. There really is no place like Cass Lake in the summer. After reading that text, I was daydreaming about all the things I have been missing—and am now looking forward to—at camp. With the “Year of the Woodsman” beginning in just a couple of months, I thought it would be fun to share some of my...