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: Winter Slumber to Summer Energy
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Camp is waking up from its winter slumber. Staff have begun to arrive, and you can smell breakfast being made with care. The couple of weeks leading up to the arrival of campers are filled with putting in docks, cleaning cobwebs out of cabins, rigging sailboats, and much more. My favorite part of this pre-camp time is staff training. Staff arrive in waves based on their certifications. This summer, we have staff being certified (or recertified) in wilderness first aid, whitewater canoeing, and lifeguarding. We launch all-staff training in a few days and jump into the “meat and potatoes” of what it means to be a great staff member at Camp Chippewa. We cover everything from homesickness and leading activities to keeping our boys safe and everything in between. It is time for staff to build relationships, explore their roles at camp, and prepare for the adventure ahead of themselves. I love seeing friendships begin to form, co-counselors start planning their trips, and the energy around camp begins to build. As we embark on Chippewa’s 91st summer, I wanted to share that True North will look a little different over the summer. It’ll be hitting your mailboxes every Thursday, and you’ll hear from a variety of voices along the way. Our hope is to share more “behind-the-scenes” stories along with updates on how the Year of Woodsman is progressing. To paraphrase the incredible Phil Sanders, Camp Chippewa is not special because of the lakes, the trees, or the facility; Chippewa is special because of its people. Our community makes this space so wonderful. Thank you for being a part of our community and for being on this journey with us. Chip Chip, Ryan |
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!
This edition’s writer has spent nearly 70 summers at Camp Chippewa. As a camper, counselor, and director, Mike Endres knows Camp Chippewa better than anyone not named JP. In his first summer as Director Emeritus, Mike has enjoyed teaching riflery, driving the ski boat, and pitching in as a jack-of-all-trades. Of course, his “Rise n Shine” call is still the best option for rousing campers on windy mornings. — “Life is good to those who know how to live. I do not ever hope to accumulate great...
I hadn’t worn a Camp Chippewa staff shirt since 2012. Fourteen years is a long time. Long enough for careers to change, families to grow, and life to take you in directions you never imagined. Yet as I drove back through the gates this summer, it felt as though I’d never really left; the haunting call of the loon drifting across Cass Lake. The familiar cry of “Rise and Shine” echoing through the pines. Taps signaling the close of another unforgettable day. The smell of the Trip House. Even...
Since May, when Sam first asked me to contribute to True North, I have tried to coherently put into writing what Chippewa means to me. I have struggled to do so. You see, I was never a camper and, if I am being honest, for my first few years on staff I did not truly appreciate the Chippewa mission. To paraphrase one of my geographically challenged campers on his first Canadian canoe trip, I could not see how a “Silly Swedish Hat” helped to build character. That was a long time ago. It was a...