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
|
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!
Sometimes I go online and look at camp websites. Wow, some are flashy. Waterslides. Horseback riding. Zip-lines. When I look at camps in Upstate New York and Maine, I wade through glitzy websites showing kids having lots of fun in extravagant ways. The recipe initially makes some sense; better toys should equal more fun. But, as we all know, the value of camp is far simpler than wake surfing behind a million-dollar boat. The other night, I was reminded about what’s most important at camp (and...
Greetings from the Northwoods, The great Philip Sanders once said that what makes Camp Chippewa special is not the two beautiful lakes, the forest, or the variety of the activities, but the people. By the time this reaches you, we will be five days into staff orientation and well past the quiet of opening week. Alongside clearing cobwebs and putting docks in the lake, our staff are busy with a different kind of work. This week, we are not only reviewing logistics and safety protocols, or how...
I frequently offer to write letters of recommendation. Just this year, I have written letters endorsing admission to private middle schools, universities, graduate schools, and a variety of jobs. When a deadline approaches, I groan, admonishing my past self for volunteering for what feels like extra work. Begrudgingly (all about honesty here in True North), I sit down, open a new window in Google Docs, and start to write. Then, suddenly, I’m fine. The annoyance evaporates. The words flow. The...