Category: Camp News

Now that our calendar reminds us that it is November (not sure how THAT happened!), we find ourselves continuing to reflect on the recent summer. It’s always good to put some time and space between the emotional high the end of the camp season brings and the new routine of getting back to our “normal” lives during the other months of the year. In this transition, I am enjoying taking yoga classes and have zoomed into one of the phrases I hear repeatedly during each session, regardless of the instructor.

As we move through various poses that stretch one side of the body, the words, “back to center” often follow before beginning to move and stretch the opposite side. That subtle “pause” allows the body to regroup, refocus and get grounded again before starting the next thing. For many of our campers and staff, being at camp is a way to come “back to center.” Those 6 weeks in the Northwoods are often needed to regroup, refocus and get grounded again after a busy school year. It is a time to take a well deserved “pause” before the next school year begins.

Just like the dock where I take yoga during the year gives me a break from the busyness I can get caught up in from September to May, I love the hour of being in a beautiful setting looking over the Cape Fear River, hearing the sounds of the waves finding their way to shore, and just enjoying the presence of the others who are in that same space. It is a beautiful opportunity to clear my mind for a short period of time before going back to whatever is on my “to do” list.

Camp is also beautiful, beautiful to see children laughing and playing. Beautiful to witness girls relaxing into the rhythms of camp life, being free to explore, play, create, and discover. It is beautiful to see kindness, budding confidence, and willing enthusiasm color whatever we are doing. It is beautiful to hear organic silliness and laughter everywhere at camp. It is beautiful to feel so close to so many people.

I find that taking yoga classes in the outdoors to be nothing short of magical. Being in the open air without being confined to the space inside four walls provides treasured moments to be in nature and witness unexpected surprises. I never know when a massive ship will quietly make its way through the channel a few feet in front of my mat, dolphins will chase fish in search of their next meal, a pelican will perch on a nearby post, or the rays of sunshine will glisten and shine on the water’s surface while bringing warmth to a breezy day.

Camp is magical in its own way, too. It is full of delightful surprises, moments when we embrace the wonders of nature and each other. It is magical how the simplest things are fun, often hilarious, and end up being a source of deep comfort. It is magical how everyday is both exciting and worry free, filled with new experiences.

It was in the lower 60’s this morning when I found a spot for my pink mat on the dock. I was wearing two long-sleeve layers, leggings, and a puffy vest. The brisk north wind blowing was refreshing. We had another bout of summer weather last week, so I was reveling in the cooler air on my bare face and feet. I challenge myself during each yoga class to have my phone off and out of sight. I am also not allowed to look at my watch until the class peacefully ends with, “namaste.” It is 60 minutes of uninterrupted time to go “back to center.”

Camp is also refreshing. Our Northwoods weather is refreshing (as well as Sand Lake first thing in the morning!), and so is the feeling of being a part of the Woodland community. It is refreshing to connect with the people so easily, to make almost instant friends with everyone, and to be embraced for our authentic selves. For many, it is refreshing to simply be away from the allure of electronic devices.

A few weeks ago, one of my favorite dock instructors came back after being away for almost a year. Erica told the story of why we were seeing garland and white ribbons wrapped around the two main posts as we set foot into our yoga space. She strummed the ukulele and sang a tune in memory of the founder of the yoga dock who fought hard to battle brain cancer. I could feel the strength and courage of this person whom I had never met. I felt a few tears roll down my face during this emotional moment in time.

Camp, too, is emotional, packed with experiences that we feel deeply. We cheer for each other almost everyday. We are thrilled by all the novelty and adventure of the activities, exchanges and trips (even if just across the lake for a night under the stars). There are so many hugs, smiles, and sweet moments of affection. Sharing this much, being this open and genuine, makes even the challenges we face both manageable and meaningful.

Yes, camp is beautiful, magical, refreshing and emotional —altogether miraculous. It is for everyone, campers, staff and directors alike, an experience that’s hard to describe, but one that we cherish each and every year. We remember each summer fondly, seek its spirit throughout our days at home or school, and yearn for its return sometime soon. Camp is a place and time to “come back to center.”

We thank you for helping make this special experience possible, for your support, and for sending your girls. We miss our camp family so much. We look forward to seeing you next summer when we can come together at Woodland and rekindle the camp spirit we love.

In the meantime, until we can all be together again, we are excited for “reunion season” and will kickoff opportunities to come together on Saturday, November 23rd, in the Chicago area. Let us know HERE if you would like camp to come to a location near you!

I think it is safe to say that our campers have made their “back to school” debut for the 2024-25 year. Backpacks filled with a beach towel, sweatshirt, tennis raquet and riding boots from the summer have been traded in for one that carries lunch, completed homework, a calculator, and a binder or two. It is exciting to dive into the topics that each grade will explore for the new school year. Let the learning begin! Or, should I say, let the learning continue?!

So often, we hear about the learning loss that occurs during the summer from having too much time away from school. As a teacher who has spent 35+ summers at camp, I would like to propose that children who go to summer camp, actually experience just the opposite. Kids who spend their summer at camp have a learning surplus. While I do not have any scientific data to back this claim, I can share with you what your campers reported learning during the recent summer.

STRAIGHT FROM THE MOUTHS of our CAMPERS: 

Towards the end of camp, each girl had the opportunity to share her thoughts on the activity “they learned the most” (all campers whose form we received are included here). Based on the wording of the question that was asked, their responses are (mostly) activity based; however, there are a few campers who recognized other kinds of learning that occurred in the Open New Doors in ’24 summer. Campers also shared the camp activities they wish they could do at home – it is interesting to see the differences in the “favorites” from cabin to cabin.

Sunrise

Jacinta: swimming (front/back crawl and elementary backstroke); Milly: gymnastics (lots of skills on floor, beam, and bars); Sloane: sailing (parts of the boat); Reggie: swimming (sidestroke); Fiona: tutoring (becoming a stronger reader and writer); Mara: swimming (elementary backstroke)

Activity I wish I could do at home: arts & crafts (2), sailing (2), tennis (1)

Silver Birch

Liza: riflery (how to safely shoot a gun); Georgia: riding (you can steer a horse with your legs and without using reins); Audrey: tennis (game of touch-the-fence); Amelia: swimming lessons (sidestroke); Lucia: tennis (queen-of-the-court game); Luci: swimming/arts & crafts (Jackie taught me strokes during swimming lessons); Eleanor: tennis (game of touch-the-fence); Lizzy (CIT): drama (patience and teaching when stressed!).

Activity I wish I could do at home: riflery (2), sailing (1), fishing (1), drama (1), arts & crafts (2), archery (1)

Starshine

Maria: riding (put your heels down); Evie: sailing (parts of the boat); Dani: archery (learning how to shoot to get qualifying targets); JoJo: riding (always post while trotting, otherwise, the horse thinks you want to canter); Jaclyn: archery (how to shoot to hit the target consistently).

Activity I wish I could do at home: gymnastics (2), riding (2), archery (2), rec swim (1), riflery (1)

Sunnyside

Lia: arts & crafts/sailing (how to make a pillow and make a mooring); Clara: sailing/riding (I now know the race rules in sailing); Emilia: riding/sailing/tennis (all kinds of cool stuff!); Elyse: swimming/riding (how to do a stride jump and trot better); Indira: sailing/arts & crafts (parts of a boat); Alice: archery (how to hold the string in the first crevice of your fingers; Julia: sailing (parts of a boat); Masyn: gymnastics/swimming (I can now do a front limber/walkover); Mojo: riding/sailing (what to do when you run aground).

Activities (this cabin listed multiple!) I wish I could do at home: rec swim/swim (2), riding (3), sailing (4), water-skiing (1), archery (3), riflery (2), fishing (1), tennis (1)

Driftwood

Ana Roberta: tennis (grab the raquet or follow the ball); Casi: sailing (rules of the road and how much fun it is); Ren: swimming/tennis/sailing (parts of a boat); Olivia: fishing (how to fish); Maggie: gymnastics/riflery (front walkover and how to shoot a gun); Delia (CIT): sailing (learned how to teach sailing to others)

Activities I wish I could do at home: sailing (2), rec swim (2), riflery (1), archery (1), gymnastics (1)

Treetops

Maria: swimming (different ways to swim/strokes); Amelia: riflery (how to shoot); Maddie H: arts & crafts/swimming (how to make flowers); Hannah: sailing (what a gunnel/gunwale is on a boat); Olive: riding (how to do a sitting trot); Maddie B: drama (finding your mark or where you stand on stage and how you should say your lines)  Lou (CIT): sailing (mentality and attitude)

Activities I wish I could do at home: archery (1), arts & crafts (1), archery (3), drama (1), riding (2)

Hilltop

Norah: sailing (how to rig a boat); Julia: sail race (terminology and how a sail race works); Sydney: swimming/sailing (parts of a boat); Karen: tennis (how to hit the ball correctly); Clara: riding (improving my previous skills); Taylor: tennis/sail race (US Olympic sailing rules); Regi: drama (practiced stage presence); Phoebe: riding (how to be more efficient and do things in the barn)

Activities I wish I could do at home: sailing (3), sail race (2), archery (2), riflery (2)

Tamarack

Mariana: sailing (hard to pick just one thing!); Ana Lau: tennis (how to play the game); Katherine: sail race/riding (how to use the wind to my advantage); Izzy: riding (how to jump while on a horse); Elizabeth: sail (better racing tactics); Ivana: sailing (advanced knowledge); Amalia: sailing (rules of sailing); Stella: tennis (how to properly serve a tennis ball); Vale: sailing (terminology and how to go faster)

Activities I wish I could do at home: sail race (1), sailing (4), water-skiing (4), riding (2), archery (1), riflery (1)

Aquarius (these girls are BUSY at the end of camp, so we didn’t get everyone’s form!)

Ivana: dance (how to dance to harder songs and choreographing); Robs: archery (how to shoot properly); Lilah: riding/tennis (learning how to make the switch from the horse fearing you and not you fearing the horse)

Activities I wish I could do at home: riflery (1), archery (1), tennis (1)

As you can see, there is no such thing as learning loss while spending an amazing summer at camp! The typical day at camp is packed with learning experiences that are EVEN BETTER than a typical day at school (and without homework or grades!). And that is coming straight from the keyboard of a math teacher!!!

ENROLL for SUMMER 2025

To continue the learning curve during the summer months, now is a GREAT time to enroll your camper/s for 2025 and reserve your spot/s. Sign up HERE: https://cwtp.campbrainregistration.com

A BIG thank you to our camp families for taking the time respond to our end-of-season survey and giving valuable feedback about the recent summer so that we can continue to improve as we make plans for 2025. Our theme this summer was “Open New Doors in ’24,” and from the comments we received from parents about the transformations being noticed at home after spending time with us, it obvious that your camper/s opened the doors wide this summer! We also appreciate what you share with your network about the Woodland/TP experience.

PARENT PERSPECTIVE – OPEN NEW DOORS

Because our survey responses come together for both Woodland and Towering Pines, and many camp families have children at both, they are co-mingled here:

More confident, more knowledgeable in skill areas, learned a lot about friendship; I love that they are outside and active all summer. Making friends and learning problem solving.

They are both taking more ownership and responsibility around the house and they have more confidence in all that they do.

Our son’s independence and maturity is so impressive! I also love that camp affords the opportunity to develop new skills and try new things in a fun, safe, supportive environment.

They love camp – we’ve heard new stories every day they’ve been home. Their confidence grows every summer & they are building incredible friendships. Excellent staff, wide selection of activities to choose from; they feel comfortable & happy at camp.

She learns from the experience and gains self-confidence. 

We loved how well they were taken care of, how they returned so happy and with great friends and memories.

We felt that he grew, he is more patient, and happier overall.

Always comes back to courtesy and kindness and more confidence in themselves.

More mature, happier, more open ** more maturity ** more confident ** more independent, they return very happy; it’s their happy place ** confidence, conflict resolution ** self confidence and overall more open and happy

PARENT PERSPECTIVE – SHARE WITH OTHERS

I shared the TP website with a co-worker and said I feel 100% safe & happy with my daughters at CW and feel their son would love the experience at TP.

A wonderful community ** smaller camps, family run, tight community ** so many opportunities available to the children **  wonderful family run camp without a competitive focus that other camps have ** character building and leadership opportunities along with being outside and NO ELECTRONICS ** 

The camp leadership really knows what they’re doing, the kids love it, and they come home as better, more independent, confident, and capable people.

CAMPER PERSPECTIVE

Towards the end of camp, each girl had the opportunity to share her thoughts on what “opening new doors in ’24” looked like (all campers whose form we received are included here):

Sunrise

Jacinta: try/learn new things; in gymnastics I learned how to do a cartwheel, handstand, and backbend; in swimming I learned back crawl and elementary backstroke; a lot of foods were new; Milly: I tried doing a “mini-jump” off the dock without holding my nose; I tried riding a horse for the first time (Daisy), and archery; Sloane: I tried sailing and learned all the parts of the boat; in fishing I learned how to cast; Reggie: in sailing I tried being the skipper and how to aim at the target in archery; Fiona: in tennis I learned how to hold the racquet; Mara: I learned new moves in gymnastics, how to aim in archery, and I tried eating noodles

Silver Birch

Liza: trying new activities like riflery, archery, and swimming in a lake; Georgia: trying new things like archery, dance, and zoo; Audrey: fishing was a new activity for me this summer; Amelia: I went out of my comfort zone and stayed for 6 weeks this year! Lucia: I tried sailing for the first time; Luci: trying new things and having fun playing sponge tag in canoeing; Eleanor: I tried sailing and arts & crafts; Lizzy (CIT): spending a lot of time with a new age group and learning from them and how to be a counselor for them.

Starshine

Maria: kneeboarding, trying new horses, and talking with new people; Evie: funny, happy and silly summer; Dani: it was the BEST summer EVER, and I had an opportunity to learn more activities; JoJo: a year of opportunities that I love; Jaclyn: trying new things even if they scared me or were hard.

Sunnyside

Lia: getting into level 5 in swim and doing a walkover in gymnastics; Clara: fun! passing milestones! trying new things and making new friends!; Emilia: making new friends, trying new activities that I can’t do at home, and learning new things; Elyse: making new friends everywhere in every activity; being confident when trying new things; Indira: try new things and if you don’t like it, try again and maybe you will like it; Alice: trying new things, even if you think you will be bad at them; finding new people and new activities, and maybe even new foods; Julia: trying new things like sailing and learning more; Masyn: trying new things like fishing – it was hard at first and then I caught a walleye!; Mojo: trying new things again like riflery (I hadn’t done it for a few years) and riding (I rode a variety of horses).

Driftwood

Ana Roberta: making new friends and trying new things; Casi: trying sail race for the first time and making new friends; Ren: trying sailing and meeting new friends; Olivia: I tried fishing and improved in my activities; Maggie: I tried riflery and fishing this summer; I also took fishing, tried new activities, foods and made new friends; Delia (CIT): trying riflery and archery again

Treetops

Maria: different, fun, trying new things and meeting new people; Amelia: trying new things, taking different activities, going out of my comfort zone – it was SO fun!; Maddie H: trying new things (like banana creme pie) and experiencing camp; Hannah: fuego – getting to go to Cathy’s for being Clean Freaks; Olive: trying new activities (riflery) and re-opening a previous activity (archery); Maddie B: trying new things like pumpkin flavored foods; Lou (CIT): doing drama for one day, being a live-in CIT, and trying riding after 3 years

Hilltop

Norah: trying new things and being open to change (riding different horses); Julia: trying new activities (like sail race and kneeling in riflery) and trying to improve in the activities I already do; Sydney: trying archery; Karen: trying new things (wakeboarding and tennis) or giving previous activities another try (like riding); Clara: trying new things and being more confident in everything I do; Taylor: new experiences and stepping out of my comfort zone by taking more advanced classes (tennis and competing in sail race); Regi: a new summer full of memories, especially going the aqua tramp; Phoebe: trying new things and going out of my comfort zone.

Tamarack

Mariana: coming back was like it was my first year again; nostalgia and fun; Ana Lau: trying new things I have never done before even if I was afraid; Katherine: always trying to put the best version of myself forward and treating each day as if it were my last, helping others achieve life goals and working to achieve my own; Izzy: trying new activities, improving my skills, and getting to know my cabin better; Elizabeth: trying riflery for the first time and continuing to do it!; Ivana: I signed up for riding this year after being away from it for several summers; Amalia: trying and loving new activities like sail race and bonding with my cabin on cabin nights and in activities; Stella: trying new activities and learning new things; Vale: it was one of my favorite years because it was filled with great memories and incredible people.

Aquarius

Ivana: I learned to go out of my comfort zone, enjoying the now and being grateful for having an amazing space away from home where I can be with the people I love and doing my favorite activities; Robs: I tried a lot of different things for the first time like sailing and riding, and I loved them!; Lilah: trying new things and going out of my comfort zone (assisted in swimming, shot in the standing position in riflery, and worked on learning Spanish).

ENROLL for SUMMER 2025

While feelings are at an all time high from the summer, now is a GREAT time to enroll your camper/s for 2025 and reserve your spot/s: https://cwtp.campbrainregistration.com

If you’ve been to camp over the past four decades, there is one person you are surely to know (and remember!). Chet Riehle has been at Camps Woodland and Towering Pines since the early 1980’s. His time spans five generations of the Jordan family owning and operating two summer camps in the Northwoods of Wisconsin. This blog is long overdue, so I decided this was the year I was going to learn more about the story of how Chet came to camp and his long history with Woodland and Towering Pines. While at camp this summer, I hopped on the golf cart with him as he was headed to the firewood pile by the archery range and started asking a few questions!

As are many of the long-time Woodland/TP staff, Chet spent much of his non-camp career in education. The year before coming to camp, he was a high school history teacher in Crete, IL, and used the Chicago Tribune as a source for current events to create a quiz game for his students every Friday. As he was preparing his weekly quiz in the spring of 1982, he happened to notice an ad in the Tribune that the Explorer’s North program was looking for a certified captain to take campers out on Lake Superior for extended sailing trips. Chet figured that if they needed someone to run their off-site sailing program, they may need other people to help with various roles at Camp Towering Pines. Along with this ad was a phone number and the name, Marion Jordan.

Chet picked up the phone and made a call to “Pa” Jordan (JoAnne, Susan, and Jeff’s grandfather and co-founder of Towering Pines with his son, John Jordan). Once Pa found out Chet was a teacher, he was told that they would find a position for him at camp. Thus, Chet finished the current school year, hooked up a trailer to his vehicle carrying his Triumph motorcycle, and made his way north to do maintenance at TP for the first of many summers at Towering Pines and Woodland. He showed up on County D wearing cowboy boots and sporting a goatee.

Maintenance was not a stretch for Chet as his summer gig while teaching was operating a landscaping business for about 10 years. Chet was able to dig a dry well without a backhoe, repair roofs, and a long list of other useful skills that come in handy when taking care of the camps’ site and facilities. A fun fact I learned is that Chet actually did landscaping for Dennis DeYoung, singer song-writer and founding member of the rock band Styx. Chet brought his oldest daughter a signed record as a gift while working on that project. 

Chet eventually moved to East campus (Woodland) in 1985 to live and had quarters on the backside of the office (Chef Dan’s current summer home) for a period of time, Sunrise cabin during the years when he brought his young family to camp (Sunrise was not used as a camper cabin in those days as it is now), and then to the room that is on the side the Aquarius cabin where he currently resides. Chet takes the “security” part of his role seriously, and is always at the ready to keep the Woodland community free of unwanted visitors (both 2 and 4-legged). Although the majority of his time at camp Chet lived at Woodland, he makes frequent trips between the two camps and helps out when needed on both East and West campus.

An interesting update to Woodland that happened during Chet’s second decade at camp was building the stairs and deck off to the left side of the original path heading down to the waterfront. It was “interesting” because it isn’t always easy building on the side of a hill! The start of that project occurred after the giant slide covered with blue vinyl that took sliders to Sand Lake had to be removed. For several years in a row, the lake’s level was lower than normal and the end of the slide stopped before hitting the water’s edge. If you look down the hillside from above you can still catch a glimpse of where the slide used to be.

Another memorable event that occurred in Chet’s third decade at camp is a whopper of a storm that blew through mid-season in the early 2000’s. Woodland operated without electricity for multiple days as there were downed trees all over camp and the surrounding area. Chet was actually off the day of the storm and was able to navigate closed roads to get back to camp with a truck and trailer in tow to help haul away the massive piles of debris. Camp somehow managed to make it through that tough time! Thankfully, a generator was hooked up to keep the refrigerator and kitchen operating, drinking water was brought in, and the kitchen crew could still cook using the gas burners and ovens. It made for some fun stories that year as toilets were flushed with lake water and other sacrifices were made to keep things as “normal” as possible, considering.

Chet was actually quite the athlete in his day. JoAnne and I remember seeing him dart from tree to tree after dinner as he was heading out for a run. Chet thought we couldn’t see him, but as you can probably guess, we absolutely did! What I didn’t realize until this interview; however, is that he ran several marathons (including 2 Chicago marathons) and other races around the country. Chet recalls a race that meandered through the Houston Zoo as one of the highlights of his running days. Chet was also known for engaging Chef Dan in a “non-competitive” game of hoops (“H-O-R-S-E” or “2 on 2” if other kitchen staff would dare join the fun) on the basketball court on the evenings he didn’t go for a run.

Chet’s time at camp as of this blog, covers a span of 42 years. The only two summers he missed were 1989 as his son, Alex, was born, and 2020 due to Covid and camp not operating. If you ask Chet why he chooses to spend his summers at Woodland, he will tell you that it truly is a community where everyone knows your name. He is always amazed at how alumni remember him when they come to visit. Even though Chet may not have much direct interaction with the campers and staff, I can tell you for certain, that they would notice right away were he to be absent from Woodland.

For Chet’s 2024 banquet “toast,” JoAnne and I crafted and sang the theme from “Ghost Busters” to thank him for all that he does. When there’s something strange running through your cabin, who you gonna call? Critter Buster! If you’re all alone on the lake and your boat won’t start, who you gonna call? Gas Buster! He ain’t afraid of no mice. He ain’t afraid of no raccoon. When your toilet won’t flush or the drain is clogged, who you gonna call? Poop Buster! When you wake up cold and head to the lodge, who you gonna call? Fire Buster! He ain’t afraid of no girls. He ain’t afraid of no challenge. 

Chet knows the Woodland (and Towering Pines) property like he knows the back of his hand. He can tell you where to find cut-off points, the best spot to get birch wood of a certain size for making birthday necklaces and banquet wish boats, and where the latest growth of fungi that can be found on the trees surrounding the space we occupy and use. Chet is up early setting a toasty fire in the lodge to take the “chill” off when we come in for breakfast and takes charge of getting the grill lit at precisely the right time for Wednesday cookout and a campfire built at the beach for our mid-week evening activity.

Chet makes sure the vans, boats, and other camp vehicles are gassed up and ready to go, takes the laundry to town every Tuesday and picks it up on Wednesday, and waters the flowers that are planted in the box where the Woodland sign lives. On top of his daily/weekly to-do list, he takes care of any maintenance issues that arise with cabins or activity areas. Chet has been known to come to the aid of the counselor in charge of Farm Zoo a time or two! At the opening and closing of camp, he knows exactly where all equipment goes to be used or stored (and the phone numbers for the people who “lend” us bunnies, chickens, and ducks). He can guide a very large coach bus in/out of camp like a pro when bringing our long distance friends to camp for the summer or back home at the end (just to name a few!).

Chet shares his love of history with campers and staff and knows so much about how the Woodland of current day came to be over the years. For example, you can ask him how many bathtubs (4) were found and where (Sunrise, Sundew, Health Center, and back room of Aquarius) in the buildings when camp was first purchased by the Jordan’s in 1970, the icons on the top of the weather vane on the lodge roof (fish and sailboat), what the “pop room” on the front of the office housed before electricity was available (power generator), and what the original purpose of the ACC room found on the side of the office (laundry room). He could also tell you that the stairs to the beach before the deck was built were painted green. If I was to be on Jeopardy or other trivia show, I would want Chet on my team for sure!

One of Chet’s qualities we all have come to know and love over the years is his sense of humor. There is never a dull moment at the staff table when he is around! You will find his spoon or fork in his drinking glass if he is wanting to be included in the count for dessert (unless it is sherbet), potato chips piled high on his plate for Sunday picnic, and a llama water bottle in his possession most of the time. He also “saves” some dessert (cake or bars) to have with his morning coffee (in the largest container I have seen at camp). Chet is also known for stopping by the office or if he sees me or Lee out and about and asks if we are able to “multi-task,” meaning he wants to tell us something but doesn’t want us to stop the “important” work we are doing at the moment.

The almost daily off-season message exchanges have already started as we wrap up the current summer and start planning for the next one. Chet will send pictures of new games or activities we can incorporate into camp programming, photos that remind him of camp – especially involving “marshrooms” (his name for mushrooms since “mushmellows” is more appropriate for what we roast to make s’mores), and some good (possibly off-color at times) jokes or memes. The best part about the back and forth banter that happens over the fall, winter, and spring, is that I know Chet truly loves camp and has a special place in his heart for Camp Woodland all year. I look forward to getting the message at some random point asking me when I will be at camp because I always know that means he will be at camp, too. See you on County D in 2025, Chet. We can’t do summer without you!

“We are the fortunate ones, and although we may not know it yet, we are. Fortunate enough to have sand between our toes, mildew growing in our swimsuits, a farmer’s tan, deer fly bites and extra pounds…lucky us!

We may not realize it yet, we may not see the magic of a summer in a forest by the lake amongst our friends, and it is ok if we don’t.

Maybe we can’t yet measure the depth in which Woodland will tattoo our hearts, the longing we will feel whenever we are sad, the gratitude we will experience when we stop to turn around, and see how far in our lives we’ve walked.

It is then we will embrace the memory of the Woodland road and finally, truly, wonderfully understand we are the fortunate ones.” Camila Villegas, Camp Woodland alum

I can’t believe this is the last full day before our guests arrive. It is a jolting fact that takes me by surprise even though I know it is coming. Today is Banquet Day. It elicits the familiar pangs of sadness and joy that this day always brings. Behind the mixed emotions are justified reasons that we truly are the fortunate ones:

• We are fortunate to have made friends. We are one big happy family now. The fireplace inside the lodge, our activities, the cozy cabins, Vespers Hill, the campfire circle, are just a few places that bring us all together. The familiar faces and spaces greet us and bring joy. We care about each other deeply. We love each other. Where else can you say that you love everyone (even those who you don’t like that much)? That annoying person has become endearing in her own way. It is unique and special that such a community exists…we wish we could have more time together!
• We are fortunate to have familiar routines. The ringing of the bell, cabin clean-up, assembly, meals, activities, rest hour, campfire, Camper Council, donut day, Sunday events, goodnight singers…where else do we get serenaded after reading a bedtime story before we drift off with sweet dreams of another exciting day? Routines bring comfort and are what we can count on, especially in the beginning, so that we know what to expect. We also like changing it up as we become more comfortable. We are fortunate to have Gymkhana, Olympics, canoe trips, ropes course and other surprises along the way.
• We are fortunate to be immersed in silliness. Dressing in costumes both for events and impromptu reasons, putting spoons in our hair, wearing two different colored Crocs, coming to breakfast on Sunday’s in our pajamas, wearing underwear on the outside of our clothes, skipping to the next activity, putting on fake tattoos, painting our nails, taking a spigot “shower”, getting “married” on Fair Day, side ponytails, doing cartwheels across the lawn, eating a donut from a string, “blobbing” our friends, and more. We appreciate the little things that bring unexpected smiles.
• We are fortunate to learn from our activities. Many of us now have a passion for an activity we didn’t even know we liked. Archery, riflery, canoeing, sailing, paddle boarding, tennis, drama, dance, gymnastics, riding, swimming, water-skiing, arts & crafts, farm zoo, fishing… the list goes on. Many of these activities are difficult to do elsewhere, and even if we can do them, they will not be the same. We appreciate our missteps and little steps forward to developing a new skill. We have learned so much from each other. 
• We are fortunate to have nourishment for active camp days. We have such good food with minimal effort required on our part (deciding on the menu, finding ingredients, cooking, and clean-up). We enjoy hot/cold cereal, blueberry muffins, coffee cake, oatmeal topped with Rice Krispies, salad bar, meatloaf, fajitas, taco bar, chili mac, lasagne, garlic bread, carrot sticks with ranch dressing, baked/mashed potatoes, chips with ketchup, hotdogs/burgers, watermelon, brownies, “fancy” cookies, banana creme pie (that got a standing ovation!), cake with icing piled high, and so much more. Three meals a day to build community with our cabin group. And this doesn’t even include canteen, evening snack, pizza parties, and other yummy treats.
• We are fortunate to be unplugged and living in nature. Deer bounding across the field, loons calling to each other in the early morning and again in the evening, eagles soaring overhead, day lilies bursting orange in front of the lodge, ferns adorning the hillside and roadside, a trail ride through the Climax forest, the streaks of color we see at sunrise and sunset, the smell of the fire greeting us as we walk to the lodge each morning for breakfast, the moon leaving a shimmering trail on the water, the taste of mint along the lake’s edge, the feeling of “sinking” into the bog, “bouncing” on the moss, catching a fish, and tall pine trees that can almost touch the blue sky. Our five senses are keenly aware that nature abounds in this special place.

As summer 2024 comes to a close, we can’t help but say that we truly ARE the fortunate ones.

Mmmmmmm, I wanna linger here. Mmmmmmm, a little longer here. Mmmmmmm, a little longer here with you. Mmmmmmm, and as the years go by, I’ll think of you and sigh. This is goodnight and not good-bye!