Camp Woodland Blog

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Hey Teresa…

I have finally decided to take the plunge and sign Vivian up to attend four weeks of camp in Northern Wisconsin at Camp Woodland next summer!  She will soon be turning 11, and I think the timing is perfect.

Viv

I attended ten 8-week summers there when I was a kid, and it was one of the most formative experiences of my childhood. This past summer I took Viv with me to my first camp reunion, and while I have been in touch over the years with many friends, I can’t begin to describe how magical it was to be back at camp and to see about 100 of my closest friends from across the US and Mexico. (About 25% of campers and counselors are from Mexico…sent in large part to practice their English.) Most of us have kids now and a few are already sending them!

The third generation of the Jordan family is now running Woodland, as well as Towering Pines, Woodland’s brother camp for boys about a mile and a half down the road. JoAnne, Jeff, and Susan along with their children (fourth generation!) are currently operating the camps. My brother Fritz loved his summers up North so much that he now lives about five miles away from the camps…he never left!

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Viv asked me to forward you some information for Greta, just in case she might be interested. In my day there was only the 8-week option. The “full” summer has been shortened to six weeks to accommodate various school calendars, but they also offer two or four week sessions.

Swimming, sailing, gymnastics, dance, riding, archery, farm zoo, crafts, tennis, overnight canoe trips, campfires, olympics, fair, camp birthday, on and on and on! 🙂 But more than anything else, I remember Woodland as one of the safest, most beautiful places on earth, both emotionally and physically. And I remember the exact moment as a 12 year old when I realized that Woodland was more than just a collection of rustic cabins and knobby kneed gals. Somehow the activities, the friendships and the shared experiences created a magical and meaningful wonderland!

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Anyway, before I go on and on, see what you think. I know it sounds crazy, and it’s a significant commitment of time and resources. It’s about an 8-hour drive up to Eagle River from Des Moines. Viv is signed up and ready to go, so of course no pressure whatsoever.

I know I would never be able to send Viv so far away to just any camp, but this place is in my bones.

Emy

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