Monthly Archives:June 2013

Our veteran counselor, Suzanne, gave us her secret packing list of her favorite things.  Read, enjoy, and be inspired to pack a few wacky items to get into the camp spirit:

My Camp Woodland Packing List Favorites:

1. Flashlight- reading a bit after lights out is impossible without one

2. Water Bottle- being hydrated has its benefits (ps. we are selling Woodland Water Bottles this summer)

3. Towels, many- I spend most of my time at the waterfront sailing, so towels are an absolute necessity! I fall in the water at least a few times a week… And I need a couple reserved for shower times.

4. Shoes

a. I need my water/boat shoes. Safe sailing.

b. Flip Flops for showering

c. Flip Flops for everywhere else

d. Athletic type shoe so I can easily participate in evening activities and whatever else I am running from, typically the chickens at Farm Zoo.

e. Barn Boots since I never quite know exactly what I will doing all summer (plus, I can cling to the hope that I may work in the barn a bit)

f. Rain Boots- Moist socks do not sound appealing to me. I rather protect my feet by surrounding them in a 1/16’’ rubber shield.

5. Hair Ties!

6. Deodorant- when living with 10-13 other people, personal hygiene is a necessity.

7. Sunscreen because it is summertime and the rays get intense

8. Clothes from every color of the rainbow- borrowing clothes is great, but I personally like to have my own arsenal. Plus, I am a bigger girl, so I can lend to everyone (might as well have some stock to choose from).

a. Camper Councils

b. Dance/Drama/Gymnastic Shows

c. Olympics

d. Sunday Games

9. Nail Polish- summertime is the time my nails are polished

10. Rain Gear- When that Woodland Dew comes barring down it is a wonderful feeling to know that you will not be soaked to the bone. I like having both a rain coat and rain booties (as mentioned above).

11. Warm Stuff- I usually underestimate how cold it is going to get at camp. Reality is probably high 60’s but after days of 80 it seems chilly. A nice comfy sweater and comforter are my go to items.

12. My Ultimate Favorite Thing to bring to camp is my wacky wardrobe. I can bring all of the major fashion faux-pas that hang in my closet at home to camp. Camp offers so many opportunities for dress up, and at camp I am not chastised for my, what some would call “eccentric”, style. Camp it a great place to be you.

13. Deck of Cards=Endless Entertainment ( plus, it is quiet enough to get away with during rest hour, on occasion)

14. “Woodland-ware” because winning Best Dressed and going to Fair Days are hard to do without it.

There are more things that I do bring, but a few have been outlined above. The thing is… how do you make a concise list of your favorite things to bring to camp when you have a long list of things you really, really like to bring to camp? Difficult to do is what I think.

Can’t wait to see you this weekend!!!

Love,

Suzanne!

Throughout the summer we will be posting incredible submissions by our Alumni.  It gives me goosebumps every time I get receive a submission like this one I am about to share.  Emily started at camp when she was just an infant and has only missed two summers of her entire life.  Emily and her older brother will not be at camp this summer, but we are so glad that their father, Chet, will be back maintaining Camp Woodland.  Emily is more than just a camper and counselor, she is family and will be missed this summer. Enjoy the read as much as I did:

It was the inevitable “get to know you” game that always made me realize how much Camp Woodland has become a big part of my life. Every camper and counselor remembers playing it on the first day; the one where we would line up in a circle based on how many years we have been at camp. I was always confident playing this game, because I knew exactly where to stand: right at the end, unless the Jordans were there of course. We made our way around the circle announcing years of attendance and when it was my turn I would proudly state 15 years, watching the astonished look come across the faces of all the new girls.
I actually spent 19 out of my 21 summers at Woodland, and when my school friends would call me “crazy” for spending an entire six weeks at an all girls camp, I considered myself pretty lucky. I can honestly say that I have tried every activity, have sang every camp song, played every circle game, heard all the infamous stories of the Hilltop stairs, and have ate my fair share of s’mores. But that’s the great thing about camp, you can spend nearly two decades there but it’s never something you get bored with. There are always levels to beat, goals to achieve, and new friendships to create. That is the magic of camp, even though it remains constant, it allows you to change and grow throughout the years.

With my older brother at Towering Pines, me at Woodland, and my dad part of the staff, we were able to each have our own camp experience, but also were all to able share something together. Not only were part of the Riehle family, but we were part of the camp family as well. It was nice seeing my dad around camp, and I think that he enjoyed being able to watch me from the sidelines making my way from day camper to counselor.

Now going into my senior year of college, and looking back at everything in my life, camp memories are the most prominent to me. I have met the most amazing people, learned how to sail, learned how to ride a horse, and I can write an entire co-ed show song in one Rest Hour. Although I haven’t been able to make it back to the Northwood’s in the past two years, I know that whenever summer rolls around, the view of Sand lake will come to my mind and I’ll always remember my second home.

Horseback riding is one of our campers’ favorite summer activities. Our counselors provide instruction to children of all abilities (novice to advanced) and we provide riding helmets and crops for all participants. All your camper needs is two pairs of jeans and one set of closed-toe boots with a heel (stored at the stable for convenience). If your daughter is a veteran rider and prefers to use her own gear, feel free to bring it to camp. After some well spent time in the saddle, your child will have the opportunity to demonstrate her improved horse riding skills in the Woodland Olympic games and summer horseback riding show!

Check out one of our newest videos about our horseback riding program!

The excitement of camp is upon and so are the thoughts of all that packing! It can be a little overwhelming if you are a first time camp family, but follow our blog and packing will be a cinch!

Tip #1 Order your Camp Woodland Apparel  today! 

One of the biggest questions parents ask is “Lee, how many pieces of Camp Woodland apparel will my daughter really need?”.   At camp we do not have a camp uniform but we like to show our camp spirit by wearing Camp Woodland logo clothing every Sunday and when we have  off campus outings.  That being said we recommend the following:

• 2 – Camp Woodland T-shirts
• 1- Camp Woodland Sweatshirt

An optional purchase is a Camp Woodland jacket; it is a great investment for enjoying cooler Wisconsin evenings.   It is also a great way to show off a camper’s progress in activities, by sewing on all the badges she will earn each summer.  We recommend that you buy her jacket big, so that she can wear it for several summers!!

We are just recommending the basics, but there are many clothing options for your daughter.  Over the years some of our most popular items have been the CW tank tops and shorts.  Enjoy and order soon, it takes about 2 weeks to get clothing.  We are already at camp, so have them ship your daughter’s clothing directly to Camp Road!

Click our  link to start shopping at the Camp Woodland Store 

See you soon!