Monthly Archives:May 2014

Natalie just finished her freshman year at University of Wisconsin!  We are so happy to have Natalie back at the waterfront.  Your daughters are going to have a great time learning how to sail with Natalie!  She has been sailing at Camp Woodland since she has been 8 years old.  Read Natalie’s blog about what this summer’s theme means to her….

Natalie (Middle)

No matter what grade you’re in—whether it’s fourth, or your junior year in high school—the school year is stressful. You wake up early and tirelessly absorb new material throughout the day. You make plans with friends and go to the mall on weekends and do your homework late at night to get it in on time. Of course it’s fun and exciting, but by May the process has become a little redundant, and you’re ready for the summer. And when summer comes, when it’s finally time to head back up to the north woods of Wisconsin again, you want to fall back into a pattern that’s relaxing, easy, and, most of all, familiar.

This summer’s theme—Dare to Explore in 1-4—challenges that instinct in the best way. In fact, it started doing that right from the beginning, when choosing the theme became an activity in which the whole camp could participate. This theme was chosen by the campers, for the campers, and it is already on the way to living up to its potential.

Natalie & her cabin – Sunnyside

Dare to Explore is a mantra that is there to remind you to leap outside of your comfort zone. Instead of heading up to camp with the intent to only participate in your favorite activities (and maybe a rec swim), try something different! Don’t stick to the skills you already know are your best; instead, sign up for something you’ve never done before—be it drama, or canoeing, or maybe passing up an evening activity of soccer to hone those beach volleyball techniques. Trying something new is the way you found the activities you love in the first place, after all.

Natalie teaching Sailing!

Camp is a place where you go to feel safe and welcome. It’s a place that is familiar without ever being boring. But do you truly know everything there is to know about it? Have you tried all of the evening activities, participated in every Olympic event? This summer, like every other summer, Camp Woodland is placing the new opportunities into your hands—and this is your renewed chance to take them. Jump in, get involved, and don’t just put a toe outside of your comfort zone—live outside of it. There are few other places in the world where you will get the same amazing chances that you do at camp, so take advantage of the short time you have! Sail every boat, ride every horse, pass every level physically possible. And if it doesn’t all get done this summer? That’s more than okay! You have many more summers ahead of you to try again. But Dare to Explore in the summer of 2014, because the time to start is now.

Welcome back Natalie!

Find out everything that is going on at Camp Woodland all year long by subscribing to our blog.  Don’t wait for our weekly blogs to be posted to Facebook…You can now receive them by email.  When camp starts, we will be posting “all things camp” almost everyday.  Don’t miss out on all the fun!
Follow these easy steps to learn how to get blog postings sent directly to your email:

• Type in the following link: https://www.campwoodland.com/blog
• Under the Blog Subscription sign on the bottom right side of our blog entries, enter your email and click Subscribe
•  After you click Subscribe, a new window will pop-up to complete subscription request
• Next Feedburner will send you an email to verify your email address (If you don’t verify your email address, you won’t receive the blog)
• Voila!  Blog posting will now be sent directly to your email.

Let your closest friends and family know how special camp is, and  share our blog posts this summer!

May Flowers Mean Only 1 Thing…SUMMER IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER!!!

Has anyone noticed that the camp countdown calendar has gone from over 300 days until camp (in August of 2013) to barely 30 days left (current count)?!  That is EXCITING for those of us who wait ALL YEAR for camp days to get underway.  It is time to start packing and get ready for the “Dare-to-Explore in 1-4” Summer…we can’t wait to see you in the Northwoods!  See you SOON…

p.s. The day lilies in front of the Lodge in the photo above somehow time themselves just right and always make an appearance for Camp Birthday, a tradition that is celebrated each year after the 4th week of camp.

We are so happy that Lindsay K. will be returning to camp this summer! This veteran has been coming to camp since she was 7 years old.  Lindsay just finished her freshman year of college in Colorado, and is excited to be taking on new challenges this summer!

Every year, we put a lot of thought into our summer theme.  We tend to think summer themes are a vehicle to get campers thinking their goals and what they want to get out of the most during their summer at camp. Enjoy Lindsay’s perspective on this  summer’s theme: Dare To Explore in 1-4!

Lindsay (Left) & Jenny (right). Jenny is back too!

 You can dare to explore by trying new things.  Camp offers a multitude of opportunities to dare.  Sure, it could be water skiing, riding, or sailing.  But don’t be fooled.  There are many skills which camp teaches that are even more meaningful. Dare to make a new friend or to try a new activity.  Camp offers a place to grow and learn new things about yourself that aren’t always possible at home or at school. Camp offers the opportunity to spend six weeks with girls from different countries, to learn about their cultures, and to create bonds.    

 Daring to try a new activity can turn out to be the best decision you can make at camp. I was always afraid to go sailing, but after I tried it, I realized how fun it is.  I went from being intimidated by sailing to considering it one of my favorite activities.  Dare to explore reminds us to always give something a chance; put yourself out there and try something new. 

 Camp is a place where you get to be you and always be accepted for it. It’s somewhere you can go for six weeks, play like a kid, and learn adult life lessons.  Oh yes, the North Woods is pretty darn awesome.  The location offers the opportunity to be in nature and see how beautiful the world can be.  Forget iPods, phones, Facebook, and tweets.  Think campfires, Sand Lake, and all the tall pine and birch trees.  Its easy to dare – the setting makes you feel so safe.

 No life vest, helmets or safety goggles required to get the most out of this summer’s theme. Dare to Explore in 1-4 is just a reminder to live the summer to the fullest, take advantage of opportunities, push yourself to try something new, and expand as a person.  

Welcome back Lindsay!!