Monthly Archives:October 2015

Costumes are not just for Halloween…we dress up at camp almost every day!  Pirate Day, 4th of July Games, International Night Camper Council, Silver Birch Pajama Party, Fair Day, Olympics, Campfires…you name it, we wear it!  We would love to see pictures of you in your Halloween costume, so email us at: campwoodlandtp@gmail.com

The best thing that happened to me at camp:

Kelly: meeting all of my best friends so that I could create all of these amazing memories

Vale: getting to meet so many wonderful people who teach you very important values

Fer: making new friends and having SO MUCH FUN!

Molly: meeting the girls that I can call my best friends and my sisters

Cayley: making friendships that will last a lifetime

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An achievement for which I am most proud:

Kelly: passing my Bar II in riflery and swimming to Cathy’s

Vale: passing my black-archer and level 6 in swimming

Fer: being positive when trying something new

Molly: passing level 4 in swimming, trying new things out of my comfort zone (Farm Zoo, Angle Ball, and Zumba), and making friends with new girls

Cayley: landing my aerial

The thing I learned the most about myself:

Kelly: that not everything turns out the way you want it to and that is OK

Vale: that I am good as I am and that I don’t need to change for other people

Fer: I took some risks and tried many new things this summer

Molly: I like to challenge myself and be the best that I can

Cayley: Don’t try to change for others, love yourself, and manners

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.

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!

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!

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