Monthly Archives:May 2022

Spring has sprung! Similar to dreary rainy days leading to the beauty and light of spring, one could say that the challenges we are presented in life help us to grow and flourish into better, stronger people.

At Camp Woodland we believe in challenging our children to push themselves out of their comfort zones both mentally and physically. Our long term program leads to the development of the child as a whole as  they hone in on new skills at all of their activities and build strong, meaningful relationships with those around them through shared experiences all summer long.

It was such a joy to watch the girls of Sunrise, a cabin of all first year campers, blossom through their new experiences at Camp Woodland last summer. These girls jumped right into the camp routine and embraced any given challenge with enthusiasm. We can’t wait to see how much more they grow and flourish this summer!

In what ways did the sun shine for you this summer?

Riley: Activities and my cabin mates.

Lilly: I love the activities, the food, PJs on Sundays, and CIT games.

Abigail: My favorite things I did were Gold Rush and Farm Zoo. They were so fun.

Brooke: The story and all the activities to choose from.

Maddie: I got to level 2 in Archery before the 2 weeks were over. That’s the thing that made my sun shine.

Hannah: Farm Zoo, food, the weather, campfires, the book we’re reading, and getting letters!

What was something that took you by surprise and was better than you imagined?

Riley: cheesecake!

Lilly: Canoeing, archery, and riflery.

Abigail: Archery and riding. I got to trot and go on rides through the woods!

Brooke: My cabin mates. I was worried about having mean people and being left out.

Maddie: Trying new things like foods and activities and swim lessons.

Hannah: The food, the animals, and my cabin.

What was something you were able to do that you have not been able to do over the past year?

Riley: Trot without being scared and having fun.

Lilly: All of my new activities!

Abigail: Riflery! It’s so fun and so is Archery.

Brooke: Socialize with multiple people at once.

Maddie: Trying things that I was scared of and trying things that I didn’t like at home.

Hannah: Hang out with friends!

What did you learn most about yourself?

Riley: I really love bunnies. Also, I want to ride again.

Lilly: I’m good at stuff I never thought I would be like archery, riflery, canoeing, and riding.

Abigail: Be true to everyone.

Brooke: That I love to horseback ride and love archery

Maddie: I went out of my comfort zone and I loved things I didn’t know I liked.

Hannah: I can’t ski, but I am good at making my bed.

The month of April is all about showing  love to this beautiful planet we call home with Earth Day on April 22nd and Arbor Day on April 19th. At Camp… every day is Earth Day! It is hard not to take all of the  glorious natural beauty around us for granted throughout the summer. If you pause for a moment to think about the numerous natural spots and wildlife that are literally in our backyard for 6 weeks, it really is an unbelievable experience.

Earth Day and Arbor Day support environmental protection and celebrate nature, so many people use this time of year as an opportunity for tree-planting and litter-collecting events. At Camp Woodland we are fully immersed in nature from sun up to sun down. We co-exist with the wildlife of the north woods, enjoy peaceful walks through the climax forest, and explore different ecosystems and habitats all summer long. One cabin that fully embraced this love for our natural surroundings last summer was Sunnyside with the cabin theme of “We Speak for the Trees!” from the Lorax.

“Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot,

Nothing is going to get better. It’s not.” – Dr. Seuss

In what ways did the sun shine for you this summer?

“I really liked making new friends! I got to knee board, so fun! I also loved my activities… I took a lot of things I can’t do at home.”

“I loved the food this year, I liked trying archery, and the banana boat was awesome!!”

“Never being bored and always having something to do. Also, YUMMY FOOD!!!”

“Sleeping in a cabin, passing two levels in archery within two weeks, and playing tether ball.”

“Playing with bunnies!”

“In all of my awesome activities: riflery, horseback riding, arts and crafts, rec. swim, and farm zoo.”

What was something that took you by surprise and was better than you imagined?

“Tennis, farm zoo, rec. swim, and being away from home.”

“Getting to trot on Rusty (best horse). Also getting on a knee board. Dan’s food is extremely good. Best cook ever (sorry mom and dad!!!)”

“Chicken pot pie, but only from camp.”

“When I started archery I thought that I was going to be really bad at it, but when I heard that my first round was my first qualifier I was confident I would be able to succeed.”

“I learned how to do a front walkover and the food.”

“Riflery!”

What was something you were able to do that you have not been able to do over the past year?

“Play tennis decently and do archery.”

“During tennis I could actually do my serve properly. I used to be very bad at them. I also got to sleep until 7:30 every morning. I also learned a little Spanish which is a pretty cool language.”

“Archery, swim, and just be with people.”

“Play tether ball. I had played once before, but didn’t succeed.”

“Front walkover, backwards roll, and holding a bunny.”

“Riflery, horseback riding, and farm zoo!”

What did you learn most about yourself?

“That I can make friends when I am myself.”

“That at camp I could do stuff I was always scared to do like holding a checken, riding, a horse, and riflery.”

“That complaining doesn’t help anything.”

“That I was wrong to be afraid of camp because I love it here.”

“I love bunnies!”

“I don’t like drama and trying new things won’t hurt.”