Author: Kim Aycock

What is different about camp now that we are over 2 weeks in?

It’s easy these days to sense that something special is happening at camp. As the season has “matured” a bit, it’s even more apparent. By “matured” we mean there’s a greater sense of ease in the air, a feeling of relaxing into the rhythms of camp life, a normalizing of sorts. The girls have made more friends, opened up to the new experiences offered in the activities, and become more comfortable in our rustic outdoor environment. They’ve begun to feel included, treated with kindness and respect, brought closer by a community spirit that’s enthusiastic and supportive. As they become more familiar with camp, their confidence has grown tremendously. They’ve adopted a “camp mindset” of sorts, a way of being that develops when surrounded by all these wonderful qualities.

This maturing, however, takes some time. It takes a few weeks to settle in and acclimate to camp life. When they first arrive at camp, girls are generally more hesitant. They’re usually a little nervous about their place in the group and how they’ll do away from home. Even for seasoned campers, there’s a different mindset that takes a few days to fade.

Could it be a transition from a school to a camp mindset?

Maybe we can attribute this to school? Perhaps these campers are arriving with a “school mindset,” a way of thinking, or a collection of assumptions that’s clashing with what camp represents. As you know, for many kids, school can be a grind, something that requires careful steps, regular effort with competitive undertones, and often includes guarded engagement out of a fear of peer judgment. It requires a great deal of individual work, pressures to perform, and evaluations. While there may be certain legitimate educational goals this mindset serves, it can also be a burden.

With school occupying so much of their lives, it’s no wonder girls arrive at camp a little out of sorts. They’re immersed in the world in ways that don’t apply at camp. In a way, this is the project of camp— to unwind some of the habits and assumptions that are inevitable from spending so much time at school, to encourage a more genuine, playful and joyful approach. Camp is a form of relief. It’s why we have so many campers return year after year.

Will you notice a difference?

We might be running around camp searching for aliens. We might be jousting each other with fun noodles on the balance beam. We might be taking a trail ride through the Climax Forest, or just floating on the lake in a tube. In all these activities and more— throughout our days— we’re building a “camp mindset,” a way of authentic connection, a freedom to explore, and a lightness everyone finds refreshing.

When you reunite with your camper/s in August, we are pretty sure you’ll notice this change. In addition to the memories of camp being fun, and the many friendships they’ve made, our hope is that your girls will return home carrying their camp mindset with them. And while the pressures of school will inevitably creep back in, we hope they can move through the world with more camp confidence, camp values, and Woodland spirit.

Reference: RBC

Seeing all the action at camp, all the happy, busy kids here, it’s easy to forget that there are about 35 people on the Woodland staff at any one time. There are many people working to make camp possible. There are the cabin counselors, the special people who live in the cabins with the campers, eat their meals with the campers, spend most of their day relating to them. These are the folks who most directly help set the tone at camp. They’re kind, silly, and enthusiastic. Some have been campers themselves when they were younger, and now have returned to Woodland to get their “camp fix” and have their turn at making an impact on the leaders of tomorrow. We have a good number of staff who came from far away like Mexico, Spain, and even Ireland to spend their summer at camp. And others are friends/family of people somehow related to Woodland and its history.

Cabin counselors are also very special activity instructors during the day. They are assigned to one or more activities where they guide, lead and instruct the campers as they progress in a given area. You can imagine this means the cabin counselors have a wide range of skills, talents, and versatility. We have a good sized group who became re/certified as lifeguards before pre-camp officially started. Some staff are land sports enthusiasts— tennis (Dani D, Sofia G, Lucia, Adri, Irene, Xime), gymnastics (Sofia M, Adri), riding (Kelly, Tess, Cuau, Sofia L, Isabella, Lou), archery (Lou, Miranda) or riflery (Irene, Molly), for example.

Others have real talent directing drama (Isabella, Lizzy) or dance (Sofia M), developing cool art (Estefi, Lizzy, Dani D, Miranda, Sofia G, Nat) or nature projects (Sofia L). Others teach the Zoo classes (Sophia, Isabella) and care for the animals there while others work with campers to learn to swim/ski (Jackie, Isa, Molly, Maria T, Lucia, Delia, Dani G), sail (Izzi, Xime, Adri, Tess, Delia, Dani G), canoe (Lizzy, Isabella) or enjoy some fishing on Sand Lake (Lou, Nat, Isa, Delia). Every activity at camp has counselors directly involved at every turn!

Another area of staffing is our very special activity directors. These leaders have special knowledge or skills pertaining to an activity, and therefore can be in charge of the program and the staff teaching in that area. Each instructional activity has at least one person in this role. The riding director (Kelly) not only teaches mounted riding lessons but is also in charge of caring for our 12 horses. Other directors include a Program Director (Calla) who schedules all campers and staff for daily and evening activities, our CIT directors (Xime and Izzi) who run the leadership training program for the oldest campers, and a canoe trip director (Estefi) who takes each cabin group on an overnight experience. Our Camper Care Coordinator (Jackie) is closely involved with the campers and staff of each age group to ensure a successful cabin experience.

The other areas of staffing are equally critical for camp to operate and have more very special people. These are maintenance staff (Chet and Kevin), van drivers, motor boat operators, photographers and videographers, and office staff (both on-site and remote: Lee, Mayte, Natalie, Kim). We should also recognize Nicole who can be found in our Health Center caring for and keeping us well physically and mentally, Maria H who is caring for our day campers, and last but certainly not least, the kitchen team (Chef Brittnie, Chef Kristen, Paty, Incy, Karla, and Merari) that keeps us well fed with delicious meals and snacks.

Together, along with JoAnne and the Jordan family, all of these people help keep camp going on a day to day basis. They help us stay healthy, active, and engaged with everything camp life presents. It’s a great group of dedicated people who love camp, enjoy being with kids and making each moment of each day special in some way. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again; it’s the people that make Camp Woodland!

p.s. It’s never too early to start talking to those folks in your network (family, friends, neighbors, church community, co-workers, etc.) with college-age connections about the exciting opportunities a summer at camp provides (not to mention camp is a GREAT first job)!

What Do Camp Photos Tell Us?

It’s obvious that campers are having a great time if you take a look at the photo gallery or social media posts. You’ll see girls engaged in a huge variety of activities. They’re outside riding horses, shooting at the archery and riflery ranges, caring for the animals at Farm Zoo, and learning lines in drama. They’re sailing on Sand Lake and playing tennis, learning 8-counts in dance, and tying & dyeing t-shirts into amazing colorful patterns. They’re swimming in the lake and doing forward rolls in gymnastics.

They’re starting the day with a great breakfast and taking time for a brief rest after lunch. They’re soaking up sunshine (we called it HOT for the first few days!) and sometimes pausing for the rain (a little Woodland dew doesn’t stop the fun!). They’re singing and dancing, and dressing up in a costume just for the fun of it.

And, What Else?!

Of course, there’s much more than that going on at camp, so much good stuff that can’t be seen in the photo gallery. There are friendships being formed and strengthened, subtle strides toward greater self-confidence, and perhaps a refreshed appreciation for the natural world.

We are often amazed by the sense of freedom that the girls feel when they realize that kindness and caring are what matters at Woodland, that they can be more genuinely themselves when they’re not afraid of being judged. Life at camp just feels really good, so good, they can’t help but smile.

What Do Camp Photos REALLY Tell Us?

There is still something else happening. It’s pretty simple, but also significant, and that’s all the in-person conversation we enjoy. This is nothing short of amazing considering we’ve only been together for a week. Throughout the day, during activities, the girls are listening to each other, sharing stories, chatting about whatever is on their mind. They might be playing tetherball or paddling a canoe, working on a project in the art room, fishing on the dock, or even taking a turn on the big banana, and they are face-to-face with friends.

During their free time, they might just be “hanging out,” and yet they’re usually engaged in easy conversation with whoever happens to be nearby. It’s one of the pleasures of camp: always having an opportunity for enthusiastic, interested conversation.

A Much Needed Break from Technology?

How different from mainstream life a mere 7 days ago! Most people don’t have this opportunity because our personal devices have taken over. Our smartphones have isolated us from others, making this kind of real-world conversation rare… at best, occasional. With a screen to look at, with the ding of notifications calling, how many of us are having meaningful conversations?

Even in a room full of teenagers, if they all have their phones, are they really connecting with each other? They may be “together”, yet having separate “conversations” with whatever catches their attention – a text, IG post, snap, or TikTok video. At the very least, most of us are distracted and interrupted by these devices, undermining whatever in-person communication we might be lucky to have.

It’s not a stretch to wonder how a smartphone in every young person’s hand is holding back their ability to communicate, hindering this critical skill. Like anything else, conversation takes practice. Sure, it might be “awkward” at first, but if we retreat to the safety of text messaging, or some other electronic communication, something is definitely lost.

What People Skills Are We Learning?

If kids shrink from in-person conversations, there is a good chance they will struggle to form meaningful relationships. It will be harder to connect with others and to discover how much another person truly cares for you. After all, it’s through heartfelt conversation that we can grow closer to each other. If your smartphone is always first, if your main outlet is social media, what are you missing?  Most likely, a lot.

This is yet another reason why camp is so awesome. By ditching our screens and offering an endless parade of opportunities to have conversations with the wonderful people we are sharing this Northwoods haven with, we’re developing communication skills (the kind that robots don’t have!). Camp provides real world examples of the rewards that spring from genuine conversations— the rich connections, the array of emotions, and the lasting satisfaction of it all. It’s really not what you see in the photo gallery, it’s actually what you don’t see that is the true value of camp. And, we are just getting started!

Reference: RBC

Every year for as long as I can remember, Camps Woodland and Towering Pines ponder over the theme for the next summer before the current summer ends. This way cabin groups at both camps get involved and submit their ideas with the hopes of being able to hear their name called at assembly after the roar of a building drumroll. It is a big deal to be awarded the honor of being able to say they had a hand in choosing the words that will give shape to what the following summer holds for future campers and staff. Summer 2025 is no different!

The words “enjoy the ride” hold a lot of possibility – maybe a deviation from the norm of how we tend to rush from thing to thing or aren’t able to “stop and smell the roses” once in awhile. While the story I’m about to share starts out sad, the end message is worth it and ties into our summer theme. Not that long ago, we got the news that our next door neighbor, Don, had passed away unexpectedly at the age of 68. We didn’t know that he was sick or dealing with any sort of health issue, so it was a shock to say the least. My husband even called it a “gut-punch.”

Don was the sort of guy I called upon when my garage door wouldn’t open, the flag pole needed replacing, or there was a turtle in our yard that needed to be redirected to its desired destination, among numerous other “predicaments.” He was always good about letting me know when an outside light was burned out or there was a break in our irrigation system. He was all about helping people and did so at the drop of a hat.

Another trait that Don was known for is living life with a spirit of adventure and wonder. He was a pilot and a sailor. Don always approached people with a smile and had no shortage of jokes/puns to pass along. He lived every day and every minute to the fullest, something we can all learn from (myself included!). Just the other day my husband mentioned taking a boat cruise after eating lunch at one of the local restaurants, and while in my head I was thinking of all of the things on my to-do list, I said, “sure – it’s what Don would have done.” Cleaning and packing can wait.

In thinking about “enjoy the ride” as the theme for summer 2025, Don is a good example of how to live that every day; he definitely enjoyed the journey, savored each moment, and lived in the present moment.

Staff (who are arriving this week!) also embrace this sentiment as they reflect on what the theme means to them:

-To me enjoy the ride means that no matter how the summer goes, it is crucial to maintain a positive outlook.

-Enjoy summer and everything that comes with it.

-Enjoy trying new things.

-Having the best summer ever, enjoying every minute of it.

-To enjoy camp to the fullest and experience the ups and downs with friends and family.

-It means be excited and expect the unexpected.

-You don’t always need a plan, just see how your day unfolds.

-Having fun in the different stages at camp.

-To go with the flow of camp and enjoy every piece of summer.

-To live every moment of camp, always with a smile on your face :).

-Make the most of every moment big or small.

-To enjoy the journey camp provides every summer!

-Make the most of this experience (meet new people, travel as much as I can, improve my English and become a better camp counselor).

-To live in the moment and trust the process!

-Always take advantage of all the opportunities that life gives you and make the most of it, especially at camp, since time goes by very quickly, so it’s very important to always enjoy it a lot.

-It means don’t worry about the end and focus on the moment and enjoying camp while you can.

-Enjoy and live every moment, no matter if it’s perfect or not.

-Being present and having fun because we get to be at camp!

-Always being in the present moment and relishing my time at camp.

-It means going with the flow and enjoying each moment.

-Live new experiences.

-Enjoy the ride and not the destination.

Get Excited!

This staff member sums up the summer theme perfectly: For me, “Enjoy the Ride” for summer 2025, it’s about living in the moment, making unforgettable memories with campers and fellow counselors, and finding joy in the little things like campfire nights, team games, or just a good laugh after a long day. I know there will be challenges, but I’m excited to learn, grow, and make a positive impact while also having fun. This summer is about connection, adventure, and appreciating the whole journey, not just the highlights.

ENROLL for SUMMER 2025

We have a FEW remaining spots left to enroll your camper/s for 2025 so that your daughter/s can enjoy their own ride through the Camp Woodland experience! Sign up HERE: https://cwtp.campbrainregistration.com