Author: Kim Aycock

Haley, our nurse from Tennessee and now Texas, told me that she wanted to go to a true Wisconsin fish fry before heading home at the end of the summer.  So, after polling a few people at the staff table for the BEST place to go for Friday Fish Fry, we decided to try the Honey Bear Inn in Eagle River.  When we pulled into the parking lot before 5:00 pm (we were told that we had to get there early), it was PACKED beyond belief!  Evidently, the only parking space that was guaranteed was the one posted on the sign below.

Haley then got out of the car and went inside to ask how long the wait would be and came back saying that it would be 45 min – 1 hour.  Since we had baby Emy with us, we thought better of waiting for an extended period and ended up going back to Woodland.  I guess we will have to leave camp earlier next time!

Elmer and Barb are not the only ones who have their spot reserved – you can, too! 

It is hard to believe that we are heading into the last week of summer 2015 – it has gone by really fast!  The good news is that you don’t have to wait to enroll your camper(s) for summer 2016.  You can reserve your spot now and take advantage of our early enrollment promotion for all 2015 campers!  Just fill out the application before or when you come to camp to pick up your daughter(s) next weekend (or mail it in by August 9th).  The deposit is $250 (instead of the usual $500) and there is a 5% discount on next year’s tuition.  On top of that great deal, we are giving out a special Woodland Sport Pack as a thank-you for taking advantage of this one-time offer!

Early Enrollment Application

p.s. The theme for 2016 is: Everything Clicks in 1-6!

Every Sunday, my husband and I treat ourselves to ice cream at our favorite spot in downtown Galveston.  Especially during the winter months when store hours end at 6:00 pm, we often find ourselves eating ice cream before dinner.  While there is no rule against having dessert before a meal, it is one of those things that has been engrained in me and I always end up feeling a little weird – like I am doing something I shouldn’t.  It reminds me of the rare occasions when my Mom would serve pancakes for dinner instead of at the usual breakfast meal.

While we don’t have dessert before dinner at camp in the literal sense, we do like to “shake it up a little” this time of the summer to keep things fresh and exciting for the campers.  While establishing routines is very important during the first few weeks of the camp season, once campers are comfortable with the predictiveness of each day and week, it is good to deviate from the schedule from time to time and provide variety.

So, how do we change it up for campers and staff?!  I’m glad you asked!  It started last week during the 4th week of camp when we had the counselors rotate tables during the lunch meal.  This offered counselors an appreciation for different group dynamics from their own cabin and an opportunity to spend time with campers of varying ages in order to get acquainted a little better.  Because we are a small camp community, we pride ourselves on knowing more than just a name for each camper!

Another example of changing up the routine is our annual Olympic Games.  This week on Tuesday night, the camp was divided into 2 teams and then sent to work together to determine a team name, colors, mascot, flag, and cheer.  Team captains (counselors)  signed campers up in various categories for the all-day competition in both team and individual events on Wednesday.  Teams sat together in the dining hall for meals and each camper was well cheered at every moment as sportsmanship is a key component and message of the Woodland Olympics.

A favorite all-camp activity that is typically a fun part of the last week of the summer is Spoon Assassins.  While the name sounds horrible and totally against camp philosophy, it is a basically a giant game of tag with some cool twists (a big thank you to Alice Lurain for being the original creator of this popular game well over 20 years ago!).  Campers are assigned someone to “kill” (with a spoon).  In order to avoid being “killed” you can link arms with another person.  Of course, there are some “safe” zones such as the Lodge during meals, inside the cabin, and during activities.  If someone is found without a buddy and gets “assassinated”, then they “die” and must give the name of the person they were trying to take out to the person who was their “killer”.

You can bet that while we all thrive in our routines of the typical camp day, having “dessert before dinner” and adding a taste of spice to the norm will for make for some memorable moments for the summer of 2015!

At a skit during a recent staff meeting, 2 “applicants” interviewed for a marketing position at Jordan, Inc.  The first applicant had work experience as an intern at a prestigious law firm in DC, while the second applicant spent 3 summers as a counselor at Camp Woodland.

Here are the responses to the questions in the following categories the applicants gave when asked to comment on their experience and ability to take on this position.

COMMUNICATION:

Law firm intern: went around taking coffee orders from each partner in the law firm.

Woodland counselor:

• Articulated effectively with children, parents, coworkers, and leadership team.
• Demonstrated confidence to parents in a short period of time the capability to take care of their children.
• Corresponded in written form to parents regarding a camper’s adjustment, strengths, progress, and growth.
• Reported regularly to camp leadership camper observations/concerns and program plans for various activities/events.

PROBLEM SOLVING:

Law firm intern: was able to fix a jam in the copy machine while making copies of all briefs and proposals for a 100 person firm; took initiative to change the ink cartridge.

Woodland counselor:

• Managed normal conflicts between campers and help them work towards resolution.
• Developed creative alternate plans due to unexpected change in weather, scheduling, or equipment performance.

LEADERSHIP:

Law firm intern: led a group of interns who started a week later to show them the location of the nearest restroom.

Woodland counselor:

• Became a role model and “go-to person” for a community of campers.
• Anticipated the next step in various areas of camp life before it happened and became insightful about planning ahead.

TEAMWORK:

Law firm intern: arrived with a team of interns to the office at 8:00 am Monday-Friday.

Woodland counselor:

• Established camper expectations and maintained a partnership with co-counselor(s).
• Assisted campers to negotiate and compromise in order to accomplish a common goal in various cabin events.

CREATIVITY:

Law firm intern: made the decision to use milk from the vending machine when there was a shortage of creamer in the break room.

Woodland counselor:

• Able to come up with a game or activity at a moment’s notice for a group of 5 or 70 campers when original plans are disrupted.
• Changed words to a song and made up dance moves for an all-camp Song Contest performance.

Who would you want to hire – the intern or the camp counselor?  The choice seems pretty obvious to me!  If you are in a position to hire employees, don’t forget to inquire about a candidate’s camp experience – it is the best job training you could ever ask for!

Lee and Kim Are Ready at the Registration Table

“I can’t remember the last time I belly-laughed!”, said Woodland Alumna, Amy Long after taking a tour of Sand Lake on the “Lazy Boy Recliner” (a.k.a. tube) that is pulled behind the ski boat.

“Jazz Hands”

This past weekend, Woodland enjoyed the company of a large group of alumni who came to celebrate Towering Pines 70^th summer.   There was an abundance of laughter (and tears) as alums from the US and Mexico reunited. The weekend started by reconnecting with friends, a tour of camp, and a walk down Co-Ed Show Lane at Towering Pines. Alumni were able to see themselves in former Co-Ed Show videos and were then treated to a “live” version of the highly anticipated end-of-the-summer performance. The current Woodland and TP staff put together “Back to the Future” for the Friday night entertainment. “I’m Divin’ In” and “Handy Man” were among the selection of songs from various decades that were showcased.

Trail Ride

Alumni were able to be campers for a day and sign up for activities. Our guests enjoyed archery, riflery, arts & crafts, Farm Zoo, and tennis. CIT’s were on hand to take alumni on a cabin tour so that they could reminisce and share memories. We enjoyed a picnic lunch on the volleyball court and Grace and Sam took a group on a trail ride during rest hour. Because it was such a beautiful day, the waterfront was a popular spot to hangout and catch up in the afternoon. Sailing, swimming, tubing, and canoeing were offered in addition to the opportunity to kick back and relax on the deck or sailing benches. At the end of Rec Swim, it is no surprise that the Alumni headed straight to the Canteen Shack for a frozen candy bar or soft drink.

“We Haven’t Changed A Bit!”

Next on the agenda was a special “Moment of Remembrance” for John Jordan and Win Abney. Alumni gathered in the Rec Hall at Towering Pines and had the opportunity to share memories of these two great men who are the foundation of the camp we know today. Following the service, alums gathered outside to enjoy a cookout on the lawn or on the benches overlooking Lake Nokomis. The gals were invited to attend and judge the annual Song Contest at Woodland, while a traditional TP campfire was on the program for the guys.

A Journey Back in Time

Sunday was a day of “good-byes” and promises to keep in touch. Plans are already being made for Woodland’s 50^th anniversary celebration in 2019. Camila Villegas, a Woodland alum, shared this note with us expressing her thanks for such a wonderful weekend:

There is a place in my memory where the pine trees surround me, where I feel the cool water of the lake on my skin, and sounds of whispers sing in my head.

That is the place where the warm wind runs through my thoughts, the place where I can find my strength, my peace, my happiness, because there is where my friends find me.

Woodland is that place in my memory and today, I share camp with you.  You, too, are now my friends.

Mother-Daughter Woodland Connection