Author: Kim Aycock
On our way to AWESOME!
On Our Way to AWESOME!
by Kim Wenzl Aycock
My nephew passed along a link to a video recently that really has me thinking about how the world would be so AWESOME if we lived it like we do at summer camp! If you haven’t seen this yet, get ready to SMILE…
*Camp is NOT boring…each day brings new and exciting adventures!
*At camp we are all on the same team.
*We DO things at camp every day…we don’t just sit around waiting for things to happen.
*Camp supports kids in their journey to take the road less traveled and explore new interests.
*At camp we encourage kids to believe in themselves and follow their dreams.
*Kids are supported in their endeavors at camp…even when the going gets tough.
*Camp allows kids the opportunity to create their “Space Jam”.
*We try to make every day better for each other at camp!
We are going to make it an AWESOME summer…come “dance” with us at Camp Woodland and Towering Pines in 2013!
Open House dates are Sunday, February 24th and Sunday, March 10th from 1-4 p.m. at 286 Jeffrey ST, Northfield, IL.
Thanks for spreading the word and inviting friends to join us for the opportunity to learn more about the Woodland/Towering Pines advantage. We hope to see you there!
Future Leaders at Work and Play
Future Leaders at Work and Play
posted by Kim Wenzl Aycock
While at a regional American Camp Association meeting recently, I saw this sign on an early morning run as I was coming back into the camp where we were staying. I couldn’t wait to get my phone so that I could take a picture and share with you here!
How the camp experience has changed lives is one of the most powerful benefits of camp. Camp, and the experiences of camp, defines us even as adults. Camp has touched many lives, introduced people to new passions, and broadened horizons.
You may not realize the number of “famous” people who attribute their success to their camp experience as a child. Check it out here: Because of Camp (49 seconds)
Camp provides children with the opportunity to connect with nature, to participate in human powered activities, and to benefit from personal and primary relationships. Because of Camp…® so much is possible!
Looking forward to seeing you THIS summer!
One Stop Shopping for New Year’s Resolutions!
One Stop Shopping for New Year’s Resolutions!
by Kim Wenzl Aycock
Among the top resolutions that are made at the start of each New Year, some of the most common goals can be met while spending an AMAZING summer at Camp Woodland/Towering Pines:
Eat Healthy: Instead of serving processed food, we provide meals made from “scratch”. No powdered eggs here!
Get Moving: Video games and TV are put aside for 6 weeks – campers are active and get plenty of exercise in the great outdoors. We use our feet to take us everywhere we need to go!
Reduce Stress: Camp is a great way to “unplug” from the constant flow of text messages, emails, and other social media. It is also a time to put the pressures of school and grades aside and just enjoy living in the moment. Above all, camp is FUN!!
Try Something New: With a variety of physical, recreational, and creative activities to choose from, campers have the opportunity to explore a wide range of interests.
Spend More Time With Friends: Imagine spending 24 hours a day for 6 weeks with a group of your closest friends…how AWESOME is that?!
New Year’s Resolution:
Join us at Camp Woodland/Towering Pines in 2013…
we are VERY EXCITED about the upcoming summer!
WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?
ONLY 170 MORE DAYS UNTIL CAMP STARTS…
LET’S GET READY!
WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A “BLAST”
AT CAMP WOODLAND/TOWERING PINES
THIS SUMMER!
SEE YOU THERE!
p.s. It’s not too late to send in your application for 2013!
Don’t forget to send in your
“Where in the World” Contest Entry!
Woodland Contest
Towering Pines Contest
Don’t forget to send in your
“Where in the World” Contest Entry!
Woodland Contest
Towering Pines Contest
Holiday tune to "The Ship Titantic"
Tune: THE SHIP TITANIC (please sing along!)
Oh, the holidays are here, there’s no need to be blue;
The blog is back, Lee will update you it’s true.
Maddie’s no longer in the sand, but a new sister will be grand.
We’ll be glad for camp next year!
Chorus:
We’ll be glad,…We’ll be glad…We’ll be glad for camp next year.
We really want to see our friends, and the fun will never end.
We’ll be glad for camp next year!
Oh, the winds are so high, and winter is so cold.
We want summer to come before we all turn old.
Kim will put math aside, and to Wisconsin she will fly.
We’ll be glad for camp next year! (Chorus)
JoAnne turned around as she watched her dogs drop down;
Zoe and Jake made the strangest sound.
Jack put up a stink because in school he has to think.
We’ll be glad for camp next year! (Chorus)
Oh, the moral of the story as you can plainly see,
Is to plan ahead for summer – where else would you rather be?
Oh, this song is through, and we do miss you!
We’ll be glad for camp next year!
Early Enrollment has been extended to JANUARY 1st, 2013.
Send in your application form TODAY!!
The Wonders of Nature
(posted by Kim Wenzl Aycock)
While sitting at Inspiration Hour a few weeks ago on a Sunday morning, JoAnne had the campers look up from their cozy spot on Vesper Hill to glance at the clear blue sky, the sun peeking through the trees, and the fluttering of leaves at the tips of the branches reaching up as far as one could see. I was so glad that she stopped us for a moment to view the unbelievable beauty that abounds all around at Camp Woodland and that most of us often take for granted.
Below is a picture of a HUGE mushroom that is growing from a tree right in front of Silver Birch cabin. Had Chet, Woodland’s handyman extraordinaire, not pointed it out to me, it most likely would have gone unnoticed, even though I walked right by it on a daily basis. This picture was taken over a week ago, so I wonder how big it is now?! (You will have to take a look for yourself when you pick up your daughter(s) this coming weekend!)
You will also want to listen for the loons calling to one another on the lake; they can be heard every night and have been known to make appearances at other times during the day as well. Hopefully, you will get to see the pair of eagles who like to soar right above camp and fish for their dinner in our very own Sand Lake! You might even catch a glimpse of a deer or two as you drive down the Woodland Road.
Nature was the theme for evening activities during the 4th and 5th weeks of camp, and the girls had the opportunity to rotate through four stations including fishing, visiting the bog, taking a hike through the Climax Forest, and walking into the Moss Garden at Towering Pines. Each rotation was an experience unto itself, but the novelty of the Moss Garden was a highlight. Campers walked about 20 minutes and then came upon what they described as “blankets and sheets” of moss. They were actually able to lie down on this “bed” and were pleasantly surprised that it was more comfortable than being in their own bed at home!
Nature was the theme for evening activities during the 4th and 5th weeks of camp, and the girls had the opportunity to rotate through four stations including fishing, visiting the bog, taking a hike through the Climax Forest, and walking into the Moss Garden at Towering Pines. Each rotation was an experience unto itself, but the novelty of the Moss Garden was a highlight. Campers walked about 20 minutes and then came upon what they described as “blankets and sheets” of moss. They were actually able to lie down on this “bed” and were pleasantly surprised that it was more comfortable than being in their own bed at home!
As campers return home and go back to the hustle and bustle of the urban environment, camp is only a memory away…all it takes is a moment to stop and look…and find one of nature’s many wonderful gifts and a reminder of Woodland!