Camp Woodland Blog

Now that we are well into our 4th week of camp, it is a great time to take a brief pause and reflect on what Camp Woodland sets out to do each summer. What are our goals? What is our overall purpose? We’re certainly striving to “have fun” (a LOT of fun!), but it’s more than that. Beyond all the different activities, the great food, and our classic Northwoods camp environment, what is Woodland really providing? On a deeper level, what is camp doing for all the girls and staff members who spend their summer here?

A really good response to this question is summarized in the sign that greets you when you enter a new(ish) business in the North Carolina town in which I live. The “Haven” is located on the main street leading into the community of Southport. On any given day or night when I pass by as I am walking Gus and Gumbo, I see people of all ages hanging out; sometimes listening to live music in the back, playing corn hole or other “yard” game, enjoying a refreshing treat of Italian gelato or adult beverage, or grabbing a bite to eat from a food truck parked in the side driveway. This place in it’s short 15 month history is truly living up to its name.

If we go back to the question posed at the beginning of this blog, we might answer by saying, “What we’re doing here is creating a haven for girls.” That then leads to some follow-up questions, but what sort of haven, and why is that important?

The answer lies in the definition of the word “haven” itself as shown on the sign from the actual “Haven.” Haven means:

• a place of safety, shelter and refuge
• a port or harbor in a storm, a roadstead (I had to look this one up! A roadstead is a sheltered stretch of water near the shore in which ships can ride at anchor.)
• a place offering comfort and friendship
• an oasis or peaceful retreat
• community for good friends, new friends, old friends, and friends of friends

Without hesitation, our goal is to make Woodland a safe harbor for girls, a place of refuge from the “storms” of modern and everyday life. We are here to create an intentional community that’s different and separate from the all too many damaging forces impacting youth (especially girls!) today.

The good news is that girls flourish once these harmful forces are removed. We are really seeing the positive effects of being immersed into the camp experience for almost a month now. Campers are growing in astounding ways. They grow as individuals and together as a cabin group. These special “families” are a place of comfort and friendship in a “close to home” kind of way while the entire camp community offers comfort and friendship in a more “global” sense.

It is not a stretch to say that camp is an oasis/peaceful retreat. Campers tell us time and time again that they look forward to camp all year long. Our girls soak up and store every possible sight, sound, smell, taste, and feeling from their time in the Northwoods to draw upon later when they need a reprieve from the busyness and stresses often found during the rest of the year.

It goes without saying that we have a community of good friends at Woodland (it doesn’t take too long to figure that out when scanning the plethora of photos on SmugMug!). We welcome and embrace old and new friends and friends of friends. We even have several very special 4-legged friends. Chanel, Coco, and Juno are part of our community, too. I am always amazed at how people who are very different from each other cross paths at camp and become the closest of friends. Had they been in the familiar setting of home or school, they might not have even given each other a chance.

Each of the “haven” sub-definitions are big part of our WHY. Next, we will look a little more closely at HOW Camp Woodland is a haven.

1. Haven from Indoor Living: Life at Woodland is lived intimately with Nature; we are outdoors almost all the time. Many of us spend the greater part of 10 months inside, so it is refreshing to see campers (and staff) learning to embrace nature’s wonder and beauty in large doses. There’s a deep restorative power to this.

2. Haven from a Rushed Life: The pace of life at Woodland is deliberately slower and more mindful. Time is intentionally built into the day to allow campers to savor each moment and engage more deeply with everything and everyone around them. Eating 3 meals/day together and hanging out at rest hour and before bed as a cabin group gives campers multiple opportunities to nuture relationships in a way that is hard to replicate anywhere else.

3. Haven from Inactivity and Modern Convenience: In a world that often prioritizes convenience and sedentary lifestyles, Woodland encourages physical activity, adventure, and hands-on experiences. It’s a place where campers move and play, discovering the joys of doing.

4. Haven from Information Overload: In a world saturated with information, Woodland provides a break from the constant barrage of news and novelty. This allows campers to pay attention to their immediate experiences, fostering connections, creativity and presence.

5. Haven from Competition: Woodland is a non-competitive environment where girls can explore their interests and abilities without the pressure of outperforming others. Keeping score is the last thing on our minds (with the one exception of Olympics next week!). Instead the focus is on personal exploration, kind cooperation, and collective success.

6. Haven from Judgment: Woodland celebrates brave attempts, silly creativity, and an openness to try things. Here, girls explore for the fun of it and are unconcerned with what others will say about the outcome. The kindness of this community lifts everyone up.

7. Haven from Technology: This one is HUGE. Woodland is a tech-free environment that dispels the distraction inherent to digital media and its flickering screens. Camp returns us to real-world activities, the nuance of face-to-face interactions and the complexities of truly feeling things. This allows everyone here to be more human and explore what that means.

8. Haven from Exclusivity: Woodland is committed to creating a community of belonging. Our core value of respect encourages campers to spread kindness and show empathy to one another. We strive to be curious, not judgmental. Meeting so many people at camp helps us appreciate and celebrate diverse backgrounds and perspectives. We are a place where it is “cool to be you.”

9. Haven from Social Pressures: Woodland provides a break from the pressures to conform to certain social expectations. Here, girls can explore their interests freely, while being supported by an enthusiastic community that values them for who they really are.

10. Haven from “I Can’t”: At Woodland we strive to omit these words from our vocabulary for the 6 weeks we are at camp. We celebrate incremental progress and embrace success over time (vs instant gratification). Persistence and grit go a long way in the skills we are developing in activities and with building relationships. When the word “yet” is inserted after an “I Can’t” proclamation, the opportunity to grow is imminent.

When seen as a haven in all these ways, it is within reach to grasp that Woodland is a special experience, and how it’s so important for your girls. We all know that ordinary life is chock full of pressures and challenges. Just ask any teenager; they’ll tell you. Camp provides relief from all that. It’s a sanctuary of freedom where girls thrive. Yes, it’s also a lot of fun and girls love it, and it’s wonderful in this important way as well. We are so looking forward to being together in this much needed “haven” for a few more weeks!

Reference: RBC