Category: Camp Reunion

Sunrise 2016

More camper updates from the Chicago reunion!

Favorite thing about school:

Viv: more freedom in Middle School

Lauren: new teachers and some new friends

Lilli: hanging with my friends and volleyball

Irene: I LOVE lunchtime!

Izzi: Thanksgiving break!

Tamarack 2016

Favorite thing about school:

Ameilia: meeting new people and making new friends

Cayley: my classes and my teachers; I get to go to Canada in February for a field trip

Sam: meeting new people and enjoying high school

Molly: meeting all of my new friends

Kelly: meeting new friends

Paula: the friends I have made

Starshine 2016

Activities (when not in school):

Viv: swimming and English horseback riding

Lauren: crafts, trampoline, babysitting, dance, baking/cooking

Lilli: volleyball and tennis

Abbey: meeting new people at New Trier

Irene: volleyball

Izzi: poms and guitar

Emy (alum) and Viv

Activities (when not in school):

Ameilia: cross-country & track, I sing and dance

Cayley: volleyball and going to the beach to swim

Sam: soccer and playing tennis for fun

Molly: horseback riding

Kelly: swimming, soccer

Paula: swimming and running

What is something you learned at camp that you couldn’t learn anywhere else?

Viv: how to sail and how much fun it is!

Lauren: how to share a room with 8 other people

Lilli: how to sail and sing the Woodland song

Abbey: stage crew and musical theatre

Irene: riflery

Izzi: how to shoot a bow

What is something you learned at camp that you couldn’t learn anywhere else?

Ameilia: how to bond and make memories with the other girls you spend the summer with

Cayley: I learned to always try new things no matter how scared you are because you might end up liking it

Sam: leadership skills, being outgoing and making new friends

Molly: how to shoot a bow

Kelly: riflery

Paula: how to live with 8 girls in one cabin and share the same bathroom

Staff 2016

As you can see, we had a FABULOUS turn out for the annual Chicago reunion the weekend before Thanksgiving!  In a series of blogs in the upcoming weeks, we will give you an update about the Woodland girls who joined us for the afternoon to watch the 2016 camp video, flip through the new scrapbook, relive camp memories, and of course, to eat yummy treats.  Thank you to our long distance travelers for joining us from Iowa, Boston, Florida, and Mexico!  If we were not able to connect with you at this event, please feel free to share your news with us for a future post.

TREETOPS 2016

Favorite thing about school:

Ava: my teacher is super nice and fun!

Lou: my teachers and awesome, and I love my friends

Lizzy: all of my friends and just having fun all of the time

Lucy: debate team

Katie: having tons of classes and having lots of friends in all of them; I also like having different teachers for everything

Tori: participating in Snowflake (a drug-free alcohol awareness program that shows you can have fun without drugs)

Molly: being with all of my friends

Bunny: being with my friends

SILVER BIRCH 2016

Activities (when not in school):

Ava: spending time with family and friends, singing, acting, and I LOVE rock climbing!

Lou: playing guitar and sewing

Lizzy: rock climbing and swimming

Lucy: drawing and writing my own stories

Katie: playing soccer on various teams and playing the violin

Tori: horseback riding, violin

Molly: running and I would like to try field hockey

Bunny: triathlon training and volleyball

SUNNYSIDE 2016

What is something you learned at camp that you can’t learn anywhere else?

Ava: how to sleep in a tent with 7 other girls!

Lou: archery and riflery

Lizzy: how to learn and love more, how to be flexible in all ways, and much more. Thank you, Woodland!

Lucy: how to shoot (target sports)

Katie: to really be myself and people will like you – it is awesome when you learn to do that

Tori: I made friends that I wouldn’t have met outside of camp; I also learned how to shoot and kneeboard

Molly: to be myself & not care what anyone else thinks and to have fun

Bunny: sailing and singing the Woodland song

DRIFTWOOD 2016

Stay tuned for more reunion news in future blog posts!

You heard it right from the source – camp is all around us! I embrace it because it means I have “family” wherever I am headed.  Hi, my name is Lee Albrecht Biear, and I have been part of Camp Woodland for over half of my life!

5th year at camp circa 2000!

I remember thinking as a young counselor, how can I keep being part of this incredible place forever?  As I was mapping out my future camp career, I thought I had to be a teacher, nurse or chef. I knew that I was not destined to be a teacher (let’s face it, teachers are gods), a nurse (squeamish around blood), or a chef (I burn water!). I had no idea how I was going to follow my passion and find a niche as a camp professional.

JoAnne & Lee circa 2001

So, off I went to follow my second passion, public health (I love helping people and the environment be healthy!).  I designed onsite wastewater treatment systems for large subdivisions, developed water pumps for impoverished communities in Latin America, and consulted for the National U.S. EPA office.  Even with a successful career, there was still an itch for camp that I was destined to scratch.

That’s me designing water pumps in Nicaragua circa 2002

Through it all, the Jordan Family had my back.  I saved my vacation time so that I could work at camp, even if just for a week.  I told my boyfriend (now husband), Matt, that we could only continue our relationship if he believed in camp.  Luckily, he fell in love with camp in one afternoon. Matt was instantly hooked as he witnessed firsthand the camp philosophies I had been preaching about – they were playing out in every nook and cranny at Woodland. Spending the afternoon at Towering Pines on Pirate Day only sealed the deal (eye patches, a cannon, and walking the plank – SOLD!).

The whole Biear Family at camp circa 2015

Fast-forward 6 years from that fateful camp visit with my husband, and I am working at camp again and have been part of the year round team since 2012. Remember, when I said the Jordan Family has stood behind me while I found my way???  Well, it is so true!  They supported my dreams as a public health professional, and also welcomed me back as the marketing director for both camps. I am in a fulfilling position and enjoy working with the campers and staff each summer. I help keep camp around us all year by organizing camp reunions, managing our social media sites, and networking with our very talented alumni.

Mimi Alumni Reunion in Houston Texas, October 2015

I am honored to be part of our very inclusive Alumni Family. Our Alumni are simply the best! I love hearing about their camp experiences and finding the common thread we all share through the Woodland and Towering Pines experience. It is amazing how the traditions and philosophies have shaped our lives and will always be a part of us.  It is fun to see how as counselors we positively impacted the next generation of campers!  Once you join the Camp Woodland and Towering Pines community, you become part of the family.   It means that camp can be around us, even if we can’t always be physically there.

We hope you can attend our next Camp Event.  Details are below:

Date: Sunday, November 22, 2015
Time: 3:30-5:30pm
Location: 1834 Lincoln Avenue Northbrook, IL 60062
RSVP: jstarcamp@aol.com

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

Chelsea, Aranxta, Colette, Sofia, Daphne, Elena 

Here are the final updates from campers who attended the Chicago Reunion last month.  The 2015 CIT’s interviewed each girl and asked: 1) what is the favorite thing about school this year, 2) activities when not in school, 3) any fun trips taken or planned, and 4) what each camper is looking forward to next summer.

Chelsea: 1) Student Council, 2) go running and hang out with friends, 3) cruise to South America over winter break, 4) Co-Ed Show

Aranxta: 1) be with awesome friends, 2) dance & tennis, 3) came to reunion from Mexico, 4) Co-Ed Show and be a good CIT

Colette: 1) at a new school and I really like the people I have met, 2) dance & soccer, 3) came to reunion from Florida, 4) being a CIT, being in Co-Ed Show and assisting classes

Sofia: 1) junior tennis team at school and intermediate girls choir, 2) hanging out with friends, 3) no trips planned, 4) being a CIT and Co-Ed Show

Daphne: 1) being part of the tennis team, 2) tennis and hanging out with friends, 3) Arizona for my sister’s graduation, 4) sailing and Co-Ed Show

Elena: 1) meeting new people in HS, 2) school’s dance team, hanging out with friends, and spending time with family, 3) going to an island off the coast of Florida before camp, 4) being a CIT, being in Co-Ed Show, organizing events, and seeing all of my camp friends

Grace, Claire, Caroline, Jackie

Grace: 1) my cooking class, 2) volunteer at a barn for kids with disabilities, 3) possibly going to Italy, 4) camp

Claire: 1) my Spanish class, 2) sailing team for school, 3) going to visit camp friends in Mexico City, 4) being a 2nd year CIT

Caroline: 1) fashion merchandising class, 2) planning a Relay for Life event, 3) going to visit camp friends in Mexico City, 4) being a 2nd year CIT and making new memories

Jackie: 1) AP History class, 2) 3 clubs: Future Educators of America, Volunteering Club, and National Spanish Honor Society, 3) Mexico City to see camp friends in January and a cruise in March for Spring Break, 4) being a 2nd year CIT

Jenna and Gigi

Jenna: 1) Science, 2) dance, 3) Mexico, 4) riding

Gigi: 1) the end of the day, 2) riding my horse, Buddy, 3) Door County in Wisconsin, 4) seeing everyone

Aubrie, Chelsea, Sofia, Arantxa, Irene, Susie, Daphne

Irene: 1) plays the trumpet in band, 2) plays soccer and softball (made it to the Allstars), 3) possibly going to Italy for Spring Break, 4) seeing everyone again

Lydia: 1) being in 8th grade, 2) Riding horses and trying out for volleyball, 3) Italy?, 4) seeing everyone again

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!