Category: Dare to Explore in 1-4!

Sarah H and Jenna 

I heard as a kid that life is all about making memories that last your whole life through.  Growing up I paid no attention to the deeper meaning behind that saying.  I lived in a place where money was no issue.  The houses in my neighborhood all looked the same.  But, our house had something special because it was situated at the base of a mountain, and we had a garden and an endless forest for a backyard.

I grew up traipsing and running around in the woods without a care in the world.  But recently my universe came crashing down.  We moved to a city that wasn’t in the mountains; it was a four hour drive to get back to the forest and giant garden.  When my aunt suggested that I go to a camp in the middle of the Northwoods of Wisconsin, I was all in.  My summer was starting to look a whole lot brighter!

Gigi and Sarah H at the Waterfront

On the drive to camp, I was a nervous wreck.  I had no idea of the magic Camp Woodland held within.  I have found my home here.  I have made friends that I will forever cherish and love.  I have met people who have altered my view on the world.  And, most importantly, I have made memories I will always hold close to my heart.  Camp is about letting go of what society expects of you and being yourself.

Living with seven other people for 6 weeks can be hard, but in the end, you come out loving them more than you might think.  Everyday I wake up and go to tennis, which is a sport I never thought I would like, but I love it!  People say that Camp Woodland is magic, and I firmly believe that.  It has the magic to give you the best summer ever.  So for that, thank you Camp Woodland!

Sarah H.

3^rd generation camper

Sarah with her cabin at Pancake Breakfast

So often, we hear about the learning loss that occurs during the summer from having too much time away from school.  As a teacher who has spent 25+ summers at camp, I would like to propose that children who go to summer camp, actually experience just the opposite.  Kids who spend their summer at camp have a learning surplus.  While I do not have any specific data to back this claim, I can share with you my observations from enjoying more than a quarter of a century with kids in the camp environment (including 3 weeks at Camp Woodland this summer!).

Andrea, Isa, and Ana Pau at the Moss Garden

• Math: Friendships formed, skills learned, donuts consumed on Saturday mornings, mosquito bites, laughter and smiles…too many to count!

• Science: When the outdoors is the classroom, campers learn about the natural environment at every turn.  They take hikes in the forest and look for the “stinky” tree,  jump on a bed of moss at the Moss Garden, go fishing, visit the bog, search for Lost Lake or the Enchanted Forest, take care of the animals at Farm Zoo, plant flowers and a garden, participate in camp-wide recycling, watch an eagle soar overhead, catch a glimpse of a deer darting into the woods, hear the loons calling to one another across the lake, observe a mother duck and her ducklings swim near the water’s edge, cook over a fire and sleep in a tent while on a canoe trip, gaze at the stars without the interference of city lights, see a full moon blaze its trail across the lake…just to name a few!

Starshine on Gold Rush Day

• History: Camp traditions such as Opening Campfire, Gold Rush, Camp Birthday, Olympics, and Banquet are some of the lessons learned as they are passed on from generation to generation of Woodland campers.

• Government/Leadership: From the youngest to the oldest, all campers are given the opportunity to be leaders during their stay at camp.  Cabins take turns being charge of planning various all-camp events, including the Camper Council activity for Friday night and Inspiration Hour on Sunday morning.  When an event calls for a station rotation, the girls are responsible for explaining their “game” to each group.  The oldest campers are Counselors-in-Training (or CIT’s), and they  dedicate an hour each day to leadership training that helps them prepare for their future role as a counselor.  These girls also rotate being “Officer-of-the-Day” (OD) and learn about camp from the administrative perspective as well as assuming responsibilities in activities when counselors have a day off.

• Language: Writing letters home to family and friends is a favorite rest hour pastime.  Woodland girls learn about diversity and are exposed to different cultures as campers/staff come from various states and countries.

Lindsay reading a book to her cabin

• Reading: Campers often read books from home during rest hour or at Rec Swim while sitting on the deck overlooking the beach.  Counselors also choose an age-appropriate book and read a story to the entire cabin as part of the nightly routine.

• Physical Fitness: Camp doesn’t happen sitting down!  Campers are playing tennis, doing gymnastics, swimming, sailing, water-skiing, windsurfing/paddle-boarding, canoeing, riding horses, sharpening skills at archery or riflery, dancing, walking to and from activities, running to get their mail, and skipping (just because they can)!

• Music: The “official” time and a favorite activity is to sing after every evening meal and at weekly campfires.  Campers sing “unofficially” while out on a sailboat, during a trail ride, at the start of various activities (“I’m Alive, Alert, Awake, Enthusiastic!”), and just about anywhere and anytime during the camp day.  Song Contest is the highlight at the end of the 3rd week; cabins work together and change the words to a popular song and choreograph moves to tell their story of the summer.

1st Session Drama

• Performing Arts: Girls have the opportunity to be in dance, gymnastics, and/or drama performances that are put on for the entire camp every 2 weeks; they also act out skits each week at campfires.  The girls taking drama also design and build their own sets and utilize the drama closet resources to assemble their costume selections.  Put it all together, and the end product is one fabulous production!

• Creative Arts:  Imaginations run wild during arts and crafts classes at camp!  From memory boxes to crayon prints and bottle decorating, campers are encouraged to be creative and think outside the box with every project.  Don’t be surprised if you happen to see a cabin group dressed as “nerds” or wearing a their underwear on the outside of their clothing to assembly – it is all part of the Woodland spirit that is celebrated at any given moment!

Lizzy and Lu making Memory Boxes

• Health: The Woodland camp community has the luxury of eating 3 well-balanced meals together each day, 7 days a week.  Not only is the food delicious, but being able to enjoy a leisurely dining experience in a family setting is a real treat!  The cabin bonding that occurs during meals is nourishment for the soul as many stories and accomplishments are shared through conversations within each cabin group.

• Computer: OK, you got me on this one!  This is the only area where there is a deficit (but in a good way)!  We are able to accomplish all of the above without one smartphone, laptop, e-reader, TV, or other electronic device.  Being “unplugged” for 6 weeks is heavenly, and I highly recommend it!

So, as you can see, there is no such thing as learning loss while spending an amazing summer at camp!  The typical day at camp is packed with learning experiences that are EVEN BETTER than a typical day at school.  And that is coming straight from the keyboard of a math teacher!!!

Kim Wenzl Aycock, MST

Too Many Friends To Count!

We just finished the end of the 4^th Week of the camp and these girls are on top of the World!!!  The girls are in their groove – excelling in activities, working as a team to accomplish larger than life goals, and just having fun being themselves! Every week at camp we have a “theme” that we strive to use in our daily camp routine.  Week 4’s theme was all about “Trust”.  Trust in themselves to work towards levels they never passed before. Trust in their cabin mates to try new group activities:

Overnight canoe trips

Zip line at the Ropes Course

Trust Walks in our Exclusive Climax Forest

A lot of these experiences would not be as fun without girls knowing each other for the last 4weeks. It’s amazing to see such  growth in such a short period of time. The 4^th week of camp is also about celebration.  Celebrating the years every girl has been coming to camp:

• First, we mark the celebration by every camper getting a wood medallion with their name, summer theme, and years at camp.
• Secondly, we all get dressed up for the big birthday bash (yes dresses, hair do’s and all) where we eat dinner and fancy birthday cake!
• Lastly, we have a ceremony to honor all the girls who have attended camp for 5 years (sterling silver pendants) and for 10 years (Camp Woodland logo blankets).  These items will be cherished forever as many of our alumni still wear their pendants proudly at alumni events.

Thank you Jordan Family for running this most cherished camp for 45 Years!  This is a special place that so many kids call their “summer home”.  Thank you Parents for keeping this tradition going and proudly letting everyone know how special camp is to your children.

Camp Birthday Honorees

Camp is the place where girls can try new things, meet new friends, and do what we love. If you have never ridden a horse, shot a rifle, or even played tennis, camp is the perfect place to try it. When I first came to camp in 2009, I hadn’t tried half of the activities available to me. I was a little intimidated so I signed up for activities that I was familiar and comfortable with. Later, I decided to try something new: horseback riding and archery (even though horses terrified me). The cool thing about camp is that no matter what you do, there are people there to ensure that everything is fun and worthwhile. If I had the option or time to do every single activity everyday, I would do it in a heartbeat. Although I’m not the master of farm zoo or arts and crafts, the mere act of doing something new is what’s amazing about camp for me.

Elena’s cabin – first summer

Living in a cabin with strangers is also intimidating. My first year, I knew no one but my sister who was in a different cabin. Shying away from everyone was my first instinct. The idea of making new friends was scary, but eventually, I formed the strongest friendships I had ever made that are still strong today. After that first year of camp, I realized that it wasn’t different activities or strangers that was intimidating, but it was the endless opportunities to try new activities, meet new people and find a home away from home. “Dare to Explore” for this year’s theme simply means that once you take the leap to try new things and make friendships, you’ll find the heart of camp that makes girls like my sister and I come back year after year.

Elena’s cabin 2013

Author: Elena K
Camp Woodland Camper
Rising Freshman, New Trier High school

A few days ago, one of my best friends from camp showed me a word that only camp friends would truly find meaning in: retrouvaille. Retrouvaille is a French word that describes the joy of meeting or finding someone again after a long separation. This feeling is very familiar to those of us who make the trip up to the Northwoods every summer. Year after year, I thought the joy I felt in seeing my best friends again after 9 long months of school was indescribable – until now. That joy is part of what makes going to camp every summer so special. There is no feeling quite the same as driving down County D where the trees grow a bit taller, the sun shines a bit brighter, and the anticipation of finally seeing the Woodland road becomes overwhelming.

Not only does this joy keep us coming back summer after summer, it provides us with a feeling of acceptance and confidence. Surrounded by our best friends in our favorite place, camp allows us to expand our comfort level and “dare” to try activities we’ve never tried before. Thus, it seems fitting that our theme this summer is “Dare to Explore in 1-4”. This summer’s theme epitomizes what every camper can accomplish if she makes the effort: developing new skills she wouldn’t get anywhere else, discovering new passions, setting and reaching new goals, and achieving a newfound sense of confidence and independence.

“Dare to Explore” encourages every camper to begin daring the first day they get to camp. Whether daring means making a new friend, trying a new activity, taking on a leadership role, or finding new passions, camp is the perfect place to start. This summer, head up to camp with an open mind and be determined to make it the best one yet.

Author: Alex K.
2nd Year Junior Counselor
2014 New Trier High School Graduate

****Thank you Alex K.  for putting into words what so many campers, staff, and alumni feel every summer! *****