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There’s a word you’re likely to hear when people describe their camp experience, a word we’ve heard from teenage campers, staff members and adult camp alumni alike like the ones in the photo above. It’s “magical.” When trying to convey how special camp is to them, how extraordinary it feels to simply be at camp, they’ll talk about the “magic of camp” or that “camp magic.”

Yes, camp life is marvelous. It’s awesome, amazing, fantastic. It’s so much better than the “mundane world,” with everything having a little something extra, some power or spirit. That’s why camp friends are your closest, the moon is more beautiful, s’mores more delicious, being silly more hilarious, and feelings of belonging more genuine. Camp life reveals a magical quality in even the simplest things, enriching our days beyond ordinary.

But how does camp do that? The moon with its blazing trail on the water, biting into a gooey s’more while on an overnight excursion, and the excitement of the aqua tramp are probably pretty similar to what can be found elsewhere. There’s probably nothing material that would make camp life distinctly better than non-camp examples.

What makes it magical? If there’s something profoundly different about camp life that fills it with amazing people, flashes of beauty, moments of wonder, and surprising feelings of deep happiness and contentment, then how?

Here’s an idea.

We believe camp provides the conditions where we can notice what is right in front of us. In other words, the magic is already here; we just don’t always see it in our ordinary daily lives. Camp doesn’t have a special power to create magic. Rather, it inspires us simply to become more aware of subtle qualities always available in the world around us.

At Woodland the possibility that everyone is a potential friend becomes evident. The space is there for people who had they met under different circumstances, might never have given someone a chance, let alone have been friends. For the gals above, Camp Woodland was the beginning of something lasting, something rare. Decades later, the women who once shared bunks, songs, canoe trips, and campfire stories still gather. They’ve grown into mothers, professionals, caretakers, and adventurers, but the ties formed under the tall pines and star-filled skies remain unshaken.

After 40 years, they are still showing up for each other—celebrating milestones, comforting through grief, laughing at old stories that never get old. The magic of Camp Woodland wasn’t just the lake or the laughter—it was the foundation of deep, meaningful relationships built during their most formative years.

That’s the power of camp, how it’s magic withstands the test of time. It encourages an awareness that reveals the magical quality of others. By lifting respect and kindness up as its highest ideals, it helps us be generous and see beyond ourselves. By giving us a break from the fast-paced demands of work and school, camp helps us slow down and take notice of the amazing people around us where we recognize and appreciate each person’s uniqueness. By being a tech-free environment, it liberates us from connecting through a device or screen. By encouraging silliness and play, camp teaches us how to be comfortable with who we are. By establishing a truly supportive community, it draws us closer to the people around us. In the outside world, each of these might require a deliberate choice, but they are built right into our camp life… making it yes, magical.

This is a testament to summer camp. A testament to Camp Woodland. And most of all, a testament to the power of true, enduring friendship.

Because sometimes, the people who knew you when you were a kid… are still the ones who know you best.

Reference: RBC and spring WI alumni gathering

What is different about camp now that we are over 2 weeks in?

It’s easy these days to sense that something special is happening at camp. As the season has “matured” a bit, it’s even more apparent. By “matured” we mean there’s a greater sense of ease in the air, a feeling of relaxing into the rhythms of camp life, a normalizing of sorts. The girls have made more friends, opened up to the new experiences offered in the activities, and become more comfortable in our rustic outdoor environment. They’ve begun to feel included, treated with kindness and respect, brought closer by a community spirit that’s enthusiastic and supportive. As they become more familiar with camp, their confidence has grown tremendously. They’ve adopted a “camp mindset” of sorts, a way of being that develops when surrounded by all these wonderful qualities.

This maturing, however, takes some time. It takes a few weeks to settle in and acclimate to camp life. When they first arrive at camp, girls are generally more hesitant. They’re usually a little nervous about their place in the group and how they’ll do away from home. Even for seasoned campers, there’s a different mindset that takes a few days to fade.

Could it be a transition from a school to a camp mindset?

Maybe we can attribute this to school? Perhaps these campers are arriving with a “school mindset,” a way of thinking, or a collection of assumptions that’s clashing with what camp represents. As you know, for many kids, school can be a grind, something that requires careful steps, regular effort with competitive undertones, and often includes guarded engagement out of a fear of peer judgment. It requires a great deal of individual work, pressures to perform, and evaluations. While there may be certain legitimate educational goals this mindset serves, it can also be a burden.

With school occupying so much of their lives, it’s no wonder girls arrive at camp a little out of sorts. They’re immersed in the world in ways that don’t apply at camp. In a way, this is the project of camp— to unwind some of the habits and assumptions that are inevitable from spending so much time at school, to encourage a more genuine, playful and joyful approach. Camp is a form of relief. It’s why we have so many campers return year after year.

Will you notice a difference?

We might be running around camp searching for aliens. We might be jousting each other with fun noodles on the balance beam. We might be taking a trail ride through the Climax Forest, or just floating on the lake in a tube. In all these activities and more— throughout our days— we’re building a “camp mindset,” a way of authentic connection, a freedom to explore, and a lightness everyone finds refreshing.

When you reunite with your camper/s in August, we are pretty sure you’ll notice this change. In addition to the memories of camp being fun, and the many friendships they’ve made, our hope is that your girls will return home carrying their camp mindset with them. And while the pressures of school will inevitably creep back in, we hope they can move through the world with more camp confidence, camp values, and Woodland spirit.

Reference: RBC

Seeing all the action at camp, all the happy, busy kids here, it’s easy to forget that there are about 35 people on the Woodland staff at any one time. There are many people working to make camp possible. There are the cabin counselors, the special people who live in the cabins with the campers, eat their meals with the campers, spend most of their day relating to them. These are the folks who most directly help set the tone at camp. They’re kind, silly, and enthusiastic. Some have been campers themselves when they were younger, and now have returned to Woodland to get their “camp fix” and have their turn at making an impact on the leaders of tomorrow. We have a good number of staff who came from far away like Mexico, Spain, and even Ireland to spend their summer at camp. And others are friends/family of people somehow related to Woodland and its history.

Cabin counselors are also very special activity instructors during the day. They are assigned to one or more activities where they guide, lead and instruct the campers as they progress in a given area. You can imagine this means the cabin counselors have a wide range of skills, talents, and versatility. We have a good sized group who became re/certified as lifeguards before pre-camp officially started. Some staff are land sports enthusiasts— tennis (Dani D, Sofia G, Lucia, Adri, Irene, Xime), gymnastics (Sofia M, Adri), riding (Kelly, Tess, Cuau, Sofia L, Isabella, Lou), archery (Lou, Miranda) or riflery (Irene, Molly), for example.

Others have real talent directing drama (Isabella, Lizzy) or dance (Sofia M), developing cool art (Estefi, Lizzy, Dani D, Miranda, Sofia G, Nat) or nature projects (Sofia L). Others teach the Zoo classes (Sophia, Isabella) and care for the animals there while others work with campers to learn to swim/ski (Jackie, Isa, Molly, Maria T, Lucia, Delia, Dani G), sail (Izzi, Xime, Adri, Tess, Delia, Dani G), canoe (Lizzy, Isabella) or enjoy some fishing on Sand Lake (Lou, Nat, Isa, Delia). Every activity at camp has counselors directly involved at every turn!

Another area of staffing is our very special activity directors. These leaders have special knowledge or skills pertaining to an activity, and therefore can be in charge of the program and the staff teaching in that area. Each instructional activity has at least one person in this role. The riding director (Kelly) not only teaches mounted riding lessons but is also in charge of caring for our 12 horses. Other directors include a Program Director (Calla) who schedules all campers and staff for daily and evening activities, our CIT directors (Xime and Izzi) who run the leadership training program for the oldest campers, and a canoe trip director (Estefi) who takes each cabin group on an overnight experience. Our Camper Care Coordinator (Jackie) is closely involved with the campers and staff of each age group to ensure a successful cabin experience.

The other areas of staffing are equally critical for camp to operate and have more very special people. These are maintenance staff (Chet and Kevin), van drivers, motor boat operators, photographers and videographers, and office staff (both on-site and remote: Lee, Mayte, Natalie, Kim). We should also recognize Nicole who can be found in our Health Center caring for and keeping us well physically and mentally, Maria H who is caring for our day campers, and last but certainly not least, the kitchen team (Chef Brittnie, Chef Kristen, Paty, Incy, Karla, and Merari) that keeps us well fed with delicious meals and snacks.

Together, along with JoAnne and the Jordan family, all of these people help keep camp going on a day to day basis. They help us stay healthy, active, and engaged with everything camp life presents. It’s a great group of dedicated people who love camp, enjoy being with kids and making each moment of each day special in some way. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again; it’s the people that make Camp Woodland!

p.s. It’s never too early to start talking to those folks in your network (family, friends, neighbors, church community, co-workers, etc.) with college-age connections about the exciting opportunities a summer at camp provides (not to mention camp is a GREAT first job)!

What Do Camp Photos Tell Us?

It’s obvious that campers are having a great time if you take a look at the photo gallery or social media posts. You’ll see girls engaged in a huge variety of activities. They’re outside riding horses, shooting at the archery and riflery ranges, caring for the animals at Farm Zoo, and learning lines in drama. They’re sailing on Sand Lake and playing tennis, learning 8-counts in dance, and tying & dyeing t-shirts into amazing colorful patterns. They’re swimming in the lake and doing forward rolls in gymnastics.

They’re starting the day with a great breakfast and taking time for a brief rest after lunch. They’re soaking up sunshine (we called it HOT for the first few days!) and sometimes pausing for the rain (a little Woodland dew doesn’t stop the fun!). They’re singing and dancing, and dressing up in a costume just for the fun of it.

And, What Else?!

Of course, there’s much more than that going on at camp, so much good stuff that can’t be seen in the photo gallery. There are friendships being formed and strengthened, subtle strides toward greater self-confidence, and perhaps a refreshed appreciation for the natural world.

We are often amazed by the sense of freedom that the girls feel when they realize that kindness and caring are what matters at Woodland, that they can be more genuinely themselves when they’re not afraid of being judged. Life at camp just feels really good, so good, they can’t help but smile.

What Do Camp Photos REALLY Tell Us?

There is still something else happening. It’s pretty simple, but also significant, and that’s all the in-person conversation we enjoy. This is nothing short of amazing considering we’ve only been together for a week. Throughout the day, during activities, the girls are listening to each other, sharing stories, chatting about whatever is on their mind. They might be playing tetherball or paddling a canoe, working on a project in the art room, fishing on the dock, or even taking a turn on the big banana, and they are face-to-face with friends.

During their free time, they might just be “hanging out,” and yet they’re usually engaged in easy conversation with whoever happens to be nearby. It’s one of the pleasures of camp: always having an opportunity for enthusiastic, interested conversation.

A Much Needed Break from Technology?

How different from mainstream life a mere 7 days ago! Most people don’t have this opportunity because our personal devices have taken over. Our smartphones have isolated us from others, making this kind of real-world conversation rare… at best, occasional. With a screen to look at, with the ding of notifications calling, how many of us are having meaningful conversations?

Even in a room full of teenagers, if they all have their phones, are they really connecting with each other? They may be “together”, yet having separate “conversations” with whatever catches their attention – a text, IG post, snap, or TikTok video. At the very least, most of us are distracted and interrupted by these devices, undermining whatever in-person communication we might be lucky to have.

It’s not a stretch to wonder how a smartphone in every young person’s hand is holding back their ability to communicate, hindering this critical skill. Like anything else, conversation takes practice. Sure, it might be “awkward” at first, but if we retreat to the safety of text messaging, or some other electronic communication, something is definitely lost.

What People Skills Are We Learning?

If kids shrink from in-person conversations, there is a good chance they will struggle to form meaningful relationships. It will be harder to connect with others and to discover how much another person truly cares for you. After all, it’s through heartfelt conversation that we can grow closer to each other. If your smartphone is always first, if your main outlet is social media, what are you missing?  Most likely, a lot.

This is yet another reason why camp is so awesome. By ditching our screens and offering an endless parade of opportunities to have conversations with the wonderful people we are sharing this Northwoods haven with, we’re developing communication skills (the kind that robots don’t have!). Camp provides real world examples of the rewards that spring from genuine conversations— the rich connections, the array of emotions, and the lasting satisfaction of it all. It’s really not what you see in the photo gallery, it’s actually what you don’t see that is the true value of camp. And, we are just getting started!

Reference: RBC