Category: Where am I at Camp?!

Favorite Places at Camp!

We are surveying our camp counselors, staff, and alumni on their favorite places at Camp Woodland.  Camp Woodland is special to each and everyone of us for completely different reasons, which we love!  I have to admit my favorite place is the arts & Craft deck in the afternoon.  The breeze that comes off the lake gives me such wonderful memories.  It is something I will never forget!

Over the next few weeks we will be compiling everyone’s favorite places at camp and publish it as part of our official Camp Woodland Map!  We can’t wait to hear what everyone has to say…..

Our first entry comes all the way from Spain, where Natalia O, veteran counselor, is studying for a semester:

It is hard to think of an actual order for these, so their place on the list doesn’t reflect my preference because they each have something that makes them special):

woodland mapnat

1. The Cabins. Or should I say Cottages? This  seemingly lifeless buildings become our homes and safe-places for six weeks. They are almost sacred, definitely not to be messed with. Each group of girls makes them so much their own every summer, they become a different place every time you walk in there, they are hard to recognize even if you have lived there before. Jungles and beauty parlors, castles and secret-keepers, cabins are the ultimate all- girls club.

2.  The Riflery Range. There is nothing like learning a fun sport in a safe and secure environment! The serenity of being the furthest  into the woods, far from the hype of the rest of the activities.. Surrounded by nothing but trees (maybe some bugs) and working hard to improve your skills in the company of friends. That’s what the northwoods is all about.

3. The field. No greener grass can be found in all of County D. Running up, or down, or all around this famous Woodland Field, the very home of the camp motto “Everybody plays, everybody wins”, is the best way to get from one activity to another! To breath the fresh summer air or just to  realize how great life at camp is every morning.

4. The beach. This is one of Woodland’s biggest perks! Few places up north can say they have a beach this spectacular, and have such an awesome view as well. Everything is going on at that marvelous beach, from chi gong to beach volleyball; some good tanning sessions as well as Olympic competitions, that beach never seizes to amaze.

5. The tables at the dining hall. We all love the Dining Hall because, you know, food. But my love goes out to the tables themselves. This is where the magic happens! Where manners are properly taught; where cabins bond more than any other time of the day, and where we sing glorious Woodland songs!

6. The Woodland sign. It is the best and only welcome home sign you want to be seeing every summer! Once you spot it, you can be sure it’s all fun from here. It’s a pretty sweet Kodak moment too!

7. Outside the Rec Hall. The Rec Hall itself is an all-time favorite too but, why outside? Well, first because of the amazing sound system we have and second, because all the Dance and Gymnastics shows take place here and boy, the Olympic Games have nothing on us Woodland girls! Unbelievable talent and charisma has been shown throughout the decades and there is nothing like having your friends cheering you on

8.  Office Entrance. This is a very special place at Camp. Here we meet and greet all arriving campers so there are a lot of emotions floating around usually! And packages/ mail arrives so happiness is always here. Something is always going on and it’s exciting.

9. Canteen. Because you know, CANDY ! Right on the beach, nothing like an ice cold drink with a lake view like no other, it just makes you happy to be alive!

10.  The Archery Range. Wether we want to feel like Katniss or just have some delicious picnic food, this area is ideal for many activities. Evening games with your cabin or the usual everyday Archery schedule, the Archery Range is one of the sunniest and happiest places to be at Woodland.

Can’t wait to share with you even more favorite places posts at Camp Woodland for Girls!
Also, Don’t forget to tell your interested friends about the Annual Jordan Open House:

Date: Sunday, March 9, 2014
Time: 1:00-4pm CST
Where: Northfield, IL
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The Wonders of Nature

Posted by on July 31, 2012
(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! 

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! 

I Scream, You Scream, We All Scream for Cathy’s Ice Cream!

Posted by on July 24, 2012

(posted by Kim Wenzl Aycock)
Ever wish you had something to motivate your daughter to clean up her room?  Ice Cream from Cathy’s seems to do the trick at Camp Woodland!  Each day after breakfast, campers and counselors alike go back to the cabin and pitch in to do various chores to keep their living space nice and neat for the OD (the CIT who is the officer of the day) and Nurse Lauren’s cabin inspection visit sometime before lunch.  Each camper is responsible for making her own bed each morning in addition to having an assigned chore as determined by moving the job wheel forward one space daily. 


The winners of cabin clean up are announced at assembly and get to raise and lower the flag the following day.  If a cabin has the highest overall inspection score at the end of the week, they are honored as being the “Clean Freaks” and then awarded a pizza party during cabin night.  Cabins winning the “Clean Freaks” honor for a second time are taken to Cathy’s for an ice cream treat.  The past two Monday’s, I had the pleasure of taking the “Clean Freaks” winners to claim their prize; last week was Sunnyside’s trip into town, and this week was Hilltop’s turn.

I have to say that the ten-minute ride to Cathy’s with Hilltop on Monday night was quite lively! The girls kept me entertained with the fun playlist of songs they sang while we cruised down County D.  I think they hit every genre of music from Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin” to “Call Me Maybe” by Carly Rea Jepsen.  Once we got to Cathy’s, the girls were excited to see that “Blue Moon” ice cream has been named as Woodland’s flavor, and Towering Pines is the proud sponsor of “Superman”.  Mark, the owner of Cathy’s, decided to get in the camp spirit this year and has renamed various ice cream flavors with the names of summer camps in the area who frequent his store.  Be sure to allow a few extra minutes as you drive home at the end of the camp season to stop at Cathy’s for a giant scoop of Woodland’s Blue Moon ice cream!