"The Dangerous Book for Boys"

On a recent trip to the bookstore, I ran across the book I had heard so much about: The Dangerous Book for Boys. After flipping through the book, stopping at a few pages about knot tying and even grammar, it became obvious that the book's popularity is rooted in the same principles that are at work at Chippewa.

Undoubtedly much has changed since camp began in 1935 and certainly boys have changed to some degree during that time. Whether due to societal shifts or technology, the culture in which children find themselves today is vastly different than that of 1935. However, many of our cultural values have remain unchanged.

During staff orientation, I spend time discussing the many notions about the current generation of campers. Many of these notions are readily evident when the boys arrive camp. Despite this, I conclude with an important thought: boys today, in this wilderness environment that we call camp, are little changed from the boys in 1935. Thus, the same values that we found so relevant then, are equally as relevant now. Values like self-reliance, teamwork, and discipline are inherent in our natural surroundings and achieved in the cabin group, on the activity front and through meaningful friendships. Camp Chippewa continues to thrive because of our steadfast belief in these values.