First Session News

It has been a wonderful first three weeks of camp! I can't recall a summer with better weather to start the summer...blue skies, warm temperatures in the day, cool temperatures in the evening and plenty of blue skies! Perhaps no day better typified the fun of the summer than this previous Sunday. While five cabins were out on canoe trips, those still in camp found a sail trip to Star Island or a Sand Castle building contest on Cass Lake shore. Two boats sailed abreast across the lake for a day long cruise and swim break at Star Island. Meanwhile, four countries competed to host the 2016 Olympics by building sand castle venues on the sunny, sandy shore of camp. It was a fun day!

Throughout the past two weeks, the boys found success in the activity front. From tennis to archery, riflery to fencing, ranks have been passed and progress has been made. Traditions like Skit Night and Capture the Flag have been joined by new events like Chippewa's first Black Tie dinner. It may not have been the Ritz Carlton, but the new Knutson Hall was a fitting host, each of us looking quite dapper in our black bow ties.

Without a doubt, the new Knutson Hall and the recently completed Bear Paw tennis courts and fencing strip have been highlights. Both have added an exciting new dimension to the camp program. In addition, John Lindman, a master birch bark canoe builder, will complete an authentic birch bark canoe to be hung in the new Knutson Hall. Several of the boys have helped in the construction, no doubt a life-long memory that will still hang in camp many years from now.

I'm looking forward to an exciting conclusion to the first session. Trips will return from the far reaches of Canada and from a first-ever houseboat trip on Rainy Lake, a regatta with neighboring Camp Kamaji for Girls will put to center stage the boys' skills in archery, sailing and tennis and a final campfire will find highlights from the passing summer days. The time has passed to quickly, but the memories from a delightful summer will remain.

More photos and videos to come, so stay posted!

To Build a Canoe

Simon's activity schedule will have a new activity this summer: Canoe building! One of our alumni, Dick Sattler, has arranged for an Ojibwa-style replica birch bark canoe to be constructed at camp. John Lindman of the Bark Canoe Store will be spending a couple of weeks with us, enlisting the help of campers and staff to help him build the 13-foot long canoe. It will be an exciting new project and a wonderful new addition to the Chippewa canoe fleet. John has a few other surprises for us as well. We look forward to welcoming him to Chippewa.