Salt Lake City Rendezvous Photos

We were climbing in Salt Lake City...the final Rendezvous of 2010. Now only 89 days until camp starts...see you soon!

Two generations of Chippewa campers as dad Tony H. belays son Sam H.

American Airlines and Camping

I had just settled into my seat on an American Airlines flight, flipped open the latest issue of American Way Magazine and found an article about camps. Perfect....10 minutes of reading about summer!

Check out the article.

PS- I'll take Minnesota over Texas for the summer!

Milwaukee Curling Rendezvous Photos

Chippewa Featured in Magazine

Exclusively Yours magazine of Milwaukee is running a short feature on Chippewa in the March 2010 issue, available now. Pick up a copy around Milwaukee or contact me and I'll send a copy out to you.

Thanks to Andy at Exclusively Yours for the article which showcases camp and our 75th anniversary summer. Don't miss our ad in the issue as well...it looks great!

Update : Just added the article to the camp website.

2009 Photo Album 2 for 1!

Picaboo is once again offering a "buy 1 get 1 one free" option on this years photo album. If you've been to a Rendezvous and seen the album you know you want one. This is a great chance to split the cost with another camp family and get a really fantastic keepsake for you and your son. It is available in two sizes.

Just click on the photo album link to see it and order yours.

Registration is Open

Hey Chippewa alumni! Registration is now open for our special 75th Anniversary event over Labor Day. Check the website for more details then click the 'Register Now' button. Isn't it about time you returned home to Cass Lake?

The response so far has been unbelievable. So talk to your old camp friends and plot your return....and bring the fam too. It's going to be a blast!

Phoenix Rendezvous Photos

Conference Reflections

Last week I attended the American Camp Association (ACA) National Conference in Denver. It's always great to meet with other camp directors and staff to exchange ideas and share experiences. In fact, I was selected as a presenter at the conference, speaking on the conversion from a for-profit to a not-for-profit camp, as Chippewa did in 1999.

In preparing for the presentation, I reflected a bit more about the series of events that led to the creation of Camp Chippewa Foundation. It is a remarkable testimony to the Chippewa philosophy that we have inherited from the Endres family. The sons and daughters of Cap and Mom provided us with foresight, gifting the entirety of camp without any compensation or tangible benefit in 1999. Instead, what they have created is a legacy that we will all honor into perpetuity. We have been left with a boy's camp unlike most any other camp and a philosophy that is as relevant now as it was 75 years ago.

So on behalf of the future generations of campers, thank you to the Endres family and to all of the alumni and families who continue to strengthen Camp Chippewa. As JP often says, the best years are indeed ahead!

Congrats to a Chippewa Partner

Since the 1970's, Chippewa has welcomed international counselors from countries as diverse as England, the Netherlands and New Zealand. Here at the American Camp Association (ACA) National Conference in Denver, one of our partners in placing international staff at Chippewa, Camp Leaders, has been presented an award from the ACA for their commitment, promotion and expertise in the placement of international staff. Camps like ours benefit by welcoming a diverse group of men to lead our campers. Longtime counselors like Peter Evans and Simon Taylor are examples of how Chippewa has benefited from Camp Leaders.

Congratulation to Chris Arnold and the folks at Camp Leaders! I am proud of our relationship with Camp Leaders over the last nine years.

Chippewa Winter Olympics

While it will be great to watch the US curling team take the Olympic ice on Tuesday, the real action for the Chippewa crowd is only a couple of weeks away in Milwaukee.

We are just about halfway through our Chippewa Rendezvous tour with several great events in cities like former winter Olympic host Salt Lake City and the always wintry Minneapolis. One of my favorites has to be our curling rendezvous hosted by the Milwaukee Curling Club. If you haven't had a chance to curl, make time by joining us in Milwaukee! Next best thing? Watch the Olympics on Tuesday.

Jerry Malloy, Snoel, Jonah and Adam Loeb will be joining the fray at the Chippewa curling event. Let's see who the next great Chippewa curler will be....see you guys in less than two weeks. More great events still to come.....

Set to curl last year at our Chippewa Rendezvous

Chippewa's Safety Record Recognized

Camp Chippewa was recently named a recipient of the the prestigious Safety 1st designation from Markel Insurance Company for 2009. We were selected based on our proven safety record and are proud to announce this designation. Thanks to Markel Insurance and to the Chippewa staff for your dedication to a safe and happy camp.

Rendezvous Photos - Los Angeles

Out West, it was a table tennis extravaganza....

Some of the LA crowd ready for table tennis action.

Rendezvous Photos - KC and St. Louis

It's been a fun couple of weeks with stops in Kansas, Missouri and California. With Sam Devine, Mario and Teddy Mundt joining the fray, our Rendezvous have been a blast. More photos from more cities coming soon! Chicago here we come!

Bombardment on a trampoline...good times in St. Louis.

Knockin' heads and pins in KC.

Alumni Cabin Plans Revealed

The foundation is poured and designs are being finalized. What has emerged is an exciting addition to camp : an alumni cabin built by the alumni for the alumni.

As one of the key elements of our An Enduring Legacy Capital Campaign, the new alumni cabin will be up and ready for the summer....and more importantly in time for our 75th Anniversary celebration. Alumni, you have something new to cheer about!

Nestled among the pines of Buck Lake shore, the alumni cabin plans include two bedrooms, two bath and a beautiful stone fireplace.

2009 Highlights Video Set for Release

The 2009 Chippewa Highlights video is just about set for release. This year we had a special guest editor, counselor Simon Taylor, who produced this great DVD. Some might say it's the best yet...you'll have to decide after picking up your copy at a Rendezvous near you.

Here's a preview!

Coming to Your Town

It's going to be a busy winter for Chippewa fans! I'll be hitting the road with some of your favorite counselors for our Rendezvous events. Curling in Milwaukee....Table Tennis in Pasadena....Rock Climbing in Phoenix...Bocce in Chicago...and many, many more. Join Sam Devine, Teddy Mundt, Sam Noel, John Olson and others in a town near you. And don't forget to bring a friend to introduce to camp, it's the first step to joining the Chippewa Council. We'll have stuff to give away and even a special raffle at many of the events.

Check the Events page to find a Rendezvous near you...with 14 cities on the list, we'll be near you before you know it. Lawrence and Kansas City, you're first! See you soon.

A Snowy Camp

I've always thought that one of the most beautiful times at camp is after a heavy snowfall, though I could do without the -34 degree temperature. Mike E. and CJ snapped these shots over the holidays.



A Snowy Knutson Hall and Path from Ivy Bowl.



It's Cold in Front of Lower Camp !

Our 75th Anniversary Rock Cairn is Covered

Happy New Year

Camp turns 75 this year! Campers, staff and alumni....special events are planned for all. Join us in 2010....woo hoo!

Happy New Year everyone. Best wishes for a healthy and prosperous Twenty Ten.

Key to Summer 75

Don't forget that today's the last day to enroll to activate your key for next summer's special event. It's your chance to be Director for the Day, among other exciting prizes. If you haven't yet enrolled, don't delay. Activate that key and be ready to rule camp....benevolently, of course!

Holiday Message from Camp Chippewa

Try JibJab Sendables® eCards today!

2009 Photos Posted!

They're here! Photos from the summer are on the camp website and ready for you to relive last summer's adventures. You can even order copies for a perfect holiday gift....just in time.

Check them out now!

Helicopter Parents?

Time Magazine recently ran a feature about the idea of over-parenting. While I enjoy the luxury of having very supportive camp parents at Chippewa, I admit that one of the largest barriers to promoting the idea of camp to new families often can be traced back to very protective parents. This video from the CBS Early Show elaborates a bit more on the point, as does the Time Magazine article which it references.

Bigfoot or Lost Counselor....You Decide

Not too far from Cass Lake, a hunter's camera snapped a mysterious shot. The Bemidji Pioneer, our local newspaper, has created quite a stir with this report. Could this be a remnant of the counselor hunt still wandering the northwoods?

You decide after reading this article.

A Wintry Reminder

Marshall Bruner snapped this shot a couple of days ago of the rock cairn that we built at the final campfire.....standing strong and leading the way to summer 75. If you squint, you can see Star Island in the background.

Holiday Gift for Your Own Handyman

Have a handy and adventurous family member who loves canoeing. I thought this might be a cool project for a patient and skillful woodworker.

Northwest Canoe has free downloadable plans for cedar strip canoes. They typically charge quite a bit for these, but it looks like they want more cedar strip canoes paddling around next year. Thus, they have temporarily made the plans free to download. Check out the plans....kind of cool. Maybe you could bring your own canoe to camp next summer!

Chippewa on CanoeStories.com

It seems that the variety and expanse of the Chippewa canoe tripping program has caught the eye of CanoeStories.com. Actually, the link to our website from Canoe Stories has been active for several years, but it's worth noting that CanoeStories.com, a well-known resource page for canoeing enthusiasts, has noted that the Chippewa website is a good resource for photos and trip logs for great paddling destinations, like the Quetico and the Bloodvein. I couldn't agree more! Some amazing photos and informative trip journals.

Check out their webpage. You'll find the Chippewa link as you scroll down.

The NFL and Camp

I trust everyone had a wonderful and filling Thanksgiving. Like me, I suspect most everyone had his fair share of football over the weekend. One of the things that struck me during the Lions game (my poor, beloved Lions) was the public service announcement by the NFL called NFL Play 60. In short, it is an effort to encourage kids to get outside, to play and to exercise.

I love the concept of encouraging everyone to head out to the front yard or the local park to play. What struck me, however, is that those of us who head to camp already benefit from "play." The difference, however, is that the play is not contrived.

From the moment a camper arrives on the bus, he is outside, walking (or running) from each activity, playing soccer, or trimming his jib. This kind of adventure promotes a healthy lifestyle, one in which the boys are challenged not only in the activities, but by their very existence in the wilderness environment. Imagination, physical fitness and perseverance are among the many benefits to camping in the great outdoors.

I applaud any effort that promotes playing outside, like the NFL's campaign. I am, however, even more convinced that this 75 year old camp continues to thrive because of the enduring values brought about by outdoor adventures. A generation or two ago, playing outside was part of life. Now, it appears that we have to "sell" the idea. What was old is new again....though Chippewa never fumbled this concept away.

Logan's Dream

Well, I finally thought I'd post a picture of our newest future camper. Logan makes his Chippewa blog debut dreaming of the day he paddles the Bloodvein River....and earning that tam!(Thanks, Chippewa crowd, for indulging a proud new parent.)

Camp is Awesome: Chapter 1

Welcome back, Grant. Thanks.
I am introducing a new short, interactive series for everyone to hopefully participate in here on the Camp Chippewa Blog. I will be sharing my favorite stories about some of the many places that make camp so awesome. Many of you have been to these places, so please chime in on the comments section to share your favorite story. Today's place...

Hook Island

Brief History - JP and Jerry found it. Cap loved it. It's in Canada. It rules.

In the summer of '99 Mike Thompson (back before he was Director. That's right, I know him way back when) and I took Demonia Cabin to Hook. Back then Demonia had some long time all-stars that some of you may have heard of like Evan Tomer and Scott Tonsfeldt. After a long morning of fishing in the pouring rain and only catching one fish, we took a break for lunch and some relaxation in the cabin. In the midst of me trouncing everyone in some UNO, we began to hear this low rumble in the distance. It was constant, so we know it wasn't thunder, but that was all we knew. We continued playing cards, but the rumble kept getting louder and louder. To me it sounded exactly like a stampede of horses. Unlikely it was horses since it is an island, but I was still pretty sure.
At this point we all got up and headed to the windows to see what it was. Looking out across the lake you could see what appeared to be a giant white wall in the distance spreading across the width of the lake. The wall continued to get closer and closer until it just off the tip of the "hook." We were about to be in the eye of hail storm! As soon as the storm came it was gone and I have never seen anything like it again.

OK, your turn! Light up the comments section with your favorite Hook Island story.

New Entrance Sign

A quick visit by CJ to camp finds the Chippewa entry sign under construction...quite a contrast to the old sign you see in the background. The stone base will soon be home to a wood Camp Chippewa sign to welcome everyone to camp.

A Chippewa Story...Tradition

Part 3 of our special 4-part Chippewa Story DVD.

Memories of Camp and Staff

I recently received an email from a longtime camper who hasn't been able to make it back the last couple of years. It struck me that what he says resonates with most of us who have ever been to Chippewa. Here's a short excerpt from the email:

"To be honest, I probably didn't go through a week during the summer where I didn't look back and wish that I was at camp that very moment, whether it was dominating at scatterball, running through camp to make flag ceremony, or even just hearing the van's horn honk and welcoming back the older campers fresh out of their own Canadian adventure. Tradition is something that deeply ties me to camp. The memories that I hold remain vivid (as I hope they should remain). However, the sense of family ties me closely to camp. At no point in my 4 years did I ever feel that I could not speak with any staff member if I had a problem, a story, a concern, or a highlight of my day. I view the staff (meaning JP, Cammy, all counselors, and, of course, you) as my family. Just through the way that people would say hello on the deck and ask me how I felt and how my day was means so much to me. It is amazing how personal you and the staff made my camp experience."

Needless to say, I love receiving emails or letters like this, and I receive them regularly from parents, alumni and current campers. They make my day.

The Winner is Announced....

Another Reason for Camp

It's remarkable how many opportunities that boys have daily, whether soccer practice, piano lessons, or even ski trips. They provide some wonderful memories and can build skills. Sometimes, however, I wonder if our guys aren't too scheduled, bouncing from one activity to the next in their daily lives at home.

Michael Thompson (he and I share the same name!) has written an interesting article about free time. At Chippewa we have regular open evenings...a chance to just play! Last summer, one of my best memories was watching several of the younger boys bolt from Knutson Hall after dinner to head to the beach to finish the sand castles that they had begun during free swim. It's valuable time and we make sure that we leave time in the camp schedule for this kind if play.

Here's the article that's worth a quick look!

The New CHIPS

Arriving in your mailbox late this week will be the new CHIPS newsletter. We've given CHIPS a major face lift and a new format.

What's to like? For one thing, current families, staff and alumni will all receive the same newsletter. We're one big family after all! Also, CHIPS will be full color with lots of great pics. As always, it's a great source for news on anything Chippewa.

Look for it soon and enjoy!

75th for $75 Raffle Ready

Our 75th Anniversary celebration raffle is ready to roll! Check back on October 31st to see if you've won the grand prize....a 4-week tuition for just $75! The winner will be announced here on the blog on Halloween.

For all of those who enrolled by October 16th, you've been entered into the raffle. Plus your special 75th Anniversary t-shirt will arrive by mail next month.

New Digs for Alumni

I'm happy to announce that big plans are underway for Chippewa alumni. For the past two years, we have been exploring the possibility of building an alumni cabin in camp. Now those plans are beginning to take shape.

In just about a week, the foundation will be poured for a scenic cabin on the shore of Buck Lake, nestled among the towering red and white pines just a few feet from the lake. The goal is to have the cabin complete in time for our 75th Anniversary.

We'll be keeping you updated on progress and design. Then, it will be time for you to make some plans of your own...a return home to camp!

A New Arrival

Logan Oliver Thompson arrived last night into the excited arms of his camp director parents.  As new parents, Natalie and I could not be more thrilled.  He's a healthy, and I must add, beautiful little boy.  Mom agrees...and she's also doing great.

This past summer once again found the boys of Chippewa catching all sorts of fish. From Buck Lake dock to the Missinaibi, lines were tightened and rods were bent. Northern, walleye, crappies and sunfish in abundance. But for me, the most exciting fishing this summer happened on Scattergood Lake in Ontario. This Lake Trout sanctuary is only open to fishing for a month a year and we happened to the at just the right time. Boy were we lucky!

I offer some pictures to serve as proof (rare for a fisherman!)

Sailors Rejoice!

Chippewa sailors will be charting a new course for camp next summer. As part of our 75th Anniversary celebration, several special canoe and fish trips are in the works...now you can add an amazing 8-day sail trip.

Skipper John Crabb and five Chippewa sailors will make a crossing of Lake Superior from the Apostle Islands to Isle Royale. For eight days, they'll explore the spectacular beauty of Lake Superior, crossing the width of Lake Superior. Included in the journey will be several days spent "at sea" and even a night crossing. This is a sailor's dream and an experience that can't be missed.

The trip will weigh anchor during the second session, so make plans to chart your course on this unbelievable trip. It is said that skippers who can sail Lake Superior can sail anywhere in the world. My hope is that the Chippewa skippers accept the challenge of Lake Superior.

You Can Take the Counselors Out of Chippewa....

....but you can't take the Chippewa out of Counselors!

( Simon, Marshall and Jerry tailgate Chippewa-style with camper Chris M. at a Brewers game a couple of weeks ago.)

Special T-shirt for Early Enrollment

Check your mailboxes for our 75th Anniversary Special Offer. Plus, you could get this sweet shirt....makes me laugh every time I see it! (It's only available to those who enroll by October 16th, so don't wait too long!)

Peter Evans designed the JP, Jerry and Mary characters, which might explain a bit about how the world looks through Peter's eyes.

Enrolled Already?

Yep! Zach S. and Joe M. have already enrolled for next summer. Nice job boys....it's a tie for first. I'll need super slo-mo to see who crossed the wire first.

Welcome back Joe and Zach! Big stuff is ahead next summer and I'm so glad you'll be there for it.

2010 Dates Are Set

The dates are set for our 75th summer!

2010 Dates

Full Season - June 20th to August 13th

1st Session - June 20th to July 16th

2nd Session - July 18th to August 13th

Badger Camp I - June 20th to July 3rd

Badger Camp II - July 18th to July 31st

You'll notice that camp starts on a Sunday next year, which is a change from the last couple of summers. All of the other information will be posted on the camp website by Monday or Tuesday (our web administrator is on a short vacation), including the 2010 Enrollment page! Don't wait, join us for the 75th Anniversary summer!

The Chippewa Story, Part II - Adventure.

Letting Go....A Parent's Perspective

On the heels of a wonderful summer comes an insightful article from Michael Gerson published a week ago in the Minneapolis Star Tribune. Parents, this is for you....

Letting go of your kids---on purpose.

Today is Counselor Hunt!

Snapshots of 2009, Part 4