Meanwhile, Over on Bearpaw...

Construction is well underway for the new tennis courts and fencing strip. JP's heart be proud!

The old court has been removed and excavation begins.
A view with Chalet cabin in the background.
A view from the porch of Eagle's Nest cabin.

It's a Dining Hall....Almost!

With the roof now on and most of the windows installed, the new Knutson is beginning to look like a dining hall!

Happy Thanksgiving!

With cool weather outside and a warm turkey in the oven, Natalie and I wish everyone a happy Thanksgiving with family and friends.

ps - Go Lions!

"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.

2007 Photos Posted

Just in case you missed it, the photos from 2007 have been posted on the Chippewa website. Photos from 1st Session, 2nd Session, the Seal River and other events capture our 72nd summer. Check them out by going to the Photo Albums page. Look for more photos from the summer, including photos from Rendezvous 2007, in coming weeks.

Roof Trusses Arrive

Just as the first snows began to fly at camp, the large timber roof trusses arrived for installation in the main dining room. Wow!

Bemidji's Wintry Reputation

The town of Bemidji, our nearest neighbor from camp, has always had a reputation of being the nation's ice box. After all, the snow flies early there and the US National Curling champions call Bemidji home. Now, the outdoor gear company Patagonia offers a heavy duty jacket called the Bemidji Jacket. I'm glad to know that Bemidji's reputation is still solidly intact. Check out the jacket here.

More Photos of Knutson

Mike Endres and I just took a short weekend trip to check on the progress of Knutson. It's truly exciting to watch the developments.

Standing at the entrance, looking towards new fireplace.
A view of the new serving line behind the fireplace.
Standing near Hudson Bay looking at the back of the kitchen.

Standing near Archery Bunker looking at new kitchen.