New Movie on the Website

Check out the new preview to the 2007 Chippewa Highlights DVD. The two minute video has some great highlights like sail races, a huge northern pike being landed and Vietnam Hill. Find it here or by clicking the link to the right of this panel.

If you have problems viewing the movie, make sure you have Adobe Flash installed on your browser. If you don't you can get it here...it will only take a second!

Score a Chippewa Blanket

Want to impress the inspectors each morning at camp this summer? Then grab yourself a new Chippewa fleece blanket for your bed! How do you get one? It's easy, just bring a friend to a Chippewa Open House and you'll be headed home with this blanket. Just in time for the cold winter months...and for camp!

Last Child in the Woods, Part II

Last December, I recommended that parents pick up a copy of Last Child in the Woods by Richard Louv. The book asserts that children today do not spend enough time outdoors, leading to what he calls "nature deficit disorder." I recently came across an interview with Mr. Louv in which he shared this interesting thought:

"But most of all, I think our plugged-in kids, who spend so much time in front of the TV and computer screen, are missing out on many chances to feel a sense of wonder. What I'd really like to communicate to fellow parents is that we shouldn't think about a child's experience in nature as an extracurricular activity but as a vital element for a healthy child's development. That's what the new research strongly suggests."

Perhaps the reason that overnight camps are largely found in wilderness settings is an inherent understanding of this need. Beyond the sense of wonder, the benefits of a wilderness setting can be seen daily around a camp.

Open House Dates

With the winter months in full swing, it's time to warm up with the new Chippewa Highlights 2007 DVD. You can watch the premiere at any of the open houses in a city near you! First stops? St. Louis and Kansas City. Click here to see a list of locations and times of all of our Open Houses, and be sure to stop by to claim your free copy of the DVD and a special gift from camp. See you there!

Knutson Hall Redux

I am sad to report that on Saturday morning, January 5th, the new Knutson Hall burned down as it approached completion. The fire was likely the result of a faulty fuel oil heater that was being used by our contractor, Dawson Byler. It was a purely accidental and unpredictable event. The loss of the building will be completely covered by the insurance company.

So what's next? Rebuild! Construction will begin almost immediately and the building will be rebuilt in time for camp this summer. The construction of the new building should proceed quickly since many of the major design decisions have already been made. In addition, our contractor will be bringing in more workers to move the project along quickly.

We are very excited about the summer ahead and look forward to Mary's first spaghetti dinner on June 19th in front of the new fireplace in the new Knutson Hall. It is an exciting time and I'll be sure to post pictures of the dining hall as it rises once again!

Only Six Months Until Camp

It's a new year and we are racing towards camp's 73rd summer. As we look ahead to the summer, don't forget to join us at the open houses around the country. Dates will be posted in the coming week, so keep an eye out. In addition to receiving a free copy of the 2007 Highlights DVD, we'll have a special gift for those who attend, as well as another gift for those who bring a friend to the open house. More details in a few days! See you soon!