1st Session Photos III

Spot on the North Knife

View North Knife 2011 in a larger map

1st Session Photos II

I Can See Clearly Now....

The rain is gone and the sun is shining! I just arrived in Cass Lake after missing the first part of camp. It's a bit unusual for me to arrive late, since I've been here for the past 10 years to start the summer. So, I didn't really know what to expect, but I should have. Everything was how it has always been. Rounds being fired, arrows hitting the gold, and JP could be heard on the tennis court from the Ivy Bowl down to Buck Lake.

Upon arrival, the rain that had been present for the past three days stopped! In spite of the rain, activity orientation carried on and the counselors have the guys off to a fantastic start. All of the campers have taken the swim test, and some have even passed their water ski test! Ranks are starting to be passed down on the Rifle and Archery ranges and the report from the Sail Shanty is that camp may have some new First Mates to take the helm of the Chippewa fleet. The men of the Athabasca are on their way down the North Knife to the Bay with the hopes of paddling with Beluga whales. Camp is buzzing and moving full speed ahead!

Last night, the stage became The House of Rock! The Airband competition was a crowd favorite and hilarious! The boys from Kamaji cabin were crowned champions with their rendition of Queen. Nice work Jack, Ian, Max, Josh, Andrew, and Philip!

Your Chippewa update from John Olson

1st Session Photos I

The guys from Muir cabin with a song and dance.

Hank wins the Lumberjack challenge for early enrollment by lighting the match!

Happy Birthday Jordan!

First fish of the summer.

Dip time....

...then Taps. All is right with the world.

Summer 76 has arrived.

The Chippewa Staff is Ready!

Only Two Days to Go...

...and the summer will be here! Don't forget those moustaches, old timers!

A Well-Worn Tradition

The tradition begins in less than a week!

A Sight to See

And he may be headed your way. A Minnesota man is paddling the Mississippi River from Lake Itasca to Minneapolis....standing up on a paddle board. The local newspaper had an article last week and he came through Cass Lake shortly after the report. I get tired just looking at him, but what a great adventure. To date, I now count a paddleboarder, canoeists, kayakers (including some of our counselors), a swimmer and even a man on an inflatable tube descending the Mississippi from the headwaters to Minneapolis or beyond. I wonder what's next.

New Activity for 2011

The rumors are true! I would like to officially announce that Trap Shooting will become regular activity at camp this summer. Awesome!

The program will be headquartered at a rarely used site in camp near the old clay pit and will be open to all campers who have earned at least their Sharpshooter in riflery and are at least 12 years old. You can expect 20 and 12 gauge shotguns and ranks that are similar to riflery. It's gonna be great!

So get excited! It isn't too often that we add a new activity to camp, but we think that trap is an exciting addition and is consistent with Chippewa philosophy. Watch for more details in the new couple of weeks before camp starts. It's another reason to join the summer 76....I wonder who will earn the first ever rank?

Headed North to Camp

The Tulsa office and Chippewa HQ is packed and ready for departure. Moby and I will be heading out tomorrow, arriving camp on Thursday. Natalie and Logan will join the fray for the month of July!

If you have an urgent question in the next day or two, please contact me on my cell phone. Otherwise, the best way to reach me is to call the camp line, 218-335-8807.

Summer 76 is here!

A New Look at Camp Chippewa!

In case you missed our release earlier this month!

A New Look at Camp Chippewa!

Camp Quotations – Charles Eliot

I thought this was kind of cool from the President of Harvard in the '20s, Charles Eliot.

"I have a conviction that a few weeks spent in a well organized summer camp may be of more value educationally than a whole year of formal school work."

Right on, brother! BY the way, I found it here:
Camp Quotations – Charles Eliot Summer Camp Culture

New Canoes A'Comin'

Last summer, we sent Nova Craft canoes on a test-run to the Arctic. What came back were resounding positive remarks about the canoes. The result : we have ordered three more Nova Craft Prospector canoes.

Chippewa voyageurs have even more to be excited about! Check them out here!

Camping Loses An Advocate

Once again I share sad news from the camping industry. Brad Schwartz, Director of Banner Day Camp, passed away on Saturday morning. Brad was a second generation camp director and I am proud to say that he was a friend and a fond supporter of Camp Chippewa.

Brad was passionate about providing summer camp opportunities for all kids, regardless of their socio-economic background. In an effort to provide this to underserved and deserving children, he co-founded SCOPE Midwest (Summer Camp Opportunities Provide an Edge). SCOPE is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping children in need by funding not-for-profit resident camps with “camperships” that offer the benefits of a safe, well-supervised and enriching summer camp experience. A few weeks ago, SCOPE honored Brad with the Lifetime Achievement in Camping Award for his years of dedication and commitment to the camping industry.

On behalf of the Camp Chippewa family, we send our condolences to the Schwartz family and the entire Banner Day Camp extended family.

Free Shipping at Lands End

Today is the last day to score free shipping from Lands End on the Camp Chippewa Land's End site. Be sure to use code FSCAMPW!

Shopping for Camp?

Well, we've just made it a bit easier to get ready for camp. Camp Chippewa and Lands End have teamed up to make shopping for camp a bit more convenient. From blankets to duffel bags, fleece jackets to swimsuits, you'll find almost all of our equipment list at Chippewa's new Lands End page. You can even add Chippewa logos to some of the items. Mom and dad might just want to add a Chippewa polo shirt to the shopping bag.

Check it out now!

Chippewa Partners to Combat Child Abuse

I am pleased to announce that Camp Chippewa recently sponsored on-air public service announcements to help shine a light on the problem of child abuse. The PSA's were broadcast on KKWB radio, 102.5 FM "the Coyote" in Bemidji, Minnesota.

It's important that we all learn to help those who may be living in fear and support those organizations that reach out with a helping hand.

Tweeting Chippewa

Follow us on Twitter!

@campchippewa

The Adventure Begins Here

A Fond Farewell to Sunny Moore

It is sad to report that Sunny Moore, longtime director at Clearwater Camp for Girls, passed away quietly last night. Sunny was a dedicated camping advocate and a source of wisdom and energy for camping professionals. She was also a firm supporter of Camp Chippewa, for which we will always be thankful.

We'll miss Sunny's enthusiasm and friendship and pass along our sympathies to the Clearwater family. You can read more about Sunny on Clearwater's website.

Reflections from the Arctic

In the last issue of our CHIPS newsletter, I published an excerpt from the journal kept by the crew on last summer's Arctic canoe exploratory, the Coppermine. The excerpt was written by one our the campers, Wil Gehl, who shared some wonderful thoughts, not only on the journey to the Arctic Ocean, but on his journey as a camper during his many years as a camper.

You can find the journal entry on our website. Take a look!

Thanks Wil! (pictured shooting some rapids on the Coppermine)

New Brochure to be Released

After six years of faithful service, the Chippewa brochure is being retired to the archives, long to be considered a collector's item. Soon to be released, the new Camp Chippewa brochure! Details are a secret, but be sure to check your mailbox in the coming weeks for a couple of copies. Then be sure to share it with family and friends. You'll be proud of what's ahead!

Chippewa Earns Award

For the second year in a row, Camp Chippewa has been recognized for its commitment to safety by earning the distinguished Safety First Award from Markel Insurance. The Safety First Award recognizes those camps with exceptional commitment to the health and safety of their campers and staff. I am proud to announce that Chippewa has again earned this award. Thanks to Markel and the Chippewa staff!

A Buck Lake Dream

Just ordered : the new Buck Lake dock system! The new Buck Lake dock will match the Shore Station style that is over on Cass Lake and will fully enclose the swim area, providing a more effective teaching environment. Plus, we'll have more space to fish from!!!

This improvement is a continuation of our An Enduring Legacy capital campaign supported by generous donors and foundation grants. Thanks to our loyal donors for their commitments to Chippewa.

Chippewa is Exclusively Yours

I was recently interviewed for an article in Milwaukee's Exclusively Yours magazine regarding the concept of free play time for boys. Andy Patten, the magazine's editor, has written an excellent summary of the debate that we have heard over the past few years. Thanks to Andy for highlighting the issue and for an excellent article.

I've posted the aritcle and interview on our website. Here's a link to In Defense of Play, or you can find a link on the Chippewa News page.

If you'd like to check out the magazine, head over to their website.

Houston Rendezvous

We painted the city red...or was it orange? Regardless, it was a fun day of paintball with the Texas crew!

Canoe Class?

Parts of a Canoe

There will be a test at camp. Or maybe not, but it sure is handy!

Jolson to Space?

Not exactly, but he may be taking his first step. John Olson, longtime (and current) Chippewa counselor, was recently selected as one of 38 teachers nationwide to be chosen for the prestigious Space Foundation Teacher Liaison program. John is a teacher in Evergreen, Colorado and Chippewa's archery guru among other talents.

A big time congrats to Jolson! For a man who loves moon rocks, Marvel comics, Lord of the Rings and Star Wars, it's hard to imagine a more fitting honor! Seriously, John, great job!

Ski Rendezvous in Breckenridge

It was a Chippewa first: a ski Rendezvous in Breckenridge. The guys had a great time skiing on Sunday over Presidents' Day weekend. A pizza party followed at the Milligan condo. Among the notables in attendance were Zach S., Joe M., Ben N and Will N., along with several counselors like Huggins, Jerry Malloy, Sam Noel, Luce, Jolson, Teddy, Simon Taylor and a few more. Ken and Marshall H. were also lingering about, as was Bo and John Norris. Natalie and I had a blast with everyone and plans are already underway for another ski rendezvous during Presidents' Day 2012. Thanks to everyone who turned up and look forward to a repeat next year.

Milwaukee Rendezvous

It was another curling extravaganza in Milwaukee last weekend.

Kansas City - Lawrence Rendezvous

So it turns out that taking photos of WhirlyBall is a bit of a challenge, but the guys from KC and Lawrence had a blast. Great turnout and great fun, essentially playing lacrosse in bumper cars.

St. Louis Rendezvous

Wanna play scatterball on trampolines? The guys in St. Louis did!

Phoenix Rendezvous

Nothing quite says Camp Chippewa like a good game of LaserTag....unless, of course, you are actually at Camp Chippewa. We had a great turnout and a fantastic time, though! Nice job, PHX crowd! Now here we come, St. Louis. It's time for scatterball on trampolines!

Chippewa Highlights 2010 - Part 1

Chippewa 2010 - Part 1, Summer Highlights

Episode 1 in a 7-part video series we're releasing weekly on the blog and our Facebook page. Check back soon and relive last summer's adventures...and maybe even to take a sneak peek into summer 2011.

Cold As....Well, Just Darned Cold!

In case you missed it, it's been cold at camp....very cold. Last Friday, it reached -38 degrees, while up at Hook Island it was -46 degrees. Check out the Weather Underground info for Cass Lake. Just amazing!

Lonnie Strikes Again

Lonnie, camp's maintenance director, wet his line again. This time, he was out ice fishing and snagged a monster walleye. It looks like he was just as surprised as we are.

Cool Chippewa Stuff

The Year of the Lumberjack kicks into high gear on Friday. First stop? Chicago! Join your Chippewa friends and some of your favorite counselors at the Rendezvous in your city. We'll have a bunch of cool Chippewa stuff to giveaway, like....well you'll just have to show up to find out! You can snag a new shirt, too, if you bring a friend with you who is new to camp. Heck, even if they aren't sure that they want to come to camp, bring them anwyay! You'll grab this sweet shirt and everyone will have a blast!

Here are the dates!

How To Make a Bed...

...or more specifically, "how to make a stylish bed." Of course, any Chippewa alum, camper or counselor knows this intuitively.

A longtime Chippewa alum from Houston recently spotted this article in Wall Street Journal, about, of all things, making a stylish bed. I'm not sure that the Chippewa crowd has ever been accused of being the most stylish crowd, but it certainly shows that we are a timeless bunch.

Step 1 - Make a Hospital Corner (scroll down to the bottom of the article)

Snowy Camp

CJ snapped this pic of the camp entry sign over New Years.

Goodbye 75...

...on to summer 76!

Happy New Year Chippewa crowd!

A Special Holiday Message

Personalize funny videos and birthday eCards at JibJab!

Holiday Shopping Guide, Lower Camp

Is this the final installment? Time will tell. Regardless, let's talk about Lower Camp, generally guys that are in 5th grade or 6th grades and younger. Many of these guys are new to camp and will be knee deep in all of the exciting new activities. So, let's focus on the random camp fun stuff!

1. French Spinner Blade Lure Kit : If you have a fisherman in the family, this would be very cool. A chance to build your own spinner lures! Spinners work well in our neck of the woods, and will serve well in Canada as well. For $32, it's sweet. Why not throw in some Gulp Fish Bait while you're at it. Fake worms or maggots make for interesting family moments.

2. Table Tennis Balls : Yes, the constant rhythm of table tennis balls pounding the tables is a true sign that you are standing in Lower Camp of Chippewa. Can you have too many? Probably, but this is a nice package at just $7.

3. EyeClops Nightvision 2.0 : So I admit I have no idea why you might need this, but it sure looks awesome. I suppose if nature calls late at night, you could make sure there weren't any bears lurking out there. Other than that, I know I'd love one if I were 10 again. (Hey Natalie, I might even want one now that I'm 40.) A little pricey at $50, but way fun.

Finally, the haystack is the masterpiece of meals for lower camp, so why not learn how to assemble the proper ingredients by buying Mary and Ada's Chippewa Cookbook. It will be a hit at the next birthday party....I think. See the previous post for purchasing options.

Holiday Shopping Guide, Middle Camp

As promised, more ideas for your Chippewa campers this holiday season. Our last post was for our older campers, now we move on down the line to the guys in middle camp. Generally, I am thinking about guys from about 6th to 8th grades.

Many of these guys are working on their in-camp activity skills and beginning to really improve while also demonstrating even better care for the equipment. Thus, I thought I'd find some cool stuff for the in-camp program that could help them progress through camp ranks. So here it goes:

1. Deerskin Shooting Glove - A great idea for the aspiring archers out there. This three-finger shooting "glove" helps with a smooth and comfortable release. And it only runs about $20.

2. 3/4 Finger Sailing Glove - Am I obsessed with gloves? Not really, but your sailor would really enjoy these Ronstan gloves. Working the damp lines on an X-boat can take a toll on a dedicated sailor, so these guys are pretty handy (pardon the pun.) Plus they look cool! About $30, but I see them on sale a bit too.

3. Gerber Crucial Multi-Tool - Yes, I'm suggesting something that has a knife on it, but this is handy and fairly safe tool. I prefer Gerber since it fits nicely in the hand. This one isn't loaded with a ridiuclous number of sharp things, either. Instead, needle-nose pliers are great for fishermen, the built-in carabiner clip is sweet and the knife is blunt (read : safer) and great for general camping, plus it's partially serrated for cutting line. Bonus : the green color is uber-cool. It runs $40.

Next stop Lower Camp...

PS- Did I mention Mary's cookbook yet?

Holiday Shopping Guide, Upper Camp

This time of year, parents often contact me for suggestions for gift ideas. So I thought I'd spend a couple of posts sharing some thoughts on great gift ideas for Chippewa campers. Needless to say, I like camping gear and sports equipment, so I'm going to limit my suggestions to three items per post. Plus, I'll try not to dwell on the obvious sleeping bag, tents, headlamps or similar items (though I'm happy to pass along suggestions for those as well.) Instead, I'll suggest some rather obscure, but cool items that are functional and long-lived.

In this post, I'm going to focus on the guys in upper camp (in high school). Since these guys spend a lot of time on the trail, it seems to me that the best gift ideas are in the camping gear realm. So here it goes:

1. Exped Drypack Pro 15 - This is a slick day pack that is waterproof and lightweight. It fits nicely in the canoe and has plenty of room for rain gear and other daytime stuff. If your camper is headed on a canoe trip of 16 days or more, I like this and it costs about $45.

2. Joby Gorillapod - More and more guys are bringing cameras on their canoe trips. This handy little guy will help them take great shots and doesn't really take up much room. It's normally about $25, but I often see it on sale.

3. Expedition Canoeing by Cliff Jacobson - This book is written by one of the great northern canoe explorers and guides. While all of his camping concepts aren't necessarily what we adopt at Chippewa, this book is a great resource for the canoe trip dreamer.

Finally, don't forget to order your copy of Mary's cookbook (see previous post). More soon for the guys in middle camp.

Chippewa Tour 2011

Dates are being set for 2011 Chippewa Rendezvous events in a city near you. Last year we hit 16 cities and this year we plan for even more.

We're always looking for hosts for these fun events, so contact Mike if you're interested in hosting the Chippewa crowd in your town. From curling to rock climbing, snow tubing to paintball, it's fun, it's easy and it's a great way to get ready for summer 2011. Stay tuned for dates....oh, and bring a friend!

Mary's Cookbook Arrives

Just in time for the holiday eating season, Mary and Ada's Camp Chippewa Cookbook has been released! From haystacks to donuts, grilled cheese to chocolate chip cookies, all of your favorites are here.

Order a copy today as a perfect holiday gift to mom or dad. The cost is $15 and all proceeds will be donated to the Chippewa Scholarship Fund. Just click here to make a credit card payment (press the Pay Now button to charge $15) or send a check payable to Camp Chippewa to Michael at camp's winter address in Tulsa.

As Mary would say : "Happy Cooking!"

And You Thought Chippewa Was Old...

ACA Turns 150

Just a quick note of congratulations to the ACA (American Camp Association), which turns 150 years old in 2010. Camp Chippewa is proud of our longterm accreditation by the ACA and it's worth noting that Cap and Mom Endres have been recognized as Pioneers of Camping by the ACA. A big hats off to our ACA friends.

A Snickerdoodle Scandal

It was a devastating defeat in the 2010 election....for the Chocolate Chip, the Chocolate Crinkle and Iced Maple Cookies. Yes, a populist uprising in upper camp led to the surprising victory for the write-in candidate Snickerdoodle cookie. Is it a scandal? Probably. But are the cookies fantastic? Like anything from Ada's cookie factory, the answer is yes!

So, in advance of the forthcoming "Mary & Ada's Camp Chippewa Cookbook", I present the Snickerdoodle recipe.


Snickerdoodle Cookies
1 cup soft shortening
1-1/2 cups sugar
2 eggs
2-3/4 cups flour
1 teasp soda
2 teasp cream of tartar
1/2 teasp salt

Cinnamon-Sugar Mixture: 2TBS sugar, 2 teasp cinnamon.

Mix thoroughly the shortening, sugar and eggs. Then add dry ingredients except the cinnamon-sugar mixture. Chill dough. Roll into balls of whatever size you want. Roll balls in cinnamon-sugar mixture. Place two inches apart on cookie sheet. Press down. Bake at 350˚ until cookie springs back when lightly touched.