1st Session Photos - V

Olson cabin heads out on the Voyageurs and the Mad Men of Muir prep for the Flindt River!

1st Session Photos - IV

Battle of Bands in Knutson Hall

1st Session Photos - III

Spot on the Wolverine

View Wolverine 2012 in a larger map Watch their journey unfold as they "check-in" on the Wolverine River.

1st Session Photos - II

The Wolverine Departs!

Late yesterday afternoon, Athabasca cabin left cabin for Chippewa's first descent of the Wolverine River in remote northern Manitoba.  Final destination?  The saltwater Hudson Bay!

1st Session Photos - I

We're Ready!

Bring on the Campers!  Ready for 2012!

Lands' End Helps Outfit Chippewa

Need a duffel bag for camp?  Or maybe a new windbreaker with a sweet Chippewa logo on it?  Or maybe dad could use a new polo before he hits the links this summer.

Camp Chippewa has again partnered with Lands' End to help outfit Chippewa campers, parents and alumni.  It's a great time to visit out our partner website since camp is just around the corner.  Save some time in finding a few odds and ends before the summer.

Check them out now!

Alumni to Hit the Trail

Just in case you missed it, the second Camp Chippewa Alumni Canoe trip heads out this summer in late July.  CJ and Mike Endres will lead these intrepid explorers as they relive some old memories and certainly have a few laughs along the way.  It's going to be a blast!  I only wish I could join everyone this time around.

More details can be found on our Alumni Canoe Trip page.  Space is very limited!

Chippewa Highlights 2011 - Part 1

(special thanks to camper Alex Haft for editing and producing the video)

Parent Pre-Camp Checklist

It won't be long now!  Camp is just around the corner.  Our Pre-Camp Checklist was mailed a few weeks ago to help make planning for summer 2012 go smoothly.  If you have yet to receive one, please give me a call at 800-262-1544 or send me a quick email and I'll send one to you post-haste.  And don't forget to review all of the information on our new "Prepare" section of the Chippewa website.

Great Gift for Grads

A saavy camp mom spotted this great gift idea for any graduates that need a useful and fun gift idea.  Using reclaimed tent material, this dopp kit is a great gift!

Preparing for Summer 2012

A quick reminder that our new website now contains just about all of the information you may need to prepare for camp.  The newly designed Prepare for Camp section includes information on travel, packing, forms and even payments.  Take a look if you haven't already done so and as always, please don't hesitate to call or email if you have any questions!

The Eagle's Nest

Word from CJ who was camp last weekend:

"I am sad to report that the eagle’s nest fell down sometime during the winter! The old dead white pine that supported the massive nest is broken off about half way up. The nest and its occupants has amazed and entertained us for many years, and it provided a key focus for Doc Peairs' attention. With the high population of bald eagles in the area, I hope that a couple of eagles will find another suitable tree in the area. There certainly are a few good ones to choose from. When we were up there last weekend, eagles were flying along the CassLake shore as usual."

Latest CHIPS Hot Off the Presses

Check you mailbox!  Not on our mailing list?  Email Michael today!
 mike@campchippewa.com

Tam-A-Rack

It would seem that the tam-a-rack is not reserved for Knutson Hall.  Well done, Hafts.

The Developing Brains of Boys

Having just returned from Kansas City and Lawrence, I wanted to offer a big thanks to Dr. Tina Bryson for sharing her research on child development.  As you may know, Chippewa hosted Tina in several cities to discuss her research as described in her best-selling book The Whole-Brain Child, sharing insight for our Chippewa families, alumni and friends of camp.  I'm excited to say that we will continue to partner with Tina.

This Spring, we traveled to Chicago, Houston, LA, Kansas City and Lawrence with Tina and we'll look to hit other cities in the Fall and into 2013.  Tina's information has been wonderfully received and most importantly, she is a big believer in Chippewa.  Thanks Tina!

PS-  Don't forget to check our new "Events" page to see where the next great Chippewa event will be!

Chippewa Videos

One of my favorite parts of our new website is the Chippewa Theater.  Not only are there links to tons of photos, but we've linked several of our videos from our YouTube and Vimeo sites.   Plus, if you visit both the YouTube and Vimeo channels, we've uploaded even more of camp's videos.  We're also in the process of digitizing several of our old videos and plan to upload those as they're ready.

Check out our theater and stay tuned for even more!

(PS- One of our campers is working on the 2011 Highlight videos, to be released first on Facebook Video page and our Vimeo channel very soon!)

We're Live!

The new CampChippewa.com has just launched!  Make sure to test drive it and let us know what you think!

http://www.CampChippewa.com/

Chippewa Earns Safety Honor for 2011

Once again, Chippewa is proud to have achieved the Safety 1st Honor from Markel Insurance Company.  This is our third consecutive year to earn this designation for our "proven safety record, which demonstrates (our) superior commitment to safety." Congrats to the Chippewa staff and campers in helping to achieve this honor!

Chippewa Featured on Intentional Parent

Dr. Tina Bryson interviews me about the value of sleep-away camp, the idea of resilience and a few more Chippewa ideas.  Thanks Tina and Intentional Parent!

Chicago Rendezvous - Broomball

The guys had a blast playing broomball in Chicago! A great night of action for the Chippewa crowd.   Meanwhile, Sam was in St. Louis hanging with that crowd.  Next stop?  Houston!

A New Chippewa Website

As launch dates nears for the brand new Chippewa website, I thought I'd post a little teaser.  I'm excited about the redesign!  We should be live in just about two weeks or sooner!

ACA Results

I recently received official notice from the American Camp Association (ACA) that Camp Chippewa passed with flying colors during our ACA accreditation visit last summer.  We are proud to have again earned this distinction by having met or exceeded the rigorous standards laid out by the ACA.

Congrats to the Chippewa campers and staff for a successful visitation last August!

Chippewa Goes Primetime

The holidays found a few of the Chippewa crowd on primetime TV.  The Pattons made waves at the Packers game with their cheeseheads while an anonymous alumnus donned his Royal Stewart tam for a Christmas Day Lakers basketball game.  Both were caught on national television.  

A New Year Has Arrived...

and along with it, a short email from a camp mom :

"It's New Year's Day and thoughts turn to my son's upcoming and long anticipated adventure to Hudson Bay. The winter winds are swirling outside when all of a sudden a very large section of our backyard fence begins to collapse. I call in the "troops" and within 10 minutes my son has tied a most secure set of sailing knots (learned at Chippewa) to brace the fence until we can replace the rotten posts. Once again Camp Chippewa has proven its worth. One never knows!"

Sincerely, Grateful Camp Chippewa Mom


Happy New Year!

Happy Holidays from Camp!

Personalize funny videos and birthday eCards at JibJab!

Holiday Shopping Guide - Lower Camp

We're back with more ideas for the holidays.  This time, it's down to Lower Camp we go.  Many of these campers are in their first or second summer at Chippewa, so here are some fun things to get ready for summer 2012!

Nite Ize Bug Light - Not a whole lot to say here, except that this is a fun little light to have hanging around your area in the cabin.  Since we don't have bugs in our cabins, this seems like a reasonable replacement.  About $13 for cool factor.

Why Not Games - Knots aren't just for sailors or fishermen, they're for aspiring canoe trippers as well.  This is a great kit to get a head start on knots.  Great illustrated cards to help keep everyone busy for a while as they hone their skills.  Just $5!

Plastic Fencing Training Set - Hey campers, you can thank me later for this! Yes, I may be the fencing master at camp and yes, I may be sympathetic to all things fencing, but these are pretty slick.  What swashbuckling camper wouldn't want this!  While it is very cool looking, it is also very practical if you have an aspiring fencer.  In reading the reviews, you will see that this set helps develop proper skills in the sport of fencing, unlike a random nerf set of foam swords!  I'm a fan.  And if you are real enthusiastic, opt for the wireless scoring option that will make it even cooler and more accurate for true fencers.  Mask and foil set (two color choices) starts at $68 and is on sale!

Don't forget to read last year's suggestions for more great ideas, like the Eyeclops!

Photo album and Smugmug updated with lost photos.

While putting together this years photo album I happened across some photos that did not make into smugmug. Needless to say I added them immediately. I also couldn't help but notice just how many great photos we have from 2011! It was a special summer and we have a lot of pictures that capture that fact beautifully. If you haven't seen them yet you need to go check them out.

I will be finished with the 2011 photo album in a few days and will post a link both here and on our Facebook page that will you allow you to view it or get yourself one. It sure has been fun reliving last summer.

Holiday Shopping Guide - Upper Camp

Let's move right up the line to Upper Camp.  These guys will be spending less and less time in camp as their trips get longer in Canada.  So, I'll again be focusing on what the guys might like if they're on Canadians.

Cabela's Digital Fish Scale - I like this small scale.  There are some giants lurking in the depths of the Canadian lakes and rivers and if you want proper bragging rights, then this little gadget should do the trick.  Nice price at just $13.

GoPro HD Hero2 - I can almost hear the phone ringing after I post this suggestion.  By far the most expensive item I have ever recommended and no doubt I may be pandering a bit to the campers on this one.  But the reality is that this is an awesome video camera that has a million uses in and out of camp, especially for the active ones in the family.  There were two of these cameras in camp during 2011 and the videos were great.  We have some wonderful footage of shooting rapids and portaging that could only be captured with a device like this.  And yes, a camper brought one of them to camp.  It's lightweight and easy to operate. Though ti costs more than most things I'd recommend, it's less than other great video cameras, so it makes the final cut.  This one is listed at $299, but shop around for the best price.

Fred Senior Cardboard Moosehead - Hanging above the door of Knutson Hall is a moose rack brought back to camp in the 1970s from the Bloodvein River. The name of that moose rack is the tam-a-rack. As you know, tams are a big deal at Chippewa.  They are earned only on Canadian trips and it is with great pride that, upon entering Knutson Hall, a Chippewa camper or counselor reaches up and hangs his tam on the moose rack.  The tam-a-rack is reserved only for tams.  I realize that some moms may not want a dead carcass on their walls at home, so this is a great substitute.  Grab the cardboard moose rack, hang it on the wall and each tam can hang happily in his room.  It's about $50 and they get to put it together!


Don't forget, you can also find last year's ideas for Upper Camp by clicking the "shopping guide" label below.

Chippewa Gets A Mention On Intentional Parent

Great thoughts from the panel about being creative with your children.  Look for the Chippewa mention at around 35:20.  Also a few gift ideas in here!

Thanks for the shout, Tina!

Holiday Shopping Guide - Middle Camp

Ah, Middle Camp!  Seemingly always in the middle of the heap when it comes to lining up for camp store (e.g. "Lower Camp, you're first and head right up the line" or "Let's start with Upper Camp and come down").  Well, let's break the routine and begin this year's shopping guide with the guys from Chalet.

Last year's guide had some great ideas for this age group, especially since they are really beginning to build their skills in so many activities.  I thought we could take a slightly different tack with this year's ideas.  So, for all of you Mom's and Dad's, here it goes, Chippewa's guide to what dudes want for the holidays:


"Don't Die Out There" Playing Cards - As campers enter Middle Camp, their canoe trips get longer and generally they spend more time out of camp at Hook Island or on the Apostle Sail Trip.  A favorite past time is playing cards in your tent in the evening, so why not add a little survival silliness to the whole thing.  Very fun!

JOBY GorillaTorch Switchback Lamp -  I like JOBY products, like the Gorillapod that I recommended last year.  This is a slick light set that is a combination lamp and head light.  Great in camp and on the trail since it packs small.  I have the WestMarine listing for about $39, but it's also on Amazon for all of you Prime-timers out there.

Portable Ping Pong Set - As any Chippewa camper knows, we play table tennis, not ping pong, at Chippewa.  With that said, I can't imagine why this isn't the greatest thing ever.  Ever hear the words "I'm bored!"  Not an issue with this set...instant ping pong, er table tennis, anytime, anywhere.  Not as high quality as the Chippewa tables, but not bad in a pinch.  (It's worth adding that I've assumed that your nice china or Waterford crystal is well stashed and has been for many years.)

That's it for Middle Camp.  Next up?  Just like unwrapping gifts, it's a surprise!

Sailors' Secret Revealed

If you've been on the Apostle Island Sail trip, you know one of camp's best kept secrets.  Yes, the Canadians are exceptional trips, but every once and while, a diversion might be good.  In this case, it's aboard a 30 foot sloop or 40 foot cat.

Now, Yahoo Travel has posted one of the secrets. It's one of their top 10 "secret" islands to explore.

Take a look, then make sure to sneak away to the Apostles in the next year or two!

A Thanksgiving Recipe

I'm going to assume everyone has the turkey and stuffing handled.  However, if you're looking for an outstanding "comfort food" kind of dessert, check out the Apple Crisp from Mary and Ada's Cookbook (and yes we have a few remaining copies if you'd like to buy one.  Just email me!)

Apple Crisp
12 apples sliced and placed in 12"x14" pan
Sprinkle apples with 3/4 cup of sugar

Crumbs to put on top of apples
2 cups flour
2 cups oatmeal
2 cups brown sugar
1/2 cup melted margarine or butter
1 tsp cinnamon

Bake at 350 degrees for 50 minutes or until done.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Chippewa Wanderings

It struck me on the flight back from NYC how remarkable it is that the Chippewa family, begun more than 76 years ago with just five boys from Tulsa, now represents countless US cities and more than 15 countries.  Certainly it hit me like a brick wall when I landed in Beijing earlier this month (thanks to Calvin W. and his family!) that the world is truly shrinking.  Just this week, I mailed three brochure to St. Petersburg, Russia.  Our one camper from Moscow a few years ago may have been just a hint of what's to come.

For three decades now, Mexican families have been trekking north to Chippewa.  JP visited Mexico City not too many years ago.  Now, even the small island state of Martinique is home to a Chippewa camper.  Simply Amazing!  Most remarkable is how relevant the Chippewa experience is across cultures.  Bring boys to Cass Lake, remove technology and immerse them in an adventurous and rewarding wilderness experience, and what remains are boys who grow together.

To of our many international campers, staff and alumni, thanks for making the journey and for widening the reach of our unique camping philosophy. In honor, I attach a photo from 1981 of Ricky G., our first Mexican camper with his very first fish caught in Lake Windigo.  (Turns out, his first summer was my first summer.  And yes, we were cabinmates in Bunkhouse Cabin.  Howdy Ricky!)

The Chippewa Train arrives in London - briefly.

Last month a brief, but fun, unofficial Chippewa rendezvous hit the shores of our Island Nation.

Long-time Chippewa Alum, Charles B (1990's) stopped off on his way from doing business somewhere in Europe for a couple of nights of fun in London - meeting up with Roger C (1990's), Jim F (2000's) and me (2000's).

As with all good Chippewans, the theme of the weekend had to be sport and competition - Friday night saw us in Central London for a spot of cricket - always a fun sight to see England winning, even more fun when trying to explain the rules of cricket to a foreign guest - apparently several 'ground rule doubles' were scored? We even managed an appearance on live TV.

Saturday brought more sports - following a morning of rugby (another England win), we headed to north London for a football match (ok, ok, soccer match) courtesy of Roger C.

So wherever you are in the world, have a look, you might find a Chippewa Alum or two

Submitted by SJT

Raffle Winners Announced!

Congrats to the Winners!

Camp Counselor or Internship?

An interesting post on USA Today over the summer argues that working at camp is more valuable than becoming an intern, especially if you are looking for professional skills.  I have to say that many of his points are right on the money, in particular his summary :


"Working at {camp} has taught me perhaps the most important skill for any job: grit."


Is grit a key component as a counselor?  Read his thoughts. Then come work at camp!

Chippewa Surfs in LA

We had a blast surfing last weekend in Manhattan Beach with the LA campers.  Thanks to the Brysons for hosting and to Teddy M. for joining us!

Raffle Deadline is Today

Don't forget to enroll by midnight tonight for your chance to win big!  You'll be entered into our Halloween raffle for a free session of camp.  See my other post for all of the details, including five other pirzes.

Enroll now and your name will be entered!

Research and the NFL

A couple of years ago, I wrote a short reaction to NFL Play 60 campaign.  Now, some researchers are actually studying the impact camps can have on a sedentary lifestyle for children.  A summary of the research paper suggests that camp is (as we already know intuitively as camp families) 'an antidote to the summer sedentary behaviors of young people'.

Now that my Detroit Lions may actually have a team, I see more and more of the Play 60 campaign ads.  Now get out there and play....then come to camp for some 24/7 sloth-busting!

Chippewa Hits the Road

Dates for our 2011-2012 Rendezvous events are already being set, including surfing in Los Angeles next weekend.  Sam and I are excited to see as many camper families as we can, so if you'd like to host a fun event in your town, let us know!  We'll bring along one or two of your favorite counselors to join the fun as well!

In the meantime, take a look at our current plans and check back as the fall and winter months unfold.

PS- We'll have tons of cool Chippewa stuff to give away to everyone who joins us.  Plus check out the new t-shirts for anyone who brings a friend to the event.  Just introduce a new friend to Chippewa and you can snag your choice of one of these sweet shirts.

   

Does Sasquatch wander the woods at camp?

First Deadline for Raffle is Today!

The first deadline for our October 31st raffle is today.  Remember, by enrolling by September 30th, your name will be entered twice for the raffle.  A free session of camp is up for grabs, along with five other prizes and a special limited edition early enrollment t-shirt!

The final deadline to enter the raffle is October 15th, so you still have time.  But why not double your chances!  Enroll today!

More details about the raffle are on our earlier post.....

"The Meaning of Summer Camp"

Just in case you missed this Time magazine article a while back, I thought I would post it for you.  It provides a wonderful perspective for parents who are considering sending their son (or daughter) to camp.  A few excerpts to tempt you:

"So I wasn't looking for some fancy culinary camp or robotics camp or whatever is fashionable now, just for someplace that teaches the appropriate interactions of sticks, weenies and flame."

"This defies what I suspect is now the whole point of sleepaway camp: if 19th century campers were meant to retrieve lost survival skills--trapping, fishing, gunnery--21st century campers need to work on their social skills......For kids who are allowed to text during dinner, who have their parents on speed dial for whenever they get in trouble or need a ride, who communicate using more acronyms than a four-star general, a little autonomy is probably long overdue"

And maybe my favorite:

"Maybe it wouldn't be bad to practice distance, not just physical but psychological; let our kids take a walk alone in the woods, maybe do the same ourselves, and relish the fresh conversations we'll get to have when we are together again come summer's end."

Take a look!

Even More Photos from 2011

I posted just about 1000 more photos from summer 2011.  Among them are some great pics from the North Knife and Gammon Rivers.  Some unbelievable photos from both those trips make me eager to get back out on the trail.

Check them out on the Camp Chippewa SmugMug site.

Win Big by Enrolling Now!

Our big drawing for a free four-week session is underway.  To be entered, just enroll by October 15th and your name will be included in our annual Halloween drawing.  Don't forget, you can double your chances if you enter by the end of September...two entries for each enrollment!  Plus, even more prizes are possible, including a camp store credit or tuition credit.  Michael has all of the details if you haven't received the special email or mailing.

And....everyone who enrolls by October 15th will receive this sweet special edition Chippewa t-shirt, only available for those who join camp by the October 15th deadline.  Don't wait!  Enroll now!!!

Summer 2011 Photos Posted

It was a spectacular summer and some spectacular photos share the story.  We have just posted more than 2000 photos from the summer with more on the way in just a few days.  What a year!

Check them out on the Camp Chippewa SmugMug site. You can order copies, have pics printed on coffee mugs or t-shirts or just download your favorites. Have some fun by clicking through the galleries.

Special thanks for Craig Slutz, Sam Devine and a few campers who helped capture the summer with their lenses.

Dates for Summer 2012 Set

It's time to think summer 2012!  I'm already excited for next year, so make plans now to join us.  It's a summer of true adventure!

Check out the dates now!

New Brochure Released

Over the summer, the new Chippewa brochure arrived at camp.  Now it's headed your way.  We are excited to announce that the new Chippewa brochure is on its way, so check your mailbox soon.  It's awesome!