The Wetfoot

It's Conference Season!

2012-01-26T15:36:00.006-06:00

This is the time of year when many professional organizations hold their annual conferences. Why is this important? Well…for me this was my way into the Outdoor Education field. I found that it was a great way to gain a sense of what professionals are talking about, what the current trends are, and more importantly, this is where you make connections that grow into future opportunities.

Here are a few things that are on the horizon. Some of them I have attended, some I am attending this year and some I know due to word of mouth.

What: T.E.A.M. Conference (Teachers of Experiential and Adventure Methodology)
Where: Northeastern Illinois University
When: February 3-4:
I have attended this conference every year since its inception (except the very first one…so 22 years). It is great conference and the place that really gave me my start in experiential education. There is a real family feel with some of the industry giants in attendance including Laurie Frank, Chris Cavert and Karl Rohnke. Even if you are not a teacher, you will find a lot of useful tools here. In addition, it is relatively inexpensive.

What: A.C.C.T. International Conference (Association for Challenge Course Technology)
Where: Boston, MA
When: February 9-12
This is an organization that was originally developed to represent companies and individuals that build and inspect challenge courses. The organization still has that as a focus, but has turned their conference into something bigger; a focus on best practices in the adventure and experiential education world. There is something for everyone at this conference, from workshops on technical climbing, zip line, challenge course gear and gear research for all you gear wonks, as well as facilitation workshops taught by the top practitioners in the world. It is a more expensive conference then TEAM but well worth it.

What: N.C.C.P.S. (National Challenge Course Practitioners Symposium)
Where: Boulder, CO
When: February 23-25
This is often called the “un conference” in that it is an open concept symposium with no set workshops. It is an idea orchestrated by Tom Leahy, a noted practitioner in the field. It works like this: people show up and offer to teach on different subjects related to challenge courses and facilitation and if other attendees sign up to attend, you run a workshop. Several Manito-wish staff attends every year and say that it is amazing. It has great energy, lots of good people and loads of information.

What: A.E.E. International Conference (The Association for Experiential Education)
Where: Madison, WI
When: November 2012
AEE is the organization responsible for building this industry into the respected profession it has become. Their regional conferences are usually relatively inexpensive and are full of great workshops on everything from wilderness therapy to teaching games. They are also, due to their local focus, great opportunities to network in your region.

There are obviously more professional organizations and conferences, depending on your interest. The key is to do the research, make a choice…and go!

Mark Zanoni is the Leadership Program Director at Camp Manito-wish YMCA

Gear Review: The Cooke Custom Sewing Hybrid Line

2012-01-02T18:36:00.007-06:00

Ah, the Canoe. As described by the great Bill Mason, there is no object on earth that is more graceful and versatile than the Canoe. The practice of painting elegant paddle strokes in the water, transfer your craft and its contents on to your shoulders and slog two miles over mud and mountains to a completely different river system is truly a beautiful capability of the canoeist. However, this functionality could not be possible without the canoe packs that haul our pounds of staples, gear, and the 50 oz. coffee press we canoeists so desire. That is why the canoeing world must pay tribute to the Cooke Custom Sewing Hybrid line of canoe packs, undoubtedly the best of its kind. Cooke Custom Sewing Hybrid Line

The Pros:
Each Hybrid pack has similar features to a backpacking style backpack, making CCS Hybrids some of the most comfortable canoe packs for those long portages in the wild backcountry. CCS covers all the bases with a padded foam back, contoured shoulder straps including a sternum strap, a padded hip belt, and load lifter straps to keep the pack high and tight to your body. The Hybrid series also employs the “brain” function found on most backpacking style packs. The zipper pocket on the top of the pack adds 500-550 cubic inches of space (not to mention they are handy for holding the many small accessories canoeists carry). All in all, these packs are tough. I have paddled over 3,000 miles with CCS Packs, and I have had absolutely no issues with straps breaking or seams ripping. On the right and left hips of the pack, there is a small pocket that is great for fitting a water bottle, or sliding in the head of a shovel – easily accessible and ready to use. Forget your whistle? Don’t worry, the sternum strap of the Hybrid series has whistle style buckles.

The Cons:
As with any pack there is a risk of the fabric on the body ripping or being punctured, but this is easy to repair with a Speedy Stitch. In comparison to other canoe packs that use a traditional leather strap system, the plastic buckles are prone to break more easily, but the ability to comfortably adjust the shoulder straps is well worth the risk.

Here’s a Quick Recap.
Pros:
- Comfortable strap system and built in padding
- Similar features to a backpacking style backpack
- Tough design and materials
- Useful pockets
- Whistle buckles
Cons:
- Pack body can be punctured or ripped
- Plastic buckles can break

Dan Cooke’s Hybrid Series is a testament to the rugged capabilities of a canoe expedition paired with practical and comfortable features. Dan’s commitment to canoeing and the quality of his products are the reason why CCS Hybrid and traditional packs go on every Camp Manito-wish canoe trip, from 3 days in the beautiful Northwoods waterways, to 45 days in the Canadian Tundra.

Mike Dietrich is a trip leader at Camp Manito-wish.

What Does a Trip Do: the Spectrum of ‘Miles’ vs ‘Lessons’

2011-12-26T13:25:00.011-06:00

When talking with those who lead wilderness trips, the recounting of what happened does not suffice for long. In my personal conversations with such leaders—either in a formal debrief or simply a chat with a friend or colleague—the talk quickly turns from the fun moments and grueling days to how those experiences were faced. To me, this is a telling feature, and worthy of greater exploration. Of the great number of personal recollections of how a trip was run (and the still greater number of opinions on how a trip should be run), I have noticed that all such opinions happen to fall along a spectrum. On one end of the spectrum, there’s the opinion ‘Miles First’, and on the other end the counter ‘Lessons First’.

Before I go any further I should be upfront that I certainly can’t hope to cover these opinions as justly as they deserve. Nor will I be able necessarily to further contextualize these or provide a convincing argument for one over the other, much less synthesize a new argument. All I hope to accomplish here is to point out the two extremes of opinion and assert that deliberation on this point is important, not only because these opinions are pervasive, but also because these can be exceptionally powerful in passing on the passion of wilderness trips. Now, about the spectrum:

I stated above that one end of the spectrum could be called ‘Miles First’, but maybe a better way of describing it would be that a trip is all about edification through Achievement. Being away from the comforts of home is the first step in allowing someone to explore how much they can do outside their comfort zone. From there, participants are encouraged to push themselves, whether that push be the most miles, the most taxing ascents, the swiftest water, or as many weeks away from comfortable living as possible.

The other end, which I’ve stated as ‘Lessons First’, could also be described as using the trip as a tool for character growth. The wilderness, in this conception, is a laboratory for interpersonal skills, introspection, self-sufficiency, and contemplation. Everything about the trip becomes a lesson, rather than an achievement or a basic need. The objective facts about the trip, how far was traveled or how high was climbed, are superseded by the subjective analysis of those facts by those who accomplished them.

The difference between these two sides is most obvious at the extremes, even while there is considerable gray area. There are certain leaders whom I have seen gravitate strongly to one side or the other, and some accomplish excellent things by framing their trips as completely one side of the spectrum or the other. More importantly, I would submit that every choice on the trail amounts to a decision between these two sides of the spectrum. When leading a trip, where to stop, when to eat, and how long to sleep are all choices which can suggest ‘Miles’ or ‘Lessons’ to participants. How these things are framed to them during the trip will have a profound impact on how participants view themselves and their experience when they return to the comforts of home, or exit the laboratory of character growth.

Thus, it's important at every choice to carefully consider which element one is enforcing at that moment. Each leader and participant has a kernel of both of these extremes in mind. Take these examples:

“We never had nylon, all our tents were canvas. If it rained you got wet, no matter what.”

“She never perfected her J-stroke, but that’s alright, it’s a hard stroke.”

“We would’ve run that rapids in ’74, but then again we were probably a lot more experienced with white-water then too.”

“Oh, just a 5 day hike I’m afraid. I’m not as young as I used to be.”

“If I am going to teach the campers how to cook breakfast, then there’s no way I can make that campsite for my second night.”

“She’s not very personable, but she would make a great leader because her hard skills are top notch.”

“He doesn’t know a canoe from a coffeepot and he has never paddled anything, but he’s really good with the age group and he was a teacher, so he should be leading the 14 day sea-kayaking venture.”

The quotes above could elicit a nod of agreement, a fist-shake of anger, or anything in between. Different leaders will have different reactions, and each will have a compelling argument. Not only does the 'Miles' vs. 'Lessons' debate color how we apprehend stories of previous trips, but it colors the way we teach and pass on our own trips with participants.

Can these diverse reactions be rectified? Probably. Will the process of rectifying them be neat and tidy? Probably not. Is it worth it to attempt to rectify these? Certainly, because if we wish to convey our own love of the outdoors and pass on the experience we have had, we must understand as best as we can what exactlythat experience was, and why it was so powerful. Furthermore, if the decision to run a trip as an Achievement exercise or a Learning experience so greatly affects how we perceive our travels, should we not be deliberate in helping our participants discern this difference for themselves?

Walter Jordan has been the Trips Director at Camp Manito-wish.

Why Gardens are a Good Fit for Camp

2011-12-19T09:02:00.019-06:00

The growing movement to increase a child’s connection with the outdoors pairs well with summer camps. Most camps have programs that immerse kids into nature in some capacity, ranging from canoeing to horseback riding to wilderness hikes. Camps are known to successfully utilize their wide open spaces to reconnect the urbanized youth with a surreal wilderness. With all the open space available and the numerous activities that kids don’t get participate in at home, why should camps put time and energy into a garden; in which the area is small and confined, structured, and requires a significant share of less-than-glamorous labor to be productive? The answer to me is simple; there is no other program that shares in the ideals of connecting with nature and is more concretely applicable to life at home than gardening. Kids discover the link between nature and food, hold wilderness in the palm of their hand, and help create nutritional awareness while implicitly building character.

Gardening has a place in summer camp as much as any other program. Numerous cities around the country, including Madison, are developing youth gardening programs, often targeting those who do not necessarily have the opportunity to attend summer camps. The kids who experience these city gardens make a connection with the land in their own back yard. The kids that are afforded the opportunity to travel to the ‘true wilderness’ may return with a jaded view of what nature looks like; vast forests and numerous lakes and streams void of civilization. This is wilderness, sure, but you can also find nature to be the tree in your back yard, the grass in-between the sidewalk and the street or the song bird on the feeder. As William Cronon states in his essay, “The Trouble with Wilderness; or, Getting Back to the Wrong Nature (*),” setting apart nature from civilization is environmentally destructive. Summer camps routinely create a false picture of wilderness, isolating it from civilization and thus creating an excuse for destructive environmental habits around the places we live. Civilization becomes to them, an unnatural island infected with the destruction of humanity while nature is a sanctuary. Cronon uses two trees, one within the confines of the city and the other in a wilderness area, as subjects to argue how humans manifest a dualism between nature and civilization. The tree in the city is viewed as unnatural while that same tree placed in an area known to be removed from society is viewed as pristine and wild. Children who come to camp may fall into this trap simply due to their immersion into a more extreme wilderness than most children will experience. I believe that a garden can break that boundary between the two worlds.

So why is it that gardening is that one program area that will transfer more lessons learned back home? I think the answer is simple; everyone eats. Camp programs allow children to have fun and enjoy the great outdoors. They also have deeper purpose to create a safe place for children to interact with others while being free from stereotypes, social norms, and report cards. All of those benefits are extremely valuable to the summer camp’s success, however, taking lessons home from typical programs involve critical thinking and interpretation of each activity. A link between camp and life at home has to be formed, such as learning to paddle a canoe to learning a new mathematical process at school. That can be a large feat for a 12 year old. Gardening on the other hand needs no such link. What kids see, grow, and eat in a garden at camp is the same as a garden at home, or at a neighbor’s house, or the community garden. The food at the market is the same as that which grows in garden. The garden surrounded by ‘wilderness’ is the same as a garden surrounded by buildings. In the end, children and adults will hopefully see the benefits of taking care of the land far away as well as the land they spend most of their time, for all has the potential to be wild.

With community gardens springing up across the country, it would be foolish not to consider the benefits of gardening at summer camps. After all, who wouldn’t want their child coming home and talking about the food cycle and eating healthy?

Happy Growing.

Ryan Wagner is the Wilderness Program Director at Camp Manito-wish YMCA

Reference (*)

Staff Recruitment Coordinators 2012

2011-10-03T17:35:00.007-05:00

Join us in welcoming our 2012 Staff Recruitment Coordinators to the team!

Mike Dietrich

Born and raised in Wausau, WI, Mike has spent 15 summers at Camp Manito-wish. From exploring the bike trails as a wee tike at Family Camp, to co-leading the 2011 Men's Expeditionary Canuck, the North Country clearly holds a special place in Mike's life.

Following his parents footsteps, Mike graduated with a Political Science and History degree at Marquette University in Milwaukee, WI. From there, he received his Master's Degree in Environmental Law and Policy at the University of Denver Sturm College of Law, where he hopes to work in natural resource management and protection.

Aside from simple backcountry livin', Mike strives to follow the seasonal hobbies of legendary canoeist, Bill Mason: paddle the Spring and Summer months, and then play hockey throughout the Winter. A sports fanatic and amateur musician, you can always find Mike looking for good company to have a fun time and share a laugh.

A further note: Mike enjoys portaging, beards, excessive amounts of coffee, and backcountry bread.

Walter Jordan

Walter Jordan is finishing off his fifth year working at Camp Manito-wish. This year he has been the Trips Director, and he enjoyed that quite a bit. He’s led trips with Camp, and has enjoyed these experiences as well.

He has degrees in Linguistics, Political Science, and History of Science from the University of Oklahoma. He enjoyed going to school, and perhaps will get a doctorate.

He was raised in Birnamwood, Wisconsin and liked living there for a while. He enjoys returning to visit his family there to this day.

He has few hobbies, but enjoys reading and canoeing. He laughs when things are offbeat or uniquely juxtaposed.

At the Mic with Julio Guzman, Schuler Scholar student leader

2011-07-03T09:03:00.011-05:00

Since 2002, Manito-wish has partnered with the Schuler Family Foundation's Schuler Scholar program to provide leadership training to the program participants. The Schuler Scholars have been selected as students with great academic and leadership potential who may not have the resources or the support networks in place that many other college-bound students can take for granted. Many of the Scholars are the first in their families to go to college. Through the Schuler program, the students get access to additional support during their high school careers--including tutoring sessions, mentoring groups, cultural exposure, community involvement opportunities, college visits. In exchange, the students maintain a high GPA and fulfill a variety of requirements--including the Manito-wish experience. The Scholars spend five days in Manito-wish's Leadership program and five days out on trail, learning to function as a group and taking the steps toward collaborative leadership.

For many Schuler Scholars, the Manito-wish experience is outside of their comfort zone, especially at first. But many of them find that Camp is a place where they really hit their stride--so much that a few of them come back after graduation for more, working as Student Leaders for groups of younger Scholars in their first Manito-wish experience. The Wetfoot sat down with Julio Guzman, a Schuler student leader from Waukegan, Illinois, who told us about his experience coming to Manito-wish for the first time as a participant and returning this year as a student leader.

Tell us about the first time you came to Manito-wish. What’s your most vivid memory?
My first time at Camp Manito-Wish was as a rising sophomore Schuler Scholar camper. My most vivid memory from that time is climbing the pamper pole. I had watched the other students in my small group climb it, and I was so nervous watching them. I didn’t decide to climb it until everyone else had gone. It was very challenging for me to work up the courage to even say I would climb it because I was (and still am) terrified of heights. I ended up climbing to the top of the pole and clinging on. I never stood up or jumped off to ring the bell. I did, however, sing “The Star Spangled Banner” while I was up there. It was a great experience, and I will never forget it. I’m glad that I was able to step out of my comfort zone with the support of my friends to challenge myself.

Why did you decide to come back as a student leader?
During my time in high school, following my Manito-wish experience, I realized the importance of positive role models in a teenager’s life, especially in my community. I decided that I wanted to be that role model for underclassmen. When the opportunity came up I applied to be a senior camp leader for the Schuler Scholar Leadership Camp. My experience as a senior camp leader has been the best that I have had this year. Not only did I have an amazing time with the incoming sophomore scholars, but this experience helped me realize that I want to continue working with high school students in leadership and youth development programs. My dream is to be trail leader for a group of Schuler Scholars at Manito-wish one day.

What was the thing that was most challenging for your group of Schuler scholars and for you while you were here? What was the most successful?
It was most challenging for me to watch the Schuler Scholars in my trail group struggle to complete the challenges in the all-day initiative. It was their time to work together, and we (the facilitators) could only offer a minimal amount of help. This initiative forced the scholars to work together in stressful situations. I was afraid that the scholars would dislike me as the senior leader on trail because of how difficult we made some of the challenges for them. Fortunately, they were able to overcome most of the challenges and not associate their frustrations with me.

Tell us about your trail experience. How did it change your group dynamics?
I think that trail was the most successful experience for my group of Schuler Scholars. They proved that they could manage to work together during the all-day initiative, and they were able to support that with their behavior on trail. They were quiet on the first day. They didn’t talk much on their own, but that changed by the second day. I was so impressed with how fast the group caught on to the daily routine of setting up camp, making a fire and making dinner. On the second morning, they decided that the scheduled campsite was too close. After unloading everything from the canoes and taking it to the campsite, they decided, unanimously, to keep paddling to a campsite that was a lot farther away. That day instantly changed from being the shortest day to the longest (we also added a ¼ mile portage to our day). We were able to see the most beautiful sights on our way to Lost Canoe, a campsite with amazing scenery. I’m pretty sure that my group of scholars would agree that we had the best experience that day. I enjoyed being able to talk and laugh with them that night about the day’s experience.

What’s next for you?
I will be attending Colgate University in Hamilton, New York this fall. I’m currently planning to study Environmental Studies there. It's a beautiful place, and I love the outdoors, so I'm really looking forward to being there.

At the mic with Last Resort I

2011-06-30T13:20:00.012-05:00

The Wetfoot sat down with a group of guys in the Far North section from Last Resort I cabin—Alex, Evan, Jimmy, Joe, and their counselor, Pike, who were fresh off a weeklong adventure on the waterways of Vilas County. All four have been coming to Manito-wish for at least three years, some as many as five. Some had been together on previous trips, some were on trail together for the first time. They shared the wisdom of their years at Manito-wish.

You guys have been here for a long time. Do you remember what it was like to come to Camp your first year?

A couple of us came for just one week. Before going out on trail for the first time it was kind of a scary idea—especially the food. You don’t know if it’s going to be as good as Nash, and you think maybe there won’t be enough. But then we went and it was easy. It gave us enough perspective to want to go back the next year and be on trail even longer.

What’s different about being in Far North? Can you still learn new things when you’re the oldest guys in Camp?

You’ve done a lot of the stuff before but you learn to do it better, without as much help. Everybody cooked this year. One night we even turned a wet fire into a bonfire. Then Pike told us told us to settle it down, but it was still cool.

What was the most challenging thing for your trip this year?

You jump from a four- or five-day trip up to seven days. We had 13 portages on our trip, which was way more than any of us had done before. We also had a couple of times when some people were giving too much constructive criticism and it got on people’s nerves, but we got through it.

How did you get through it?

You have to support each other. On a portage you give somebody a bridge or keep telling them they can do it—whatever you can do to keep up their spirit. And when people aren’t getting along you have to talk it out.

What were you guys most successful at?

Cooking! Cooking for sure. The best things were the gado gado—and the pizzas—and the spaghetti was pretty good too.

Do any of you cook when you’re at home?

Yeah, sometimes. I made fried brownies, but they’re never as good as when you’re on trail. On trail you cook it yourself, you have to depend on the fire instead of the stove, you have to maintain a constant flame. It always tastes better on trail because you have to work for it.

What advice would you give to a Near South camper about to come to Camp for the first time?

Don’t worry, be happy! But seriously. Don’t be afraid. This is what we would say to each other on trail: “The body is always stronger than the mind thinks it is.” And remember that you have lots of people to lean on when you’re here. Trust your cabinmates. That's not just for Near South—you have that every year. You can talk to people here. I used to just bottle it up, but nobody is going to tease you or nag you at Camp. You can share it.

And what would you say to the next crop of Far North guys?

Be role models. You have to remember that everything you do can be a domino effect through camp and the younger guys. Be ready for a longer time on trail. Comedy is key! Enjoy every minute, make every chance count. You don’t have too many opportunities like this, so make the most of it!

Meet the Staff - Outpost Admin

2011-06-06T18:55:00.000-05:00

Meet your Outpost Administrative Team!

Charlie Wood

Claire Haughey

Dan Schieffelin

Lessons in Collaborative Leadership

2011-05-20T13:15:00.007-05:00

Sometimes the best lessons in life come from experience.

Two weeks ago, 60 eighth grade students from Maple Dale Elementary School in Fox Point, Wisconsin, travelled north to Camp Manito-wish YMCA for a three-day leadership program.

This is the third year that Maple Dale students have had a Manito-wish experience.

The Maple Dale staff set some simple goals: build stronger connections among students, foster awareness and maturity, and instill collaborative leadership skills.

After the program, the students were asked to comment on their Manito-wish experience. Here are their own words.

Something I learned while at Camp Manito-wish is…
“How to organize a plan.”
“The people in my group were really different than I thought.”
“Respect for others’ ideas, and openness to new relationships.”
“Although your intentions are good, they may not be received that way.”
“How to work better together in a group.”
“Not to be so shy, and to share my ideas when I’m in a group.”
“Try not to give up, and try to notice how different people react in different situations.”
“Listen more. Communicate. Other people’s ideas count.”
“It’s OK to be wrong.”
“You have to let go of things.”
“We could get along with people even if we don’t really talk.”
“To ask questions when you need help, and not do something just by yourself.”

Was the program useful? Why?
“It gets me ready for high school.”
“It taught me to respect other people.”
“It was nice to kind of get out of my comfort zone and to get to know people better.”

Final comments:
“It was extremely fun.”
“Manito-wish was AWESOME!”
“I hope that I can come back.”

Meet the Staff - Program Staff Admin

2011-05-16T09:00:00.003-05:00

Introducing your 2011 Program Staff Admin Team...

Lincoln McLain - Program Staff Director

Hazel Wood - Craftshop Director

Kelsey Bantz - Waterfront Director

Kjirsten Sneed - Riding Director

Meet the Staff - Girls Camp Sectionals

2011-05-12T17:00:00.001-05:00

Introducing the 2011 Girls Camp Sectionals...

Lori Allen

Krista Milliken

Anna Nation

Emily Weber

Meet the Staff - Boys Camp Sectionals

2011-05-10T17:00:00.003-05:00

Meet your Summer 2011 Boys Camp Sectionals.

Andrew Adkins

Eric Ullrich

John Ela

Justin VerMeer

Gear Review: The Ultimate Tarp

2011-04-20T11:07:00.008-05:00

Trippers that venture into the great outdoors know there are certain obstacles which one must overcome. A shortened list of some elements; heat, rain, wind, snow, sleet, and bugs, bring even the most advanced outdoorsman down from wilderness fantasy land to reality. The more extreme the places one travels, the bigger the elemental challenges. Those that travel in the far northern reaches of our continent often joke that mosquitoes and black flies keep all but the die-hards away. This may be true, but man might just be outsmarting nature with this addition to its arsenal. The Lean Plus Tarp from Cooke Custom Sewing, http://www.cookecustomsewing.com/, will pack down into a small stuff sack and yet create a feeling of sanity in the midst of nature’s gentle reminder of her power.

Pros:
- The Lean is a lightweight and compressible shelter that can be brought on backpacking, canoeing, and sea kayaking trips with little added burden.
- The lean design allows the tarp to be set up in such a way that it is not blown away by strong tundra winds.
- Set-up is quick and easy, allowing you to seek shelter from the bugs and rain as soon as you reach your destination.
- The spacious interior allows for ample room for a group of 6 to cook and relax from a long day’s journey.
- And the real winner, the bugs stay on the outside while the fresh breeze and the scenery can be taken in on the inside with the help of the front screen wall

Cons:
- The fabric, as with all lightweight material, is relatively weak compared to other tarps. Proper care of gear will ensure the longevity of this product.
- For extended trips such as our expeditions, the zippers tend to wear down. Dan at Cooke Custom Sewing suggests running water down the zipper to clean all the particles out and to frequently use a zipper lubricant.
- There is no bottom as you would find on a tent. This makes for a great cooking shelter but may not make the best sleeping shelter. We found that if you are in the land of noseeums, opt to sleep in a tent in lieu of the Lean. Just trust me on this one.

Overall, this is a great addition to your outdoor gear stockade. Whether you are venturing to the far north or if you will be simply lounge inside a shelter away from the bugs, the Lean Plus could just be what you are looking for. Whichever the case, take to the outdoors this coming season and don’t be afraid of the elements. Besides, there is no such thing as bad weather, just different types of good weather.

Here is to a mosquito free season,

Ryan Wagner
Wilderness Program Director

Mark's Activity of the Month - April

2011-04-13T19:56:00.013-05:00

A New Twist on “Simon Says”

In my last post I talked about ways to take old activities and mold them to fit your particular needs or outcomes. Here is a really old game that is quickly becoming one of my favorite introductory activities. Lately I have been using it to introduce concepts of personal responsibility, trust, awareness and integrity, but you can probably adapt it and change it in a number of ways to fit your situation.

Here is how I set it up: Have the group spread out in front of you so they can see you. Ask for a show of hands for people who know how to play Simon Says. Go through a quick explanation even if most say they know the game (just to be sure everyone is clear and also because, especially in the beginning of a program, some people will say they know something when they really don’t). I also do a short practice round just so everyone is clear on how things work. In this game a violation of the rules is when you do something that Simon did no tell you to do. Have participants give themselves a point for each mistake they make.

In this version, nobody is ever out of the game. I usually talk a bit about personal responsibility (and may do a couple of other lead up activities before Simon Says that relate to personal responsibility) before I start the game itself.

Some Tips:
• Start slow and keep things obvious.

• I do gradually speed up and start to make things confusing and more complicated. I may for instance say something like, “Simon says raise your right foot, while raising my left foot” or something like this.

• At some point I may stop and ask for a show of hands. “Is there anyone who does not have any points. Raise your hand.” Of course…anyone who now raises their hand has a point…because Simon did not say raise your hand.

This is always a game that results in fun and laughter and also a game that could lend itself to further expansion. One idea would be to include actions such as:

• “Simon says give the person on your right a high five.”

• “Simon says to shake hands with two people near you and tell them your name."

As always, use your creativity and have fun!

Packing for Camp

2011-04-07T17:37:00.004-05:00

Check out our newest video.

Included are a few tips on packing for a successful summer camp experience!

Here are a few links that offer some good advice and general information:
How to pick the right paddle?
Where to begin with the right wilderness tripping boots?
What is a Kromer?
Here's a bit about the tents Summer Campers will use!

Pre-Camp Questions: Answered by the experts

2011-04-05T09:00:00.016-05:00

First time Camper Jitters! Is your Camper coming to Camp Manito-wish for the first time? We have all been in situations that are fresh & new. Some of us like to jump right in while others prefer to sit back and watch a while before joining in. Whatever your style, you will be welcomed with open arms when you arrive at Camp Manito-wish YMCA. Whether arriving by coach bus or with family by car, campers are greeted by Camp staff geared up to meet them! Staff and volunteers help guide campers and families through the check-in process. Cabin Counselors are trained in group dynamics and work towards creating a friendly, welcoming atmosphere so your camper can easily settle in.

Lost and Found

Help Camp reach the goal of reducing the volume of unclaimed lost and found! Campers lose stuff…or forget where they put it...or don’t remember it belongs to them! It is a huge help to Staff and Campers when all belongings are clearly labeled. An easy solution is to order a nifty clothing stamp or name labels directly from Sterling Name Tape Company at www.sterlingnametape.com or complete and mail the order form enclosed in the Parent Information Packet directly to Sterling Name Tape Company. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! It is equally as important to not bring anything that you don’t want your camper to lose! Camp is not responsible for lost, stolen or damaged items.

What happens when I arrive at camp?

After campers arrive to camp, either by bus or with family, and have their luggage checked in, they are guided to the Connor Council Ring (CCR in the world of Camp Manito-wish acronyms), located on the lakeside of Nash Dining Hall, to begin the check in process. In the CCR, campers and families will be greeted by the Business Office staff to officially check in to camp and verify their camp bank balance for Trading Post (camp store). Haven’t set up a camp bank account yet? That’s ok. You can do it at this time with cash, check, Visa or MasterCard. The camp bank account works like a debit account…every time campers go to the Trading Post, they will be told how much money is in their account and they can spend against that balance. Sweatpants, sweatshirts, t-shirts, hats, Frisbees, postcards, song books, are just a few of the cool Manito-wish items you’ll find.

After the bank check-in, campers are guided to the Camp Health Center. Heath Center check-in consists of meeting with a nurse, reviewing medical forms, discussing any medications you may have brought with you and answering any questions you might have. The next step is to move into your cabin, meet your counselors and cabin mates, unpack and get settled. Your luggage, and any items you may have purchased through the Equipment Order Form, should already be at your cabin or arriving soon. Please be sure to label your equipment purchases as soon as you get them.

What to bring list…

Let’s back up a little ... when you’re still at home packing for camp, you probably used the What To Bring List Check Off Sheet. It does seem like there are a lot of things on there, but it is important you read it carefully and bring all of the recommended items on the list. (for additional hints, please see the “What to Bring” Video).

Some of the most common questions about this list are:

Its summer time, does my camper really need long underwear? Yes - it is summer but the Northwood’s can also be cool and damp, especially in the evenings. Layering helps keep your body warm and dry, especially using synthetic or merino wool based materials instead of cotton. (Long underwear can be purchased from the Camp Manito-wish Equipment Order Form in your final information packet)

Does my camper need to bring a backpack for their time on trail? No - Camp will provide this for you if needed. However, you do need to bring 1-2 nylon stuff sacks to pack your clothing for the trip.

Footwear on Trail:

Socks: Heavy wool, merino or ragg wool, or thick poly pro is highly recommended. No Cotton! The wool materials wick the moisture away from your skin leaving them warm in wet cold situations. Your feel will get wet as you paddle and portage (carry canoes/packs) through the Northwoods waterways.

Boots: Look for boots with good ankle protection and support with a durable sole.

And a few other thoughts about packing for Camp:

Does my camper need his/her own paddle? No - paddles are optional; Camp will provide a paddle for your camper if they do not have one. Also, paddles may be purchased during check in or through your bank account beginning the 2nd day of camp.

We have a rain jacket or poncho; do we need the rain pants? Yes - If the weather is rainy, campers are still outside doing activities and canoeing. A durable 2 piece, loose fitting rain suit is best. This can also be purchased thru the Manito-wish Equipment Order Form.

What happens if my camper gets homesick?! As parents of campers ourselves, we can tell you that kids feel homesick at one time or another during their camp experience. Homesickness can be a good thing! It gives campers an opportunity to travel through uncomfortable feelings with the support of experienced counselors and understanding cabin mates. A huge accomplishment for anyone is dealing with a difficult situation successfully. Do we want children to feel bad – no way – but we do want them to learn more about themselves and build confidence and that means they will have a few challenges along the way. Parents can help to alleviate homesickness by being encouraging and positive in your letters, and by avoiding telling your camper how much you miss him/her.

Respectfully Submitted by:

Karmen Tornow - Business and Finance Manager

Beth Rondello - Administrative Assistant

Becky Jirikowic - Business and Finance Assistant

Dianna Schuenemann - Registrar

March Gear Review - Paddles

2011-04-03T13:18:00.007-05:00

As the winter snow and ice begin to melt, the outdoor enthusiast begins to prepare their gear for the coming season: paddling season!

If you have been at Camp Manito-wish YMCA in the past, you know that the heart of our tripping program revolves around canoeing. Chances are that you have also paddled the famous orange canoes that fill the waterways of northern Wisconsin each summer.

Canoe journeys that last a couple hours and 45-day canoe expeditions both require some essential pieces of gear: a canoe, a paddle, and a personal floatation device (PFD). This month we will discuss the paddle and break down what one should look for in this pivotal instrument for motion.

To the canoeist, the paddle is an extension of the body. It is as much a tool as it is a work of art, a fine balance between efficiency and beauty. Composed of wood, aluminum and plastic, or lightweight composite materials, the paddle can be found in many different styles, lengths, and weights. Paddles can be mass-produced on assembly lines or handmade in woodshops.

Purchasing a paddle that is absolutely perfect for you can be a daunting task. For the recreation paddler who is on the water only half a dozen times per year, a simple test of height can suffice. Place the blade on your toe and aim for a length between your chin and your nose. The more advanced tripper will appreciate the improved efficiency and comfort of a correctly-sized paddle.

Paddles are designed for general use, whitewater, tripping, and classic soloing. When choosing the right paddle for each job, consider its shape as well as how you will hold it. Most trippers will sit on a seat and prefer to have their lower hand drop just below the gunwale while whitewater paddlers will kneel and keep their hands above the gunwale. These different body and hand placements will require longer and shorter shaft lengths, respectively.

Scott Macgregor from Canoeroots magazine recommends that you find the best paddle for each occasion through trial and error. If possible, borrow paddles from friends, retailers, or outfitters in order to feel how the length and style fits you. If the paddle does not feel correct within the first couple of minutes on the water, it will never feel correct.

Shaft length is arguably the most important aspect of the paddle you choose. Macgregor recommends that you position yourself on the water in the boat you are going to paddle with a broomstick. Use the stick exactly how you would use a paddle, the remaining dry part is the length of the shaft that you will need for that boat.

Your personal preferences and budget will be the determining factors for the remaining paddle characteristics like paddle face size, handgrip style, a bent or straight shaft, and materials and construction. Again, given the seemingly infinite number of paddle designs, demoing a paddle or swapping paddles with your tripmate is a great way to narrow down your options.

Once a paddle is chosen, you will stay attached to it for a very long time.

Break out the oars ladies and gentleman, its paddling season!

Ryan Wagner

Wilderness Program Director

At the Mic with Dan Hoffmann

2011-03-28T22:27:00.003-05:00

Manito-wishers are making waves in the paddling world. In Dan Hoffmann's case, I literally mean all over the world. Dan and his partner, Mike Schnitzka, are on a mission to set a speed record by paddling the length of Europe's Rhine River.

I had a chance to catch up with Dan the other day and this is what he had to say:

Tell me about Conquer the Rhine.

My partner, Mike Schnitzka, and I are making an attempt on the world speed record for canoeing the Rhine River in Europe. The current record is 7 days 10 hours for the full 720 miles. We start April 16th in Chur, Switzerland and follow the river through Lichtenstein, Austria, Germany, and France, ending at the Hook of Holland in the Netherlands, where the Rhine empties into the North Sea. We are hoping to complete the river in 6 days. We have a support crew consisting of three guys following us the entire way in an RV. They will cook our food, resupply our provisions, and help us out with any other difficulties we may encounter.

How did you guys come up with this challenge?

Mike has been racing for 20 plus years. He holds records on both the Mississippi and Wisconsin rivers. In 1989 he read about a team from the British Royal Air Force breaking the Rhine record and set it as a goal for himself. I met Mike through a friend over a year ago and signed on a little while later.

How do you train for such a long paddle?

When I first talked with Mike about the Rhine I had no canoe racing experience, so this past summer for me was about getting as much boat time as I could. I worked in the Manito-wish kitchen, which gave me a lot of free time and a flexible schedule to get out paddling. Mike and I did two big training runs down the Wisconsin River and competed in several races around Wisconsin. We also had the opportunity to break the speed record for canoeing across Lake Michigan. We made it from Two Rivers, WI to Ludington, MI in a time of 11 hours and 22 minutes. This winter I have been training hard in the gym, focusing on upper body endurance and core strength.

What do you think is going to be the hardest part about Conquering the Rhine?

The hardest thing for me will be sitting for 6 days straight. I have no idea what I will feel like at the end of it, but I expect that my legs will really be hurting. Trying to anticipate this, I’ve been doing a lot of yoga and stretching in order to gain more flexibility in my lower body.

Tell me about your gear. Mike told me you’re packing out some pretty serious tech.

We are paddling a 19 foot Kevlar canoe made by Wenonah called the Itasca. We use two sets of paddles: Wenonah carbon fiber racing paddles and Kialoa hybrid outrigger paddle that have a bit more flex. We have a spray deck made by Harken that gives us protection from the elements.
We will have a SPOT GPS unit in our canoe that will show our position and track our progress on the Rhine on a Google Map located on our website. On the bow and stern we have navigational lights in order to be legal and for safety while paddling at night. We also have a LED headlight on the bow. We are able to communicate with our support crew by use of a European frequency marine band radio that is behind my seat in the stern. I can control all of this by use of switches that are attached to my foot brace. Our lights and communications are powered by 12 volt batteries that we rotate twice a day.

In the front picture on your website it looks like the two of you are wearing headphones. If so, what are you listening to?

We have an iPod hook up in the canoe with headphone jacks by both seats, so that Mike and I can listen to music at the same time. The only problem is that musical tastes differ greatly between a 23 year old and a 47 year old!

Where can we find more information about “Conquer the Rhine”?

Check out our website at www.conquertherhine.com and our Facebook page “Conquer the Rhine,” where we have some pictures and videos of our training and preparations. Our support crew will be making updates to these during the race, so be sure to check in on us and follow our progress starting April 16th.

Got anything planned for after you Conquer the Rhine?

Sure do, Camp Manito-wish!! I’ll be leading two Voyaguer Outpost trips and a Boy’s Summer Camp session, and then working in the kitchen for the rest of the summer - can’t wait!

At the Mic with Jeff Pereles

2011-03-24T10:18:00.008-05:00

Spirituality, confidence, leadership, flexibility, and taking risks are a few things that Jeff Pereles, our current Board President, learned from his time at Camp Manito-wish YMCA and still holds these values close. Jeff’s journey at Manito-wish began in 1975 as a camper in Idlewild Cabin and continued through his Canuck in 1980. He then joined the staff until 1985. He has been a board member since 2002 and was welcomed as the Board President November 2010. Jeff will serve a two-year term.

Pereles, or as others may know him "Fearless Pereles," lives in Whitefish Bay with his best friend and wife, Lisa. They celebrated 25 years of marriage in August! Congratulations Jeff and Lisa! Jeff recently transitioned from Choice Construction where he was a co-owner to a position as a Consultant for Contractor Litigation Support at Benes & Krueger. Throughout his career he continues to utilize the leadership and confidence he learned at Manito-wish.

Here’s a bit more about Jeff…

Tell us about one of your favorite memories at Camp.
I loved the trail, so my favorite memory was at the beginning of each trip every year when we first got into the canoe and started paddling. We were either paddling away from Camp or the Outpost staff dropped us in Canada. A new adventure with new possibilities for discovery-what a rush!

As a staff member, my favorite memory was addressing a packed Nash Lodge and doing the announcements the first night of Camp when I was program director. The excitement and nervous energy was intoxicating. Looking out and seeing all these wide-eyed individuals, staff included, wondering what’s in store for the next three weeks. Subsequently, the energy at the last breakfast before their departure on the buses or being picked up when these same individuals looked and acted differently. They had a resolve in their eyes that exuded confidence, a higher self-esteem, and awareness that reflected a successful session, their hard work, and the hard work of the staff.

Since trail was your favorite part of Camp, what is your favorite piece of gear?

My favorite piece of gear was Garlic. When I was a counselor I used it in all of the food prepared on the trail. My campers called me the garlicman.

Tell us how you choose your current profession?

I always liked math, and my father owned his own business, so I thought, math + business equals accounting. I worked with a lot of construction clients when I first started in the field of public accounting. As a CPA, I developed an expertise for working with construction companies. I met my former business partner through my work as a CPA, and we eventually joined forces to form Choice Construction Companies, Inc.

Can you leave us with a Trail Tip of the Day as we all are gearing up for the summer?

My father told this to me a child and he had heard it from a friend. “If taken in the right way, every knock is a boost.”

Thanks to Jeff for his continued support and passion for Camp Manito-wish YMCA, and for sharing a bit of his story with our community!

Canoecopia 2011

2011-03-14T13:56:00.007-05:00

If you went to Canoecopia 2011 to stare in awe at fiberglass kayaks and cedar strip canoes, then the level of gear lust that you experienced easily led to a bit of drooling.

If you took advantage of the abundance of other opportunities at Canoecopia 2011, then likely you succeeded in soaking your shirt with said drool. But all is well, because “I Heart Canoeing” shirts were in ready supply.

Thousands of paddlers nursed their cabin fevers this past weekend in eager anticipation of the spring thaw. The Alliant Energy Center in Madison, Wisconsin, played host to the 30th annual event; the “World’s Largest Paddlesports Exposition.” Hundreds of vendors, dozens of guest speakers and thousands of visitors made this past weekend an unforgettable experience.

We were thrilled to share our weekend with old friends and to help grow the Camp Manito-wish family. A 1966 Canuck camper shared stories of the Quetico. Current campers were counting-down the days until Summer Camp sessions and Outpost trips begin. Parents of alumni expressed their appreciation to Camp Manito-wish for helping their children grow and those who were unfamiliar with Camp Manito-wish were excited to hear about our mission and vision.

We may have left Canoecopia with new gear and thin wallets but we also donned warm smiles and filled our hearts with paddling memories.

Portaging ‘til open water,
Tim Collins

Mark's March Activity of the Month

2011-03-09T17:37:00.004-06:00

Designing New Activities

Most of the activities I use as a facilitator, I have borrowed in its entirety or at least the basic idea - I’ll admit that. 'Borrowing' is part of how things happen in this industry. One thing that will need to happen as you progress in your skills, is the ability to take those activities, or at least the basic form of those activities, you borrow and mold them to make them your own AND adapt them to fit new situations. This is easier then is seems and begins with a very clear idea of WHAT you are trying to accomplish and WHO you are working with.

Goals, Outcomes and Objectives: One of the first things I learned when I began my student teaching experience was how to write objectives. My cooperating teacher really stressed this and made me write out very detailed and specific objectives. I did not enjoy this part, but I learned quickly that if I was clear about this, the lessons, which I was forced to do mostly experientially, pretty much wrote themselves. In experiential education, I believe this still applies. Use activities with a clear purpose and mold the activities to fit your needs and the situation.

Know your participants: This is really a part of the first suggestion, but more immediate to the situation and things that change as you work with any group—this is about awareness. Can you tweak an activity to meet the group where they are now, adding in new twists or elements, combining aspects from other activities, or setting up a metaphor related to a lesson or challenge the group faced earlier?

Here are some specific ideas:
• Add a metaphor: Within a simple and common activity like Group Juggle lie limitless opportunities to add objects that represent key learning objectives, add in other odd little twists that push the awareness envelop or make participants think in different ways. My favorite is adding in random objects and emphasizing what the original goal was (essentially the basic activity). The random object can represent something critical. This is just one idea though. Think of your current toolbox and add some twists and metaphors to things you already do.
• Combine Activities: It is possible to take elements from one activity and place them in others. As an example, I once saw a way of running Mine Field that incorporated elements from an activity using Mr. Potato Head that had a team working with a blind builder helping that person reproduce certain potato head models. Only one member of the team could speak, but he could not see the model and was dependent on his other muted team members for information that she would convey to the blind “assembler.” It was really fun and over time I started using a similar team method for Mine Field as well. No activity needs to stay pure.
• Take something you know and mold it to create other activities: My primary example involves taking a skill I knew—building fires with friction fire kits—and creating an initiative that borrowed elements and ideas from several other activities. It has become a stock and trade activity (“Tea”) that we use very successfully at camp. What is your new innovation?

Have fun!

Lets go outside...

2011-03-04T14:30:00.009-06:00

Many of our kids today are out of shape, tuned-out to those around them, and stressed out. Many of us remember playing in the backyard until dark--sometimes past dark. We walked to school rain or shine, constantly played outside, and thought nothing of going to play at the park. Today, that is not always the case.

By connecting kids to the outside world, studies show that we can increase their fitness levels and build healthy bodies. Exposure to environmental-based education and activities can increase student performance on tests of their critical thinking skills. Also, children’s stress levels seem to fall within minutes of seeing green spaces. Finally, studies show that nature makes you nicer, enhances social interactions and adds value to relationships. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends 60 minutes of daily unstructured play as an essential part of children’s physical and mental health and social development.

Check it out: According to an article from the National Wildlife Federation ® (NWF), getting kids back outside is an important societal issue that affects children of all backgrounds. The NWF encourages Americans to Be Out There ™. www.BeOutThere.org galvanizes families and community members around solutions for addressing this indoor childhood epidemic.

Camps have been providing engaging activities outside for years. In today’s world, the role that Camp Manito-wish plays in the lives of kids and their families is becoming increasingly clear. Make the time to take a walk, ride a bike, or paddle a canoe--it pays off in more ways than one!

Anne Derber
Executive Director

Mark's February Activity of the Month

2011-03-02T11:43:00.006-06:00

Music Games and Activities

I was at a great workshop at the recent Association for Challenge Course Technology Conference put on my Mark Zmudy (“the other Mark Z.”) from the University of Minnesota—Duluth. Mark reminded me of the amazing potential of music activities as trust building and ice breaker activities—and maybe beyond. These kinds of activities are great examples of using what you know to accomplish great things with groups. It is not necessary to play an instrument (see below for other options), but the key is jumping in and trying some things.

Here are some great ice breaker ideas...

Song Tag (from Laurie Frank): Have the group stand in a large circle around you. The game begins when you (or a volunteer) start to sing any song from the center of the circle. People on the outside can “tag in” by stepping into the circle and starting to sing another song similar to, or related in some way to the first. When this happens the first singer steps out into the outside circle. The game continues with individuals “tagging in” like this until you stop the game, the group runs out of songs (unlikely) or the group can not continue because of massive group laughter fits. Note: this activity is best done after a group has a little time together under their belts. It can be loads of fun though.

Rhythm Devils: Have a group member, or the leader, begin a simple rhythm (either with claps and body pats, a vocal “beat box” or with other rhythm instruments). Get the rhythm going and then stop and add in words, phrases or other sounds to augment the rhythm. This is best done by teaching a sound or action to partners or groups of three, going back to the basic rhythm with this new addition and then stopping to add in the next sound or action for the next partnership. You can add in record scratches, funky words and phrases complete with hand actions, etc. Make sure you have a core group, maybe part of the group not completely comfortable doing other things, that can keep the basic rhythm going.
Advanced version: Give partners or small groups time to come up with their own sounds, actions, dances, etc. and add them one at a time into the basic rhythm.
“Singing Together”—Jamming musicians are maybe the ultimate examples of collaboration in action. What better way to learn how to bring collaboration into the real world, in addition to a ton of creative fun, then to learn a song, complete with rhythms, actions, dances, harmony singing, etc. and performance. It helps to have a guitar, banjo or other musical instrument to accompany, but it can be done without as well. Start simple. Resources for great songs can be found in many places (The Manito-wish Song Book being a great resource), but simple songs like 'You are My Sunshine', 'This Train', 'She’ll Be Comin’ Round the Mountain', etc. all work well and can be adapted to a ton of different rhythms and beats and have limitless potential for harmonies and other things.

An additional great resource: “Boomwackers” are colored plastic tubes that come in tuned sets and can be purchased relatively inexpensively. There are many people that use these great rhythm instruments for entire team building and music development workshops. I have found them on Amazon, but they can also be purchased here: http://www.nextag.com/Rhythm-Band/plastic-tube-wholesale/brand-html

Have fun!
Mark

Director of the Month - Jon Iltis

2011-03-02T11:14:00.019-06:00

This month, the man behind the Camp Manito-wish YMCA property tells all about his team's tasks throughout the year. Property manager, Jon Iltis, gave us a back stage pass to the inner workings of camp and outlined how his team keeps Manito-wish running strong. He also filled us in on the big contruction projects that were tackled this winter.

The Camp Manito-wish YMCA facility in Boulder Junction is large and multi- faceted. Here are a few facts about camp.

•Located on approximately 300 acres of mostly forested land.
•Camp is on more than a mile of shoreline on Boulder Lake.
•As of the last count, there are more than 70 structures on site.
•There are 29 separate septic systems of all sizes and complexities.
•There are 19 different water systems ranging in size from our water tower system to the small hand pump at the Voyageur site.
•We currently have over two hundred beds that are usable throughout year with an additional 4 year-round staff homes. All of our winterized facilities have their own cooking amenities.
•Nash Lodge, the main dining hall, has a capacity of 408 during the spring, summer, and fall seasons. For the winter months, we can feed approximately 110 visitors comfortably in the Manito-wish Leadership Center.

The property management staff is employed with the task of ensuring the facilities are fully functional for programing. Over 3,000 participants utilize Manito-wish's property to some degree throughout each year and, as with all facilities, there are constant repairs and upgrades to be performed. Here is an outline of the seasonal tasks that our team tackle each year.

THE SNOW MELTS AND THE SPRING ARRIVES...

During the spring our focus is on finishing up winter projects and opening up and preparing the seasonal portion of the facility for the arrival of our summer staff and participants. The majority of clean-up is completed by the Memorial Day work weekend volunteers. As many as 150 volunteers prepare our buildings and grounds for the summer season. They clean all of our seasonal facilities, pick up the brush and firewood that has accumulated over the winter, split and stack firewood for the next year, install the piers, prepare the program areas and blow the pine needles and leaves off the roofs and gutters.

THE LAUGHTER AND GROWTH FILL THE SUMMER MONTHS...

As Staff Training and Summer Camp begin we are primarily focused on helping to get the program staff settled into their program areas. We are kept busy with all the maintenance requests being submitted. As these request begin to slow, we begin to focus on the summer projects such as exterior painting.

THE AMAZING COLORS OF THE FALL ARRIVE...

As we transition from Summer Camp to our fall Leadership Program our focus remains on warm weather projects. The cooler weather leads to re-roofing, small construction projects, and the cutting of a lot of firewood! Prepping the facility for winter requires our attention as well: water systems get drained, piers are taken out, and much more. This is also the season where we prepare for any winter projects. Major construction projects such as a new facility will require ground work before the freeze-up.

SNOW, SKIING, FRIENDS AND FAMILIES AND THE WINTER MONTHS ARE HERE...

During the winter months, our work is primarily indoors due to the inefficiencies associated with working in the cold. Our program focus during this time of year is on Manito-wish Groups and Leadership Groups. The majority of our time is spent on snow removal and the maintenance of our numerous cross country ski trails.

Most years we have either a new construction or extensive remodeling project. Occasionally, we don’t have one large project going on, but have a number of small jobs. Thus is the case this winter. During November and December we completed the third phase of the Schwartz Lodge renovation. The first stage being the bathrooms, the bedrooms phase two, and the kitchen, living room, and hallways in phase three. Currently we are working on projects such as signage upgrades, canoe painting, and bathroom remodeling in the caretaker's house. The cold months also allow for time to plan new construction projects that will begin in fall.

Then, with the cycle of the seasons, spring has arrived!
- Jon Iltis, Property Manager

We are very grateful for all that our Maintenance Team does to maintain Camp's facilities. Their work builds the infrastructure that enhances our program and contributes to the Manito-wish experience.

Gear Review - Cedar Strip Canoe

2011-02-18T09:34:00.009-06:00

Camp Manito-wish YMCA hangs its hat on the tradition of canoeing. From water logged birch bark canoes of our founders to the present day Grummans, camp has used a variety of makes and styles of this wonderful all-purpose vessel in order to fulfill our mission through wilderness tripping. The affection that Manito-wishers have for canoes and the art of canoeing is prevalent. Whether you adore Matt Nienow’s cedar strip canoes and sailboats in the Northwest or Rick Monserud’s, slightly blemished, purple-power whitewater canoe, there will always be a story behind the canoeist’s most prized possession; and more often than not, that story will begin at Camp Manito-wish YMCA.

If you are interested in owning a cedar strip canoe you can either build it, buy it or be fortunate enough to inherit it. In order to build a cedar strip you must be willing to dedicate a considerable amount of time to the process (well over a hundred hours). Constructing these beautiful boats is not entirely difficult, as there are several resources available to help with every portion of the process, but in order to turn-out a finished product that turns heads, you will need more than words of wisdom.

For this month’s gear review I caught up with Patrick Henneghan, Manito-wish alumni, and his business partner, Dan Mork about their recent endeavor into the world of building their own cedar strip canoe. Pat and Dan point out some of the advantages and disadvantages of building and owning one of these beautiful boats.

Advantages:
-Customizability: Cedar strip canoes can be custom built for the ideal combination of maneuverability, load hauling, speed, etc.
-Weight: Cedar strip canoes typically weigh 50-60lbs; only slightly heavier than Kevlar boats, but they feel like a feather compared to Grummans.
-Beauty and Functionality: These boats are almost too pretty to paddle (they could very well be used as a showpiece), however, you will also love the way they glide effortlessly through the water.
-Reparability: If you have too much fun, these boats can be easily repaired to nearly perfect condition.

Disadvantages:
-Cost: These boats are certainly an investment.
-Whitewater: Although these boats can be durable enough to run rapids, hitting rocks is like the sound of nails on a chalkboard. Royalex® boats are the better choice for a dedicated whitewater boat.

If you ever get the chance to paddle a cedar strip, you will not be disappointed. However, for a Manito-wisher, canoeing is never a disappointment.

A special thanks to Patrick Henneghan and Dan Mork for this month’s insight on cedar strip canoes. For more information on cedar strips and Pat and Dan's business, Ginseng Paddleworks, contact them at hennegha@stolaf.edu or mork@stolaf.edu.

Smooth Paddling,

Ryan Wagner
Wilderness Program Director

Manito-wish During the Winter: Facts and Fiction

2011-02-14T13:43:00.002-06:00

Recently while visiting places away from camp, I have been fortunate enough to meet-up with members of the broader Manito-wish community. It is always great to catch up and chat about camp but as conversation continues I will inevitably be asked a specific question. “What’s camp like during the winter?”

It is my suspicion that the non-summer months of Manito-wish are somewhat of a mystery, and it is with this in mind that I have created this post: Manito-wish During the Winter: Facts and Fiction.

Fiction: Camp is buried in a winter wonder land from September till May… Camp does get the lake effect snow coming off Lake Superior. This roughly means we get more snow or perspiration from carry-over moisture off of the most Superior of all the lakes.
Facts: Camp is colder and snowier than most places in Wisconsin but, it’s only a few degrees colder than Madison on any given day and the snow up here never slows things down.

Fiction: Camp is Lonely and deserted… Although there are less people, once the snow starts falling there are constantly groups staying in the winterized cabins.
Fact: Camp is quieter, noticeably so, especially if you just finish working summer camp. There just simply isn’t a mountain of kids running around all the time. Picture Disneyland afterhours. That being said, on the weekends camp fills up with groups and families. It feels like we’re constantly running into old friends.

Fiction: Staff Continues to play Wells Fargo through the winter even when it snows… It is far too cold.
Fact: We have played some fun big-group games out on Boulder Lake while sporting our snow shoes and there is great cross country skiing on camp property that everyone up here takes advantage of. All of us tend to stay active be it on the climbing wall or by attentively checking tip-ups in south bay.

Fiction: Boulder Junction shuts down in the winter... Many of the tourist visiting the area come once the snow falls and everyone can come up to play winter sports.
Fact: Camp Manito-wish YMCA and Boulder Junction are great places to be all year round.

What does "Manito-wish" mean?

2011-01-27T15:51:00.007-06:00

Odds are, it’s going to come up.

In all of the Camp Manito-wish YMCA programs that I have staffed, in conversations with my friends and family, and in introducing Camp Manito-wish YMCA to new staff and parents, I am always asked the same question: What does "Manito-wish" mean?

For the simple answer, we turn to "Course Set for Manito-wish: The History of Camp Manito-wish YMCA" (Second Edition) written by Jon Helminiak:

… Wones traveled to the nearby Lac du Flambeau Indian reservation to ask the Chippewas about the meaning of "Manitowish." They answered that "Manitou" means the Great Spirit and "wish" means dwelling place. It was then decided that the word as correctly used at Camp Manito-wish would be spelled with a hyphen. In this way, Wones reasoned, the Indian word "Manito" and the English word "wish" would be combined to convey the wish of the Great Spirit for "all to achieve what is best for themselves."

For those who love history, Camp Manito-wish YMCA, and the history of Camp Manit-wish YMCA, a more scholarly answer is warranted.

In 1919, Walter "Daddy" Wones chose to name his new camp after the local waterways. If you remove the hyphen, you are left with the name of a river and a lake that were important to the Lac du Flambeau Band of the Lake Superior Chippewa Indians who settled in the North woods centuries ago. Manitowish comes from the common language of the Aanishinaabe people—or, more locally, the Ojibwe people—who spoke Aanishinaabe-mowin.

Several factors contribute to the inability to determine the exact meaning of the word Manitowish. Research returns some interesting notes.

The Milwaukee Journal reported in 1926 that man-i-do-wish means "spirit." This may have come from a 1908 book that details the names of all stops on Upper Midwest railways. It is generally understood now that the word Manidoo (and sometimes Manitou) does indeed mean "spirit" or "creator" or "God."

A frequent visitor to Manitowish Waters published an article in the in the New York Times Magazine claiming that Manitowish means "spirit" because it is "a reference to the heavy mists that can settle on the lakes."

"Indian Names on Wisconsin's Maps," a book first published in 1991 by the University of Wisconsin Press, notes that Manitowish was Ojibwe for "small animal," possibly referring to a marten or weasel. The book also suggests that Manitowish may be related to Manito-waise-se, a name for "bad spirit."

In that translation, waise-se might be an alternate spelling for wese which means "tornado" or "storm." The personification of natural forces was common in the Aanishinaabe cultures, and Manito-waise-se could have referred to a mischievous spirit observed in strong winds.

If Manitowish did refer to a "bad spirit," then that spirit would be more of a trickster than a demon. I would attribute that sort of spirit to the reason why poorly moored canoes float downstream from campsites at night.

Aanishinaabe-mowin is a continually evolving language with countless dialects and translations. While we may never know exactly what Manitowish meant to the Lac du Flambeau, we can be certain that Manito itself does mean "Great Spirit."

Visit Camp Manito-wish YMCA at any time, and you will find that the Great Spirit is alive in the North woods and that the Camp Manito-wish YMCA staff is working hard to facilitate a Manito-wish experience: one that will let you achieve what is best for you.

Take care,

Tim Collins
Staff Coordinator

Gear Review - Banks FryBake

2011-01-20T13:09:00.007-06:00

As a backpacker, I find myself tuned-in to the volume and the weight of items that I am going to be hauling around.

Unfortunately, outdoor companies enjoy profiting from sales of lightweight gear, resulting in inflated prices. Brands such as Golight make their living solely from this backpacker obsession. In all honesty, most gear with a pronounceable name and marked at a modest price will average out to be the same amount of weight and get the job done.

These similarities in gear end once you cross paths with a canoeist with the grandest cooking hardware to ever hit the trail, the GSI Dutch Oven. For generations, backpackers were forced to fry their meals, struggle with solar-bake ovens, or, even worse, carry around the obnoxiously heavy Dutchy. Alas my fellow backpackers, those days have come to an end.

Enter the Banks FryBake. This lightweight, anodized aluminum grace-of-all-things tripping has brought the backpacker cinnamon rolls, biscuits, pineapple upside down cake, deep dish pizza, Mexican cornmeal pie, and various other mouthwatering delights while simultaneously sparing the backpacker a trip to the chiropractor upon their return home.

Advantages:
- The 10.5” FryBake weighs less than 29 ounces--half the weight of a 10” GSI Dutch Oven.
- It provides a great baking AND frying surface thus eliminating the need for a fry pan.
- The FryBake is also available in an 8” model for those traveling in smaller groups.

Disadvantages:
- It can be difficult to gauge how much heat to apply and how long to cook your food. You WILL burn a meal or two the first couple uses. Don’t get discouraged.
- The top will inevitably bend or kink. This does not ruin the FryBake, but it becomes less aesthetically pleasing.
- Standard pan grippers aren’t available for the FryBake. A channel lock pliers is probably your best option, but be careful not to bend the edges of the pan.

The FryBake is not the backpacker’s perfect answer to the Dutchy, but it enables us to make our bellies full of wonderful baked goods.

Happy Baking,

Ryan Wagner
Wilderness Program Director

Mark's Activity of the Month

2011-01-12T08:00:00.002-06:00

Thinking Beyond “Conventional” or “Traditional” Experiential Activities

I think it’s a good idea to find out as much as you can about the history of adventure and experiential education if you have the desire to work in this industry.

If you do, the first thing you might find is that the idea of something called the "adventure," "experiential," or "outdoor" education field is a recent construct. In fact, the idea that we might see balls, ropes, canoes, cables and pulleys as part of some unique industry is a really, really new concept.

I remember talking to someone who would be considered by many to be an early pioneer in all of this, and he laughed at the idea that someone could get a degree from a college in something called, “adventure education”. He also found it interesting that many people do consider it an industry with standards and "traditional" tools. He said, “Heck, we were just doing stuff we thought could help people learn. Maybe there’s a whole bunch of other things that work better.” Personally, I have taken that to heart.

In the early days of my work I didn’t have a ropes course or anything remotely like it, so creativity was essential. I developed some things that seemed to work by consulting a whole lot of people that were trying some unique things themselves, and I just kept trying and changing until the stuff seemed to have the impact I was looking for. I always got the feeling that everyone else I knew was doing the same.

We would all convene a couple of times a year at the fledgling Association for Experiential Education Conference or The T.E.A.M. Conference at Northeastern Illinois University to discuss what we had discovered and learn a few new things. Then we would go back out to try it again. Really that’s how everything started in the beginning, anyway. We were adventurous because…well…we were in uncharted territory and every new activity was an adventure for participants and ourselves most of the time.

Most of us had struggled in the "conventional" educational settings as students and teachers and we just knew there HAD to be a better way. We found by trial--and sometimes error--that there really was a better way. It was exciting.

Now, I also know that back in the early days we had none of the risk management standards that we have now. Real risk was probably higher then—that was for sure. I don’t want to go back to that at all. Standards are good for a lot of things. However, what we ALL can keep in our hearts is that desire to breathlessly search for new ways and new innovations.

“Group Juggle” is a great activity. It’s just a tool though. It’s not “traditional” in any way, really. It’s just a great activity that works in some situations and settings. On the other hand, what is the next group juggle? How can you do it better?

In fact, I believe you do not NEED a ropes course to do really good experiential education. If you do…great…just don’t get hung up on it. Remember it is just a tool. Used right, and in the right situation, a tool like that can do great things. Use it in the wrong way, and it can cause GREAT harm (even if it used safely).

My challenge to you is stop thinking of tools like this as traditional or even necessary all of the time. I think that’s dangerous. What is the next new innovation? What unique skill or talent do you know (or that you can learn) that can be the next great step forward. Maybe its music, drums, hip hop beats and rhymes, theater and art, storytelling…whatever you know and have a passion for. Use it, teach it, develop it and frame it, etc. In other words, follow in the footsteps of the early pioneers with all of their passion and vision. Great things will happen if you do.

A warm welcome to Ryan Wagner, Wilderness Program Director –

2011-01-10T15:18:00.006-06:00

We are pleased to announce our new Wilderness Program Director, Ryan Wagner. I wanted to take this opportunity for all of us to get to know Ryan a little better. Ryan has been at Camp Manito-wish for the past four summers. He started as a counselor for the Summer Camp Program as a Far North kayak leader in the Apostle Islands. He then moved onto the Outpost Program as a Western Backpacking Leader in the Wind River Range of Wyoming and the next summer as an Expeditionary Backpacking Leader in the Brookes Range of Alaska. In 2010, Ryan returned to Summer Camp as Trips Director. Lets get to know Ryan a little better!

What were you like as a kid?
It all started growing up on a farm in Newton, Wisconsin, which is just south of Manitowoc, WI. We never had a full farm operation, but simply a hobby farm of sorts. I remember raising six steer in order to generate enough money to buy a four-wheeler when I was 12 years old.

What has had the largest impact on who you are today?
After High School, I set my course for the United States Marine Corps. This lifestyle would dictate my next four years and shape who I am today. During my time on active duty I participated in three overseas operations in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The first of these tours was in support of the initial invasion in Kuwait while the other two were centered in Fallujah, Iraq. I was honorably discharged in the summer of 2006 and began my college schooling at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in fall of that year.

What are you most looking forward to about being the Wilderness Program Director?
I am most looking forward to being part of wonderful place and working with amazing individuals on a full-time basis with the common goal of making camp successful. I also want to provide guidance for participants and staff. I take a lot of pride in what I do and want to give everything I can to Camp by bring my leadership style and diverse outlook to the organization.

What is your favorite thing about Camp Manito-wish YMCA?
My favorite thing about Camp Manito-wish YMCA would have to be the people. Since joining this community I have met so many different people with entirely different backgrounds and yet, we all have made great friends. When traveling across the country, it seems that there is always a place to crash or a friendly face to grab coffee with.

What is your favorite memory from a Camp Manito-wish Trip?
My favorite memory would have to be climbing Peregrine Pass in the Gates of the Arctic National Park. Tres, one of the participants, and I were the two last individuals in the group to make it up the pass and we needed all the encouragement we could get from each other in order to keep moving. This experience showed to me the true value in Manito-wish tripping. We are out there as a collective group supporting one another as opposed to a guided trip.

What are you most excited about living in the Northwoods?
I SKI TO WORK! I think that sums in up. Oh, and hunting in the fall.

Submitted by Drew Richmond

At the Mic with John Stanley

2010-12-29T08:00:00.004-06:00

John completing the traditional Island Call with an echo, of course!

John Stanley, the fourth director here at Camp Manito-wish YMCA, made a recent visit to Manito-wish and we were able to grab him for an interview. John has a long history with The Y starting with his roots in the Texas Panhandle and Dallas. He later moved onto Camp Florida and then YMCA Camp Classen in Oklahoma. Stanley left Manito-wish in 1999 to follow other passions - philanthopy and entrepreneurship. He works with The Legacy Group and has been there for eleven years! John, his pick-up riding dog Dallas, and wife, Jamee, enjoy making the trip to Manito-wish and to southerwestern WI several times a year as they hike, snowshoe, grow pumpkins, hunt, fish, and attend to the grape vines they have recently started.

John and his family moved to Wisconsin in 1989 and he joined us as the first Director from outside of the tight knit Manito-wish community. John served as the Executive Director for ten years (1989 - 1999) and left the legacy of helping to define Manito-wish's Collaborative Leadership Model. Let's let John tell the rest of his story...

What first inspired you to get started in Camping? Being a scholarship camper at YMCA Camp Grady Spruce of the Dallas Y camp. My first counselor, Ben, was the first non-family member, outside of school, to value me as a person.

Tell us a little about your Manito-wish history. As a YMCA Director colleague I first visited CMY in 1980 participating in a national committee that was planning the centennial of YMCA camping….coming up in 1985. The Leadership Lodge had just been completed and Bob Telllen was very proud of it as a winter ready facility. As a Texan I thought I had fallen off the edge of the earth when arriving in the North Woods in January. For the first time I saw six foot high wind rows of snow down the middle of main street and had a fish fry at George's. John Michler and Bob Tellen were our hosts. The planning meeting included ample time for fellowship and saunas and resulted in envisioning World Camp (an international exchange summer camp program matching thousands of campers from around the world with US campers) and the Centennial Celebration that eventually took place at Estes Park.

My family and I visited camp several times over the coming years and my friendship with John Michler and Bob Tellen deepened. In 1989 John Michler called and invited me to throw my hat in the ring to be Telleen’s successor. Jamee, Karen, Micah and I arrived in early 1990. Iltis picked me up at the Rhinelander airport late one February night. I was welcomed by beautiful northern lights and a winter retreat in Schwartz. I remember meeting board member Cora Forbush for the first time that night.

What is your favorite memory here at Manito-wish?
Campers and staff using the Leadership Center and Smith leadership village as it was intended, envisioned, planned, and built.

What did you learn at Camp that you apply to your current life and/or profession?
Growing up to be a whole person is our call, always trying to balance growing in spirit, mind and body.

You were part of the creation of the 7 Qualities of a Manito-wish Leader. Tell us about the conception of them.
The board’s call to grow our own counselors was clear and compelling. Equally clear to me is that we had indeed been doing that for 70 + years. We articulated the seven qualities based upon what we saw in the best and brightest trip leaders of the past and present. Then as we understood the need for leadership going forward, we saw the need for more of these kinds of leaders at camp and in homes, classrooms, and businesses everywhere.

Share a bit of wisdom with all of. John's Trail Tip of the Day:
“It’s not about you” – Rick Warren

Respectivly submitted by Karen (John's daughter)

Holiday Recipes from Don

2010-12-22T09:58:00.010-06:00

I am looking out my office window at the snow and it tells me it’s Christmas time. It is the best time of the year. I can count on gaining a few pounds but that is a fair exchange for good conversation, food and wonderful times . I especially enjoy the conversation, food and the games involved in family gatherings. I remember one of the more lively games we used to play as a family was jeopardy. We used spoons to ring in and sometimes it got pretty wild. My favorite part of the meal was dessert and my 2 favorites were pumpkin bars and mint fudge . I would like to share the recipes with our Manito-wish family. Simple and delicious – I promise.

Pumpkin Bars

Ingredients:
• 4 eggs
• 1 cup vegetable oil
• 1 2/3 cups sugar
• 16oz can pumpkin
• 2 cups flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 4oz. softened cream cheese
• 1/3 cup softened butter
• 1 teaspoon. Vanilla
• 2 cups powdered sugar

Bar Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
2. Grease and flour a 9x16 jelly roll pan (This is a cookie sheet with 1” sides)
3. Beat together sugar, eggs, oil and pumpkin until light and fluffy
4. Add the sugar, flour, baking powder, salt and ground cinnamon to your mixture
5. Pour into prepared pan and bake for 25-30 minutes and cool

Frosting Directions:
1. Beat together the cream cheese, butter, vanilla and powdered sugar until smooth
2. Frost bars

Mint Chocolate Fudge

Ingredients:
• 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 14oz can sweetened condensed milk
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• 6oz white chocolate chips
• 1 tablespoon peppermint extract
• Green or red food coloring
• A few chopped candy canes for top

Directions:
1. In a heavy sauce pan on low heat, melt chocolate chips with 1 cup milk and vanilla. Spread ½ into a foil lined 8in or 9in square pan
2. Chill 10 minuets
3. In a heavy sauce pan over low heat melt the white chocolate chips with remaining milk. The mixture will be thick, add peppermint extract and food coloring if you wish
4. Spread on chilled chocolate layer and cool for 10 minutes
5. Spread reserved chocolate on top and sprinkle with chopped candy cane.
6. Chill at least 2 hours.
7. Turn over onto a cutting board, peel off paper and cut

Have a Merry Christmas,

Don O’Melia – Executive Chef

Gear Review - Polar Pure

2010-12-15T15:02:00.006-06:00

Since “waters so pure and fresh”—and safe for drinking without disinfecting—are as coveted as the Manito-wish experience, disinfecting your drinking water is imperative to reduce the risk of Giardia ruining a wilderness trip.

How do you ensure that your water is safe to drink? Humans have been boiling water to kill waterborne bacteria, protozoa, and viruses for centuries. Because you can’t build a campfire on the floor of your canoe or keep your white gas stove balanced on the deck of your kayak, you need a more convenient disinfection method.

Camp Manito-wish YMCA relies on Polar Equipment’s iodine-based Polar Pure for the majority of its wilderness trips.

THE ITEM:
Polar Pure is a small glass bottle containing about two-dozen iodine crystals. Fill an empty Polar Pure bottle with lake water, and after one hour you have a solution of microorganism-killing power. Read the detailed instructions printed on the side of the bottle and pour the appropriate amount of iodine solution into your water bottle. Wait for the iodine to do its job, and you will have safe drinking water in another 20 minutes!

WHY I LIKE IT:
Iodine is a safe, reliable method of disinfecting water. The noticeable taste of iodine will help you verify that your water has Polar Pure in it. You can disguise the taste of iodine by adding your favorite fruit-flavored powder, such as belly-wash, to your water bottle after the disinfection process is complete.

GRIPES:
The Polar Pure bottle is fragile. Camp Manito-wish solved this problem by making our own cozies. Since the entire disinfection process takes at least 80 minutes, you should anticipate your drinking water needs and regularly refill your Polar Pure bottle. However, if you fill the bottle absolutely, completely full and seal the cap, even a cozy won’t keep the bottle afloat.

BEST USES:
Wilderness trips, especially by canoe and kayak
Emergency preparedness kits

Another popular iodine treatment is Potable Aqua (PA) tablets. Typically, Potable Aqua is more readily available at local stores and costs half as much per bottle as Polar Pure. However, one bottle of Polar Pure can disinfect up to 2,000 liters of water (versus 60 liters with Potable Aqua). Polar Pure also boasts an indefinite shelf life when the bottle is filled and sealed tightly whereas PA must be trashed three months after the bottle is opened. The result is that you can save money on longer-lasting supplies and send fewer empty bottles to the landfill!

Happy hydrating,
Tim Collins

I support Camp Manito-wish YMCA because ...

2010-12-08T08:00:00.002-06:00

In the last year, we’ve asked those making a donation to the Annual Fund Drive to complete this sentence: “I support Camp Manito-wish YMCA because …”

Here are just a few of their answers …

“It changed my life.”

“My experience as a camper and staff member has shaped who I am today, and I hope it continues to do so for others forever.”

“Everyone should be able to have their own Manito-wish experience.”

“You changed my child’s life and I am indebted to Camp Manito-wish!”

“You helped me to experience real teamwork during physically demanding canoe camping trips.”

“It is an awesome place! Magical even!”

“Giving back so other young people can have the same opportunities I had.”

“Its high quality has endured through the third generation of our family.”

“Though I was only there a summer, it was one of the best experiences of my life.”

“Even 45 years after being a camper, I treasure my unforgettable experiences. “

“Camp teaches young people to cherish and protect the environment and learn how to live sustainably in the community.”

“It was a formative experience in our youth. Its values have stayed with us forever as well as the friends we made.”

The staff at Camp have been working to better articulate the Manito-wish experience. Words like humility, empathy, resourcefulness, optimism, adaptability, resilience, and responsibility … phrases like collaborative leadership, character and leadership development, and awareness of self and others … have entered the Camp vocabulary and have become a part of daily life. No matter what words we use, we all know that Manito-wish has made a difference in our own lives and that Camp has the opportunity to develop even more “confident, responsible, and enlightened leaders who will improve the world in which they live.”

The Annual Fund Drive is one opportunity the Manito-wish community has to come together to ensure Camp’s continued success. Donations received through the Fund Drive are used to provide camperships (financial assistance), as well as to ensure the resources are available to hire the best staff, maintain Camp’s facilities , and offer quality programs.

The success of the Fund Drive comes not from one individual giving a major gift to reach our goal, but from the hundreds of donors and volunteers who give of their time, talents and treasure because they believe in Camp Manito-wish YMCA.

“I support Camp Manito-wish YMCA because …” How would YOU complete the sentence?

November's Activity of the Month

2010-12-01T07:00:00.003-06:00

Leadership Books and Resources

We recently received a copy of a great new book published by Wood n’ Barnes publishing called The Chiji Guidebook by Chris Cavert and Steve Simpson. The book is a reference to activities that can be done with decks of the wonderful Chiji Cards—a processing tool developed by Steve Simpson, Buzz Bocher and Dan Miller. Chiji cards are decks of picture cards that can be used in many ways. This book offers a wide range of ideas that go beyond using the cards as a processing tool. There are introductory activities, initiatives, “Get to know you” activities, awareness activities and many more.

Books like this are great ways to expand your bag of tricks. It is amazing how many wonderful activities can be done with just simple props.

Chiji cards are available at Steve, Buzz and Dan’s website:
http://www.chiji.com/index.htm

The Wood n’ Barnes website is also featuring activities from the book on their website. Look for the “Friday Lessons” page and scroll down to see all the other great activities that they feature every month. The Friday Lessons page is:
http://woodnbarnes.com/?cat=80

Chris Cavert also has a wonderful site that is temporarily down for updates. You can find it and get connected with him at:
http://fundoing.com/

Another source for books, information, props, etc. is Michelle Cummings’ website Training Wheels. You can find it at:
http://www.training-wheels.com/

Please feel free to pass along any resources you come across as well and, of course, any great new activities you have discovered.
Have fun!
Mark

Midwest Mountaineering Expo 2010

2010-11-23T10:02:00.012-06:00

Wilderness enthusiasts gathered at the 51st Bi-Annual Winter Outdoor Adventure Expo at Midwest Mountaineering in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and Camp Manito-wish YMCA was there. Summer Program Director Karen Stanley and Staff Coordinators Tim Collins and Lincoln McLain were on hand for one of the upper Midwest’s largest gatherings of canoeists, backpackers, cross-country skiers and more.

Lincoln and Tim helped staff the Camp Manito-wish YMCA booth.

We were fortunate to meet a number of alumni and to introduce Camp Manito-wish YMCA to a lot of amazing people--vendors, other Y camp administrators, and potential campers and staffers alike!

Staff members Sam, Lloyd, Tim, Nell, and Erika met over coffee.

(Not pictured: Matt, Craig, Lincoln, Karen, Erik 'Linus' and family)

Lincoln and Erika taught these Expo-goers how to make Turkish knot bracelets.

It was a fantastic time had by all. We are looking forward to the 52nd Bi-Annual Spring Outdoor Expo, April 22nd - 24th, 2011. We hope to see you there!

Wishing you and yours a great Thanksgiving,

Tim Collins

Staff Recruitment Coordinators 2010-2011!

2010-11-12T12:00:00.000-06:00

Please join us in welcoming our two Staff Recruitment Coordinators for the upcoming winter and spring seasons.

Ladies and gentlemen, Lincoln McLain and Tim Collins...

LINCOLN MCLAIN

Originally hailing form the rolling hills of Sonoma County, Lincoln McLain spent most of his early years outdoors enjoying the beautiful forests in Northern California. Following in his mother’s footsteps, he studied Environmental Studies at Beloit College, where he developed a strong appreciation for music, ultimate frisbee, and improv comedy.

Lincoln spent two memorable summers at Manito-wish as the Craftshop Director during his undergraduate years and returned to camp for another summer recently as the Program Staff Director. Manito-wish has made a profound impact on his life and he is extremely excited for the opportunity to share his love for Camp with others.

Whether Lincoln is road biking through the fiery fall leaves, or rolling down a hill in the Birkebeiner, he’s always looking to laugh or to meet new friends.

A further note: Lincoln bears no relation to the 16th president, however he is the 6th generation nephew of George Washington.

TIM COLLINS

Tim Collins has been a member of the Camp Manito-wish family since 2005. He grew up in Marshfield, Wisconsin, and attended the University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point where he studied English, economics, and political science.

Tim was referred to Camp by a college friend and started as a Summer Camp counselor. He began facilitating for various Leadership programs immediately afterwards. Tim did not know about Manito-wish when he was a child, and he is very jealous of those who started as Family Camp campers, ventured through Summer Camp and Outpost, and now serve as seasonal staff. He did attend what he refers to as “Nerd Camp” and thinks that that was adequate compensation.

When not hiring great staff members, look for Tim cross-country skiing all over the Northwoods (to train for the Birkebeiner), reading a book, or paddling on Boulder Lake!

Fall Leadership Programs are So Much Fun!

2010-11-08T11:47:00.000-06:00

It's fall in the Northwoods! And, many schools and youth serving organizations have been passing through the Manito-wish Leadership Center. We’ve welcomed students from 7th grade through college as they immerse themselves in our collaborative programs. Group interaction styles, the skills Olympics, high and low challenge course segments, and custom-tailored initiatives are just part of the fun leadership activities going on in the fall at Manito-wish.

Caring and dedicated staff help the youth we serve to become more aware of themselves and their world; to build trust with others; to learn to share a common space; and to respect the gifts and talents of their peers. “Among the trees we grow leaders”. This was the 2010 slogan of one of our groups, and it reflects our mission as we serve youth in the amazing beauty of Northern Wisconsin.

To learn more, contact: Mark Zanoni, Director of Leadership Programs at Camp Manito-wish YMCA, (715) 385-2312 or see us on-line.

Respectfully Submitted by:

Pete Rondello, Chaplain and Leadership Facilitator

In Their Own Words: Edgar

2010-11-07T15:13:00.000-06:00

Edgar was a student in the Schuler Scholar Program who was gracious enough to answer some questions about his experience here with Manito-wish's Leadership Program. Edgar is a recent graduate of Waukegan High School, Waukegan, IL and i s currently attending Dartmouth College. Thanks for the awesome interview Edgar, and good luck at Dartmouth College from the Northwoods!

Tell me about your first experience on trail as a freshman.

Before trail, I was very apprehensive about the being outdoors thing. I had never been canoeing or camping in my life, so being outdoors for 4 days in a row was intimidating, out of my comfort zone, and I didn’t know how I was going to react to it. I didn’t know if I was going to hate it or like it, but as the days went on, I realized that being in the woods was really fun. It was great not having anything to worry about, like electronics or any other distractions. Being in nature with friends who also gained a love and enjoyment of the trail and outdoors experience increased my love for it as well. It was then, in my freshman year, that I began falling in love with nature, and canoeing became one of my passions. I enjoyed being out in the open water, being able to look into the horizon and paddle away not worrying about anything but paddling and the friends that were on trail with me. They became some of my really close friends as the years went on through the experience. Overall, the trip was a bonding opportunity for my group, as well as a chance for learning and growth for me and my love for nature.

Tell me about you feelings on trail now as a Senior Leader.

This time on trail I learned that there is more responsibility as a student leader, and for the trail leaders. I realized that as a leader you have to be thinking about campsites, taking care of the packs, food, and making sure everything is together. I also realized that there is more to the trail experience than just having fun; I didn’t realize all the work that goes into it then, as apposed to now. I enjoyed trail this time around a whole lot more because I kind of knew what to expect. While on trail this time I realized that I would love to be a trail leader. I would love coming back to Camp Manito-wish and be a trip leader for Schuler. On my trips as a senior, my feelings went from the love of nature, to the love of the outdoors, and escalated to a passion for helping others appreciate nature.

How has the Manito-wish experience changed you?

My freshman year at Camp Manito-wish I learned about awareness, teamwork, and really I think the most important part for me was compassion and understanding. I don’t think I put a lot of thought into other people’s feelings before that, but having been a part of John Harrits’ group I learned from him to listen to others ideas and to make sure everyone is being included. We learned how to work together as a team and about all the characteristics that make a good leader. The great leadership base I learned at Manito-wish, I think helped me out later in other leadership roles. Camp creates a nice experience that everyone in the Schuler Program shares, and you can relate more knowing that everyone’s been through it. As a leader in school, I have used many of the lessons I learned at camp.

As a senior, I went back to camp as a student leader. I learned that not all the scholars have the same Manito-wish experience. It’s different for all, and their experiences will vary, and I hadn’t taken that into account. My assumption was that they are were at a similar level. Going back again helped reinforce things I had forgotten, or things that weren’t as prominent. For example awareness was there but not as prominent. This time I was able to see those things and get a better understanding for those ideas. Also, using your resources was another idea I had forgotten. Returning as a senior leader has also helped me learn something new about what I want to do with my future, and as a leader. Working at Manito-wish is something I’m strongly considering.

Would you come back as a Trail Leader for the Schuler Scholar Manito-wish?

Yes, most definitely. I would love to come back and I’m considering coming back after my first year of college. I would love to work as a Schuler trail leader for Leadership, or as a Tripping Assistant or Counselor for Camp Manito-wish’s summer program.

What is next for you?

I will be attending Dartmouth College this upcoming year. Right now, I don’t have a solid major picked out, but I am considering engineering, pre-med, linguistics and international relations. So this first year I’m mainly going to be exploring my options and interests before I choose anything, maybe even an environmental studies class. For the summer I will be looking for an internship or job opportunity, if there is not one that interests me then I’m hoping I can come back to Manito-wish and work here.

In Their Own Words: Irvin

2010-11-02T14:53:00.010-05:00

Irvin is a Schuler Scholar who participated in the Manito-wish Leaderhsip Program. He sat down with us for a few minuits to talk about his experiences. Irvin is a recent graduate of Waukegan High School, Waukegan, IL and is currently attending Dartmouth College. Thanks for chatting Irvin, and good luck at Dartmouth College from the Northwoods!

Tell me about your first experience on trail as a freshman at Manito-wish.

It was a pretty interesting experience to be honest. I would like to start by saying that my vision was a bit narrow, and I was very narrow-minded. I was not able to visualize my entire surroundings or grasp everything that was going on around me. It took me a while to take everything in, and I took it in slowly. It was a brand new experience for me since I had never gone overnight camping before. I didn’t know how to canoe either, so that was a challenge as well. I was shyer and less outgoing, so I had a difficult time getting to know my trail group. It was very much a learning experience and at the end of the experience I took away many things; I learned how to canoe, learned how to “survive on trail” and I met one of my best friends during trail.

Tell me about you experience on trail as a Senior Leader.

As a senior leader, I was more aware of my surroundings, I was able to witness nature and appreciate nature in a way that I could not do my freshman year. I was more outgoing and I was a better leader which was shown as I led by example rather than words. I was able to talk normally, socialize and become acquainted with everyone more easily. Also the fact that I knew how to canoe helped a lot. My freshman year, I was usually in the back of the group holding everyone up and this year I was able to lead the group. It was refreshing to have experience and to use that experience to help teach freshman.

How has the Manito-wish experience changed you?

It has been a personal life changing experience; I was able to become a better leader as a result of the Schuler Scholar Leadership Program. I have learned when to step back and when to step up. I became aware of others and how they feel in regards to a decision made or to my actions. It made me become a better person and overall I learned how to listen. I learned when to talk and when to listen. The Manito-wish Staff taught me nature survival skills, and I feel that I became a better person because of it.

Would you come back as a Trail Leader for the Schuler Scholar Program at Manito-wish?

I would love to, it’s something I would love doing during my summer. Because, I’m able to take what I have learned and give it back to other people. Also it’s just nice to be out with nature and enjoying something you love to do while you’re at it.

What is next for you?

In 23 days, I will be a college student at Dartmouth College, and to be honest I really don’t know what comes after those 23 days because I’m undecided as to what I might study. I am thinking about literature, engineering, social sciences, international relations and even economics.

Father and Son Weekend Re-cap

2010-10-14T17:05:00.007-05:00

Father and Son weekend started out as it usually did with all the father and sons arriving at Camp, unpacking their gear, and getting to know one another in the cabin. The highlight of arrival was getting one of Camp's famous 'carmelita' bars. Dinner was Don’s famous spaghetti and meatballs, garlic bread, salad and for dessert - brownies ... um, um, good (and yes - more sugar for the boys). After dinner we all gathered around the flickering fire and introduced ourselves. Following introductions, we went over to the Nature Center for a very enlightening presentation on turtles. One of the special things about Father and Son Weekend is that you're always learning new things. To close out the evening we had a traditional Camp sing-along in the Connor Council Ring followed by smores (yes - and a final dose of sugar for the boys that surely would put them to sleep immediately - NOT).

On Saturday the group rose early to a paddle on the lake and to fish. First bell was at 8:00 am. Pancakes and sausage helped start off another beautiful day at Camp. For Father and Son weekend there’s always a schedule of program activities that are led by Camp staff. This year the group participated in archery, trap shooting, crafts (we made walking sticks), and geo-caching. In addition to the scheduled activities there was time for roof ball or throwing around the pig skin.

For the Saturday evening supper, we all attended the 51st Annual Boulder Junction Colorama dinner. This year's event benefitted the local high school class trip to Chicago. A feast of wild game stew and free range chicken was had by all. As is becoming a tradition (purely luck), the father and sons did very well in winning door prizes. The top prize this year was a handy dandy all-in-one floor-cleaning contraption. The boys had fun trying it out in the evening – our cabin floors never looked so good. Following dinner, we engaged in a challenge game of seeing who could drop an egg from a high elevation without it breaking. Some very creative ideas were devised including one where the egg was dropped directly (without any protective padding) into a box. To everyone's surprise the egg did not shatter. One last camp fire and smore treat was followed by fellowship and laughs back in the cabin before everyone retired after a fun filled day.

On Sunday, our last day, everyone enjoyed the Lang Challenge Course, which has become an all-time favorite activity for Father and Son weekend. The group enjoyed the rock wall, catwalk, and zip line. Followed by one of Don’s awesome lunches of meatloaf and all the fixin’s, we shared some final laughs and then headed back home.

For anyone that has not participated in Father and Son weekend, this is a great way to introduce your boys to the Camp environment. This was our 10th Father and Son weekend and every one of them has been special, and full of wonderful memories. The weekend is all about having fun, meeting new people, challenging yourself to try new things, and connecting with your boys in ways that are otherwise not possible back home.

Respectivly submitted by:
Harrison Winkel - Boy's Camp Camper and Tom Winkel - Alum and Volunteer

Fall at Manito-wish

2010-09-17T11:33:00.021-05:00

The Fall is upon us and we are in full swing of Fall programming here in the Northwoods. We just finished up Women’s Weekend with a wonderful group of women and are awaiting the folks that will be joining us for Father and Son weekend today.

Here is a quick re-cap of the fun from Women’s Weekend 2010.

Fall is off to a great start! Women’s Weekend started last Friday with Carmelita bars and gorgeous sunny weather to welcome us to Camp. We all got to stay together in the newly remodeled rooms in Schwartz Lodge and we gathered there on Friday night around the wood stove and shared “button flare” and sang camp songs with the staff. Saturday was a busy day with watercolors, yoga, paddling, death by chocolate dessert, a trip to town, dinner and the making of felted soap rocks. Woven all through the weekend were the knitters who inspired all of us to at least think a little more about knitting. Sunday morning came too quickly. We started with Beth in the quiet of the “rocking chair” room overlooking Boulder Lake for an insightful devotion and then to breakfast and paddling, knitting, and the high ropes course - kudos to all who braved the high ropes course – climbing and belaying. Beth, you are indeed “a Manito-wish kinda girl!” Looking forward to next year and more great, real conversations with my new friends – I’m bringing my knitting (probably dishcloths)! – shared by Jamee Stanley, participant and alumnus

Your time isn’t up to visit one of the most beautiful places for fall colors – Camp Manito-wish YMCA! Join us for Fall Family Weekend or make your own retreat away with family, friends and colleagues here at Manito-wish. Campfires, hikes, climbing wall, saunas and fabulous company can be great rejuvenation.

Reflection from Jennifer Lagos - Communications Coordinator 2010

2010-09-01T09:40:00.007-05:00

Every camper at Manito-wish leaves with more than they brought. Whether it’s some fabulous new piece of art, newfound self-confidence or a more optimistic perspective, they all go home a little fuller. I took some time to chat with some of these incredible girls about their camp experience and was amazed by what they came up with on their own.

From the ten-year-olds in Near South to the Far-Northers, they all had great things to say about their experience at Camp. In talking with them I learned, overwhelmingly, that the Trail experience was a very defining part of their time at Manito-wish.

“Trail was my favorite part of camp. Getting to really connect with all the girls and realizing that we’re all going through the same things, I really like that part,” said Joana, Near North Camper. “I learned that having a positive attitude is very important. When you’re on trail and you have someone encouraging you it helps you gain more confidence in yourself.”

“I learned that it’s important to take responsibility and be open with people. Also, when you’re on trail you can feel yourself getting stronger and it becomes easier with every step. It makes me more confident in myself and I know that I can do it again,” said Carli, Far North Camper.

“My favorite part of camp was trail for sure. Everything about backpacking in the Porkies (Porcupine Mountains) was amazing,” said Tricia, Far North Camper.

The friendships made, the skills gained and the lasting memories is what keeps these girls coming back to camp. They learn how to do new things in each program area, but most importantly they learn about themselves.

“I learned at camp that you shouldn’t say you don’t like to do something until you try it because you might really like it,” said Maddie, Near South Camper. “On trail we learned to make no-bake cookies and they were so good. I loved canoeing and sleeping in a tent.”

“My favorite part of camp is my new friends and the whole experience of meeting new people,” said Melanie, Far South Camper. They come from all over, even other countries and it’s cool that we can be friends.”

“I loved sailing. The Program Staff made it really fun. It helped teach me patience, since you can’t always do it right away, but you always have to keep trying,” said Sophia, Far South Camper.

With another successful session under our belts, it’s great for me to reflect on the impact that Manito-wish has on campers. It’s wonderful to watch them grow, learn and build lasting friendships.

At the Mic with Trips Director Ryan Wagner

2010-08-19T16:26:00.003-05:00

Ryan Wagner served as Trips Director through both Boys and Girls Camp as well as the upcoming Family Camp. He brought great mentoring skills for the staff as well as conducting entertaining bonehead ceremony's for the campers.

Let's hear from Ryan:

I am currently studying Civil Engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, with one year to go. When I'm not at camp or rattling off Calculus and statics problems, you can find me in the outdoors hunting, fishing, hiking, or camping. If by chance I am not doing any of those great activities, I am most likely doing just about anything else.

This is my fourth summer at camp. The previous three years have granted me the opportunity to lead Far North sea kayaking trips, a Western Backpacking trip in the Wind River Range, and an Expeditionary Backpacking trip in the Brooks Range of Alaska.

My favorite Manito-wish memory would have to be the Alaskan Nash Lodge Skit that our group preformed upon returning from the Arctic. We shook the dinning hall from kitchen to restrooms with our chant which apparently was impressive enough to warrant a standing ovation. Great way to come back from a trip of a lifetime!

Challenge Course Director/ Leadership Assistant

2010-07-19T17:08:00.001-05:00

Hello, my name is Brittany Tomasko and I hail from the Golden State of California. I grew up in Mill Valley, CA. Mill Valley is located just 10 minutes north of San Francisco on the San Francisco Bay. This is my first summer at Camp Manito-wish and I will be the Challenge Course Director and Leadership Assistant.

I graduated from California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly), San Luis Obispo in 2009 with two degrees, one in Nutrition and the other in Recreation, Parks, and Tourism Administration. In addition to school, I worked at Chumash Challenge a team building, high and low ropes course as a facilitator. I also taught swing dance lessons for the Cal Poly Swing Club and was a facilitator and leader for Cal Poly’s New Student Orientation Program (WOW – week of welcome).

My passions and hobbies in life are #1 Swing Dancing – lindy hop, Charleston, Balboa, and blues. I was on a swing dance performance troop prior to moving out to Camp Manito-wish. I am also an avid outdoor and sports enthusiast. I love road cycling and running and have competed in triathlons. On my days off you’ll probably find me out on my road bike riding the roads of the north woods. My favorite wilderness and water activities include backpacking, camping, canoeing, kayaking, and windsurfing. I also love laughing, hugs and smiling!

Activity of the Month—July

2010-07-12T16:41:00.000-05:00

Using the BIG Bow Drill—Part 1

When I first started out doing experiential programming I didn’t have a challenge course to speak of. We built some temporary elements, but because of the nature of the program—our outcomes, wilderness and nature based focus, etc.—we tried to use other tools. During this time we developed a whole series of basic and advanced initiatives that utilized primitive skills and nature awareness skills of all kinds. Primitive fire making and fire building in general were a big part of many of these activities, mainly because the metaphor was just so perfect. So…when my friend Don Nagy showed me the monster version of the small, portable bow drill at the T.E.A.M. conference in Chicago several years ago I was beyond intrigued. We made a coal and got fire with that thing and smoked up the entire big gym and Northeastern, Illinois University in the process (they moved us to a garage the next year for obvious reasons). That crew of 36 people and the huge crowd of supporters definitely did more then just “blow smoke” though. We truly made fire and did what many thought was the impossible.

Since that time I have worked on and refined what I learned from Don and we now use the BIG bow drill here at Manito-wish as part of many programs. More often then not, we use it as a first activity to set the stage for the rest of the program AND create a fire that is maintained and cared for by participants for duration. Those that have been to T.E.A.M. are also familiar with the coal bundles that are created from the sacred fire. Manito-wish works with two organizations that make the Big Bow Drill, the sacred fire and the coal bundles a major part of the experience.

If this is something that intrigues you, the process of building a kit of your own is not difficult. It helps to be well versed in friction fire making principals, but it isn’t essential that you are a master fire maker with smaller bow drills and hand drills in order to be effective with the bigger version. There are some key construction essentials and things that seem to really help. I will explain some of those this month and then get down to usage and other details in Part 2.

Making the Bow Drill

Here are some key things to consider as you get your materials together:

•Cedar is the best choice for all parts of the kit. I try to find White Cedar (Thuja occidentalis) if I can, but western white seems to work as well. It is the lightest wood in North America and has many qualities that make it a good choice for fire making. Unfortunately, it is not a tree that is reproducing well in the Midwest and it is becoming harder to find good, clear native cedar.

•I find a clear (or as clear as possible) cedar 2 by 10 or 2 by 12 for the fire board and a clear (or as clear as possible) 4-5 inch diameter round cedar fence post for the spindle (final length will be between 4 and 5 feet). The kind of wood you use for the top plate is not as critical. I have used pine for this. The bow should be fairly solid with a slight bend (it is a bow after all) and should be 8-10 feet long. I tend towards maple saplings and I do cut them live. Dead wood just isn’t strong and resilient enough.

•Measurement of the hole you burn in, it’s distance from the edge of the board, it’s depth and size, etc. are critical aspects and I will try to cover those in Part 2. I do use a rounded wood chisel to start my hole and get a group of strong people together to burn that initial hole in to approximately the diameter of the drill itself.

•The notch size is the other critical thing. The general rule of thumb for smaller kits is to look at the hole you have burned in (to the diameter of the drill) and imagine that it is a pie or pizza. Cut a notch that is roughly an 1/8th of a pizza, just short of the center and squared off. I make the notches for the big kits just slightly smaller…but not much.

I will cover the use of the kit in Part 2. Feel free to contact me directly if you have other questions.

Mark

The Infirmary

2010-07-09T13:44:00.002-05:00

There is an aspect of camp that is frequently utilized, yet often overseen. It, perhaps, is the most thankless position throughout the summer. They work 24 hours a day, they are there at a moments notice, and are always willing to go the extra mile for you. They are seen as mom & dad, brother & sister, aunt and uncle.

They are the Health Center Staff.

They have great advice about life and that splinter you thought nothing about two weeks ago. They are there to help get that camper over home sickness and help you through that health issue on trail. Parents trust them to help their kids, Directors trust them to help their staff.

Here at Camp Manito-wish, the staff at the heath center are an integral part of the summer. We rely heavily on their experience and expertise. Whether it’s a call from trail or a missing form, they are woven into the success of a summer session.

To all of those who work in Camp Health Centers…Thank You!

Trail Food Cooking Contest

2010-06-24T08:29:00.009-05:00

For years, Camp Manito-wish trippers have enjoyed the savory taste of a meal after the hard work of a days paddle or hike. Favorite meals have included trail pizza, gado gado pasta, cheese potato soup, and mexican festival dinner.

This past Friday, a group of 15 Outpost Leaders participated in the 2nd annual Trail Cook-off. The purpose was to stretch the limits of trail food and inspire creativity in future trips. Groups were allowed 30 minutes to develop a recipe and gather ingredients. They were then given 2 hours to create and be ready to serve their meal.

Dishes were judged on taste, consistency, zing, appearance, originality and how clean their dishes were at the end. Bonus points were awarded for use of yeast.
This year included stiff competition with the following dishes:

Italian bake with italian yeast bread crust with spaghetti and sauce baked with a mozzerella/pepper jack topping.

Trinidad Charlie Calzones with a great dough consistency.

Pocket pitas(made from scratch) filled with fried spam, cheese and fried onion with homemade chips and a marinara dipping sauce.

Veggie cheese burgers with homemade buns complete with a fried onion on top and homemade catsup.

A hearty potato pie with grape nuts topping

Fresh yeast bread, Tobouli Salad with hibiscus flowers and Kurry Kick Hummus.

Scrumptious banana bread

Banana/blueberry cinnamon yeast roll bread

The winner of the 2010 Trail Food Cook-off is Devin Farkas.

Devin, with the creative input of Reed Hollett, created two loaves of yeast bread in a fry bake. For a spread, he created Kurry Kick Hummus and a Tabouli Salad from the Nols Cookery with the addition of Hibiscus Flowers.

The hummus is what put Devin in the victory circle and the recipe is listed below.

Kurry Kick Hummus

1/2 Cup dried hummus powder
2 tsp garlic powder
4 tsp Cayenne powder
6 tsp curry powder

Rehydrate hummus with 1 part olive and 1 part water to desired texture and mix in garlic powder, cayenne powder and curry powder.

Simple ideas turned into incredible trail meals. We hope that where ever you travel, how ever long you are on trail and who ever you are with, you are eating well and enjoying every bite.

The Schuler Family Foundation Program at camp!

2010-06-15T20:56:00.012-05:00

It is always a privilege to work with bright, motivated young people who have that incredible spark of life in their eyes and a hunger to learn and grow. The students from the Schuler Family Foundation are fantastic examples of that. We are currently in the middle of the trail experience for the second school (Warren Township in Illinois) and just started the in-camp part of the experience for school number three (Waukegan High School). We will do 5 Schuler programs over the course of this coming summer.

The Schuler Family Foundation was started several years ago by Jack Schuler. His vision was to give opportunities to academically talented students who may not otherwise be able to realize their potential. In particular, his vision was to get these students into elite school, with a focus on small private colleges. Over the years, students who have been part of the program have attended Ivy League and other outstanding institutions, including Brown, Stanford and other similar schools. To make this happen, the Foundation has evolved into an intensive immersion program that gives kids college counseling, experiences abroad and other valuable experiences. It is designed to help students gain life skills and experiences on par with what their future college peers will have. This has proven to be very successful. Students that graduate also receive a $2500 a year scholarship from the Foundation. Many of them will also qualify for extensive scholarships at their respective colleges and universities.

The other part of the program that has evolved is the opening experiences for all incoming scholars, which includes experiential leadership program here at Manito-wish. This program began in the first years as a 5 day in-camp introductory summer program for incoming Freshman, followed the next summer by a 5 day canoe trip and is now a 10 day comprehensive program where students practice all of the skills necessary for success as a Schuler Scholar here at Manito-wish. They spend 5 days in camp with an experience that includes an all day initiative and a full day on our high challenge course. They then pack out for a 3 night canoe trip and after their return they graduate with an ice cream social celebration.

Here are a couple of videos produced by students on their experience here:

Here is a link to the Manito-wish Leadership video. The Schuler program is featured extensively and includes an interview with Jack Schuler.

We are very glad to be a part of this incredible program. I really feel that it is one of Manito-wish’s flag ship programs.

Spring Leadership Re-cap

2010-06-14T08:38:00.001-05:00

The Manitowish Leadership Center had a busy Spring, bringing the 7 qualities of a Manito-wish leader to hundreds of students and adult mentors. Our program was well-received, and was delivered by a dedicated team of facilitators, both on site, and off campus. We "took the show on the road" to the UW Whitewater campus, Camp Matawa near West Bend for Webster School, and MLC leader Mark Zanoni visited several schools to give students a taste of what they could expect when they arrived at camp.

A mixture of games, trust and awareness activities, and challenge course work provided the foundation for individual and group learning, all with a healthy dose of fun and smiles in the Manito-wish tradition.

Next on the schedule, the annual Schuler Scholars program, with in-camp and on-trail components. Manito-wish leadership will also dovetail with our summer camp offerings again this year to provide an important ingredient to the overall Manito-wish experience.

-Pete Rondello, Leadership Facilitator / Camp Chaplain

Summer's Coming!

2010-06-08T15:08:00.003-05:00

There are a number of events that signal the beginning of our summer. The grass gets mowed, 250+ volunteers help us stack wood, move boats and so forth. The sectionals, Outpost assistants, and challenge course, riding and waterfront directors have arrived. Even the horses are here! The staff are taking training courses, the camp vans are here and leadership groups have hit the trail. With more and more seasonal staff arriving on site, even the mail bags get heavier!

It is ALL good! These “opening” events lay the foundation for our work with campers, group participants and staff.

As a parent, I have watched my children grow while at camp and transform into confident and responsible young adults and that is heart warming to see. As a parent, I have deep appreciation for the staff. I am grateful for their interest and desires to teach, have fun, and be a positive role model for my kids and all of Camp’s kids.

Can you smell the campfire? Can you hear the wind rustling through the trees? Can you taste those ice cream sundaes? I hope to see you soon!

Anne Derber
Executive Director

Meet the Outpost Administrative Staff

2010-06-06T20:00:00.012-05:00

(From the Porcupine Mountains. L to R: Sam, Lauren and Ben)

Hi there, my name is Sam Kruckenberg and this will be my seventh summer on staff at Camp Manito-wish. Nothing beats the warm summer days on Boulder Lake and the excited sounds of campers playing games outside of the Program Office. I’ve worked a whole host of jobs at camp from the Paddle Shack to Canuck Leader, and this year I will be the Outpost Assistant Director/Food Room Director. I recently graduated from Miami University and will be attending UW-Madison in the fall for a GIS certification program.

One of my favorite camp memories comes from last summer while leading the Canuck. My guys and I found a perfect set of rapids on the Foster River where we spent the sunny afternoon eating GORP and surfing the waves. I cannot wait to fill your future memories with GORP too!

Hello, my name is Lauren Duncan. This will be my second year at Camp Manito-wish as an Outpost Assistant Director/ Equipment Room Director. I’m the one in charge of all of the equipment that goes in and out for all Outpost trips. This year I graduated from Hamilton College in Clinton, New York with a degree in Environmental Studies and Hispanic Studies. I am learning the banjo plus I adore baking and sculpture!

As for my favorite Camp memory… that’s hard to choose. Every good memory that I think of always relates back to the Manito-wish community and how wonderful the people are. As a new staff member last year everyone immediately welcomed me with open arms, and I believe that this was really indicative of how accepting the community is. I love how the staff at Camp is passionate about making a positive influence on the lives of every participant. They all celebrate individuality and encourage creativity in all camp activities and trips.

My name is Ben Creagh, and I will be the Outpost Director this summer. This will be my seventh year on staff at Camp Manito-wish and second as Outpost Director. I worked this winter as one of the Staff Recruitment Coordinators conducting interviews, recruiting staff, and cross country skiing.

One of my Manito-wish moments would have to be watching the moon rise our final night with my Canuck group. That evening, the combination watching the fiery orange moon rise and feeling so comfortable and proud of the previous month spent paddling together sets that night apart from others. This summer, I look forward to providing opportunities like that for our leaders and participants.

We'll all see you down in the Manito-wish Leadership Center this summer!

Many Hands Make Light Work

2010-06-01T17:04:00.003-05:00

You’ve probably heard the old saying, “Many hands make light work.”

While we can’t claim John Heywood (the man credited with these words) as a Camp Manito-wish YMCA alumni, we believe he must have known about Camp’s Memorial Day Work Weekend when he said this!

We just wrapped up an amazing weekend at Camp Manito-wish with over 240 volunteers helping us clean up Camp for the summer season of programs. Imagine volunteers ranging in age from 2 months to over 80 years ... Imagine three generations of a families coming together for the weekend to give back to Manito-wish ... Imagine wood (lots of wood) being split and stacked, piers being put in the water, all cabins and program buildings cleaned from top to bottom (including the roofs!), costumes sorted, bikes repaired, shelves built, walkways swept, dirt moved down the ramp to the boathouse, fence lines repaired, brush cleared, windows cleaned, and so much more ... Imagine campfires, camp shows, good food, chapel, island swims, and many other moments of fun and fellowship on the shores of Boulder Lake! This is what Memorial Day Work Weekend is all about.

If you walk into Nash Lodge, Camp Manito-wish’s historic dining hall, you’ll find a plaque that includes these words: “The word community is derived from the Latin communis which means “common, public, shared by all or many.”

Memorial Day Work Weekend is all about community and collaboration. It is a shared experience with a family that is formed each year as people come together to share this weekend of giving back. The most valuable thing people have to offer - - their time - - is combined with the many unique talents of the community. The synergy is electric and amazing.

It’s a crazy thing to invite people to come and help you get work done and then have them thank Camp for giving them the opportunity! Community or collaboration ... No matter what you call it, Camp Manito-wish YMCA is grateful to its COMMUNITY for COLLABORATING with us over Memorial Day Weekend to ensure our facility is ready to welcome the over 1,000 participants who will visit in the next three months.

When asked what Camp needed to keep doing to make the work weekend a success, the response was, “WE (volunteers) need to keep coming! You (Camp) need to still be here!” As we begin our 92nd season of summer programs, and celebrate our 41st Memorial Day Work Weekend, we’ll do our part to “still be here” ... and we’ll look forward to your involvement in future Work Weekends.

We celebrate the Manito-wish community!!!

(Original artwork by Carl Whiting)

A Few Helpful Tips...

2010-05-26T20:38:00.007-05:00

Here are two videos to help prepare you for the summer. Enjoy!

Day in the Life at Manito-wish

Here's a little help with the 'What to Bring' list for Summer Camp.

Get excited... summer is here!

At the Mic - Summer Camp Administrative Staff

2010-05-24T17:00:00.004-05:00

Hi! My name is Lesley Etters. This will be my third year on staff at Camp Manito-wish and 9th summer overall. I am a senior student at the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design where I am studying Integrated Studio Arts with a focus on Printmaking and Painting. I have always had a interest and passion for design and fine arts and am so excited to be the Craft Shop Director at Manito-wish!

As a camper, I loved visiting the craft shop during coaching periods and was really inspired and encouraged by the "Craftie" at the time, Julie Hahm. I loved coming back to camp every summer to see her in the craft shop and remember us experimenting to make what turned out to be the best tie-dyed t-shirt ever created at camp. I am so excited to create memories such as these with campers this summer!

Hi, my name is Kjirsten Sneed and I will be the Horse Director this summer. I heard about Manito-wish from several of my sister's friends' parents, who are former campers. I heard about the horse program and saw the overall camp - I fell in love. I'm majoring in French with a minor in Communication Studies at Albion College with the intention of pursuing my Juris Doctorate and a career in equine law. My life revolves around my horses, and I always find a way to have them around.

Again, I've always loved horses and working with kids, so what better summer job than one that combines the two! My favorite camp memory is picking blueberries with the kids, making jam and eating it.

My name is Kelsey Bantz and I am the Waterfront Director this summer. This will be my third year on staff and tenth year at camp. I am a junior at Montana State University-Bozeman. I will be graduating with a degree in Family and Consumer Sciences as well as a minor in Child Services. I hope to one day open my own practice for kids. I love working at camp because Manito-wish is the one place where you can be your true self. Not many people can say they get paid to have the best summers of their lives while being surrounded by their best friends every day and doing what they love. One of my favorite parts about camp, clearly, is the waterfront. I love swimming, hanging out with campers, and laughing so hard you cannot breathe.

Picking out one favorite memory about camp is difficult. However, one that sticks out the most is the day we summitted a glacier on my European while we were in Norway. We climbed it during a snow storm and felt a tremendous victory when we made it to the top.

I cannot wait to see everyone, and look forward to an excellent summer!

Gear Review - How to Find Your Canoe Tripping Boots

2010-05-17T10:15:00.011-05:00

Gear reviews can be helpful, but only if you can find it when you want to buy it.

How would one find and purchase an item from the Camp Manito-wish "What to bring list"? Let’s take the hiking boot for a summer camp canoe trip as an example.

What am I looking for?
According to the "What to bring list" I am searching for "boots with good ankle protection and support and a durable sole." For a 3-7 day canoe trip in Northern Wisconsin, you do not need a top of the line boot. In fact, you don't even need a water-proof boot as they will get wet regardless.

The boot should be relatively comfortable as it will be used all day on the canoe trip. They will be carrying packs and maybe canoes from lake to lake on various portages. As long as the boot/shoe has ankle support and will last through the trip, you should be fine. This could even be your old basketball shoes if there is some life in them.

Where should I look?

You have a few options, online shopping, local shops and big box sport stores. There are a ton more stores than are listed here. If you know of one, comment here or on the discussion tab on our facebook page, www.facebook.com/campmanitowish

On-line Shopping: Huge selections, potentially lower prices, lack of much customer service.

By searching for a hiking boot at Campmor.com and sierratradingpost.com, I found a good option at each for under 50 dollars.

Campmor.com Campmor started out selling gear from their garage and now have large mail-order and internet business. They sell Campmor brand clothing and are known for having a large sale section. Hi Tec Midland Mid Men's Hiking Boot for $49.99 is shown to the left from campmor.com.

Sierrat radingpost.com Sierra Trading Post is another great warehouse style retailer. They used to be mostly focused on outdoor related clothing/gear, but now you can buy just about anything. They are worth checking out to compare prices, but sizes may be scarce. Ex: Vasque Ranger Hiking Boots for $47.96 is shown below.

REI.com or RE I Outlet Rei carries the REI brand and most top brands. They carry a good selection and also have local stores in Milwaukee, Madison , Chicago and the Twin Cities.

Backcountry.com and moosejaw.com More options that have great selection and worth a look.

Smaller Local Stores: High potential for knowledable staff, know that you have the right fit.

Erehwon has locations in Glendale, Madison and various locations near Chicago. Each time Erehwon is brought up, someone likes to point out that it is "Nowhere" spelled backwards.

Rutabaga while running Canoecopia each year, has a great little shop in Monona, just outside Madison. They have mostly paddling gear with some camping stuff as well.

Laacke and Joys is based out of Milwaukee with a few locations in that area.

Midwest Mountaineering is based out of the Twin Cities near the University. They also have a great outlet on the second floor named the Thrifty Outfitter that also fixes broken gear.

Big box sporting goods stores: They usually have a decent selection, decent prices, but not always knowledable staff.

Fleet Farm/Farm and Fleet: I have heard that if you can't get it at Fleet Farm, you don't need it. They may have a few good alternatives to some of the more expensive options listed above. Until you start going on longer trips, this may be worth exploring.

Conclusion:
As with all items, you can spend as much or as little as you would like. My first few years of canoe tripping, I used Chuck Taylors. They were inexpensive, dried quickly and provided mediocre ankle support.

Don't stress out about getting the latest and greatest. One of my tripmates on a month long trip wore the bright yellow vinyl raincoat and had a fantastic time.

Good luck with your shopping. Call or email us if you need any help.

Top 3 Experiential Activities Every Facilitator Needs to Know

2010-05-10T18:00:00.002-05:00

Activity #3 “Mine Field”/”Search and Rescue”/”The Road of Life”

Hi Everyone! Over the last couple of months we have covered two other key activities that have lots of applications and variations. This month I want to end this series with one of my favorites. I actually first saw it run with the name “The Road of Life,” but have since seen it run many other ways and with other set ups. I include a variation called “Search and Rescue” simply because it is a simple way of accomplishing some of the same goals.

Essentially, this is a communication activity. It also has some application as a trust activity, however, it can also be set up as a basic problem solving initiative with some minor adjustments. The basic set-up involves a blind or blindfolded participant being guided across a specific area, sometimes with a range of obstacles(and sometimes good things to pick up) by sighted helpers.

Safety alert: Because participants are blind or blindfolded, it is important that facilitators be available, on the play area to spot, guide and assist if necessary.

Basic Set-up: My favorite way to set this activity up is to have a roped off play area 6-8 feet wide and about 15 feet long. I may designate an entrance and exit area and arrange a range of obstacles from chairs and mousetraps to stuffed animals around the play area. The goal can either be to guide the blind participant through the “maze” and out the exit OR to retrieve an object of some kind and return it to the group. Here are the key things you need to do:
• Have your group choose:
o A blind participant that will be the person being guided on the play area
o A speaker: They can speak, but they stand on the entrance end of the play area with their back to the play area and the blind “searcher.”
• The other participants are in front of “the speaker” facing the play area. They can see the play area, but they can not talk. All communication to the blind “seeker” must come through the speaker. The speaker, in turn, is dependant on these sighted, but mute participants to convey all information necessary for success to the “searcher.”
Typically any misstep on the part of the blind “searcher” involves a penalty ranging from returning to the starting point, to being turned around 3-5 times and restarted.
I like doing this with groups no larger the 8-10 and giving them a practice round and time to plan a strategy before selecting a new searcher and playing another round.

Variations:
• “Search and Rescue:” A simple version with minimal set-up can also be done with the same participant arrangement minus the obstacles in the play area. I always designate a specific play area and usually establish a line on one end of the play area that can not be crossed by the sighted participants. I then toss a stuffed animal or some other object onto the far end of the play area and the speaker and the other muted participants must guide the searcher to that object and then back to the starting line. As with the original version of this activity, I can set it up as a basic problem solving initiative by giving the group planning time after an initial test run and requiring that all participants be involved in some way. Groups come up with tremendously creative ways of communicating distance and direction to the speaker using a range of props, signals and signs when given the opportunity.

• “The Road of Life:” Any good activity is readily adaptable to a range of metaphors and this activity is no exception. As mention, I first saw this game used as a life metaphor with a slightly different set-up. A play area was set up with a range of obstacles and also a number of “good things” that included fun toys, candy, etc. Participants worked in partnerships with one sighted with the ability to move along the outside of the play area and one blind moving from the entrance on one end of the play area to the exit on the far side. Along the way, the guides would help participants move around problems and pitfalls (represented by the obstacles) and to pick up “the good stuff” along the way. The challenge was that there may be 5 or 6 partnerships involved with many voices giving instructions at the same time. It got confusing and distracting so teams needed to work out a way of staying focused and working through the many distractions. It was a great way to set an activity up and provided some great lessons to participants. Obviously there are many ways to adapt this version to many applications, situations and groups as needs and outcomes dictate.

As usual, send me your ideas and comments. I’d love to hear about ways you use this activity or similar ones.

Happy playing!
Mark Zanoni

Any Questions?

2010-05-03T19:28:00.012-05:00

Becky Jirikowic (Finance Assistant), Karmen Tornow (Finance Director), Dianna Schuenemann (Registrar) and Beth Rondello (Administrative Assistant) answer some of the most frequently asked questions we receive this time of the year from parents getting ready to send their camper's to Manito-wish.

What happens if my camper gets homesick?!
As a parent of campers we can tell you that kids feel homesick at one time or another during their camp experience. Homesickness can be a good thing! It gives our campers an opportunity to travel through uncomfortable feelings with the support of experienced counselors and understanding cabin mates. A huge accomplishment for anyone is dealing with a difficult situation successfully. Do we want our children to feel bad – no way – but we do want them to learn more about themselves and build confidence and that means they will have a few challenges along the way. Parents can help to alleviate homesickness by being encouraging and positive in your letters and avoid telling them how much you miss them.

Understanding your camper's invoice:

Fee Balance - This is your camper’s remaining balance – if previous payment arrangements have been made, please indicate that on the invoice.

Camp Store/Trading Post Deposit - The average amount deposited in a campers bank account is $75 - $100; Items available for purchase through the camp store/Trading Post include: canoe paddles, stamps, stationery, t-shirts, sweatshirts, socks, souvenirs and personal hygiene products.

Optional items - (detailed information can be found on page 6 of the 2010 Parent Information pamphlet)

Treat Fund - Occasionally “all camp” special events are celebrated with treats such as candy, soda and snacks. Typical donations range from $2 - $5.

Camp-O-Gram - During your camper’s session, you have the option of sending an e-mail to your camper. Camp will print several thousand e-mails each summer – if you would like to contribute to offset the cost of this printing, please do so here.

Campership - Over 150 campers a year are able to attend Manito-wish because of contributions to our Campership program. If you wish, please indicate your tax-deductible contribution on the enclosed invoice.

World Service - When you contribute to the YMCA World Service Campaign you help to fund the life-changing YMCA programs that impact young people and adults worldwide. If you would like to participate in this support, please indicate your tax-deductible contribution here.

Total - Please include one form of payment for the total of all invoice item.

NOTE - Transportation registration and payment is completed on the separate transportation registration form found in the final information packet.

Did you know that campers riding the bus to and from camp consider the bus trip part of the “Manito-wish Experience”? Well they do!
For campers flying into Rhinelander, WI or Central Wisconsin Airport we will have a staff member there to pick you up. We ask that Campers arrive between the hours of 9:00 am and 3:00 pm. When departing camp we ask that the flight departs between 9:00 am and 2:00 pm. Flights scheduled outside of these hours require additional trips to the airport and are subject to a $100.00 fee each way, OUCH! Be sure to include your flight itinerary with the Camp transportation registration form. Please find the transportation schedule on page 7 of the parent information booklet.

We’re often asked what the camper to counselor ratio is and what the day in a life of a summer camper looks like.

The LumberJack and LumberJill program is designed for 5th – 7th graders and has a ratio of 4 to 5 age/grade appropriate campers to 2 leaders. This program is a “trail focused” program, which means they arrive at camp, start preparing for their trip, spend the night in camp and leave the next day on trail. They will canoe and camp on various local waterways for 5 days/4nights. Upon arriving back at camp from their trail experience they will clean up their gear, spend the night and go home the next day.

Summer Camp programs for 5th – 10th graders are grouped in cabins by same age/grade. The ratio is 10 campers to 2 counselors. Session lengths are 2 week or 4 week programs (4 week is available for 8th – 10th graders).
When going on trail the cabin group is split into 2 groups of 5 campers with one counselor and one tripping assistant. The other group stays in camp until the 1st group gets back, then the 2nd group goes out the same way. Campers in 5th – 7th grade will all go on a canoe trip on various local waterways; 8th graders have the option to canoe or backpack in the Porcupine Mountains of Northern Michigan; 9th – 10th graders have the option to canoe, backpack in the Porcupine Mountains of Northern Michigan or sea kayaking in the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore of Lake Superior. Backpacking and sea kayaking choices must be made upon registration.

The 4 week session includes advanced collaborative leadership development through work on both our high and low challenge course. Campers in this session will also participate in a service project which will benefit the Camp Manito-wish YMCA community or greater Lakeland area.

While in-camp, campers partake in individual and structured activities at program areas such as horseback riding, trail bikes, nature, sailing, archery, riflery/trap, tennis, arts and crafts, swimming, music and canoeing/kayaking.

“Camp Life” is outlined on our website at http://www.manito-wish.org/programs/camplife.html & detailed descriptions of our program activities can be found at http://www.manito wish.org/programs/activities.html. Send your campers to the Camp Manito-wish YouTube channel for more details highlighted by Jay Creagh, Wilderness Program Director and Karen Stanley, Summer Program Director.

At the Mic - Boys Camp Sectionals

2010-04-26T09:27:00.012-05:00

My name is Karl Smithback, I am a senior at St. Olaf College and will be a sectional this summer. I study Norwegian language and Environmental Studies at St. Olaf and plan on attending law school in the Pacific Northwest next year. I was a camper in the voyageur and pioneer programs and last summer worked as a near north counselor. My leadership style reflects my education. I often emphasize the importance of understanding ecology and always try to bring an element of Norwegian culture into my work.
Jeg gleder meg til sommeren!
I can't wait for summer!

My favorite Camp memory was while backpacking on the Superior Hiking Trail as a Voyageur camper. Dan Chehayl as my counselor. One night we camped beside a trout stream, caught lots of fish and swam in waterfalls all afternoon. It was pretty much bliss.

Forrest Lindsay-McGinn- This will be my fifth year on staff at Camp Manito-wish and my tenth summer overall. I continue to work at camp because it is the only place to play dead-fish polo (game played at canoeing and kayaking) at a competitive level. I grew up in northern California and graduated from Willamette University in Salem, Oregon. Currently, I am completing my second year of a Teach for America placement in Lake Village, Arkansas.

My favorite camp memory is from my canuck when we paddled Dear Rapids in the light morning fog on the Churchill River. Afterwards, we pulled over to the side of the river for a breakfast of wild blueberry pancakes.

My name is Tim Lainhart and I'm a senior at Augustana College in Illinois. This will be my fourth year at Camp Manito-wish and second as a sectional. I was a counselor my first two years and also got to be the Tennis Instructor for Girls Camps. I am about to graduate from Augustana this year with a Bachelor's degree in History and Biology and next year will be getting my Master's in Public History from Northern Illinois University.

With all the great staff members and campers it's truly hard to pick out my favorite camp memory so I'll go with my favorite trail memory. Two years ago, I was on a training trip led by Joe Garvey, which was one of the most beneficial trips in terms of learning along with the most hilarious trip I have ever been on. I will always remember the jokes, great memories and my tripmates. Le Tigre!!!! I am truly excited to return this year as a sectional and create more memories.

My name is Sam Linder, and this will be my seventh year at Camp Manito-wish. I have backpacked my way through Summer Camp and Outpost, canoed my way through Trip Assisting and Counseling, and scrubbed my way through the kitchen. I will be a Junior at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities this semester, majoring in both History and the Russian Language.

My favorite Manito-wish memory was born as my Western group hiked out of the Wind River Mountain Range at six o'clock in the morning. Our team had traveled twenty miles that night, and as the sun rose over the first telephone wires we had seen in a month I realized that I never wanted to leave the freedom and beauty of the backwoods behind.

We are excited about this team of Boys Camp Sectionals, their enthusiasiam and proven leadership.

Book It: Suggestions to Great "Off Season" Reads (3 of 3)

2010-04-21T08:37:00.012-05:00

Part three of three of great "off season" reads follows the natural progression from leadership and decision making, to wilderness tripping. I decided to end with a favorite book that demonstrates a true understanding of what makes a wilderness expedition so magical.

Wilderness tripping, or “trail” is arguably the most memorable part of a Manito-wish experience. It is the time spent traveling through the wilderness using only human energy to traverse terrain, build lasting relationships, share exciting adventures, and take the time to self reflect. The feelings and emotions that accompany a wilderness experience are something that stay with an individual long after the last paddle stroke or stride.

The last “great read” is sure to reawaken and refresh many memories from wilderness trips or motivate you to give it try. Water and Sky: Reflections of a Northern Year by Alan Kesselheim tells the story of the author and his partner, Marypat on a fourteen month, two thousand mile expedition from Jasper, Alberta, along the Athabasca River, to Baker Lake. It documents not only their physical journey but also captures the unspoken thoughts and emotions that accompany an adventure. It does more than highlight exhilarating whitewater or animal encounters, it focuses on teamwork, personal reflection, struggles and triumph.

(Photo: Ben Creagh)

Kesselheim’s story is sure to light an adventurous soul’s eyes with excitement, nostalgia, and a desire to hit the trails again. This book is sure to get you in the mindset for trail and excited for the warming temperatures. What will your story be this summer?

-Ben Creagh

Gear Review - Camp Stove

2010-04-19T17:28:00.007-05:00

It has been very dry in Northern Wisconsin this Spring and the fire danger according to Smokey the Bear is Very High. Campers have asked, "What do we do if we can't have fires?"

Do not fret, we have stoves.

THE ITEM: Once upon a time, these were called backpacking stoves. As Camp Manito-wish now takes a MSR Whisperlite Stove on every single trip, we might be better off calling them camp stoves. They are light weight (11 oz), relatively simple, surprisingly durable and easy to maintain.

WHY I LIKE IT:

Boils 1 liter of water in 3.9 minutes

Constant design allows for interchangeable parts

Simple design allows for easy cleaning and maintenance

GRIPES:

Does not simmer well

Staff often confuse not clean with not functioning

The heat concentration in the center of the flame while cooking pancakes can make it difficult to get an even golden brown

BEST USES:

Any camping trip that requires quick meals and durable equipment. While an open fire is a wonderful cooking surface, the MSR Whisperlite can also satisfy your hunger.

After 7 consequative days of rain

In an overused campsite devoid of wood

During an extremely dry period of the summer

Top 3 Experiential Activities Every Facilitator Needs to Know

2010-04-12T17:19:00.004-05:00

Activity #2: Blind Polygon

As mentioned last month, I want to provide a list of the top three activities that I think every facilitator needs to know. Last month we explored Group Juggle and all of its variations. I want to thank everyone who posted additional comments and ideas. I always learn something new every time I watch someone else facilitate or talk to another facilitator. The ways to use these activities is literally endless.

With that in mind, here is one of the most flexible and adaptable initiative activities I know. I have seen it done in a number of ways and have set it up myself as a metaphor for many situations and problems that needed to be addressed during trainings of all kinds.

Set-Up: The basic blind polygon (or “rope shapes”) activity is pretty simple. You need a rope (length determined by group size and outcomes) long enough to loop into a circle. I knot the ends securely (with a double fisherman’s knot) and tend to use retired climbing ropes. This way I know that if a group pulls hard on the circle, the knot is secure and the rope strong enough to avoid mishaps. I make my circles large enough so that my group can stand comfortably around the outside of it, everyone holding onto it at waist height (with both hands) and still have a comfortable distance (no less then a foot or so) between participants. There are times when I expand the size of the circle (see below), but for most applications I don’t want to make it too big.

Basic Activity: Once everyone is around the rope circle, holding the rope at waist height with both hands, they are instructed that this is a blind activity and that, as a group they will be making a range of shapes with the rope.

Basic rules:
• All participants need to keep both hands attached to the rope.
• Hands can slide, but need to stay attached.
• And (in the simple version) everyone can talk.

Once everyone is ready and has eyes closed (I tend not to use blindfolds for various reasons, but I know many facilitators that do), I will tell them what shape to make first. I always start simple and with each round, increase the difficulty. Simple rounds will be triangles, squares and various other polygons. Later versions can include cubes and other odd shapes such as “clubs,” “spades,” and “hearts” from card decks, etc. What you do will depend on the group and your outcomes.

Debriefs in between rounds tend to be simple: What worked? What happened? What would you change for the next round? Who are the “leaders” during each round? How was that decided? Etc. What I focus on during debriefs also depends on what we have done to that point.

Variations: The basic set up remains the same for all other variations. However, here are some was to adapt this activity to certain situations. Again, let me know other ways you have used this activity:
• Expand the rope size. Doing this may make issues of communication more obvious.
• Divide the group in half with one part attached to the rope in the standard manner and the rest around the outside with instructions that they can see, but they can only whisper when they talk. This variation works great for illustrating points about normal issues in groups as people see things from different perspectives.
• Set up things just like the previous variation, however now you can have people work in partners with one person blind and attached to the rope and the other sighted but only able to whisper. Questions can then be asked about whether communication took place between all of the sighted members and if there was clear communication about the overall vision and process.
• Set the activity up with people role playing different “attributes” including a “rebel contrary,” someone blind and connected, and others sighted but mute or whisperers (be creative here depending on the group and specific outcomes). This works best if roles, parameters, etc. are given in advance with instructions for all participants not to divulge their “attribute.” This is a great metaphor for issues of diversity, the realities of working in a group, trip group or cabin or other similar situation. It is also possible to set this up for corporate groups with different “departments,” and modes of communication (written memos only being passed to the sighted whisperers, etc.)

I know that there are many other versions and variations. What do you do and what have you seen?

Mark

Book It: Suggestions to Great "Off Season" Reads (2 of 3)

2010-04-05T08:30:00.001-05:00

Part two of great "off season" books to read focuses on Deep Survival, Who Lives, Who Dies, and Why by Laurence Gonzales.

“As complex as the brain is, the world is more so” (71).
Photo: Ben Creagh

Knowing and understanding how your own decisions are made will help you become a more skilled and valuable leader.

Laurence Gonzales’ book Deep Survival, Who Lives, Who Dies, and Why, is a good read for anyone interested in how the brain works in certain situations, and why. The title is intesne but the content is very sophisticated in it's discourse of good and poor decision making. Gonzales uses factual examples of survival situations, and breaks them down into simple reasons as to why each situation became severe and where the error in judgment occurred.

The book is divided into two sections, with the first being “How Accidents Happen” which details some common faults found in accidents. The second section, labeled “Survival” goes over key points in decision making that lead to success from a stressful situation.

We do more than simply survive at Camp Manito-wish YMCA on trail, but nonetheless many lessons can be learned from this book. It can serve as a way to analyze the thoughts of others who have made mistakes, understand them, and to improve our own decision making while increasing our enjoyment of this complex world. These decision making skills that are accquired "on trail" are transferable for the rest of our lives.

Let me know what you think of Deep Survival, Who lives, Who Dies, and Why. What will you be able to apply from this book tomorrow, this summer, next year?

-Ben Creagh

Top 3 Experiential Activities Every Facilitator Needs to Know

2010-03-29T18:05:00.007-05:00

The most common thing that new facilitators (even old ones actually) seem to struggle with is how to build a repertoire of activities that help them accomplish all that they need to do in most situations. It can be overwhelming. Most of us start off thinking we have to know 1000 activities in order to do our work. Fortunately, for all of us that don’t know that much (or seem to forget it as soon as we learn it), this is not true. Good facilitators use what they know effectively and efficiently. They also choose activities for their “tool kit” that are adaptable and moldable to fit a range of participants and situations.

Over the next 3 installments I will share my top 3 activities along with ways to frame and adapt the activity for different situations, outcomes and groups. Please send along your comments and other ideas. I know that this will certainly just scratch the surface of what is possible.

Activity #1: Group Juggle:

Group Juggle is my number one activity and can be used for anything from an ice breaker to a mid level problem solving initiative. It requires little in the way of props (a few balls or soft toys), but can get very elaborate with other props and metaphors (if you need to do that). If you think about it, the entire activity is an amazing metaphor for so many things—life, the challenges we face day to day, etc. With that in mind, it is so easy to find ways to take this from a simple name toss game to something much, much more. It also seems that every month or so I also encounter someone with a new way of using this activity. That’s exactly why this one is #1 on the list.

• Set-up (simple version): Have the group form a circle with some space between participants. Show them the first object (a ball or soft toy) that is going to make its way around the group. Have several other objects ready to increase the difficulty and see below for variations that may require additional props.

• The Basic Activity: The object is going to make its way through the group to each participant. As it is tossed, person to person, each participant needs to say the name of the group member they are throwing the ball to (and often a thank you to the person they received it from). Everyone needs to remember the person they received the object from, and who they are tossing it to so a pattern can be established. The ball needs to get to everyone in the group and back to the person who started the pattern (usually the facilitator in the beginning). In the beginning, this is just a simple name game that requires a bit of focus. After a couple of successful rounds, here are some more things to do:

o Increase the number of objects

o Start the objects in different places in the group pattern. I often choose my most energetic participants to be the starting/ending points first. Later I may switch things so that my quietest participants have the opportunity to start and stop the sequence.

o Have the direction of flow change on the command of “switch,” so that the person you are throwing to now becomes the person you are receiving from.

o Add additional commands, such as “slow motion,” “super slow motion,” and “speed demon” to increase the challenge.

o Have the group set goals based on:
- The number of objects they can juggle at one time
- The number of times they can juggle the objects around the group without dropping one, etc.

o Have the group examine the key things that are necessary for success in this activity (i.e. focus, awareness, respect, etc.).

• Variations:

o “Random distraction objects:” Once a pattern is established, some goals have been accomplished and the group is in the flow of things, you can introduce another challenge of a random object (or even objects). I usually re-emphasize that the goal remains to juggle our original objects through the group in the same pattern with the same rules (i.e. saying the person’s name that you throw to, keeping all objects off the ground, etc.). The random object can go anywhere and to anyone at any time. It is a great metaphor for life distractions, and I have heard this object referred to as the “rumor ball,” “the video game ball,” etc. Its goal is to distract and remove our focus from the true goal (in this case, juggling our original objects in the pattern originally established). There are many obvious connections and a limitless amount of debrief opportunities depending on the group, it’s goals and related issues and situations.

o “Object Metaphors:” Have the group take time to brainstorm a list of things they juggle in life. Name (even tag with a marker and tape) all of the objects OR allow the group to choose specific props that symbolize those things. You can even do the same with the random “distraction,” objects. Once this is completed, do a couple of rounds and evaluate how well things are going. Give the group a few minutes to plan ways to overcome the challenges that are present and come up with solutions.

o “Group Juggle Problem Solving Initiative:” Inform the group that the goal remains the same. I usually phrase it this way: “The objects need to touch everyone in the group and you need to say the name of the person you are throwing the object to and the objects need to end up back in my hand.” This is a timed activity and the record is under a second. Solutions range from, reorganizing the circle so that everyone is standing next to the person they pass to, to having the facilitator stand in the center with all of the objects, surrounded by the group. Then on the count of 3 all participants simultaneously touch the objects and yell the name of the person they were throwing to. This is a great set-up for creative problem solving, brainstorming, etc.

Please send me any other ideas you have for ways to use this activity or other variations you may have seen or discovered.

Have fun!
Mark Zanoni

"We are from Manito-wish"

2010-03-17T11:16:00.009-05:00

Situated in the beautiful northwoods of Wisconsin, many campers, staff and alumni are surprised to see where our campers come from to attend Camp Manito-wish YMCA. Here's a map showing a good sampling of where our campers came from last year. Zoom in and take a look at where some of our campers and participants spend their "off season."

From Australia to Europe, we all share meals at Nash Lodge, enjoy the trips, and have fond memories of our time at Camp Manito-wish.

View Camp Manito-wish YMCA Campers in a larger map

-Ben Creagh (Outpost Director)

KNOTS!

2010-03-16T10:38:00.005-05:00

Knots are an imperative part of Camp Manito-wish. Campers use them on “trail” for bear hangs, to tie down tents, and secure boats. They are also used in the Leadership program when scaling the climbing wall, belaying on the ropes course, or collaborating to escape from the “human knot”. And we use them In-Camp when making friendship bracelets in the craft shop or double knotting our close-toed shoes before playing a game of capture the flag.

Knowing how to tie different knots is a necessary skill – they are everywhere, but not always easy to learn. When you practice tying a knot you are also practicing patience, tenacity and problem solving. We all learn different! So as teachers, there are ways to make any simple or complicated knot less confusing:

Know the knot: Know it well yourself so you are confident and concise while teaching.
Recognize there are many different ways to learn: Some people learn by listening to the content (auditory learners). Others learn by seeing it done (visual learners). And some learn by doing it themselves (kinesthetic learners). Typically we are a combination of the three.
Cater to all three learning styles: I recommend the “Tell, Show, Do” teaching method:

Break down the knot into basic steps, and then talk through each step.
Show each step while also telling your students how to do them.
After doing a demonstration, have your students try doing it themselves.
Repeat steps 1 and 2 as you all practice together.

So, grab a piece of rope. Lets learn the Bowline!

-Laura Hume, Staff Recruitment Coordinator

Book It: Suggestions to Great “Off Season” Reads (1 of 3)

2010-03-11T14:55:00.011-06:00

“How can I become a better leader when I only get a few weeks during the summer to get first hand experience?”

We often get this question from staff. While first hand experience in the field, coupled with thoughtful self and external evaluations are the best ways to develop your leadership skills, reading about other’s experiences are a good addition. This is the first of three book suggestions that will help promote leadership growth and encourage summer thoughts.

The 360 Degree Leader: Developing Your Influence from Anywhere in the Organization by John C. Maxwell is a great book that has the potential to change the way you think about the possibilities available to you at camp, school, work and everywhere in-between. Whether you’re a first year tripping assistant, counselor, veteran program staff, or director, this book offers valuable insight into how to have the most impact and offers suggestions on how to make yourself a stronger leader.
The book is separated into three sections dealing with leading down, leading up and leading across. Many of John C. Maxwell’s suggestions to improve your leadership follow themes that align with the Manito-wish collaborative leadership model.

Maxwell repeats the following from a sign hanging up at a tree nursery, “The best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago, the second best time is now.” You have the potential to become a fruitful leader now. Don't wait until you are given the title.
So the question is, “Now, what are you doing to become a better leader?”

-Ben Creagh (Outpost Director)

The Grumman Canoe

2010-03-08T18:26:00.000-06:00

THE ITEM: The Grumman Canoe is the vehicle of choice for Camp Manito-wish summer camp canoe trips. While the orange stripes set these canoes apart other crafts on the water it is the names of past month long canoe trip leaders that give each canoe a personalized touch. While there are many stories on why they are painted orange, the orange makes the canoes visible to other boats on the water and keeps our trips paddling in style. Campers and staff get to know these canoes on a first name basis based on weight distribution, length and connections to the leader named on the canoe.

WHY I LIKE IT:
Capable of carrying large loads of campers and portage packs.
Connection to past trips and leaders.
The center keel makes paddling straight relatively easy.

GRIPES:
The aluminum isn’t as fun to paddle as the wooden canoes at the boat house.
Sound of paddles clinking against the aluminum on calm mornings.

BEST USES:
Summer canoe trips on flat water
Learning to paddle

With Spring approaching, I can't wait to see our fleet of orange canoes paddling the lakes and streams of Northern Wisconsin once again.

Camp Manito-wish at the Birkebiener

2010-03-01T16:29:00.004-06:00

Congratulations to all the Camp Manito-wish campers, staff and alumni that participated in the 2010 American Birkebiener this past weekend. The Birkie was a great event for Manito-wishers to show the resiliency and humility that comes with physically and mentally challenging ourselves.

The American Birkebiener brought over 8000 skiers together for near perfect race conditions. The following Manito-wishers participated in the Birkie or Korteloppet.

Kortelopet freestyle 23 km finishers

Tim Collins, 1:45.48

Karen Henneghan, 1:40.4

Brian Iltis, 1:11.06

Jessica Timerman, 1:33.57

Kortelopet Classic 23 km finishers

Karen Stanley, 3:57.43

Craig Sweet, 2:13.51

Birkie freestyle 50 Km finishers

Kate Arnold, 3:17.29

Ben Creagh, 2:49.03

Jay Creagh, 2:31.01

Andy Douglass, 3:47.52

Danny Douglass, 3:24.49

Rod Duncan, 2:57.31

Jake Eaton, 3:39.46

Matt Leibfried, 2:44.47

Janice Levy, 3:55.31

Craig Miller, 5:15.41

Rick Monserud, 3:09.17

Sean Moore, 3:41.43

Kyle Nagle, 2:59.49

Aaron Seemann, 3:21.10

Joellen Torresani, 2:40.47

Ryan Wagner, 3:40.02

Andrea Ward, 4:43.38

Birkie 53 km Classic finishers

Brett Dobbs, 7:20.11

Sally Erck, 6:26.49

Patrick Henneghan, 2:54.19

Erik Lindberg, 3:24.40

Karl Smithback, 4:37.18

Brock Woods, 3:59.19

If we have left any Manito-wish campers, staff or alumni off of this list, please email jay.creagh@manito-wish.org and we will add you to the list.
Stay tuned for official plans for next year's race.

Refined Staff Recruitment

2010-03-01T11:22:00.000-06:00

How does an organization get the best employees possible?

We start by retaining the best staff from last year and letting our excellent campers know that we want them to apply. In addition, here at Camp Manito-wish YMCA we have created a strong foundation to find and appeal to the best candidates available. We realized we cannot rely solely on what has worked in the past to propel us forward in our hiring goals. After reviewing what had been most fruitful, we kept some of our previous techniques and looked at where we could expand. Diversifying our connection points with applicants has been the key to our staff recruitment plan.

We will focus on three key components to our recruitment strategies taken from a recent recruitment trip to Northern Michigan University:

Partnering with Universities:
We have developed relationships with some instructors in the Recreation and Education departments. They have graciously allowed us to facilitate ice-breaking sequences, group cohesion sequences, and guest lecture in classrooms on wide range of topics including “The Importance of Fire,” “Trip Leading Basics” and “Careers in Recreation." In addition to working with instructors we have made some connections with student newspapers and invited reporters to observe our classroom visits. This has led to articles in student newspapers like this one from a University of Minnesota-Duluth visit.

(Balloon Build activity to emphasise the importance of group interaction at NMU)

(Forced Interaction activity at NMU to encourage students to communicate more with each other)

(Free) Online Job Postings:
Many universities have free online job postings located on their school websites. We targeted our postings to schools we have connections to, and universities that have a focus on outdoor skills or teaching. Here is our job posting located on the Northern Michigan University website.

(Well Supported) Job Fair Attendance:
Job fairs are attended only if they are supported by many other avenues that direct students to our display. By posting jobs online, partnering with instructors, and getting help from seasonal staff to spread the word about our campus visit, the time spent at a job fair is much more valuable. We research the traffic that comes through a job fair and what positions students are searching for. We also tailor our booth display to what positions we are seeking and try to be as creative as possible with the room and our resources.

(Targeted recruitment at UW-Stevens Point at their Summer Camp Job Fair)

So far we have had great success in not only the number of applicants but the quality of applicants desiring positions for the 2010 summer. We are currently looking for highly specialized applicants for the Riflry instructor, Naturalist and Sailing Master positions.

-Ben Creagh (Staff Recruitment Coordinator and 2010 Outpost Director)

Meet our 2010 Girls' Camp Sectionals

2010-02-22T18:23:00.012-06:00

Here are our four Sectionals for Girls Camp. We asked them to introduce themselves and share a favorite memory from Camp.

My name is Emily Weber and I am a student at Lake Forest College. My experiences at Manito-wish began as a Near South camper. After four years in camp I participated in a Pioneer, a Canuck, and the International Adventure before working two summers in the enchanted land that we call the Northwoods! I am currently studying abroad at the University of Otago in New Zealand where I plan to put many of my Manito-wish skills to use, and am happy to say that I have reunited with my sleeping bag after having it stuffed away during my first semester.

It is hard to pin point a favorite memory at camp. All of my favorite moments involve uncontrollable laughing sessions that I have found are unique to the groups of people I have met at Manito-wish. I remember being a Far South camper in Bay Ridge cabin, sitting in the common room with my cabin mates on a rainy day during rest hour, laughing so hard that I could not breathe. I distinctly remember thinking in that moment how special of a place Manito-wish is because of the indescribable bonds you form with those around you simply by your experiences on trail and in camp. It was rewarding this summer to see my campers share similar moments that they will without a doubt look back on and smile. I cannot wait to return to Manito-wish in just a few short months!

Hi, I'm Krista Milliken and am currently a senior at University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire. I will be graduating this spring with a comprehensive major in Geography and International Studies. I was a camper at Manito-wish for five years, which included a Georgian Bay and Mariner. This will be my fourth summer on staff and I am so excited I can hardly wait! After Camp, I plan on getting certified to teach English as a foreign language. I would love to find myself in Latin America in a year. I have a bad case of the travel bug... but am in no hurry to look for a cure.

My favorite memories at Camp are the times when something is SO funny that you have tears brought to your eyes and you can barely stand up. Camp is the place where we can be ourselves and be as goofy as we want. I have never laughed as hard as I do when I am at Camp. I cannot wait to create more hilarious memories this summer!

Hi, my name is Dani Engmark and I have spent the last nine summers at Manito-wish, including six as a camper. I began my staff career as a TA and returned the next summer to be a counselor. Last summer I switched gears and worked boys camp in the Trip House and led an IR backpacking trip later in the summer. As a junior at the University of Iowa, I am studying psychology and music, but have spent the last school year studying abroad in Lancaster, England - a whole different kind of adventure.

It's hard to pick just one favorite memory from camp, so I'll settle for a recent one from the IR I led last summer. We were in the middle of a very difficult day - our first significant elevation change, we still had very heavy packs and to top it off, it had been raining all day. Needless to say the group's spirits were lacking. We got to the top of Mount Siskiwit, but rather than everyone collapsing on the ground with exhaustion as expected, my campers jumped up, ran to the highest point and started celebrating their accomplishment by congratulating each other and yelling about how great they felt. It was one of those moments when I realized how lucky I was to work in a place where hard work and overcoming a challenge is celebrated instead of dreaded.

My name is Lori Allen, and I'm graduating in May from Tufts University with a BA in English and a couple minors in Music and Communications. Don't bother asking what I'm doing after I graduate, your guess is as good as mine. I was a camper for 6 years (after a long line of Allens attending camp since my grandfather, Jerre Allen) and have been going to the Memorial Day Work Weekend for many years - I'm as pumped as a tire to get going this summer! I get my kicks singing and songwriting, and I'm currently working on a project that will be released in late April!

My favorite camp memory is from my International Trip, when we climbed a glacier in a snowstorm wearing garbage bag ponchos and socks for mittens (we weren't expecting bad weather...)! In the end, creativity and a positive attitude can make any situation better.

Mark's Activity of the Month

2010-02-18T12:05:00.004-06:00

Playing Card Shuffle

Purpose: This is a fun activity for dividing a larger group into groups of 4 (or more). It can also be used as a set-up activity for discussions on group interaction styles and comfort zones

Materials: A set of playing cards (or multiple sets if it is a much larger group). The great BIG playing cards work best and are available in many stores or on-line (Training Wheels).

Set-up: Divide your cards up in advance by suit and (especially if you know the group size in advance) count out even numbers of cards, in order for each suit, making sure you have a total number of cards roughly equal to the total group size. Each participant gets a card with instruction to keep the card face down.

The Activity: The first thing a group does is “shuffle the deck.” The group shuffles by having each group member exchange cards with 3 people, keeping the cards face down. Next, instruct the group that this is a silent activity and on the count of 3 they are going to place their card on their forehead (face away) and get into suits. It is usually best to ask if everyone knows what a suit is and demonstrate the card to forehead action with your own card (never assume). If there are no questions, instruct the group to go silent and then count to 3.

Variations: Once a group has divided into suits, you have several options:
• Have the entire group reshuffle and retry (with other instructions if necessary)
• Have each small group shuffle their respective “decks” and line up in order—low card to high card (you may want to clarify this—is Ace high or low, etc.)
• OR have each small group accomplish a task of some sort first before moving on (a name activity, partner interviews, find 2-4 things they have in common, etc.).
• Introduce the concept of interaction styles and comfort zones and do a follow up with that (example: were you an “organizer” during that activity or “someone being organized”—why and what does that mean)

Have fun!

Mark Zanoni

Trip Review - Superior Hiking Trail

2010-02-18T10:15:00.006-06:00

Superior Hiking Trail - This trip review is written by two past Voyageur Backpacking Trip leaders, Anna Ficken and Nate Humphreys-Loving. This is a great open enrollment trip for 14-15 year olds that would like to experience a 9-day backpacking wilderness experience.

General overview:

The Superior Hiking Trail is a gorgeous and underutilized area for backpackers. The trail winds through different forest types and diverse North Shore ecosystems. It transitions between overlook views of the interior and Lake Superior. In planning an 8 day route along the 205 mile trail system you can easily select a route that encompasses everything from panoramic Lake Superior Views, heavily-forested trails and gorgeous lakeside sites.

Highlights of the area:
The area has a wealth of beautiful rivers, waterfalls and canyons that run perpendicular to the Lake. Some highlights include the Devil Track River Gorge, the Cascade River and the Temperance River.

At Cascade River State Park there is a lakefront hike-in backpacking site which would be a wonderful place for a duff day. A trail worth considering would be the Overlook Trail, a short spur trail which leads to the top of "Pincushion Mountain" and provides a extensive view of Superior and the surrounding area. Along the way you can catch a bird's-eye view of Grand Marais. Farther south, Lake Agnes is a gorgeous inland lake with a couple of well set-up backpacking sites. Additional info:
The trail has lots of good access points for both trip planning and emergency evacuations. Campsites are evenly spaced along the trail and provide flexibility in adjusting the difficulty of the trip. Plenty of Manito-wish folks have led trips in the area and are a great source of information as you think about planning your route; the log books also have helpful information. The Manito-Wish Leadership Library has a wonderful book called Guide to the Superior Hiking Trail, which has detailed descriptions about the trail itself (mile for mile), points of interest and the various ecosystems you'll encounter - definitely a worthwhile thing to pack in your map case! It helps both the leader and kids get more involved in the land that you are traveling.

Blog Post by:

Anna Ficken (pictured above) - Superior Hiking Trail trip leader in 2008, camper from 1999-2004 and will teaching English in Chile for the next year.

Nate Humphreys-Loving - Superior Hiking Trail trip leader in 2007, camper from 1997-2004 and a two year sectional.

"Hit the Trail" for Manito-wish

2010-02-15T10:41:00.003-06:00

Do you like to run, ski, bike, paddle and portage (or something else)? Ever do one of these activities in a race or marathon? Now you can “Hit the Trail” for Camp Manito-wish YMCA!

Camp Manito-wish YMCA raises money to support camperships for our program participants. Camperships are granted for ALL programs (Summer Camp, Outpost, Family Camp, Leadership, etc.) and EVERY dollar raised is important.

Every year we hear from alumni and friends who would like to help raise money for camperships, but aren’t quite sure how they can help. Well, we have a solution!!

I’m pleased to tell you about the new “Hit the Trail” program. There are just 5 easy steps to participate!

1) Choose a race or event in which to participate and register through the race organizers.
2) Set a goal for the amount of money you’d like to raise.
3) Invite family and friends to sponsor you in your upcoming race.
4) Participate in your event.
5) Celebrate your success!

One of the other fun things about this program is there are no limits to age, geography, or number of events. You can do this by yourself or with a group of people who want to support Manito-wish. It could also become a great annual tradition for you and your friends!

To get more information (including hints, tips and a sponsorship form), contact Ellie Orbison at Ellie Orbison.
The program materials will be available online soon!)

Thanks for considering this new way to help more people experience Camp Manito-wish YMCA. We look forward to hearing how YOU “Hit the Trail”!!

Ellie Orbison

Gear Review - The Wannigan

2010-02-08T17:58:00.006-06:00

The wannigan has been used on canoe trips for generations. The original design was brought to Camp by Jon Iltis (blogger from last week). Many staff have made wannigans over the years and made slight improvements. For the summer of 2008, Steve Lindahl built Camp a new fleet of wannigans that utilized the old external frame backpack harness, a slot of fire pans and a removable door that can function as a serving tray.

THE ITEM: The Wannigan. According to the glossary of terms in the staff manual, it is a chest used to store cooking gear and trail lunch on canoe trips. Word derived from Ojibway waanikaan, meaning “storage pit.” According to Manito-wish campers and staff it is a convenient canoe pack that serves as a cutting and chess board, open pantry and a way of life.

Picture above featuring the serving tray/cooking prep feature.

WHY I LIKE IT:
The Wannigan is one of the last pieces of gear that we can make a better product than we can buy.
It allows canoe campers to have all of their cooking gear in one spot.
The flat back of the wannigan makes for comfortable portaging.

GRIPES: None. Some people love them, some accept them and others don’t understand them.

BEST USES:
Canoe trips with groups of 4 or more.
Consolidating lunch.
Canoe tripping with style. Wannigan featured portaging past Dubawnt Canyon

The Evolution of the Outpost Program

2010-02-01T20:53:00.005-06:00

This week's guest blogger will be Jon Iltis, Property Manager at Camp Manito-wish. Jon writes about the history of the Outpost Program.

Many of our constituents have wondered how our Outpost Program canoe trips came to travel in the areas that we do. The following is an attempt to explain that evolution.

Prior to 1973 there were two post Far North experiences for boys, and it was a great honor to be invited to participate on these trips. The Pioneer was the first trip offered and it consisted of an 18 day canoe trip in Northern Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. The Pioneer was a push type trip where bragging rights were earned by covering the most miles. The Pioneer Symbol consisted of an axe, a shovel, and a canoe paddle. At the end of each trip the group would engage in a service project for two days, usually working on one of the Manito-wish Campsites.

For the girls, Hilltop and Voyageur Cabins were tripping cabins. Each cabin had two counselors and 10 campers and would split into two separate trips. This meant a total of four trips out for 12 days on the waters of Northern Wisconsin surrounding Camp.

The Canuck Trip was the second experience you could be invited to participate in and was considered to be a reward for having performed well on your Pioneer or Voyageur. It consisted of a 21 day canoe trip in the Quetico Provincial Park of southern Ontario.

After the 1972 camping season, there was a growing feeling among some of the Canuck Leaders that the Quetico was becoming more and more crowded and was not providing the same wilderness experience it once had.

In 1973 we decided to try a new area, and sent three Boys Canuck groups to the areas surrounding Sioux Lookout and Red Lake Ontario in hopes of finding more wilderness and less people.

At the end of the summer the idea of establishing a base even further north, where our groups could travel to, be outfitted, and then depart from, was in the making, and Steve Burr was hired on to see if this dream could become reality.

In the fall of 1973 we travelled to Thompson Manitoba where we had connected with a realtor who was willing to help us with the task of finding a location for this base. We settled on a warming cabin at the top of a local ski hill for the base of operations for the newly christened Outpost Program.

During the summer of 1974 we staged all of our Pioneer and Canuck trips out of the base in Thompson. This represented a significant change for all but especially for the Pioneers. Also in 1974, Steve Burr led a new trip called the Super Canuck. This was a 40 day trip into a whole new area which began on Reindeer Lake on the northern Saskatchewan/Manitoba border, headed northeast to Neultin Lake, and then southeast to the Seal River which empties into Hudson Bay just north of Churchill. Not quite into the tundra but very close.

By the 1976 season our Pioneer trips were exploring the Quetico, and our Canuck trips were pushing further north in Saskatchewan and Manitoba looking for new areas and more adventure. The Churchill River and the Wollaston and Reindeer Lake area was the main area of focus.

During the fall of 1977, we decided it was time to create a new adventure called the Expeditionary Canuck. This adventure would be similar in length to the 1974 Super Canuck, but would push further north into virtually unknown areas. We met with interested campers and their parents during the winter months, and in the later part of June pushed off from the shores of Hidden Bay on Wollaston Lake. The route would head northeast towards the Thlewiaza River and then on to its mouth on Hudson Bay. Once at the Bay the route headed north to what was then the town of Eskimo Point.( Now called Arviat)

It was truly an adventure. We saw no other people on the entire trip other than the folks at the fly in fish camp where we resupplied.. We had no trip logs for reference, and no communication with the outside world. We saw no evidence of other humans except Indian winter camps below treeline, and Eskimo tent circles, rock covered meat caches, and cairns out in the Barrens. When we arrived in Eskimo Point we were visited by many curious people wondering where we had come from. When we showed them our route they told us as far as they knew no one had ever come that way.

Since 1978, we have been fairly consistent in the areas we have traveled. The Pioneers have consistently enjoyed the Quetico with one small exploration into Temagami. The Canucks have been mainly focused in northern Saskatchewan and Manitoba with a few adventures further south on the Berens, Bloodvein, and Poplar Rivers flowing into Lake Winnipeg. Our Expeditionary trips for years traveled in the same general area exploring many different rivers flowing to Hudson Bay. Only in recent years have our Expeditionary trips moved further inland to reduce the risk polar bear encounters along the bay.

Jon Iltis, (vintage picture above) Property Manager of Camp Manito-wish, was a camper from 1968-71 with the last two year as a Pioneer and Canuck participant. He has been on staff since 1972. In his years on staff he has served as a counselor, Pioneer, Western, Canuck and Expeditionary Canuck Trip Leader prior to becoming Property Manager. He has also worked as a NOLS instructor, as a Property Manager and instructor for the Boy Scouts Base on White Sand Lake in Boulder Junction and has been on multiple week mountaineering expeditions in Alaska.

This is Jon's first adventure in the world of blogs.

At the Mic with Matt Leibfried

2010-01-25T20:55:00.001-06:00

Matt has been a Manito-wisher since 2003 where he started as a canoeing counselor and returned the next year as well. He moved onto backpacking for his next years as a leader of two Westerns and two Alaskans. He lead both Alskans with his "fellow red-bearded friend Karl Welter." Matt served each of his positions in two year increments and he says that he would "highly recommend this... the first summer you learn the job and the second summer you thrive!" The winter of 2009, Matt was one of our Staff Recruitment Coordinators and spent the summer as our Trips House Director.

A little more about Matt...

Matt is a Case Manager with Community Offender Reentry Program in Duluth, MN

How did you choose your current profession? -

I have worked with the adjudicated population for a few years because of my desire to help a population that cannot always help themselves. It is true that at some point a person needs to be in charge of their own life and decisions, but it is unrealistic to expect people to accomplish important things without help.

We all can use a guide, whether it’s in the mountains or the courthouse. Helping adult ex-offenders is a lot like being a guide. We help them navigate through a confusing set of resources, and like any good Manito-wish leader, always have time to be a human being and listen to them talk.

What have you learned at Camp that you apply to your current life?
Aside from that sort of cheesy ‘guide’ metaphor I just used, I have one big message for anyone at Camp wondering how to transition from a seasonal Camp job to a real adult big-person job. In almost every position you hold at camp, a part of your job description will include being a mentor. Take that part of your job seriously.

I currently work with adult ex-offenders, many of whom walk out of prison with nothing; a lot of people are waiting for them to screw up so they can be sent back to jail. It is my job to help these ex-offenders to obtain a job, apartment, etc. Statistics point out that the people that are the most likely to stay out of jail are those that receive and keep a mentor. Isn’t that stunning?

Obtaining a job and a place to stay are necessary components to a good life; having a good mentor is equally important. It is a positive community member who will treat a criminal like a human being that helps keep him safe. Working at Camp helped me to be a positive mentor to our participants, and it is the single most important part of my job today.

People may tell you that your summer camp job is easy compared to working in the ‘real world.’ This is nonsense. The real world is everywhere. If you work hard at Camp and find success in camp or on trail, you can find that success elsewhere. This has certainly been true for me.

What does leadership mean to you?
Asking what leadership means is sort of like asking for a definition of outer space or the perfect toothbrush. But I usually narrow good leadership down to what most of us want in a good teacher. When you learn a new subject, it is easiest if your teacher tells you the absolutes about your given subject, and it's really nice if they give you the answers. Then you can memorize stuff and get an A on the test. It is comforting to have this answer-driven model, but only for a while.

Most people get bored with this style because, at some point, you will want to work out a problem on your own. A good teacher guides students without telling all the answers, because they know that a sense of discovery is hugely important. Guide your participants to the discovery of a good paddling stroke and camp site. Do not just give them all the answers; allow them to discover answers to the group’s problems. I personally believe that self-discovery is the most important feeling in the world.

Who cares if a billion people have already figured out how to stern a canoe? When you figure it out for yourself, you feel like you have discovered a new planet. Discovering a new skill, with the help from a teacher or guide, is the most rewarding feeling I have been a part of, either as a teacher or student. A good leader, then, only tells her participants the absolutes for a safe trail experience, like wearing a life jacket. For everything else, the leader helps and guides and sets a good example, so that each participant can discover, with some help along the way, how to stern their own canoe.

Tell us about your favorite adventure?
I apologize, but I cannot answer this one easily. I have many unforgettable memories of many unforgettable adventures. My most memorable adventures have taken place with my closest friends and family. I used to categorize my trips by length, thinking that the longer trips were always better, but that is not true. My favorite adventures are trips undertaken with my closest friends, even if it is a trip to the gas station.

Favorite Quote or Inspirational Thought:
The night before departing on a trip, your head will usually be spinning with thoughts of that one item you forgot to pack. The little things-toothbrush, nail clippers, contact solution-should be written down and checked off and crossed off and then written down on a new list. They are important. Pack and repack your food and gear meticulously, concentrating on every detail you think will matter. Because after all the detailed planning, you get to the start of your trip, and you should do this: never worry about any of that stuff again.

I have forgotten almost every item on any given trip, including: tent poles (strung peacord through the sleeves), a spoon (used a stick), rain pants (had wet legs), rain jacket (wet body), stove (started a fire), and a camper (just kidding). All of these trips were a blast. I have great memories from all of these trips-great memories that I remember more vividly than any inconvenience over a forgotten item.

The Trail Tip of the Day: As soon as you begin an adventure, waste no energy thinking about what you left behind. Think only about how you will use what you have. In the end, if you have a pile of food, a tent, a good book, a frying pan and a friend, you'll be fine.

Matt's in the red sleeping bag with the orange hat. This is the morning he flew to Denali base camp May of 2009.

Thanks Matt for the update and your wise advise! - Karen

Mark's Activity of the Month

2010-01-18T17:50:00.000-06:00

Happy New Year Everyone!

Since this is the time of year when I am out attending conferences and trainings myself, I wanted to put in a quick plug for attending and presenting at conferences as a way of growing personally and professionally in this field. You have a lot of choices—Association for Experiential Education, Association for Challenge Course Technology, Professional Ropes Course Association, Wilderness Education Association, etc.

I have my own personal biases for various reasons; however The Association for Experiential Education was where I got my start and did some of my first conference presentations. I would suggest that you attend AND present. Either way you chose, I am convinced that there is no substitute for preparing for and initiating a conference presentation for your peers.

In many ways the process of choosing a focus and approach, developing the process, presenting and then connecting with peers afterward for feedback were some of the foundations of my entire career. Do it! You will not regret it. Feel free to contact me if you have questions also. I don’t recommend doing this alone.

On the subject of conferences, one of my very favorites is coming up in Chicago at Northeastern Illinois University on Feb. 5-6. The T.E.A.M conference celebrated 20 years last year. Dan Creely and his crew down there have done so much for this field and the conference has a unique spirit and community that needs to be experienced directly to be understood. Find out more at: www.neiu.edu/~team

Activity of the month: “Tiny Teach”

• Purpose: “Tiny Teach,” or any of the variations listed below, is a great ice breaker activity, usually used when a group first comes together. However, as you will see, this is an activity that could be used around a camp fire on trail or any time there is down time. In that case, participants would be challenged to find new skills to teach each time. However you choose to use it, this is a great activity for allowing a group to:
o Get to know one another better
o To bring out the diversity of skills and abilities contained in the group
o To allow focused and playful interaction between members

• Foundation: Every person has some unique ability (or abilities), talent, skill or obscure piece of knowledge that tells others something about who they are. This activity allows everyone to share that talent with another, learn something new themselves and have an opportunity to share what they have learned with others. The activity is also adaptable - as any good activity is.
• Set-Up: Have everyone get a partner. Instructions are that each member of the partnership will have a few minutes to teach the other person some skill or talent - give examples. It needs to be fast and easy to learn in just a few minutes, but you will have a chance to share that new skill with others. Give the first partner a few minutes to teach and when you can see most everyone is nearing the end of that process, announce the switch to the other partner.

• Follow-Up: What you do after each partner has shared and learned a skill depends on the group and your focus? Sometimes I will bring all of the partnerships back into a circle and ask if anyone wants to teach the rest of the group their newly learned skill. Sometimes I will have two partnerships form and have this process take place within the group of four. This can continue into a larger group as well, with another option being to have a group of four or eight choose one of the new skills they have seen and choose one to teach everyone. This is a really fun process (note: I do usually give instruction that EVERYONE in the group needs to be involved in the teaching and, at times, I may require some other things that need to be included in the presentation).

Happy playing,
Mark

Because of Manito-wish...

2010-01-18T09:35:00.001-06:00

Check out some of our seasonal staff!

Gear Review / SISU Ski Fest

2010-01-11T18:28:00.000-06:00

Ben Creagh (Outpost Director), Rick Monserud (camper and staff alumni), and I (Wilderness Program Director) skied the SISU Ski Festival marathon this past Saturday. We had 12 Manito-wish staff and family members volunteer on race day to help make the race day a success.

Left to right - Jay Creagh, Ben Creagh, Rick Monserud

According to www.sisuskifest.com, “SISU is a Finnish word for a state of being when the going gets tough. SISU is strength, determination, stamina, stubbornness and courage that is an innate part of everyone but isn’t used all the time.”

SISU sums up a mindset we hope all at Manito-wish have learned through their experience. They can accomplish more than they ever thought they could. SISU aligns with at least three of the character attributes we aim to instill; resilience, resourcefulness and adaptability. During the race, Ben Creagh demonstrated his SISU by skiing 5 km with one pole prior to getting a replacement after breaking a pole.

As a salute to SISU, the state of being when the going gets tough, and the Camp Manito-wish trail experience, this week I will review the Speedy Stitcher.

-Speedy Stitcher at work on the 2009 Expeditionary Backpacking Trip mending gaiters (Far left).

THE ITEM:
The Speedy Stitcher Sewing Awl manufactured by Stewart Manufacturing. The Speedy Stitcher got its start in 1909. From their website, “The Speedy Stitcher Sewing Awl is a tool for professionals and do-it yourselfers such as leather crafters, sailors, boaters, horse lovers, outdoor enthusiasts, athletes and coaches, just to mention a few... Customers around the world call it indispensable.” We agree.

WHY I LIKE IT:
It helps us be more self reliant. When a boot blows out, if a tent fly rips, if a squirrel chews a hole in our pack, we don’t get out a phone, we fix it ourselves. The Speedy Stitcher has taught campers and staff alike the art of being resourceful and resilient.

GRIPES:
Despite the simplest directions, it always takes a few swipes before the sewing is effective.
The tan only thread color can be limiting for the fashion conscious repairer.

BEST USES:
Boot, pack and tent repair. Simple repairs for complicated situations.

How has Manito-wish helped to develop your SISU? Email me or comment.

Dutch Oven Trail Pictures

2010-01-11T15:59:00.008-06:00

Posted below are examples of incredible dutch oven creations formed on trail at Camp Manito-wish.

-Photo submitted by Ben Creagh

-Photo submitted by Ben Creagh

-Photo submitted by Tim Schley

-Photo submitted by Tim Schley

-Photo submitted by Kristin Hahn

Thank you to all who submitted photos.

Top 10 Reasons to be a Summer Camp Counselor at Manito-wish

2010-01-04T18:39:00.020-06:00

This fall and winter I have truly enjoyed talking with the many staff who are interested in returning to Camp this upcoming summer. Our staff are all over the globe in India, France, New Zealand and a bit closer to home. They are each having an incredibly impactful experience that they will bring back to camp this summer.

Here are the Top Ten Reasons to be Summer Camp Counselor at Manito-wish in 2010.

10 – Staff training Trips

9 – Taco Day in Nash Lodge

8 – Being invited to the seasonal staff retreat in 2011 where you can help make positive changes for camp and enjoy some winter recreation (skiing, snowshoeing and much more.)

7 – Dressing-up in Costume

6 – Challenging yourself to be a better Manito-wish Collaborative Leader

5 – Singing the song “Bum and a Fish” as fast as you can

4 – The Paddle-in or Hike-in

3 - Seeing old friends and making new ones

2 – Helping fulfill the Manito-wish Mission – To enrich the character and leadership development of each camper that has the Manito-wish experience by challenging them to grow in wisdom, in stature, in favor with God and in favor with one another. – link to our website

1 – Having the opportunity to give the gift of confidence to our campers .

We hope to see you at Manito-wish in 2010!

Happy Holidays from Camp Manito-wish!

2009-12-22T14:29:00.004-06:00

Happy Holidays from Camp Manito-wish YMCA!

Island swims, ice canoeing, x-country skiing; the fun never ends on Boulder Lake.

Wood n’ Barnes and other great resources

2009-12-21T10:18:00.002-06:00

Most people in the experiential and adventure field know about Wood n’ Barnes. However, just in case this is new name for you, Wood n’ Barnes is a unique publishing company run by a list of partners that are all active teachers and practitioners. This collective partnership includes many great thinkers and practitioners in this field, including Laurie Frank, whose many accomplishments include authorship (along with John Stanley) of the Manito-wish Leadership Manual and the 7 Qualities of a Manito-wish Leader. You can find their web site at:

http://woodnbarnes.com/?p=1161

Another great resource to check out is the blog on this site, which has a ton of great games and activities. Chris Cavert in particular has several great ideas on here. Here is a link to one nice little activity that might be helpful to some:

http://woodnbarnes.com/?p=1161

Chris also has a great website that I have found very helpful over the years. It’s called Fundoing and has a ton of games, ideas and other resources. You can find that at:

http://www.fundoing.com

I have heard it said many times that, in the experiential education field, there is really nothing new under the sun. We all do a lot of borrowing, adapting, mixing and reconnecting. I know in my own work, I am always looking for new sources for ideas and taking things I have used before and mixing it all together to form something else. We use what works or mold what we have to fit the situation. This is part of what makes this field so exciting. The resources above are great starting points for this journey.

Have fun!

Mark

Gear Review - GSI Dutch Oven

2009-12-14T17:55:00.000-06:00

The Item: GSI 10" Aluminum Dutch Oven. Weighing in at 3 lb, 10.2 oz and constructed out of cast aluminum, this Dutch Oven evenly transfers heat to make backcountry baking a possibility.

Why I like it: Baking on trail is fun. Core competencies include: fresh bread, cinnammin rolls, casseroles, pizza and popping popcorn.

There is great satisfaction felt upon lifting the lid to see a perfectly brown top to a dutch oven creation (see picture above).

Gripes: The lid handle can melt when fires get out of control. Operational errors that result in less than perfect baking products.

Best uses: Canoe and kayak trips for 6 or less participants (I have seen Western backpacking trips take one as well because they are worth the weight). Any trip where one pot meals just won't cut it. Backcountry bake offs.

With all due respect to the Fry-bake, I swear by the dutch oven. If you're not counting ounces, there is no excuse for leaving out a dutch oven. For all the reflector oven die hards out there, give the Dutch Oven a try, you might be disappointed with your fully cooked meal, but you'll get the same satisfaction out of the process.

Leave your favorite dutch oven recipes in the comment section.

Send Camp your favorite dutch oven pictures.

Welcome Ben Creagh and Laura Hume

2009-12-12T15:30:00.009-06:00

Please join us in welcoming our Staffing Coordinators for 2010! We are excited to have Ben Creagh and Laura Hume join the program team for our staff recruiting season.

We'll let them introduce themselves:

BEN CREAGH
Hello everyone! I hope this finds you all enjoying the holidays and possibly some snow.

I’m excited to announce I will be joining the Camp Manito-wish Program team as Outpost Director / Staff Recruitment Coordinator. I’ll be working with Laura Hume to find, and hire the most qualified staff by coordinating events throughout the Midwest as well as being the point person for staff recruiting. Soon, we will begin planning for the summer as well.

Recently, I returned from a trip to Chile and Argentinean Patagonia for the month of September. I had an amazing time exploring unfamiliar regions and reconnecting with old friends. It was great to be back down there, and I'm glad to be back in Northern Wisconsin this winter.

Let it snow!

LAURA HUME
Hey everyone! First off, happy holidays! I hope all of you survived the blizzard of the century. And now a little about me: I have spent the past 3 ½ years on the Western Slope of Colorado working in Wilderness Therapy and as an adaptive ski and snowboard instructor. While nestled deep in the Rocky Mountains I discovered Camp Manito-wish from a few good friends: Karl Welter, Matt Leibfried and Dan Chehayl. Two summers ago I finally joined this phenomenal community when I was given the opportunity to co-lead the Women’s Alaskan Expo in 2008. One summer in Alaska quickly turned into two. Which brings me to this blustery winter day.

Now, I am excited about this new adventure as a Staffing Coordinator with Ben Creagh. Don’t tell anyone, but I think spending a winter in the North Woods is Manito-wish’s best-kept secret.

Check out their visit to the University of Minnesota - Duluth. Click Here

Director of the Month - Don O'Melia

2009-12-07T16:28:00.013-06:00

The Holiday Season is here and it is a season of warm memories, friendship and families. Along with the camaraderie of family and friends my warm memories were of artichoke dip, pineapple puff, hashbrown casserole and ranger cookies. I would like to share these recipes with you.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pineapple Puff
Ingredients:
2 loaves soft white bread
6 eggs
1 cup sugar
1 cup melted butter
1 large can crushed pineapple with juice

Method:
1. Butter a 9x12 inch baking pan
2. Cut crust off bread and cube. Place in baking pan
3. In a large bowl, beat eggs, add sugar, melted butter and pineapple with juice. Let stand for 15 minutes
4. Bake at 350 degrees for 30-40 minutes
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Artichoke Dip
Ingredients:
1 cup mayo
1 cup grated parmesan
13oz marinated artichoke hearts
2 cups shredded mozzarella
1½ tsp garlic powder
1 tsp paprika

Method:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
2. In a large bowl, mix mayo, parmesan, artichokes, mozzarella and garlic powder
3. Pour into a 8x8 inch baking dish
4. Bake for 30-40 minutes
5. Sprinkle with paprika and serve warm with rye bread
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hashbrown Casserole
Ingredients:
12 hashbrown patties or 12 cups loose
1 quart plus 1 cup half and half
1 cup grated parmesan cheese
1/6 cup grated onion
1 cup butter
Salt and pepper to taste

Method:
1. Butter a 9x12 inch baking dish
2. Place potatoes in pan
3. Mix ½ & ½ parmesan onion salt and pepper
4. Pour mixture over potatoes let stand 15 min.
5. Cube butter and dot over potatoes
6. Bake at 350 degrees for 30-40 minutes
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ranger Cookies
Ingredients:
11/2 cups butter
1 ½ cups white sugar
1 ½ cups packed brown sugar
3 eggs
2 tsp vanilla
¾ tsp baking powder
½ tsp salt
1 ½ tsp baking soda
3 cups flour
3 cups rolled oats
2 cups raisins
1 cup coconut
1 cup nuts any kind will do I use peanuts

Method:
1. Cream butter and sugars
2. Add beaten eggs and vanilla
3. Add all other ingredients
4. Bake on ungreased cookie sheet 8-10 minutes at 375 degrees
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
I hope you will try these recipes and enjoy them. As always, feel free to share any recipes you have with me.

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR.
-Don O’Melia

November and December Updates

2009-12-06T14:24:00.004-06:00

Check out what some of our 2009 Summer Seasonal staff are up to...

Ben Varick is studying in Granada, Spain for the Fall Semester. He’ll be back at the end of December.

Suzanne Taylor is volunteering at an orphanage in Nicaragua this Fall.

Julie Fix is studying in Scotland for the year.

Devin Farkas attended the AEE International conference in Montreal this past October.

Alyssa Howells is studying in India for the year.

Dani Engmark is in London studying abroad for the semester.

Dan Chehayl and Karl Welter completed a month long WEMT course this September in North Carolina.

Hannah Balfanz is enjoying herself in Vermont working as a nurse.

Kjirsten Sneed is studying and traveling in France this fall semester.

If you have an update for next month, email us:
Drew Richmond
Karen Stanley
Jay Creagh
Mark Zanoni

Meet our new Staff Board Representative: Mike Dietrich

2009-11-30T17:46:00.002-06:00

Mike Dietrich is joining Sam Kruckenberg as our Staff Board Representatives. He was officially inducted at the November Board Meeting. Read on to hear more about Mike...

Trail Tip of the Day:
Apply a minimum of one gallon of sun screen daily.

Mike has been coming to Manito-wish since 1994 and started as a family camper and then became a camper for the next three years in our in-camp program and followed up as an Outpost camper on a Pioneer and Canuck. He has also been a member of our staff community for the past four years serving as Near South TA, Far North Counselor, South End Section Director, Far North Section Director, Waterfront Assistant, and Boathouse Director. Basically he says, “I like camp.”

I asked Mike why he was interested in becoming a staff board rep and he said “I wanted to be involved with Manito-wish year round. I feel that this is one of the best ways to understand and help camp, but also to be involved with Manito-wish more than 3 months of the year.”Mike is currently a senior at Marquette University in Milwaukee, WI. He is a double major in History and Political Science and hopes to attend law school in the near future with an emphasis on environmental law, or teach social studies at any grade level.

Mike explained his favorite adventure, “This past Spring semester I was in Galway, Ireland, and while on a school sponsored tour of the Cliff's of Mohr, fellow Manito-wish Staff members Colin Tierney and Adam Kohler hiked with me down from the Cliffs to a small village known as Doolin Town. We walked along a sea-side trail that was less than a foot away from the cliffs - one of the most exhilarating and beautiful adventures of my life.”At the end Mike wanted to leave you all with one last thought: “I like to portage”(quoted by former staff member Douglas Young)

Happy Thanksgiving

2009-11-24T22:10:00.001-06:00

At the Mic with Tracy Watson

2009-11-23T15:59:00.010-06:00

Tracy Watson, also known at Tracky, Track-a-lack, Traskster and Mama Tracky has been a Manito-wisher for the past 14 years. She grew up in Deerfield, IL and now is the Camp Director/Outdoor Program Manager at Camp Silverbrook, part of the Girl Scout Wisconsin Southeast and lives in Waukesha, WI. Some of her favorite memories at Manito-wish include the sunrises and sunsets from the trips house bridge where she spent a summer as the Trips House Assistant. She has also served in the capacity of a Tripping Assistant, Sectional, Elmer Ott Intern, Outpost Assistant Director and Leadership Facilitator.

Trail Tip of the Day:
If you’re not nervous about what you’re doing, you probably shouldn’t be doing it. (My dad used to teach me about stepping out of my comfort zone.)

The Interview:

How did you choose your current profession?
Ever since I was a camper I wanted to be a camp director. I left a sales job and the position at the Girl Scouts opened. It all fell into place!

What did you learn at Camp that you apply to your current life?
EVERYTHING. We are truly blessed to have Manito-wish in our lives. My summers at camp have given me the ability to role with the craziness, the importance of surrounding yourself with both like-minded and different types of people, how to relate to all different age groups, how to trust myself, how to trust my team, what it means to be a role model to both camper and staff and how to live a life that you can be proud of.

What does leadership mean to you?
Leadership is the ability to trust yourself, trust your team and then stand behind your decisions and your team. Its about learning and teaching at the same time. Leadership means putting yourself out there for the greater good of the group- even it that’s not the most comfortable place to be. Leadership is always changing- everyday I discover a new quality about the leader that I am and I love that it’s a never-ending cycle of self and group discovery.

What is your favorite piece of gear?
My Western Mountaineering down sleeping bag. Its unbelievable quality and made in the United States. I also love my Deuter backpack- it fits everything I need and still looks like brand new even though I have had it for almost 4 years.

Tracy has shared so much with Camp throughout the years – thank you!

Mark's Activity of the Month

2009-11-16T17:59:00.002-06:00

I have recently stumbled upon some activities on YouTube that illustrate activities in action. I liked them enough that I sent them out to my core leadership staff (if you did not get it, e-mail me and I will send you the link). This got me exploring some other possibilities on YouTube. I use this as a resource for a lot of other things, but hadn’t thought about searching for activities or activity variations. So…I started looking and found a few good things and thought I would share them.

Keep in mind that, like a lot of other things there, you need to do some sorting to come up with things are usable, but there is some useable information.

Group Juggle is a stock and trade activity that I seen done many ways and framed for a lot of different situations and outcomes. Here is an improvisational theater application that I thought might be helpful. The same person has a ton of other videos as well, all set up as instructional videos on leading improv games:

Here is an interesting variation on “channels” or “Alaskan pipeline” that might work for some groups. This is a great reminder that, in experiential education, it is often essential to work with the resources you have. There is always a way to improvise with other materials, re-frame an old activity, or simply take pieces from a whole bunch of different activities and create something new

The bottom line is that ideas and inspiration can come from a lot of places and the seeds of the best, most successful activity might come from somewhere that you least expect.

I want to leave you with another fun video that Jay first saw at this year’s risk management conference. It’s an awareness activity and, while I have experienced similar real world examples of things like this as part of animal tracking or nature awareness classes, this is a whole new twist using a whole new process. Have fun!

Mark Zanoni

Gear Review - Stormy Kromer

2009-11-09T20:00:00.002-06:00

The item: Stormy Kromer: with a K. The Stormy Kromer has kept folks warm since 1903. Camp Manito-wish started selling them in 2008. The original Stormy Kromer features a brimmed wool cap with slide down ear flaps. Grab the ear flaps and you're ready for the seasons to change.

Why I like it: Made in the U.P., perfect spring/fall and warm winter day cap, not too warm, not too hot, functional for the hard working Northerner, fashionable enough for an outdoor fall wedding.

Gripes: None

Best uses: Nordic skiing, arctic canoeing, Paul(ine) Bunyan Day, commuting in northern Wisconsin/UP, Manito-wish weddings

To the dismay of Brooke, my wife (pictured below), I wore a Manito-wish Kromer to an outdoor wedding in Lake Geneva this fall. Not only did I stay warm, I connected with a Manito-with Board member who recognized the logo on the hat.

Submit your favorite Manito-wish Kromer hat picture and you may end up in a future post or the Astonisher.

Once upon a time ...

2009-11-02T10:12:00.009-06:00

Once upon a time in a northern land, surrounded by lakes with boulders, rivers with “Manito” wishes, creeks with Stevenson’s, and trip routes named after TV networks (TLC), there exists a place … a very special place … called Camp Manito-wish YMCA.

In this special place, where everybody is a winner and people consider it as much fun to run around with paint on their face and a sock in their back pocket as they do to carry canoes and Wanigans from lake to lake, there is a magical event that takes place every year. It’s called the Annual Fund Drive (or, as we call it in acronym land, the “AFD”).

The AFD is an annual opportunity for the members of the Manito-wish community to collaborate to make a Manito-wish experience available to as many participants as possible. Over 9,000 members of the Manito-wish family have been invited to make a donation to Camp. The funds raised will provide camperships (financial assistance) to campers, families and leadership groups who would not otherwise be able to afford a Manito-wish program. The donations also support the general budget of camp to keep strong programs, staff and facilities.

Magical is the word that best describes the Annual Fund Drive! In 2009, in a year when many were struggling to hold on to a job and facing challenges created by circumstances completely out of their control, the Manito-wish community came together to provide over $440,000 in support for Camp, its programs and participants. Over $255,000 was given out in camperships!

There wasn’t any one donor or foundation who brought about the success. It was many, many alumni and friends, giving what their circumstances allowed, remembering how their lives were changed by Manito-wish. It was over 130 volunteers giving of their time to make calls to their camp friends to gather support. It was, and will continue to be, magical!!

And so the story continues … The oars will still break out, the island will still call and memories will continue to be made on the shores of Boulder Lake (and beyond) … the next chapter of generosity and opportunity will be written in the weeks and months ahead!

-Ellie Orbison

Staff Updates

2009-10-27T11:30:00.003-05:00

Are you...

Studying Abroad?

Starting a new job?

Skiing the Birkebeiner?

Moving?

Climbing a Mountain?

Having a Manito-wish Reunion?

Running a Marathon?

Or Enjoying life where you are?

We want to hear from you!
Send us a quick blurb and pictures telling us what you are up to throughout the year.

Please email all updates to Karen Stanley by the first of each month to assure you are in the month's Staff Update post.