Cliff Notes - The Chippewa Blog

Hashtag-#Runningoutoftime

2011-08-09T22:12:00.000-07:00

Hello Chippies!

I am sad to write that this will be my last 2011 Cliff Notes edition. It really is beyond belief that camp is coming to a close. I typically take this opportunity to reflect on the summer. I also tend to get obnoxiously sentimental about camp, the season's memories, and the wonder of Chippewa... This blog will be no different :) However, I will keep it short considering the fact that I have 60 more staff evaluations to complete by Thursday night... and a summer camp to run!

Last night was Chippy Awards. Most of you have no idea what that is or what it means, but at Chippewa it's a red carpet event and it is as big as the Grammys! Different dress code of course: clown outfits, princess dresses and sports jerseys as opposed to... well... you've all seen the

Grammys I presume. Chippy Awards is quite the glamorous affair and is the place to see people and the place to be seen (and where all campers HAVE to be at 7:15 pm on the last Monday of every camp season). The event was put on (as always) by our oldest cabin of Lakeview, and the whole night was filled with laughter, music and the giving of awards. Now i'm not talking about "who is best at what" kind of awards, but rather who has the brightest red hair, who smiles a ton, and who loves to dance the most. Cute things like that. Lisa and I always get great seats for this particular event too (stage left, floor level, nowhere near a ceiling fan, in front of a window that is painted shut and covered by a thick black fire retardant wool curtain. Who the heck is running this place anyway??). Bottom line... we were schvitzing. It didn't help that I was wearing a Russian wool ushanka hat (don't ask). Rest assured that your little kittens were much more comfortable in their seating accommodations..ish. Anyway, so I am watching a Silverspurs camper (4th grader) as she leaps to her feet to accept the Curly Q award (for having pretty curly brown hair). In a cute blue princess dress and flip-flops she steps over some other inconveniently situated campers, weaves around two camp dogs and eventually makes her way to the stage. All the while she has this huge grin on her face (ear to ear) as if she has just won ... well... a Grammy. The smile widened following a big hug from the 15 year old camper that gave her the thoughtfully designed, construction paper covered cardboard award. At that moment I was reminded of just how amazing this place actually is! I'm not being arrogant here because I fully recognize that Lisa and I are simply privileged passengers on this ride. Someday (a long time from now), someone else will also get the benefit of seeing camp's work from the best seat in the house- on an an old wooden bench, beside a stage that shines green, gold, silver and red from years of excessive glitter use.

Another quick story comes to mind and then I have to call it a night. I was looking through the window of "Tom's Office" the other day and saw a little camper making her way to the volleyball court. This camper is of special interest to me because she had a hard time transitioning into camp life. She was homesick for the first week and came to camp really not knowing anyone. She sat in the sand by herself and began to dig a hole. For a brief moment I felt a little sorry for her, but just before I got to the door two other girls from her cabin entered the scene. They sat down on either side of her and immediately joined in the digging operation. I sat back down and continued my work. About ten minutes later I peered out the window again to see how the digging was going and to make sure that they were still guarding the holes (digging is a common sand project at Chippewa, but holes have to be filled back in relatively quickly to prevent ankle sprains). The girls were indeed gone but something else caught my attention. I walked out to the volleyball court and saw something pretty cool. The girls had not only filled in the big hole that she was digging, but they had also flattened a spot above it and engraved their initials surrounded by a big heart. Please tell me there is some kind of metaphor in this... Again, we're just passengers here, but we wouldn't spend our summers on any other ride!

There is still plenty of camping left, but Lisa and I want to once again thank you from the bottom of our hearts for entrusting us with the care of your children. We will never take this responsibility lightly, and are frankly looking forward to keeping it for the rest of our lives.

Last night was the staff show (thus the staff heavy photos), today brings Pony Express & Request Night, and Thursday evening is our Final Banquet celebration. From there we bid 'ye all farewell until next season. Enjoy the rest of your summer and I look forward to talking soon!

All best,

Cliff

The Good Stuff!

2011-08-02T19:02:00.000-07:00

Hi All,

So I decided to make this an upbeat blog! No heavy subject matter, no sadness and no intensity. I have committed to writing this post with simple reflections of happiness, fun and good weather (you might have to be flexible on that last one). If I was a Chippewa parent viewing the weekly blog I think that I would want to read about smiling campers, exciting programming and pretty things. I would want to know how the last week has been absolutely magic

al, and how Song Fest (Sunday) was a magnificent sight to see (you may have caught the photos). I might want to learn about how neat it was having close to 25 alumni visiting this past weekend for our annual Ten-Year celebration. I guess that I might be curious to know what the proud Ten-Year Girl's names were (Armani D., Kourtney K., Sarah S., Jessica J. and Jen P.). I might want to know that camp ran a great day of activities today (despite the weather). I would have been interested in the fact that there was a Horseshoe social on Saturday night and (as always) it was a hit! Finally, I would be VERY anxious to know about the

exciting week ahead. What a coincidence... I happen to have that information. Allow me to tell myself :) Feel free to listen in...

Tonight was a great Tan & White game for yucky weather called Scatter Brains. Tomorrow is one of the biggest days of the summer called Kahuna Day! It's a full day of fun and competition played by the four teams that camp has already been split in to. Every year the theme for Kahuna Day changes, and this year the theme is CANDY! The four team names are KitKat, Charleston Chew, Three Musketeers and Crunch. Note that even TEAMS at Chippewa are peanut free ;) There will be more photos from tomorrow than you will know what to do with, but they will be colorful and fun so be sure to check them out on Thursday morning! Thursday night is Lip Sync and Friday evening we will have a campfire led by our 4th graders. Saturday we run our older girl's talent show with Camp Menominee and Sunday is our Colt Village musical (Beauty and the Beast). They will be performing for Camp Timberlane. So LOTS of fun ahead. Once again stay tuned for photos and tweets of things to come!

*I am sorry for the lack of photos last night. Due to severe weather we were unable to leave the computers running to do an overnight upload.

*2012 ENROLLMENT- We THANK YOU so much for all of your applications. We are thrilled that our girls are loving their summer home! I think that there has been some confusion, however, regarding second session campers. Second session returning campers will have preference for their SECOND SESSION spots until September 1st. In other words, your daughter's space cannot be filled by a 2012 girl looking to switch to being an 8-week camper OR by a first session camper looking to switch to second session.

I am sorry if that was unclear!

As a final note in this blog I thought that I would share something kind of cool. I received an email from a gentleman named Sam Gold. This email came amid all of the sadness that transpired throughout last week. He expressed an urge to visit camp and seemed very enthusiastic about the concept. At first I simply could not place the name. I thought about it some more and proceeded to re-read the letter. It then clicked and I realized that I was being emailed by the son of this camp's founder (Jerome Gold). I was shocked because Lisa and I (despite our efforts) had never been able to meet ANY of the Gold family. After selling Tom Adler the camp in 1979 the Golds seemed to vanish from sight. Sam was a young guy when the camp sold to the Adlers, but his memories were vivid and I took great joy in chatting with him and showing him around a bit. Camp chaos ensued :) and I was unable to spend much time with him, but I must say that making his acquaintance was an absolute privilege and one of this summer's most memorable highlights for me. Getting the "Gold Standard" of approval on the current state of camp didn't hurt either! Anyway, I thought I would share that with you!

Have a great week and I look forward to talking soon.

Stay tuned...

All best,

Cliff

2011-07-25T22:21:00.001-07:00

Hi All,

I hope that you are enjoying your summer and that the heat is finally letting up wherever this blog finds you. We have been loving some cool days here, and I am pleased to say that even the rain has backed off! I really just can't believe that we are already into the second week of the second session. Sometimes (like now) I wish that I had the ability to slow the time!

This has been a tough week and an even tougher summer for camps all across the country. If you follow the news than you know what I am talking about. As an industry we work so hard to create environments which are conducive to the health, safety and well-being of our children. Those of us who are committed to this cause are able to see past the darkness of tragedy and into the light of youth development. For each incident of disastrous proportion, there are millions of illuminating small miracles that happen daily at camp, and frankly make our world a brighter place live. Like for example, the girl who learns how to overcome her homesickness and in turn develops a strong sense of independence. The boy who suddenly grasps the concept of cooperation through teamwork and good sportsmanship. The girl who gains an instant self esteem boost

when her counselor simply compliments her singing voice. The boy who through the guidance of his peers realizes how to amplify his own strengths, while also learning to tame his weaknesses. The girl who doesn't just overcome her fear of heights by conquering a high ropes course, but also gains a heavy boost of self confidence that will serve as the precursor to many of her major life achievements! As a camp director I admit to being something of an idealist (I have built my career on that), but as a former cabin counselor and parent I can see the work that is being done here, and feel so passionate about it's importance. What we do at camp cannot be done in the classroom. The daily social development that occurs here can only be attributed to the sense of community that encases it. When ten girls are placed into a cabin together there is a semi-automatic process that occurs- Friendships are formed, cooperation is taught, respect is established, patience is honed, and community is built! That does not happen in math class. Other important things do... but not that. So enough of my rant. For most of you I obviously don't need to make the case for summer camp, but the occasional reminder can't hurt. We are one of the only countries in the world to have such a special industry that focuses on it's children in a way that looks beyond their academic achievements. I am proud to be part of an industry that serves as a beacon of hope in a world that is riddled with bullet holes, war and financial dismay. If only we could spread this greatness around the globe. Maybe some day we can...

Now let's go skiing!

Second session is on fire (relax... not literally)! Last night was Tom Pease. I am sure that you all saw the photos, but this is by far one of our most exciting programs! EVERYONE was singing, dancing and having a great time. Tonight will bring our famous camp carnival, tomorrow night is "night club night" (filled with dancing, dancing and oh... did I mention more dancing?), Thursday is Tan & White Capture the Flag and the rest of the weekend is a surprise! Stay tuned to the photos and updates and have a great week!
All best,
Cliff

NOT Too Hot To Trot!

2011-07-19T20:37:00.000-07:00

Hello Chippies!

Someone PLEASE turn down the heat! Or turn up the air-conditioning :)

Yes it's been a little too hot, but we're having fun anyway! Tomorrow will be a whopping 95 degrees (by 11am it will feel like 100 degrees), but by the end of the week it should drop down to 87 and feel like 90, so I guess that's some kind of relief (at least on Venus). Shorts, tees, misting machines, popsicles, bathing suits & water bottles have helped to keep everyone's core temp down, but we haven't quite figured out how to fight the sticky and gross. Lots of lake time seems to be working pretty well.

Either way, I would take the heat over another trip to the storm shelter! Can't seem to get the climate on track around here. Mother Nature and I are on shaky terms right now ("In a fight" as my 13 year old campers would say. Or "I.A.F." if they were texting it).

Anyway, enough about the weather. Life in Chippy land is great! Today began the first day of second session activities and everyone had a great time. The lake was bustling, the stables were rumbling, on the courts they were hustling and up the wall they were muscling. So much action! Check out the photos if you get a moment (something tells me that you guys are finding those moments...).

Evening programs have been great too. I must admit that night one in the storm shelters left a few things to be desired, but the staff are great at keeping things fun and upbeat! They sang and had a good ol' time with the girls despite the circumstances.

Last night brought Sand Storm. This Tan & White game requires bringing a mound of sand from one side of camp to the other using various containers, mechanisms, and actions. No, this is not a creative way of accomplishing a maintenance operation :) The girls had a great time and the Tans prevailed! Tonight brought

more rain and so we played an energetic and

exciting musical game in the theater. Tomorrow night we are bringing in a special DJ to host a huge GIRLS ONLY dance party. We have done this in the past and they love it! Thursday is Water Olympics and Friday night the youngest campers in camp (Blackfoot) will be hosting the evening's value based campfire program. We know that they will do great! The rest of the week is TOP SECRET!

Stay tuned to daily photos, Tweets, blog updates, Chip Chats, morse code signals and more for keeping in the loop on the summer's various happenings. I look forward to talking soon!

All best,

Cliff

2011-07-11T21:20:00.000-07:00

Hello Chippies!

I have some sad news. Many of you may not know this, but the first session is coming to an end! This summer I am literally

stunned at how quickly the time has passed. W

e are looking forward to the great session ahead of course, but we will miss this f

antastic group of first session campers who are heading home!

The past week has been magical and United Nations Day on Monday was no doubt the highlight! The camp split into four countries and competed in even

ts all day long. From soccer to swimming the girls literally did it all! Sunday was Tan & White Skit night and tonight was a social with Ojibwa. Everyone

is having a great time and I am confident that nobody

wants to go home this weekend!

There is, however, plenty of time left in the session and we are looking forward to the rest of the week. Tomorrow (Wednesday) is the famous Egg Marathon. This Tan & White game involves lots of eggs and lots of patience! All of the campers compete in what is essentially a three hour race that requires all sorts of skill sets- athletics, aquatics,

arts and more! There is even and element to the race th

at involved making a perfect bed.

Stay tuned for the photos. Thursday night is the Four-Week Banquet and it is here that first session campers will be recognized for their many activity achievements and successes. Friday night is of course the Dance Show and we are looking forward to seeing many of you there! Be sure to look over the parent email that I shot off tonight because it contains details regarding visiting weekend. Let me know if you have any questions!

With the session coming to a close we are reminded as to just how fast time flies by. At the last staff meeting I reminded the counselors to enjoy every last second with this bunch of girls, and to encourage them to take advantage of all that camp has to offer! I will stay in touch and look forward to talking soon!

All best,

Cliff

2011-07-04T23:50:00.000-07:00

Hello Chippies,
I hope all is well and that you enjoyed a fabulous 4th of July full of fun, excitement, patriotism, and a firework show that was as stunning as the one that we saw in Three Lakes, WI this evening! Today was a perfect day at camp in every way! Our eldest campers from the cabin of Lakeview organized a phenomenal all-day event that really put them to the test from organization to leadership to programming. They ran a ski show, a carnival (fully equipped with a bouncy castle, cotton candy machine & popcorn maker)and an all-camp open waterfront! These elements of the day were of course paramount to providing the campers with a fun and exciting experience, but their scope of responsibility had far exceeded the dishing out of fun. They had to dish out the food too… Literally. They planned an elaborate menu, decided on how to serve it, and even physically put food on the plates of the campers and staff. They also came up with a value-based theme that centered on our often times-unsung American heros (teachers, firefighters, doctors, pilots, medics, etc…). They created detailed murals highlighting the faces of various legends and icons responsible for bringing positive historical change to this country. The murals were hung all over the lodge and they were truly outstanding! They had to plot out the day in it’s entirety. Every detail had to be considered and they took it upon themselves to make it happen! This was one of the greatest Chippy 4th of July celebrations that I can remember. Lisa and I are very proud of the girls and we see such great future counselor potential in this group!

Camp has been wonderful thus far. The weather was a bit shaky in the beginning, but now we are on track with the sun! We have seen 90+ degree-days and we are actually ready for a cool off! I am looking forward to the commencement of our second set of first session activities. Stay tuned for photos highlighting climbers, skiiers, basketball players, and swimmers! There is so much fun to be had. The evenings this week will bring all sorts of excitement. Tomorrow night is a stage performance called Lip Sync (winners go to Cathy’s for icecream!) Later in the week we will have a special social (cannot tell you the where or when… secret). We have a couple exciting Tan & White events too (including the famous Capture the Flag program!) Friday will bring another value-based campfire and we will close out the week with a great cabin day!

Stay tuned for more news and we will keep you posted via pictures and tweets! I look forward to talking soon.
All best,
Cliff

Let The Fun Begin!

2011-06-28T09:41:00.001-07:00

Hello Chippies!

Welcome to the first edition of Cliff Notes for the 2011 season! This blog is intended to serve as yet another way for you to keep in touch with your daughter's camp experience. Our goal (though secondary to focusing on the actual camp experience) is to provide parents with a "window" through which to view camp and much of the fun and excitement that comes along with it. The daily photos are obviously the most significant means of doing this. Popular demand has moved us in the direction of posting FEWER photos each day than last summer. A number of parents felt 700-1000 images was quite a bit to navigate through and also maintain any other kind of life (or job)! This year (and beginning with this evening's uploads) we will be posting between 275-350 photos daily. Photos go up at night and are fully uploaded and viewable by 3 or 4am. Please be patient with us. As important as the photos are, we need to put the camp's day to day operation first. Also (same as last summer), we will most likely not be posting Sunday photos. Sunday is the camera's day off. Please do friend us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and read the camper written & published Summer ChipChat newsletter that will be posted about twice each session. If you would like to follow us on Twitter please visit www.chippewaranchcamp.com and click on the Twitter links at the bottom of the page. You can follow @chippewacliff AND/OR @chippewasari. Call if you have any questions on how to use this. Most importantly, we can be reached by phone or email! My cell is 312-593-0246 and the camp number is 866-209-9322. Don't ever hesitate to get in touch with us.

The past week was great. It rained, and rained, and rained, but so much fun was had! We are fortunate to have a wonderful staff that made sure the girls were active and having a fantastic time. Monday evening of course brought the arrival of the campers and the opening Friendship fire! Tuesday was the introduction to Tan & White. The spirit of Donny Quay has once again "surfaced", and with his approval the games were allowed to commence! The girls found out what team they were on and the cheering immediately began! Wednesday night was our staff show and Thursday evening brought Big & Little Sister Night. Friday night the cabin of Trailriders put on a value based campfire with the beautiful theme of unity. Saturday evening was the Menominee social. Sunday was cabin day and the girls went into Minacqua to experience "city life" in the Northwoods of Wisconsin. Later that evening we played the ever popular Tan & White game called Barn Yard Bedlam and Monday night brought Pirate Night. During Pirate Night each cabin dressed in a specific color and they ran around together looking for flags, solving clues and avoiding pirates. So much fun!

The week ahead will bring The Camper Talent show, G.L.O.W (staff wrestling show), Movie on the Green, The Tan & White Camper/ Counselor Hunt and SO much more! Monday is of course July 4th and the awesome cabin of Lakeview is hard at work getting ready to provide the campers with a great day ending (weather permitting) with one of the best firework shows in the country! For this holiday figure that you have a few options- The Disney World Magic Kingdom fireworks show, The Bellagio fountain production in Vegas, Central Park's show in New York City and the county annual 4th of July Firework act in Three Lakes, Wisconsin. Guess which one we are going to attend ;)

There is SO much more to come. Let us know if there is something that we can do for you, otherwise we are going to do what we do best... Take care of your daughter and give her a stellar camp experience! I look forward to talking soon.
Stay Tuned!
All best,
Cliff

2011-03-11T15:13:00.000-08:00

Hi Chippies!
Good news! We are getting ready to announce the winner of the the big tee-shirt design contest! Remember, one special shirt will be produced and sold at the Chippy Outpost. Proceeds will go to the Camp For All Kids Foundation!

Chicago Reunion 2010!

2010-12-20T14:02:00.000-08:00

Hi Chippies!

Sorry for the delayed report on our 2010 Chicago Reunion! The turn out was fabulous (despite the weather), and everyone seemed to have a great time. We love reunions because they come with a (very small) dose of camp right in the middle of winter!

The day actually began at California Pizza Kitchen, where Cliff and Lisa took the staff for a nice lunch gathering. We loved catching up with many of them

, and discussing plans for next summer. The staff return rate (as always) is looking fantastic! We are so proud

of our staff for their many achievements during the off-season, but we obviously love them most for what they bring during the summer!

From there we m

et at Michael’s Restaurant in Highland Park, IL with a number of campers and their parents. We find this to be a nice pre-reunion op

portunity to touch base and chat in a low-pressure and relaxed setting (eating a Michael’s hot dog in the process doesn’t hurt either!) Thanks to all of those who attended that element of the reunion.

Finally we all pushed through the cold and made our way to the Renaissance Movie Theater across the street. The movie was a huge success and we were proud to announce (via video trailer of course) next summer’s big ropes course project (stay tuned for another preview movie on the website very soon!) Special thanks to Sari for all of her hard work organizing and planning for the reunion. We couldn’t ha

ve done it without her! Stay tuned for more updates and we look forward to talking

soon!

All best,

Cliff

2010 Reunion Movie Trailer

2010-12-07T07:56:00.000-08:00

Check out our 2010 Reunion Movie Trailer! Enjoy 8-)

PLAY

Atlanta Reunion 2010

2010-11-15T11:15:00.001-08:00

The Atlanta Reunion was a HUGE success. Cliff, Lisa, Audry and Sari made the trip to the "Peach State" last weekend for what turned out to be a great time! The four of us had lunch with staff members Jessica Jaksich and Sarah Leff at a great little restaurant in the Buckhead area. The reunion was held at the home of Seth and Lisa Greenberg. They were wonderful hosts and we cant thank them enough! We had a handful of our Atlanta gals in attendance (not all pictured here), and as always we loved seeing our Georgia crew!
More to come... stay tuned!

Nashville Reunion 2010

2010-11-02T07:18:00.000-07:00

Hi all!
We had a fantastic time in Nashville last weekend. This was our second annual reunion there, and the turnout was great! We want to thank the Yalowitz family for once again hosting the event.

Friday night the Lewis family prepared a fantastic Shabbat dinner for the Yalowitz family and Lisa and I. Jenny Lewis sure knows how to make a chicken... the food was terrific! Saturday we visited with several of our new camper families. We are looking forward to having a handful of newbies from "The Music City" in 2011! Sunday came with the arrival of Assistant Director, Sari Hirsch. The three of us had lunch at a snooty restaurant - selected by Samara Orkin *-) with some local staff who attend Vanderbilt University- Samara, Melissa Deutschman and Hilary Phillips. I liked Jenny's food better! Later that afternoon we all took a trip to the Yalowitz home (which is beautiful btw) and enjoyed a great reunion! Nashville also premiered the 2010 Reunion Movie that will be played several more times this off season (including our big event at the Renaissance Movie Theater in Highland Park, IL in December). This showing will be in BLU-RAY!

Special thanks to Lisa's mom for being granny nanny on the trip. It was a big help! Audry had a great time seeing so many Chippies and we are looking forward to doing it all over again in 2011! Stay tuned for more!

Cincinnati WCRC

2010-10-12T20:59:00.001-07:00

Hi all,
Sari and I made a trip to Cincinnati last week. There was a time when we had quite a few girls from that neck of the woods! Over the last 10 years we have seen that city's Chippy flame begin to fade. The good news is that we are building it back up! On our trip we met with the lovely Mailender family. Daughter Haley will be returning to camp next year for her second summer! The Margolis family was kind enough to host us for a prospect presentation. We are pleased to mention that Sara Margolis and her friend Ella Farrell will be attending in 2011 for their first summer. Welcome to the Chippewa family!

Staff Stuff

We had lunch with counselors Ashley Ackerman and Julia Vigran. Julia joined us at the Cheesecake Factory and Ashley the next day at a local pizza place. They are both doing well. Julia is hard at work with school consuming most of her time. She is strongly considering Ohio State University for college, where a certain camp director (who we all know and love) ALSO attended. No... not Lisa. ME! So she gets a thumbs up on the decision. Ashley is looking forward to a great trip to Israel! We wish her safe and healthy travels. We are hoping to have both of them back at camp next summer!

Some Tasner Time

One afternoon we had an opportunity to check out the baby store of former Kawaga Director, Sydney Warm Tasner. The store is called Best for Babies and the selection is phenomenal. She carries top quality merchandise and has an even larger selection on her website- www.bestforbabies.com. Check it out! We spent the evening chatting it up with her and husband David. It was great to catch up on old times!

Skyline Chili (I Think That's What it Was)

Before leaving town Sari and I stopped in to a famous Skyline Chili Restaurant! A "must do" when visiting Cincinnati. Between the two of us we pretty much tried everything on the menu. I admit, however, that it was mainly me doing the consuming. So first we had a "5-Way", which is a "4-Way," but with both red beans AND diced onions. If you are wondering a "4-Way" is really just a "3-Way," but with the option of red beans OR diced onions. A "3-way" consists of steaming spaghetti below their signature chili. All topped with the largest mound of cheddar cheese that I have ever seen on anything... well with the exception of EVERYTHING else on their menu. We tried Coney dogs covered in chili... and a mound of cheddar. We tried their fries covered in chili... and a mound of cheddar. I am pretty sure that Sari also got a bowl of simple straight chili... covered in a mound of cheddar. So we over did it a little. What can I tell you? Just think of us as food critics who try everything on the menu. The difference is that this was fast food and we ate it all. I think critics just sample 8-)

Stay tuned for more news!
All best,
Cliff

A Fall Trip to the Ranch Camp

2010-10-09T20:18:00.000-07:00

Hi all,

Lisa, Audry, Finn, Olive and I enjoyed a fantastic trip up to camp last week. We really appreciated the relaxation and tranquility of the north-woods. It was especially beautiful with the fall foliage and changing of the leaves. Be on the lookout as our friend Dan Lichtenstein (Associate Director of North Star Camp) was kind enough to take some great fall photos. We will post a link to the pictures from the Chippewa homepage very soon!

While visiting we met with a very special contractor who will be building our 2011 big camp improvement! Stay tuned to learn more about what's to come next summer. We will keep you updated as developments occur. We know you're going to love this project!

Audry had a great time too! She played in the leaves, took a Gator ride or two, and enjoyed being back at her summer home away from home. She even occasionally shouted out a few special names as the great summer memories started flooding in- Maggie Doone, Manny, Emmy, Geek, Bubbles Brown, Berky and Allie just to name a few (you all know who you are)!

We were also joined by some of my family including Ruth and Puddin! We visited the annual Cranberry Fest in Eagle River, which is a special event celebrating (and selling) just about everything EXCEPT for cranberries. Go figure.

Overall it was a great trip. We love being up there, but without you guys it just isn't the same place... Stay tuned for more news!
All best
Cliff

Our New Promo Movie!

2010-09-23T08:41:00.000-07:00

Click HERE to check it out!

Keep Your Fires Burning

2010-09-06T16:04:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone,

I thought I would take a moment to touch base with all of you as the camp season has ended, and summer is winding down and coming to a close. This time of year I love to reflect on the experiences, relationships and good times that Chippewa has given to so many campers and staff. It never ceases to amaze me how so many people from all over the world and country manage to find their way to our small slice of paradise in Eagle River, WI. Lisa and I were exceptionally proud of a number of individuals this summer. I would like to express some recognition with this blog posting.

To the staff- You were second to none. Simple as that! It really is hard to comprehend the workload associated with summer camp counseling, without experiencing the daily responsibility first hand. Morning, noon and night these individuals dedicated themselves to not just providing the campers with a fun and rewarding experience, but also making certain that they were safe and healthy (both mentally and physically). My own former camp director (Sue Lebby- North Star Camp) used to assert that being a camp counselor was “the hardest job that you could ever love.” She couldn’t have been wiser with that sentiment, but it still impresses me to see a counselor in action. Consider the average camper day- wakeup, eat, play, learn something new, eat some more, relax during rest period, play some more, learn some more, play again, eat more, sleep, do it all again the next day. Now take that same day and view it through the lens of a camp staff member. Just insert the word “supervise” in front of each activity. Then remove anything that involves rest or sleep almost completely. Add an invariable smile and a remarkable degree of patience. Throw in a lice outbreak, thunderstorms, occasional homesickness, social conflict resolution, hygiene issues, swarms of mosquitoes, constant spirited loudness, and camp directors that expect the programming to run without a hitch! Now you see what life is like for the average camp staff member at Chippewa. Lisa and I commend the staff of 2010 for giving us 110%, and making the responsibility of youth development among their top priorities this summer!

To Lakeview 2010- What a group! We always put quite a bit of stock into our oldest campers. Why? Because they carry the camp flame and keep it burning for eight straight weeks of summer. There is no better way to illustrate that observation. The summer camp experience depends heavily on this group's attitude, behavior and motivation to make camp the fun and exciting place that it is. We were so unbelievably impressed by these girls. Not just because they organized two HUGE special

programs (one of which spanned over an entire day, and the other of which had the whole camp bouncing off the theater walls before it was over), they also demonstrated an enduring passion for Chippewa that seemed to run straight through their veins. It was so inspiring to see a group of young teenagers (especially these days), showing such an interest in the lives and welfare of camp's younger girls. They were phenomenal role models and great leaders. All of this while reminding everyone to have fun and... well... DANCE! "Dynamite," by Taio Cruz without question became the theme song for the summer of 2010. Introduced to camp by the cabin of Lakeview of course! Their self-choreographed and timelessly memorable dance had the entire camp on their feet on numerous occasions throughout the summer (including the writer of this blog it should be noted). Not to mention the fitting lyrics- "I want to celebrate and live my life." A song about having a great time and leaving your troubles behind… perfect! You can see bits and pieces of this dance during the outtakes at the end of our new promotional movie, which will premier on the website next week. Be on the lookout as it also contains footage exclusively from this past summer!

To the parents- We thank you from the bottom of our hearts. Your trust in us, and your willingness to make Chippewa your daughter's summer home away from home is a responsibility and honor that we never take lightly. From the second that your most prized possession steps off the bus (or plane), to the moment of your first embrace at summer's end, Lisa and I bear no greater privilege than that responsibility. We look forward to many more wonderful summers to come!

To the campers- When you find yourselves down, weary, anxious or just bored this winter, take a moment to remember the best of times from this past summer! Remember running toward the South Field at the start of Barnyard Bedlam. Remember dancing the night away after evening programs in the theater. Remember that feeling just before riding down the zipline, or the thrill of shouting "hit it" in the middle of Dam Lake, or the excitement of capturing the flag from the circle of cones and opponents guarding it. Remember the male staff doing their ridiculous dances, or the relentless cheers for Jen's amazing brownies (which inevitably had me thrown in the lake for some reason). Keep the smaller gems close to your hearts too- Remember late night talks and early morning walks. The site of a thrown keylog overshooting a Friday night campfire. The indisputable sound of a loon bird singing as it gently paddled across the lake. The creak of a screen door, the rev of a boat engine or the smell of the BBQ pit heating up on a Wednesday night. These are the kinds of recollections that will undoubtedly take you back the furthest. The best part though, is that camp will always be there for you. Frankly, whether you return or not.

So, what is the formula for all of this magic? First take an extraordinary staff that was led by a notable administration. Add in program, activity and assistant directors who worked indefatigably to make sure that everything ran without a hitch. Throw in an enthusiastic group of diverse and exciting campers... and wallah! The recipe for a perfect summer camp season. It's all in the people. Simple as that...

We look forward to staying in touch in the coming months. Lisa and I (along with Sari) will be scheduling reunions this week, and plan to visit (among others) Florida, Nashville, Atlanta, Ohio and Chicago this winter. We hope to see many of you then! Keep up with my blog updates, and be sure to email us some inside information that we can add to our September Chipchat! If you find yourself in the Milwaukee area this off-season don’t be a stranger… unless you are a stranger… then maybe call first *-) I look forward to talking soon.

All best,

Cliff

2010-08-05T22:07:00.000-07:00

Good Evening Chippies!

Have you heard the latest BUZZZZ? Yesterday was Kahuna Day at Chippewa and the theme was … you guessed it… bugzzzzz! The camp was split into four teams and each focused on a different bug. Swarms of Fireflies, Bumble Bees, Butterflies and Ladybugs took over camp and competed in all sorts of games and activities. In the end the Fireflies prevailed and took home the gold… or should I say the CATHY’S ICECREAM! It was a little warm yesterday, but the girls had a GREAT time! The heat wasn’t the only issue though… Something else has been BUGGING us around here!

Mosquitoes!

In all of my years at Chippewa, I must admit that I have yet to see them as plentiful as this summer. We are not alone with this problem (obviously), but this has been an incredibly moist season. So what are we doing about it (in a nutshell)? We inspected every single camper individually, and the ones with “yucky” or numerous bites were given a specific treatment plan customized for their situation. Bite prevention, antibiotic ointment if necessary and suggestions on how to resist the temptation to rake away at their bites were among some of the solutions offered. We also established the “Mosquito Club” that meets twice each day for antibiotic and itch prevention applications. This is becoming an issue in the northwoods, and we need to focus our energy on both prevention and treatment.

Now onto the things that I have been itching to tell you about… The week review!

Thursday of last week we did our second session Lipsync! The girls had a great time and the stage talent was amazing! Friday brought a wonderful evening campfire. The focus was on inspirational quotes! All of the girls in C-C and Bowedlegs decided on their favorite meaningful quote and they shared them with the entire camp! The songs were beautiful and the program ran very smoothly. Saturday was a social at Camp Horseshoe, Sunday was Tan & White Songfest, Monday was focused around the wonderful Jenny Snyder. The action packed day ended with a rousing game of Capture the Flag! Wednesday was the Unity Carnival. There were snow cones, popcorn, a moon bounce, slip & slide, fortune tellers, pies being throw in faces and much more! Be sure to check out the pictures! Yesterday was Kahuna Day, today was our big sailing regatta and there is SO much more to come!

Lisa and I are looking forward to an amazing last couple of weeks. Time is running out, but there is still plenty of camping left! Please stay tuned through our photos, Cliff Notes and Tweets. I look forward to talking soon!
All best,
Cliff

2010-07-29T22:03:00.000-07:00

Hello Chippies!

I thought I would take a moment to update you on second session! Camp is going great and the girls are having a fabulous time. Tonight we ran a program called Lip Sync. The show is pretty self-explanatory, but there really is more to it than simply getting up on stage and performing Milli Vanilli style. The girls have to work together to come up with the perfect song, the perfect dance and even the perfect wardrobe! They spend hours making these decisions and you can imagine that this kind of group organizing comes with some challenge! They work through the challenges though, and in doing so strengthen their relationships, and develop great teambuilding skills. Not to mention that the show is traditionally quite a spectacle! Tonight was no exception! The two cabin winners were Boots and C-C. They got to go to Cathy’s for ice cream, and the rest of the camp got canteen. A win for everyone!

The past week has been great! Last Monday was Tan & White Sports Night (always a popular event). Tuesday brought Staff Olympics and Wednesday was murder mystery night. Thursday we introduced a new game called Sandstorm! This Tan & White event required each team to get a giant mound of sand from one side of camp to the other. It was a ton of fun and will no doubt become a Chippewa annual tradition! Friday night Boots, Circle C and Wagonridge put on a beautiful campfire with a theme centered around “being yourself.” Saturday was Big & Little Sister Night, Sunday the camp went to Minocqua for a town day. When they returned we did a “movie in the park” event. The whole camp went to the South Field and watched the ever-popular Parent Trap on a giant inflatable screen! On Monday we had a social with Kawaga and on Tuesday we had our little weather emergency *-) Last night was a practice for Songfest and tonight was Lip Sync!

So much fun to come and I will make sure to share with you via photos, blog updates and Tweets (I know… Sari is a better Tweeter… Im working on it!)

I look forward to talking soon!
All best,
Cliff

On To Second Session!

2010-07-20T21:16:00.000-07:00

Dear Chippewa Friend,

Today was a good ole fashioned camp day here at Chippewa! It marked the start of second session activities, and the girls had a great time! Lisa and I are thrilled with the second session arrivals and they are eagerly jumping right into the swing of things. The staff is motivated and enthusiastic about the start of another fabulous four weeks of camp!

Visiting weekend was an absolute blast. We are so proud of Jessica J. and Whitney K. for their outstanding dance show production. They always do a great job, but this was an exceptionally great show! The weather was perfect and we enjoyed watching parents and campers participate in our program. Thanks for all of the kind words and positive feedback regarding first session. We really appreciated the enthusiastic comments, suggestions and even concerns!

The week ahead is going to be full of action. Samara O. (our program director) has a fantastic lineup of events and special programs in place for the weeks to come. Sunday night we ran our second session opening friendship fire, which was packed with songs, stories, games and fun. Monday was a BIG day around here. The girls took swim tests, signed up for activities, auditioned for the two musicals being produced this summer (Wicked and The Lion King), and participated in their first Tan & White game- Sports Night! Stay tuned to next weeks Cliff Notes. I will fill you in on everything that happened this week, and maybe even throw in a sneak preview of what’s to come. Also be sure to check our photo gallery early each morning. We put up anywhere from 300-900 pictures each day! We will do out best to get as many of your girls in as possible on a daily basis!

Have a great rest of the summer and feel free to call any time!

All best,
Cliff
Cell- 312-593-0246

2010-07-14T22:33:00.001-07:00

Hello Chippies!

Camp is going great! We’re closing in on the end of first session, and looking forward to a climactic finish. The week ahead traditionally brings a mixture of fun, excitement, and laughter with a touch of sadness as we send off our first session campers. On Friday we’re looking forward to the start of visiting weekend and the arrival of our camper’s families! Visiting weekend is a great opportunity for staff and parents to meet and to chat about the summer past. Lisa and I will be walking around camp throughout the weekend and will hope to meet with as many people possible. On Friday night we will put on our annual (and amazing) dance show! Saturday we will open up our activities to campers AND their families. That afternoon we will host our famous BBQ lunch and parents will be able to take their camper out of camp for the night! We’re looking forward to good weather, better food and top-notch entertainment this weekend!

This past week has been great! Tuesday night brought our new “Bee Hive Bonanza” game. The camp was split into various “hives” that competed with one another to attain jars of honey! The competitions included relay races, sporting events, brain twisters and more. Everyone had a great time! Wednesday evening was supposed to be capture the flag, but inclement weather caused us to make a last second switch to a Tan & White favorite called Skit Night. Always an entertaining program! Thursday evening we had A-Z DJs come to entertain us during an exciting social with Horseshoe! The event was held on our South Field and the dancing was great. Friday night we had one of our beautiful value based campfires. This one was led by the cabins of Cactus and Horseshoe. Their theme was “The Golden Rule.” The readings were based around the topic of Respect. It’s always nice to hear the campers themselves highlighting such great values. Saturday we had a Tai Chi Master Troop come to camp. They entertained the campers and staff with a sword & fan demonstration. The campers were fans of the fans! After that, Tom Pease performed, as he does every summer. His selection of timeless and child appropriate campfire music has always been a hit at Chippewa! Sunday started out with group Tai Chi lessons and ended with a social at camp Menominee. Everyone had a fantastic time. Monday was United Nation’s Day! The camp was split up into four different countries, and they competed in an all day tournament full of excitement and spirit! Tuesday was Camper Counselor Switch day. The older girls in camp were each designated a staff member to “become” for the day. The campers loved the program and Jackie P. from Lakeview did a great job playing ME! The rest of the week is busy busy busy! Non stop action as we close out the session. Tomorrow will bring the Egg Marathon. This Tan & White game is a hit every summer! The girls will essentially run a crazy relay race that will span almost three hours in length. All sorts of activities are involved, and the girls have to carry an egg with them through the entire race (without it breaking)! We know that the girls will be thrilled to find out that its tomorrow!

Once again we will look forward to seeing many of you this weekend. We are proud of our visiting weekend program and hope that you will try to join us! Take care and have a wonderful week!
All best
Cliff

It's Raining Fun!

2010-07-05T18:31:00.000-07:00

Hello Chippewa!

Happy 4th of July! Yesterday was magical...Simple as that! The cabin of Lakeview put on a very special all-day program, and the girls had a blast! The morning began with a phenomenal ski show and an opening song performance. The energy level at 7:45 in the morning is pretty amazing on the 4th of July around here! Our traditional Independence Day breakfast was complete with pancakes, eggs, bacon, waffles (all topped with red, white and blue whipped cream…mmmmm) and more! After breakfast, the entire camp played “The Circle Game” (a very popular old-school Chippewa program). Lunch was full of variety. Highlights included Chef Dave’s pasta and pink sauce, grilled cheese, tomato soup, chicken fingers and fries. I know, not the healthiest lunch, but it was a special occasion and the girls loved it… you should have seen dessert that evening! Later on, we had a huge carnival and a local professional musician came and sang for us (Brad Emanuel). He played a variety of modern tunes along with a mix of old classics! Sadly, the Three Lakes, WI fireworks were rained out, but we did take an all-camp trip to everyone’s favorite ice cream shop- Cathys! The night ended on a VERY high note! We truly are very proud of our oldest campers for putting on such a wonderful day!

Now for the week review-

Monday night brought a popular entertainment program called “Glow.” This was basically a large wrestling production put on by the staff. The “wrestlers” took on different themes and personalities. The night came with lots of cheering and dancing! Tuesday was the camper talent show. We were extremely impressed with the quality of the performances. Wednesday was a social at Ojibwa and Thursday was the Tan & White Counselor Hunt (the campers searched around camp for hidden staff in exchange for Tan & White points). Friday we had a beautiful campfire put on by our 10 year-olds, and Saturday evening Timberlane held a carnival for our entire camp!

It really is hard to believe that time is moving so quickly. The session is already 50% gone! Today the girls signed up for their second set of activities and tomorrow they will begin them. There is so much more to come! Remember to follow us through our daily pictures! I look forward to talking soon.
All best,
Cliff

Photo Mania!

2010-07-01T08:10:00.001-07:00

Chippewa Friend,

I hope all is well with you. Just a quick note regarding photos. Lisa and I do our very best to put as many photos online as possible. We take pride in the fact that some days bring as many as 500+ images. We are certain that this is above and beyond the industry standard. That said we have received a number of emails expressing concern about the handful of "dropped" thumbnails on the Camp-In-Touch Photo page each day. It takes hours to upload hundreds of photos into the Camp-In-Touch application. Unfortunately (and beyond our control), the T-1 internet connection becomes lost occasionally during this upload process. When that happens photos are inevitably dropped. We just don't have the time to go back in and re-upload the missing photos. I'm sorry for any inconvenience that this may cause, but we will continue to go out of our way to make certain that you are able to get an above adequate photo "fix" each day! Please also note that Sunday photo displays are the exception and not the rule. Typically we will have no new photos up on Sunday. Thanks again for your understanding and support! Have a great week and I look forward to talking soon!
All best,
Cliff
Cell- 312-593-0246

Week Two!

2010-06-29T20:37:00.001-07:00

Hi all,

What a first week this has been! Hopefully you’ve been enjoying camp along with us through our RECORD number of photos *-)

I would like to start by talking about my wonderful staff. I have to say that this group has been unbelievable in every respect! I have never been so confident about a group of counselors as I am this summer. They're creative, fun, caring, diverse in their geographic make up, and FULL of energy and enthusiasm. I knew from the start that this was going to be an all-star cast of characters (both new staff and returning "old-timers.") I hope and assume that your letters home are reflecting the same!

The past week has been a cacophony of rain, sun, cold and heat! Who’d have ever figured that the campers would require clothing for every weather condition within the first seven days of camp? One-day a puddle, the following day a wet mud hole, the next a dried up dirt patch… Then the cycle all over again! Regardless of the weather, the action has never stopped here! Below is a glimpse of the past week.

The first night was our friendship fire. We got through 90% of the program outside and then the rain chased us indoors to The Adler Lodge. No fun was lost though! The night went out with a bang. Tuesday night we did our traditional “Donny Quay” Tan & White kick off. All of the girls learned their teams and the spirit that evening was outstanding! Wednesday night was the 2010 first session Staff Show! I wish you could have seen the talent on that stage! Thursday brought Big & Lil Sister night, Friday evening Trailriders put on a great camp-fire highlighting the theme of being a new camper. Saturday evening brought a social with Kawaga, Sunday was the Tan & White game- Barn Yard Bedlam and tonight was the Camper Talent Show! The show brought singing, dancing and all sorts of fun entertainment!

During the day activities have been running strong. From the tennis courts to the waterfront, campers have been keeping busy learning, playing and having loads of fun in the process.

Stay tuned for more photos and updates throughout the week! All I can say is that camp is off to a roaring start and each day brings new surprises and adventures! Keep in touch.

All best,
Cliff
Cell- 312-593-0246

Opening Night!

2010-06-21T21:33:00.000-07:00

Hello Friends,

Lisa and I are thrilled to announce that after an (almost) perfect bus send-off this morning, camp is in full swing! The girls arrived to an (almost) rain free Chippewa and made (almost) great time getting here. Campers were taken on tours, given their initial health checks -YES LICE CHECKS (P.S. there was none), and were served an amazing dinner of spaghetti with marinara sauce and our famous Head Chef’s gnocchi and "pink sauce"! I'm feeling pretty darn confident that you’re going to hear wonderful things about the food this summer 8-)

After dinner it started to rain… so it goes. The good news is that things are VERY dry up here and we actually needed a good rainstorm, the bad news is that it came tonight. I wont lie- it kind of looks like the lake washed up 1000 feet beyond the shoreline. Another storm like this and we're gonna need an ark. I think I was the only one who really seemed to notice though! We still ran our opening night “friendship fire” in the Adler Lodge and had a great time. The girls are all tucked in for the evening and looking forward to a fantastic first day tomorrow! The weather is supposed to be great (77 degrees and sunny) and the campers are going to have a ball!

Lisa and I are thrilled to be able to take care of your girls this summer. We take pride in the experience that Chippewa provides, and are confident that you will receive some great letters this week! You will also receive a “welcome” email shortly highlighting your daughter’s counselors for the summer. Stay tuned for daily photos, Tweets and blog updates. We look forward to being in touch with you all soon!
All best,
Cliff

2010-06-14T21:11:00.000-07:00

Hello Chippies!

I thought I would take a moment to bring everyone up to speed on things in Chippyland! I know I’ve been a bad blogger these past few weeks (sorry), but things have been CRAZY getting camp set up. The first year staff arrived Saturday and began their new staff orientation. We’re extremely impressed with the group so far! Operations Manager James Stapleton and Tennis pro Reubs went down to Illinois to pick up our Chicago area returning staff TODAY! It’s hard to believe that camp is only a week away.

Our new Nautique ski boat arrived yesterday (see photo)! It’s being called “Evil-O,” Named lovingly after Olive the dog. Quiz question … Can anyone guess why “Evil-O” is a name for Olive the dog? Adding this third boat will maximize ski time and dramatically improve the efficiency of our program!

The theater is looking amazing and will be completed this week. Sari and the admin staff are getting the summer calendar and program ready. Other staff are hard at work putting in docks and boat lifts, mowing lawns, trimming trees, cleaning cabins, inflating inflatables and much more! Tomorrow starts lifeguard training and ski boat driver school. Later in the week our climbers will start their intense training, and throughout the week we will be teaching our staff to become the best counselors that they can be! We also have three wonderful trip leaders who went through a 9 day wilderness first responder training course. Busy times!

Get ready for another great summer ahead! Feel free to call or email with any questions or concerns and we look forward to talking soon!
All best,
Cliff

866-209-9322
cliff@chippewaranchcamp.com

A New Adventure!

2010-05-16T07:06:00.000-07:00

As most of you know, Lisa and I acquired Chippewa Ranch Camp from two wonderful Northwoods camp directors, Pamela and Tom Adler. Since that time, they have stayed on with us to offer their support and many years of experience. They have played a very important role in our lives, in the lives of our campers and staff, and the lives of so many who live all four seasons in the Northwoods. After more than a combined 50 years at Chippewa, Tom and Pam are moving on to the next big adventure in their lives – the acquisition of a girls camp in upstate New York!

It is a bittersweet time for the Chippewa community as we say so long to two people who gave their hearts and souls to the place we all call home – we are, of course, so excited for Tom and Pam. We know they will bring the same spirit of friendship and kindness to their new camp as they brought to Chippewa. I think we can all agree they are lucky girls! But at the same time, our camp community will certainly feel their loss. They will be missed.

For Tom and Pam, this new chapter in their lives is a little bit poetic really - More than 30 years ago, Tom came across a camp that would change his life and the lives of countless others who followed him there. Along with Pam, the two were the masterminds behind many hundreds of friendships created, many skills refined and many valuable lessons learned - all in the beautiful Northwoods of Wisconsin. And now they’re off to do it all over again in another beautiful part of the country, with another beautiful group of girls...

We would like to wish a very happy new beginning to Tom and Pam. And along with many others, we will await the sequel to Campingly Yours...
All best,
Cliff & Lisa

Enough Said 8-)

2010-05-11T15:06:00.000-07:00

Head Chef for Nero's Restaurant to Cook at Chippewa this Summer

2010-05-05T10:48:00.000-07:00

Nero's Restaurant in Eagle River, WI had a long standing tradition of excellence in Italian cuisine and cooking. Chippewa campers, staff and their families regularly flocked there in the summer months for the Chicago style ambiance and the phenomenal food. Owners Dave and Patti Black brought up the idea of trying something new this summer, and Chippewa was the lucky outcome of that contemplation! Nero's co-owner and Head Chef Dave Black will be working as our head cook this summer! Sari Hirsch put it best -"Thats Amazing!"

His wife Patti has a long history with Chippewa as a camper, counselor and administrator. Her niece is our own Kato Hinden! Needless to say Patti is MORE than excited about this concept, and will no doubt be dropping by on occasion to visit one of her favorite places in the world... she might even say hello to Dave while she's there 8-)

As always our goal is to make Chippewa Ranch Camp the best possible summer experience for our campers. We demand the best in staff, facilities, programming and health & safety. Those same standards apply to our kitchen! We're looking forward to having Chef Dave on board and know he will be fabulous!

Who isn't getting hungry just thinking about that pink sauce and gnocchi that they're so famous for? Yes he has agreed to make that for us!

Technology and Chippewa (What can she bring to camp?)

2010-04-26T09:47:00.000-07:00

We are definitely Apple lovers around here. What can I say? Every time they release a new product Lisa and I wait with the masses in ridiculous lines to attain their newest electronic gem. Even though we know that tomorrow will bring another full truckload of iPads, we wait anyway. Why? Because they’re cool…simple as that. I am one of the many Appleheads who have wasted countless hours looking for valuable iPad apps and trying to come up with ways of justifying owning one. Lets face it though… at the end of the day it’s just a toy. But man is it a fun toy!

A Trip Down Apple Lane

Over the years I (as a camp director) have developed a love/slate relationship with this tech giant. The iMac has allowed me to open multiple documents at one time on a single gloriously massive screen. It has made camp video editing a much less painful task. The iPod has offered a simple and sleek solution to music storage and listening. The iPhone has been my best friend since it’s first generation release. The iTouch has never really done anything for me (no real need with an iPhone and iPod), but I get why people like them. I actually think I went jogging more often than I otherwise would have thanks to the iPods Shuffle and Mini! The laptop has been great for travel, and now the iPad has been an unusual but entertaining addition to my life.

So What Went Wrong?

Steve Jobs never went to camp (I suppose). He has yet to consider the delicate balance between technology and nature. Between communication and independence. That lack of consideration hasn’t exactly hampered Apple’s sales though, so I guess we will have to adjust in this Apple driven world. Enter camp policy!

PARENTS PLEASE TAKE NOTE OF THE FOLLOWING APPLE POLICIES:

iPod- These are acceptable, but they are expensive so we encourage you to send your daughter with a cheaper MP3 player, iPod Shuffle or Mini. ALL VIDEO FILES MUST BE REMOVED. We don’t want your daughter watching tv in bed at night 8-)

iTouch- These are not allowed due to their ability to tap into our wireless internet network and the world wide web of inappropriateness. Sorry!

iPhone- These are of course not acceptable. Paper and pen work pretty much the same (it just takes a little longer to communicate). Remember the good ol’ pre texting days? What ever happened to passing notes around?

iPad- Unless by PAD you mean a stack of paper connected by an adhesive strip… they too are a no. Why? For just about every purpose that Apple designed them to serve.

iMac & Laptops- No can do. Sorry!

I should mention that although Apple is the most notable tech company, they are not the only one. Nintendo makes a couple excluded items too. No video games, etc… Cameras are ok, but we encourage disposable. Mini tvs are certainly a no (do they still even make those?)

If you have any questions about this please feel free to contact me via email, which I will view on my ipad or imac. You can also get me on my iphone (texting me is fine). I can be found on Twitter, Facebook or this blog. If none of that works I still accept snail mail (I have an electronic letter opener... made by HP. Sorry Steve).

Thanks for your cooperation and we look forward to providing your daughter with an amazing and digital free summer.

All best,

Cliff

Sent from my iPad

2010-04-03T19:15:00.001-07:00

Hi Folks!
Finn, Olive and I just returned from a quick but useful visit to camp! I met with the builder (Bruce) who along with our operations manager (James Stapleton), has already started work on our new and improved theater! Les is working hard on the important but tedious leaf removal process, and the effort to get camp up and running is ALREADY underway. The weather was beautiful with just a couple remaining patches of snow and ice on the waterfront. The lake is VERY low! It's down by almost 6 feet! Some good spring rain should get it back on track though. The weather was actually record setting for Eagle River on Friday. It was in the 70's for most of the day (first time since 1927!) The dogs had a great time and we couldn't have asked for a nicer few days to be up there. More later!
All best,
Cliff

Your 2010 Chippewa Ranch Camp Admin Staff

2010-03-24T10:04:00.000-07:00

Allow me to introduce your 2010 admin staff. These fine individuals will help to make this summer the best yet! Their experience and love for Chippewa puts them into a class of their own!

Assistant Director: Sari Hirsch

Sari has more Chippewa years than anyone (This will be her 18^th summer). She has a building named after her, she knows camp inside and out and has filled just about every possible role that there is to fill. Currently she is working for us on a year-round basis. She has been extremely valuable to us in and out of the off season.

Activity Director: Val Agnew

Val is back for summer number 12! Last summer she filled a new position for us (Activity Director), and did so with flying colors. She is key to providing a well-organized and smooth flowing daily activity program. This task can be very difficult and requires a special kind of individual- someone who can balance organization, staffing, and concentrated program observation. That person is Val!

Program Director: Samara Orkin

Samara is taking over this summer as Program Director. With 9 years experience under her belt, we have no doubt at all about the kind of job she will do for us this summer. She is a junior at Vanderbilt University and has what it takes to balance the calendar, organize evening programs, set up socials and coordinate intercamps. She is going to be fabulous!

Camp Psychologist: Julie Alitto

Julie brings a new kind of position to the table. Known affectionately as “Camp Good Friend,” Julie worked with both staff and campers to make sure that our Chippies were not just healthy physically, but also emotionally. She worked with homesick campers and kept an open line of communication with our camper parents. She is currently working as a clinical psychologist and we are VERY lucky to have her with us.

Waterfront Director: Lily Dicker

Lily is back for her TEN-YEAR! She will be returning as our waterfront director and we are very proud of her development as a waterfront staff member over the years. A couple years ago she took the helm of our most popular and complicated activity (Waterskiing). She has done a wonderful job in this capacity and we are looking forward to seeing her take her skills to the next level. She will be coming to camp as an American Red Cross Life Guard Instructor and will train our staff during pre camp. She has what it takes to do a great job and we know that she will!

Theater & Arts Director: Whitney Kreiter

Whitney is back for number 11! You can tell you have a dedicated staff member when they return beyond their Ten-Year. She is a student at The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. She is an extremely talented dancer and has spent much of her life on the stage. Along with Jessica Jaksich she has organized an annual Dance Show during our visiting weekend that has been second to none. She also co-directs our older camper plays, and does so beautifully. Her skill in this arena makes her perfect for this new and important role and we’re excited to see her carry it out!

C.I.T. Director: Emily Dindial

This position is one of the most important in camp. The C.I.T. Director is responsible for helping to groom our new counselors and future camp leaders. Emily has a special rapport with this particular group of C.I.T.S and we know she will do a great job. She is back for her 13^th summer and we’re VERY excited to have her.

Colt Village Director: Ashley Ackerman

Ashley will be spending her 12^th summer at camp as the Colt Village Director. She is no stranger to our admin staff as she recently filled the role of C.I.T. Director. Ashley is a great counselor and does fantastic with children. She is living in Florida and has just graduated from Miami of Ohio. She brings a lot to the table and we are thrilled to have her leading one of our villages.

Wrangler Village Director: Sarah Steinmann

Sarah will be returning for her 9^th summer at Chippewa. She comes from Syracuse, NY and is a freshman at Barnard College. At camp she has proven to be a solid counselor and leader. She teaches Bat Mitzvah studies and is a counselor in one of our largest cabins! Her experience, organization and intellect will make her a great Village Director.

Operations Manager: James Stapleton

People often don’t realize just what it takes to make camp run as smoothly as it does. The “behind the scenes” of Chippewa might be overwhelming to some. We are lucky to have a guy like James handling many of these operations. Travel, baggage, camp setup and take down, male staff management and flight coordination are just some of the many aspects of this job. He also finds the time to run a VERY popular fishing program! We’re thrilled to have him.

The American Camp Association Conference

2010-03-13T20:36:00.000-08:00

Lisa and I just returned from the American Camp Association Mid States Camping Conference in St. Charles, IL. A few admin staff joined us- Lily Dicker (Waterfront Director), James Stapleton (Operations Director), Julie Alitto (Our Camp Psychologist) and of course Sari Hirsch (Our Assistant Director).

We find these camp conferences to be great opportunities for meeting with other industry professionals, sharing and exchanging ideas, staying current with new trends in youth development and making certain that we're at the top of our game when it comes to maintaining our very important ACA accreditation. Last month we also attended the National Conference in Denver, CO. We take pride in the work that we do at Chippewa and in our responsibility to create a safe and healthy growing environment for today's youth. These conferences offer us more tools for taking that work to the next level.

It's gonna get even better... Stay Tuned!

Click HERE to learn about the American Camp Association

From March Madness to Summer Happiness!

2010-03-08T07:05:00.000-08:00

I hope everyone is getting excited for the 2010 March Madness basketball games. I know I am! MY money is on Kentucky winning it all.... OR should say that my Camp For All Kids Contribution is on Kentucky winning it all?

CFAK has put together a great fund raising program that combines the thrill and excitement of March Madness basketball with the important mission of raising money to send less financially fortunate children to camps like Chippewa. Lisa and I will be playing and we truly hope that you will too! The deadline to sign up is 10am central time on March 18th. Click the link below to play and make a difference! PLEASE TELL YOUR FRIENDS!!!

SIGN UP!

A Winter Wonderland- Part 2

2010-03-05T15:09:00.000-08:00

Today was beautiful and sunny. I met with a brilliant tech guy this morning who thinks he can solve all of our camp phone/speaker system problems... I want to make sure that Nina Pretty Ballerina is heard VERY clearly in each and everyone of your cabins! I also needed to take measurements for our new buddy board. Lisa's mom (who made most of the other signs in camp) will be designing and creating it for us. Our goal is to maintain the vintage feel of the old board, but to also clean it up and make it a little bit more user friendly.

I stuck around until about noon and then made the long trip back home to Milwaukee. I hope to return in couple of weeks. I added some more boring videos from today... plus a couple cool photos. Enjoy!

A Winter Wonderland- Chippewa in March!

2010-03-04T14:49:00.000-08:00

I'm currently up at camp meeting with the builders and our caretaker (Les). Chippewa is covered in snow and even with the fast warming weather (32 degrees) we're freezing up here! The lake is covered in 36 inches of ice. People are driving trucks over it! You couldn't pay me to even walk on it...

The main purpose of my visit is to plan and prepare for our big theater overhaul! The logistics are kind of a nightmare, but we have some great ideas and brilliant minds driving the project along. I took some video of camp in the winter. Kind of boring and random, but check it out anyway! I'll try to add some more tomorrow!

A Mini Michael's Event

2010-03-01T19:12:00.000-08:00

Cliff, Lisa and Audry made a trip down to Michael's Restaurant in Highland Park, IL. on Saturday to spend some quality time with a handful of local 2010 CITs and staff. Arizonian Emily Dindial arranged the event and flew
in just for the occasion! We were thrilled to see Emily Shulman in attendance too. Other alumni in town for the weekend were Leah Beckmann, Jorie Weiss, Perry Kahan and Shana Goldberg! Audry ate some Michael's mac & cheese and Cliff had a frozen yogurt that tasted like... well... plain yogurt. Pretty good though! The place was alive with camp energy and there was a certain Chippy electricity in the air! We almost felt the urge to stand on our chairs and belt out a powerful rendition of A Chippewa Girl. It was a great time and fun was had by all!

Davia Douglas On Camp For All Kids!

2010-02-25T08:42:00.000-08:00

Be sure to check out Davia discussing how valuable Camp For All Kids has been for her over the years. She is a long time Chippy and will be returning this year for her 9th summer! Also please consider making a contribution. Camp For All Kids has done a wonderful job of both creating rich diversity at camps like (and including) Chippewa, and providing less financially fortunate children opportunities to attend them. Click here to learn more.

Dr. Chris Thurber Returns to Chippewa!

2010-02-23T09:40:00.000-08:00

We are thrilled to once again have Chris Thurber as part of our pre-camp training program. Chris is a board-certified clinical psychologist, author, consultant, parent and camping professional. He earned his BA in psychology from Harvard University, and went on to receive a PhD in clinical psychology at UCLA. He has been a guest on The Today Show, Fox News, CBS This Morning and most recently The Martha Stewart Show. Chris is a regular speaker at American Camp Association conferences, and has been training camping professionals for many years. He has authored numerous publications with the primary objective of helping camps to create the safest and healthiest possible environment for children. Most important though, is Chris's passion for camp and his ability to relate to today's youth. He spends every summer at Camp Belknap in New Hampshire, where he serves as their Waterfront Director and psychologist in residence. Chris was in part the inspiration behind our decision to hire our own camp psychologist, Julie Alitto!

This will be Chris's third summer with us and we are looking forward to everything that he has to offer! You can visit his website- www.campspirit.com to learn more.

Welcome to the Chippewa Ranch Camp Blog

2010-02-22T09:09:00.000-08:00

Welcome to our first official blog post! We will use these postings on a year-round basis as a means of keeping you informed and to provide you with the latest in Chippewa news! Remember that you can also follow us on Twitter @ChippewaCliff or @ChippewaSari and find us on Face Book. During the summer this blog will take the place of our old Cliff Notes format, and will be regularly updated. We would love to hear your thoughts, comments and recommendations. Our goal is to make communication easy and information accessible with the click of a button! Have a great week and we look forward to talking soon!
All best,
Cliff