Camp Highlands For Boys

Q Are there special end-of-term events?

A

We host a Picnic and Banquet on the final Friday of each term. This is a great time for parents, grandparents and friends to come check out Camp. The cost is $10 per person for dinner, which we add to your final balance. Please RSVP to the banquet so we know just how much cheesy potatoes to make!

Q What’s the weather like?

A

Check our website regularly, we have the weather report right there! Northern Wisconsin is a magical place in the summer. It can be 80˚F (26˚C) during the day and get down into the 50’s (10˚ C) at night. We are prepared to work and have fun in all kinds of weather. That is another amazing thing about living in the elements as we do – you learn to make the most of every situation – whether that means slathering on sunscreen three times a day or throwing on a hoodie!

Q What is the food like?

A

Amazing! Lois Craig has been our head chef for over 20 years, and Sharon Bachmann knows how to make menus that boys love. Every breakfast offers hot and cold cereal and a main course, like pancakes, French toast or sausage and muffins. Dinner is our noon meal, and is packed with the protein and carbs we need to keep fueled after a day at Highlands. We’re talking about homemade meatloaf and mashed potatoes, chicken tenders and wild rice, and of course, Sunday turkey dinner, with all the fixings. Supper is always lighter fare and Taco Night and Pizza Night are wildly popular. The food is plentiful, healthy, lovingly prepared and delicious!

Q What is Sunday Night Sing?

A

Sunday Night Sing is possibly the greatest event on the planet. Every Sunday night, we project the words to great camp songs up onto a screen where we all hoot and holler, sing and bellow through some great tunes. What’s amazing is that our lantern slide projector is almost as old as camp is, and the slides we use are the same ones camper’s fathers and grandfathers used! It truly is a unique Highlands experience, and if you are anywhere in the area, it is one you should come experience for yourself.

Q What does a “Worthwhile Man” mean?

A

A Worthwhile Man is the prayer we recite together at every Sunday Morning Assembly. The basic philosophy behind it is that a worthwhile man is one who stands up for what’s right, who cultivates self-confidence and the courage to try new things. A worthwhile man is one who judges others on the content of their character, and who strives to be honest, just and thoughtful. The Worthwhile man philosophy is the soul of the Highlands experience.

Q Are there nearby girls camps?

A

You bet! There are a number of outstanding girls camps in the area. We have sisters at Red Pine, Clearwater Camp, Camp Nicolet and others. Contact us for more information.

Q If I get a homesick letter, can I call my son?

A

Homesickness is a tough thing. We take it very seriously. And we have gotten very good at dealing with it. We spend a great deal of time training our staff on how to handle homesick situations.

It is not uncommon for campers to take a little time to adjust to the schedule of camp. What with the safety talks and swim tests, it can a stressful first few days. But we have found that once campers get into the rhythm of camp, they excel. Unfortunately, a call from Dad or a premature visit can backfire on us. Andy is an excellent judge of how a boy is doing at camp, is able to judge the best course of action (both for parent and camper!). An important thing to remember is that a quickly scribbled postcard about how upset your son is might have more to do with whether his team won or lost at baseball, and now the distractions of Tower Three or the Adventure Course have quickly turned that frown upside down.

Regardless, we will work diligently with you to make sure that YOU are informed and that your son is having the best time possible.

Q I’d really like my son to be unplugged, but I know his friends will be bringing their gadgets with them. What do you recommend?

A

We strongly recommend that you keep the electronic gadgets at home. Camp is a great place and time to get away from all that stuff. We always are happy to keep any cell phones or iPods in the Office for safekeeping, and we make a point to offer to collect them at the beginning of the term. (Some counselors have a strict no electronics gadget, and will collect them regardless!) Our preference if for you to leave them at home, or inform us when they are coming up on the bus, and we’ll be happy to keep them with us, and even charge them up for the trip home!

Q Some camps don’t allow packages. May I send my son some goodies?

A

You are welcome to send your son a package, but we ask that you please not send any food items. Chipmunks and other critters can make food packages pretty difficult to deal with. But comic books, the latest sports magazine, yo-yos for the whole cabin and other fun things (non-food items) can be a great addition to any mail-time experience.

Q My kid isn’t a great swimmer, will he still be allowed in the water? What are your water-safety policies?

A

Every camper must pass a swim test before they are allowed to swim. We have instructional swim every day, with a wide variety of swimmer levels.

We take our water safety very seriously. Campers are not allowed on docks or in boats without staff members present, and we always have a certified lifeguard on duty for any water based activity or event. At our free-swim times of the day, we have 5 lifeguards posted, making sure the buddy system is being properly used and safety is a priority.

Q No screens on the windows!? You have to be kidding?

A

We are a rustic camp, and we are firm believers in getting the most out of the camping experience. There is no electricity in the boys cabins. There are no screens on the windows. We are about as close as you can get to nature without sacrificing our warm and cozy beds and the roofs over our heads. It is a pretty amazing thing to be “unplugged” for three weeks of the year. And it is amazing what thoughts and conversations can be had when the earbuds are removed

Q Is Camp Highlands religious?

A

Camp does not subscribe to any specific religious heritage, but the values we practice are consistent with all the great religions of the world. Personal character, and the basic philosophy of “I’m Third” are the heart of the Highlands experience. Simply put, we try to put God (however God is known to you) or our values first, other people second, and I’m third. It’s pretty amazing what can happen when we all try to live it. Its an important part of what makes Highlands so special.

Q Will I be able to see photos of my son?

A

You bet! Simply become a registered user at our password protected photo gallery, and enjoy the regular photo updates! While we can’t get every camper on there every day, we do our best!

Q Will my son be able to email me? How will I hear from him?

A

We do everything in our power to help your camper communicate with you. They have to write home at LEAST once per week. We also have made a form of email communication available, through the company Bunk1. Unfortunately we don’t have the internet capacity to allow campers to email parents, but we can offer the Bunk1 service. Basically, you email your camper, and send them a “bunk reply.” Your camper writes in the bunk reply, and we fax it to Bunk1, where it is then sent to your email inbox as a pdf. Last summer we sent and received over 1,000 Bunk Notes!

Q Three weeks is a long time to send my child to camp! Why don’t you offer shorter sessions?

A

To be honest, three weeks is just enough time to get the value out of camp that your son deserves. Think of it this way – the first week is spent getting to know your way around, getting exposed to each activity and making connections with other campers and counselors. In the second week, your son gets to work on those new activities he has discovered that he loves, AND gets to experience the great outdoors on a camping or canoe or trip (which trip depends on his age). This middle week is where confidence is built, friendships are solidified and your son’s recognition that, “if he will, he can” becomes a reality. In the last week of the session, days are packed with end-of-term festivities, events and great Highlands traditions. We feel like three weeks is BARELY enough time to get a real camp experience. Our second session, which has a fourth week, gives us even more time to unplug, unwind and savor our Highlands days. It’s no wonder 20% of our campers stay with us full term (all seven weeks). This place is addictive!

Q Where should we stay when we come to Camp?

A

Of course we’d love to have you in the Highlands Lodge, but if we’re all booked, there are several places to stay in nearby towns of Minocqua, Boulder Junction and even Sayner has a few options.

Q How do we get all of Bobby’s gear to camp?

A

Some folks prefer to ship their trunks to camp, especially if they are traveling by air. We recommend UPS, should you chose do to this. Please be sure to keep all tracking numbers and please add Tracy  to the confirmation email section (tracy@camphighlands.com).

Q How do we get to Camp?

A

No matter where you are in the world, we try to make it as easy as possible to get to Highlands!

By Car:
You are welcome to drive up to Camp. Please arrive some time between 1:00 p.m and 5:00 p.m.

Driving Directions from Chicago:

Merge onto I-90 W toward ROCKFORD (Portions toll) (Crossing into WISCONSIN) (147.1 mi)
Take the WI-78 S/I-39 N exit, EXIT 108A-B, toward MERRIMAC/US-51/PORTAGE/WAUSAU. (0.2 mi)
Merge onto I-39 N via EXIT 108B toward US-51/PORTAGE/WAUSAU. (102.8 mi)
Merge onto US-51 N. (71.9 mi)
Turn RIGHT CR-M (3 mi)
Turn RIGHT onto CR-N. (6.4 mi)
Turn LEFT onto RAZORBACK RD. at the Corner Store (formerly McKay’s) (3.0 mi)
Turn RIGHT onto CAMP HIGHLANDS RD. (1.5 mi)
Once you enter Camp, you may park in the parking lot at the top of the hill.
Once you enter Camp, you may park in the parking lot at the top of the hill.

By Air:
Our boys travel from all over the country and the world to get to camp. Boys will often fly into Chicago’s O’Hare airport to be picked up by assigned counselors and taken to our buses at the O’Hare Oasis. We try to make getting your son to camp as easy as possible. If you have any questions about travel, please contact us.

International flights can be tricky to coordinate, but we have systems in place to facilitate logistics. Please contact us before making any fight reservations.

We also can arrange pick-ups at the Central Wisconsin Airport, or the Rhinelander Airport.

By Bus:
If it is not convenient for you to drop your son off at Highlands, we offer a bus service from the Chicago-land area. We can also make pick-ups at the Rockford Clock Tower, or the Madison/DeForest exit, if that would be more convenient for you.

Arriving at Camp 2012 Season:

First term: Sunday, June 24 or Second term: Sunday, July 15

Please be at the O’Hare Oasis, on the northbound side by 10 a.m.

Pack a lunch for your son to eat on the way up, or if your son is arriving by plane, we’ll have lunch made for him (we also pack extras if you forget!)

Note: You may need to park on the southbound side and walk through the Oasis, depending from which direction you are coming.

Returning to Chicago 2012 Season:

First Term: Saturday, July 14 or Second term: Saturday, August 11

You can call the camp office to hear up-to-the minute estimates of bus arrival time, but typically we pull into the O’Hare Oasis around 3:30 pm.