THE MANITO-WISH TIMES

CAMPER FAMILY NEWSLETTER

MAY EDITION

Greetings Camper Families!

We know many homes are deep in the whirlwind of May as the school year wraps up, summer plans come together, and those final open weeks on the calendar start calling for decisions. You are juggling a lot, and we want you to know we have you. Our goal is to make every part of preparing for Manito-wish feel clear, steady, and as easy as possible.

During the first 24 hours of Camp, campers will be invited to take part in the Swim Challenge in the designated swim area on Boulder Lake. This challenge allows campers to demonstrate their swimming ability so that we can ensure they have appropriate access to water activities that match their demonstrated skills.

Campers and staff will wear long pants, a long-sleeve shirt, and closed-toed shoes. A helpful tip is that many campers and staff choose to wear their base layer or long underwear for trail because it creates minimal drag in the water. A pair of closed-toed water shoes is also a good choice.

For the Swim Challenge, campers and staff will swim two lengths between our pier, which is about forty yards, and then tread water or float for ten minutes.

Did you know that every Summer Camp, ELE, and Outpost camper will go on Trail this summer? Going on Trail isn’t just a tradition at Manito-wish, it’s one of the features that make us truly unique; it’s an integral part of every camper’s Manito-wish experience.

Small groups of one or two leaders and four or five campers will pack out their gear and venture into the wilderness. Most of our Summer Campers will explore lakes and streams in Vilas County, often beginning on Boulder Lake as they paddle away from the seawall in front of our boathouse.

Along the way, groups camp at rustic campsites on riverbanks or on the shores of the lakes they are traveling through. Depending on the group's age and experience level, they will be on Trail for two to eight nights. Throughout their trip, campers will learn outdoor skills including knot tying, fire building, and outdoor cooking. More importantly, they will deepen their relationships with peers, the natural world, and themselves, while overcoming challenges that create feelings of achievement unlike any they are likely to encounter beyond Manito-wish. 

May Camp Check List (quick links below)

• Review the Manito-wish Family Guidebook as the parent and guardian
• Review the Camper Commitment on Page 7 of the Family Guidebook with your camper
• Do the final ordering of items you will need from the Packing List
• Upload your Camper Physical Form (physical must be within 18 months of camp start date).
• If you haven’t done this yet, here is your sign to make the doctor appointment TODAY!
• Complete all your camper forms on CampDoc
• Load spending money on your Camp Trading Post Account
•  Make your transportation plans

o  Sign up through Camp to ride the bus

o  Determine who will drive your camper to and from Camp and make needed reservations for a place to stay.

Click the article above to explore what to expect at camp and learn simple, supportive ways to prepare at home ahead of time. We will talk about common experiences like homesickness, unplugging from devices, building responsibility, using your voice and practicing how to do hard things while at Camp.