Letters from Camp
We welcomed our High School campers to the WI Land+Water Conservation Camp at the North Lakeland Discovery Center in Manitowish Waters June 17-20.
After a huge rainstorm moved through, we started with introductions and ice-breaker games. Campers had fun tie-dying their camp shirts followed by canoe lessons and t-rescues at Statehouse Lake. Campers learned about the importance of Pollinators with a Pollinator Presentation from a local pollinator expert. Following the presentation, campers got to build and decorate their own pollinator boxes to take home and enjoyed an evening movie about the plight and importance of
pollinators.
Highlights of camp included a trip to Saxon Harbor, rock collecting and swimming in Lake Superior as well as a canoe trip down Trout River where some campers had the opportunity to put their t-rescues to good use. We enjoyed a trip to Crystal Lake Nature Center where we learned about local shoreline restoration efforts and explored limnology collecting macro invertebrates.
Throughout camp, students had an opportunity to learn about limnology, research and many other careers in conservation. During their free time campers enjoyed sunrise fishing, swimming, playing music and cards and painting rocks. Our final night of camp was spent singing songs around the campfire and making s’mores.
We wrapped up camp with fishing awards and campers had an opportunity to say goodbye to their friends before greeting their families. We had a great group of students and we hope they enjoyed their time, learned more about conservation and made lots of new friends and memories.
We want to thank all the camp counselors for both the middle school and high school camps who helped make this year’s camps a success. We couldn’t do it without your involvement, time and passion for conservation and kids. We would also like to acknowledge and thank the many County Land +Water Conservation Departments, the Brad Matson Scholarship Fund, Transcendent Technologies, Fond du Lac Audubon Society and the Green County Conservation League that provided camp scholarships to campers to attend the Middle School and High School Camps.
Check out what happens at camp with Charlotte Rabe who journaled about the experience!
Greetings,
In June, I was provided with the amazing opportunity to attend the Wisconsin Land and Water Conservation High School Camp in Manitowish Waters, thanks to Mrs. Sarah Ludwig (my science teacher) since she informed me of the Audubon Society’s scholarship program. I was so thankful and excited for this trip. I even learned to fish two weeks before so I could partake in sunrise fishing activities there.
Upon arrival, we settled into our cabins, did a couple icebreakers and had lunch. Afterwards we set out for the lake to canoe and learn a bit about canoeing and canoeing rescue techniques. I also found some puffball mushrooms along the shore. We tie dyed camp shirts and then started with the camp’s nighttime routine.
The next morning, we went sunrise fishing. Mary Nelson then presented to us about pollinators, focusing on single colony bees. We made and painted some boxes filled with hollow sticks to provide homes for these pollinators. After that, we headed off campus to Saxon Harbor on Lake Superior and attended a presentation about flood relief efforts. We went for a quick swim before heading home. We watched a stirring movie about the dangers pollinators face before heading to bed.
The next morning was the only day nobody fished since we were all so tired from the day before. After breakfast, we headed up to Crystal Lake to learn about macroinvertebrates which was very interesting. We found dragonfly larvae and lots of other critters. I also got to forage a little on our way since there were plenty of wild strawberries growing along the shore. We then went for a canoe trip and headed back to camp. We had a fire before bed where one of the counselors and I played ukulele and guitar and sang for a while.
On the final day, we fished, packed up, and said our goodbyes. While I was exhausted and covered in bug bites, I had never been happier. I hope I will be able to return soon. I would like to restate how thankful I am to have had this experience and I couldn’t have attended without the kindness of the FDL Audubon Society.
- Charlotte Rabe
Please like our WI Land+Water Youth Education Facebook page where you can view more camp photos!