Towering Pines Blog

Autumn has gradually taken over the warm summer days in our Northwoods home.  There is great beauty right now in the gorgeous fall colors, and many changes are happening in the forest.  We are so incredibly fortunate to spend our summers living in the Northwoods where nature is such an integral part of our daily lives. I believe that it’s important to celebrate this gift and acknowledge it’s significance at camp.   Our boys have a plethora of opportunities to […]

At camp we focus intently on values and character development.   We spend a great deal of time with campers on personal growth in a variety of different areas.  But we also believe that it is extremely important to teach children to look beyond themselves and to consider the needs of others.  The camp family and community we live in each summer at Towering Pines fosters compassion, respect and understanding.   At camp being a good neighbor is woven into […]

Does camp truly end when parents come and pick their kids up and take them home?  Is it officially over when the final embrace is held a bit too long and that teary-eyed wave is set into motion as the big long bus pulls away down the TP Road? Or is it finished when the last sail and dock are stored for the winter months, and the staff looks around bewildered by the quiet hush that has truly come over […]

It’s always hard to believe when Week 6 rolls around at camp.  How did the past five weeks pass by so quickly?  Camp time is exponential.  What occurs in 6 weeks is like a year in real time.  So you may wonder how much could possibly happen in 6 weeks .  .  .  let me give you just a glimpse into camp life. When the campers first arrive, there is definitely a honeymoon period  Old friends reconnect, some in a […]

Sunshine, sailing, smiles, and blasts from the past. In honor of the 50th birthday of our sister camp, Camp Woodland, many Towering Pines alumni graced us with their presence in the Northwoods this past weekend.  There were alumni who came together from many different corners of the world, but a recurring theme resonated over and over again.  “It feels like coming home .  .  .  these people are like family.”  It’s amazing that even after years spent apart, we could […]