Towering Pines Blog

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 […]

Towering Pines supports my efforts to raise three sons by encouraging meaningful conversations at mealtime.  As families rush to extracurricular activities, it’s important to not lose sight of modeling this important life skill.  Before every meal at TP, boys scatter in their cabin groups across campus to wait approximately 20 minutes.  It has a calming effect after the busy day.  Some days I see counselors leading outdoor games.  Other days, I notice boys telling each other about cool things they […]

Spring is finally upon us, bringing with it gentler weather, torrential rain, and the prospect of summer. Going to school in a small city in the middle of farm land, Iowa city, it is always a nice reminder to see the trees grow back their leaves, see the flowers blossom, and to see the multitude of small animals that reside in a city. All of it reminds me of what I, and all campers, have to look forward to during […]

Dear moms of TP boys, In my role at Towering Pines, I wear many hats on any given day just as I do in my time at home in the off season.  With Mother’s Day fast approaching, I have been thinking a great deal not only about my role as “mom” to my own children, but also my role as a “camp mom” at TP.  I can’t think of any 2 jobs I have had that are more challenging and […]