Towering Pines Blog

Autumn has gradually taken over the warm summer days in our Northwoods home.  There is great beauty 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. It is so important to celebrate this gift and acknowledge it’s significance at camp and how it is woven into the very fabric of our camp traditions and culture.

In conjunction with this natural exploration of the outdoors is also the component of education that has long been a tradition of Towering Pines.  We have the benefit of the years of knowledge that were shared with us by Buck Lone Eagle.  Buck is no longer with us; however, he passed on important information that has become integrated into our way of life at camp. He worked at TP for many years and established many of the Native American traditions that we still follow today such as the selection of the “Chief” and “Medicine Man” from each cabin.  Buck found and created the Seeking Place where we hold vespers and also the Indian Bowl where we have the Chief’s Campfire.

Here is an excerpt from Buck’s poem:

“I saw a wee tiny tree looking up at me and nodding it’s dark green head.  And it seemed to say in its simple way:  ‘Don’t go and leave me here.’ It won’t be safe, for I’m just a waif, and the winter is drawing near.”

Buck mentions in his poem, the tiny tree, which is symbolic of the young campers who come to us at the beginning of each summer.  They all carry with them their fears, insecurities and doubts.  As parents and grandparents you might have your own hesitations and uncertainties about leaving your child at camp for the summer.  You may even get letters home that say “Don’t go and leave me here!”  Of course, you’re wondering about your child’s safety, if they’ll settle into the routines, if they’ll adjust to cabin life and if they’ll be accepted by other boys.

As Buck says toward the end of his poem:

“Then I knelt once more to the forest floor, and I dug up that tiny tree; And for half a day on my arm it lay, for I took it along with me.”

While the boys are at TP in their summer home, they’re out in nature participating in activities, living in cabins in group situations, and engaging in meaningful play.  While the campers are engrossed in all of these wonderful scenarios, there are counselors and staff who help “carry” them along their way.  Buck represents this in his poem by laying the tiny tree on his arm and taking it along with him.  Camp not only creates a plethora of challenges for your camper to experience, but it also provides the necessary support for your son to succeed at whatever level is best for him.  Sometimes a failure can actually transpire into a success if one learns from it.  Counselors and staff are consistently there to teach and to lead so that the boys can problem solve and learn from each adventure.

In addition, there are more purposeful times where nature is not only embraced but also explored.  Cabin canoe trips provide many hours on the water, time sitting by the campfire with friends as well as sleeping in tents in the woods. Zoo class goes on scavenger hunts navigating through the foliage searching for various plants and finding a variety of insects and animals that live in our area.  In addition, campers create environments in terrariums so that they can observe plants and animals in tiny self-sustaining environments.  Boys also care for the bunny pen and turtle pond learning what it takes to maintain quality of life for creatures. There are also adventurous trips into the forest to discover and explore the Moss Garden and Lost Lake.

As a direct result of this, TP campers are developing confidence in ways that they may have never imagined and might be doing so without even being aware of it!!

Cabin 45, Navajo, shared their thoughts and perspective on nature at the last vespers on closing weekend.

• I like nature because it gives us food and without food from nature, all animals would die which would mean no zoo and no animals.
• If we don’t respect nature, fishing would be no fun because all of the fish would be dead.  Also, skiing and swimming would not be good becuase it would smell, and there might be no water to swim in.
• Without nature camp will not be open because without nature there will not be animals, grass and trees.

• If we didn’t respect nature, activities like fishing wouldn’t function because there would be no fish to catch, and you would just stand there for the whole period.
• With no respect for nature, activities like biking would not function because there would not be trails to bike on.
• Without nature camp would not be fun because in soccer you could not play in grass and in free swim there would not be a clean lake to swim in.

• If we don’t respect nature, a lot of activities won’t be fun like zoo because animals like frogs, snakes and salamanders wouldn’t be alive, and they would go extinct.
• Year after year I return to the northwoods, and every year I am blown away by the immense beauty surrounding us.  From the lakes to the animals, to the trees, to the clean air we breathe, nature is all around us — supporting us.  As guests in this ecosystem it is our responsibility to preserve it.  From picking up trash to avoiding lily pads, our respect for nature helps to create the camp we all love and a home to return to for the summer.

• Everything you see, touch and breathe in comes from nature.  A lot of things we take for grated come from nature, like the cabins we sleep in every night or even the archery bows we use every day.  We take a lot from nature, and it expects nothing back.  The least we can do is for each person to take a moment to pause and look around at this place — Towering Pines.  Take a moment and see what you notice — observe the trees blowing in the wind or the flowers blooming. The next time you are walking around camp, take the time to pick up up the cup you see on the ground and put it in the trash.  Every big change starts with small steps.

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“Friendly Tree” by Buck Lone Eagle

In the woods one day I lost my way, so I wandered until darkness came.

Then beneath a tree was the place for me, for it had started to rain.

But there on the ground ‘neath the branches, I found, it was sort of cozy and warm,

For that sturdy tree protected me from the darkness and the storm.

With its branches all ‘round nearly touching the ground, it spread over me just like a fan;

And while my campfire burned that night, I learned that a tree was a friend of man.

For I lost my way, and I had to stay, there the dark night to spend;

Yet, I wasn’t alone, for, though I wasn’t at home, I was close to the side of a friend.

At first I just lay there in that cozy lair and inhaled the sweet pine-scented breeze.

Then I looked on high at the dark, drizzling sky and thanked God that he’d given us trees.

Well, time went along and soon came the dawn and the break of another day;

So I thanked the tree for protecting me, and started along my way.

But as I glanced down at the soggy ground near the place that had been my bed,

I saw a wee tiny tree looking up at me and nodding its dark green head.

And it seemed to say in its simple way: “Don’t go and leave me here.

It won’t be safe, for I’m just a waif, and the winter is drawing near.”

Well, at first I laughed, I must be daft; but still it was a friend in need.

And as I turned to go my heart said no, and so finally I gave heed.

Then I knelt once more to the forest floor, and I dug up that tiny tree;

And for half a day on my arm it lay, for I took it along with me.

Now to you who live this tree I give, this waif of the Northern wood.

It’s just a baby now, but I hope somehow, it will do our friendship good.

And may our friendship last until the time is past when this tree is a hundred feet tall,

For of all the host of the friends that I boast, I think you are the best of all.

Register your son or daughter for camp now:  https://cwtp.campbrainregistration.com/

Angie Wenzl

• Camp Mom at TP
• Leadership Staff at TP/Office Manager
• Marketing TP/Woodland
• Leadership Team TP/Woodland
• Assistant Waterfront Director at Woodland
• Counselor at Woodland
• “Building in our hearts fond memories, Towering Pines for you.”