Towering Pines Blog
Building in our hearts fond memory . . .
The traditional Camp Reunion was held this past Saturday in Chicago. Campers and staff had a chance to reunite in person, or virtually, and spend time with friends and reminisce about camp memories that are fond to them. For each of us these camp memories are unique, but when shared amidst camp friends and family, they are woven into the fabric of many years of camp history.
I had a chance to meet up with a camp friend a few weeks ago whom I hadn’t seen in several years. We both commented on how we just stepped into a comfortable familiarity sharing memories from long ago. He was curious to ask me about how camp has changed, but most importantly, he wanted to know what traditions have remained the same. Although we both live in different parts of the country and haven’t seen each other for such a long time, it was a connecting point for us to be able to talk about these cherished camp memories.
This past summer we had some alumni come to camp to visit, and they talked about how comforting it is. The routines and foundation of what they knew to be “camp” was still evident in the deep rooted traditions and culture. They also noticed the subtle and yet significant changes that have occurred over the years to adapt in ways that support the values and mission of camp in the present. Several of these alumni have children attending both Towering Pines and Camp Woodland, and they are grateful that both camps are still here for future generations.
Each summer both returning campers and new campers bring with them a unique enthusiasm for camp! They embark upon a journey of adventures and learning that naturally leads them to experiences that create lasting memories. In addition, friendships are developed which enhance the richness of the camp experience, and these relationships solidify moments that can truly last a lifetime.
We asked campers at the end of their time at Towering Pines this summer to share the memories of Summer of 2024 that were impactful and made them smile. (All campers whose forms we received are included here.)
Cabin 4: Huron
Pato: I got my crew, I got Chief and Big Mable; Chester: Sneaking up on other activities, Casino (during rainy day activities),
Olympics; Miles: Fishing, riding and eating; Lorenzo: Sailing, my camp family, my activities; JP: Friends, soccer and sailing; Ercole: Canoe trip, 360 on trick skis, slalom; Benji: Wakeboarding, watching trick ski and watching people ski; Guy: Catching a bass, going on our canoe trip, getting to 25 in riflery
Cabin 5: Mohawk
Alvaro: Pass to 30 yards in archery, learn windsurfing, and our cabin canoe trip; Warner: Activities, vespers and the food; Pablo: Slaloming, wakeboarding and trick ski; Will: 2-weeker sleepover and our canoe trip
Cabin 6: Cheyenne
Forrest: Olympics and the food; Chase: Getting my first fish, turtling our canoe, and catching big fish; Javi: Canoe trip, cabin activities like soccer and Adventure Day; Ben: Canoe trip, my cabinmates and camp friends; Manolo: Canoe trip, soccer match and tennis; Emi: Canoe trip, soccer match and Adventure Day; Tommy: Canoe trip, activities and Pirate Day; Charlie: Shooting a 37, swimming and fishing; Andres: Playing tennis, our cabin and fishing
Cabin 7: Iroquois
Andres: Skiing, being with my friends and Big Mable; Reid: Canoe trip, skits and learning horseback riding; Diego: Winning against Red Arrow, passing my Crew and my cabin; Bosco: When we almost capsized a sailboat, soccer matches with Red Arrow Camp and the TP Open; JP: Red Arrow Camp soccer match, getting to 40 yards and going on our canoe trip.; Ro: Winning 12-1 against Red Arrow, canoe trip and TP Fair; Jacob: When I jumped into the wake, when I shot a 46 and our canoe trip; Miguel: Sail race, our canoe trip and soccer
Cabin 8: Winnebago
Artur: 17 and under soccer game, trap meet against Red Arrow and Coed Show; Sebas: Canoe trip, tennis and fishing; Emeric: Getting my Skipper in sailing, canoe trip and being ski help; Dylan: Gold Rush, TP Fair and Woodland visiting TP on 4th of July; Ro: Canoe trip, soccer versus Red Arrow and cabin activities; Henry: When I go my Bar 9 in riflery, Canoe trip and Coed Show/TP Fair/Woodland Fair; Conor: Canoe trip, winning “spoon assassins” and birds at the zoo; Lucas: Winning Gold Rush, hanging out with my cabin and our canoe trip; Aiden: Our canoe trip, winning TP Open and Woodland Fair
Cabin 11: Seneca
William L.: Biking, the canoe trip and the Red Arrow soccer match; Alex: Canoe trip, soccer match against Red Arrow and TP Fair; Lucio: Canoe trip, TP Open and Adventure Day; Alvaro: TP versus Red Arrow soccer game, passing to standing in riflery and winning my first sail race
Cabin 12: Apache
Josemi: Playing D&D with my friends, talking to my counselors and catching fish, qualifying in archery and winning swimming in Olympics; Patricio: Adventure Day, campfire leaders and late nights talking with my friends; Julian: Making bread, eating and herring surprise; Eli: Bar Mitskah, deoderant and riflery; Salvador: Capsizing a boat in sailing, having fun with my friends and catching a 20-inch bass; Sammy: Not getting my Golden Archer (maybe next summer!) and trying hard in “spoon assassins”
The Towering Pines closing campfire song reminds us of how camp builds within us fond memories of those summer days with camp friends and family in the northwoods.
By Nokomis (Closing Campfire Song)
By Nokomis rippling waters
Where our campfire bright,
Keeps the flame of friendship burning
In our hearts tonight.
Here we gather in the twilight
Loyal friends so true
Building in our hearts fond memory
Towering Pines for you.
You can give your son or daughter the opportunity to create his/her own special memories next summer at camp by registering here: 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.”