Towering Pines Blog

We have been grateful for the opportunity to interact with staff, counselors, campers and parents through the virtual medium over the past several months.  Zoom chats, virtual game nights, virtual campfires and even virtual alumni camp tours have helped to continue those camp connections that we all crave.  It’s a way to support one another during a time when, perhaps, things seemed far less than normal.

We were amazed by the creativity and ingenuity that people summoned in order to surpass cyber boundaries to bring a bit of camp into our lives when we all needed it.  Campers created skits and performed challenges while zooming from different parts of the world!!  CIT’s stepped up to facilitate parts of campfires and game nights showing that they truly are learning spectacular leadership skills that transfer into areas of life we may have least expected.  One of our TP guys even shared his amazing abilities to create a tutorial for how to solve the Rubik’s Cube!!

An alum graciously contributed his talents all the way from Mexico to create a video challenge for the campers to try their hand at juggling skills with the soccer ball.  Who knew that one of the kids would go on to juggle the ball 1,284 times impressing us beyond belief!!  Drinka came through with her fabulous video on how to create a ginormous size Paul Bunyan pancake with a TP in the middle!!  Campers and their families were encouraged to try their own hand at making some fabulous and unique pancakes at home.

Counselors created the “Dining Hall Bracket” on social media to decide what the most delicious meal is at camp. Lasagna won, but the competition was fierce!! Other fun events were camp bingo and some challenging camp trivia.  Finally, who knew that we could actually try our hand at virtual Gold Rush.  Again, when camp people come together, creativity abounds.  We found ways to share positive vibes with our camp family even if that meant doing so through cyber space.

We are thankful for the opportunity to stay in touch through Zoom, social media and even “snail mail,” However, what we are REALLY and TRULY looking forward to is seeing all of you in person next summer!  There is nothing better than the sights and sounds of campers and counselors engaged in learning and having fun while doing it.  The echoes of laughter amidst the quiet whisper of the white pines is an almost magical sound.  There is so much amazing growth that happens during those six weeks of camp, and we can’t wait for the opportunity to share it with campers again next summer.

As many different versions of school are beginning in the next few weeks, we are hoping for positive experiences for our camp families.  We will stay in touch throughout this year, and as always, we love to hear from you!!  Follow us on facebook, instagram and look for e-mails and monthly mailings from us as well.  We are currently taking early enrollment for our camp families. Early enrollment tuition remains at the 2020 rate through Labor Day, September 7, 2020.  Use discount code OLDFAM to receive 2020 tuition rates.  Click here to register!!  If you’d like to share the “awesomeness” of your camp experience with other potential campers, we are extremely appreciative of any referrals.

We are looking ahead to many positive adventure-filled moments at Camp Woodland and Towering Pines  where these children can grow as individuals and members of a community.  The future looks bright with lots of sun in Summer of ’21’!!

Angie Wenzl Ziller

• Mom at TP
• Leadership Staff at TP/Office Manager
• Marketing TP/Woodland
• Assistant Waterfront Director at Woodland
• Counselor at Woodland
• “This is goodnight and not goodbye.”