Towering Pines Blog

We truly had an incredible summer at Camp Towering Pines for Boys!  It was filled with a plethora of moments of learning, growth, and most importantly, FUN in the midst of it all.  Each and every day was filled with opportunities for the boys to be engaged in activities which create exceptional experiences. Living in a cabin with several other boys with different personalities and backgrounds, also gives the campers a chance to learn social skills and to build awareness of tolerance for each person’s strengths and weaknesses. These experiences build lasting memories that campers take with them. These memories may impact them in ways that can be very influential in their lives at home with family, at school with classmates and friends, and in extracurricular activities with peers and teammates.

You may notice that a habit your child formed in the cabin, like making their bed, continues when they arrive home (fingers crossed it lasts more than a few days or weeks!).  Perhaps at meal time, they offer to pass the biscuits more willingly or are more patient at waiting their turn to speak and share a bit about their day. In the classroom they may have a deeper understanding that the people around you often have much to share that is helpful as you’re learning new skills and concepts.

Your son(s) might even want to try a new extracurricular activity having gained confidence that exploring new things can be scary or create anxiety at first, but that making mistakes doesn’t mean failure but rather an opportunity to try again.  They might extend themselves more willingly to a new kid who just moved in from another school understanding what it’s like to arrive at a new place (camp), wondering if they would be able to make friends.

All of these experiences stem from a summer of “Enjoying the Ride in ’25!”  This past summer was more than just a ride on a sailboat or a trip around Nokomis on the Super Mable in free swim (although those are some amazing rides!), it was a journey of development with other boys their age.  They were supported along this journey with counselors and staff who were there to guide, teach and encourage them to step out of their comfort zones.

They were inspired by staff to establish a foundation within themselves that helps them believe that they can do things even when they are a bit uncertain and uncomfortable.  Just because something is hard or challenging doesn’t mean it’s not worth the chance to “ride it out” and see where it takes you so to speak.  Our summer camp program builds this foundation by allowing the campers to make decisions independently with subtle guidance within a structure that provides safety and security.

At the end of the summer we asked the campers what “Enjoy the Ride in ’25” looked like to them.  Here are some of the comments that they shared:

Cabin 4/5:  Navajo

• Riding horses at Woodland
• Jumping the wake and sitting back and passing goals of mine
• Sailing and chilling

Cabin 6:  Cheyenne

• Going where the wind takes you
• Being with my friends
• To go with the flow and have fun

Cabin 7:  Iroquois

• Trying new things in activities and in workshops too
• It was fun and especially entertaining.
• FUN

Cabin 8:  Winnebago

• A lot of fun memories and a lot of friends made
• It was a really fun summer where I made friends and enjoyed every activiity!
• Happiness

Cabin 11:  Seneca

• Learning new things and letting your skills and time at camp improve while having fun at the same time
• I did horseback riding, and I just need to say that I never had more fun at camp until I joined this class.
• Having an amazing time and enjoying every moment of it. Not letting bad moments stop the journey.

Cabin 12:  Apache

• It was very fun and exciting to be a CIT and play a different role at camp.
• It felt like a new stage at camp because it was my first year as a CIT which made it very special.
• A lot of fun, friends, lessons and experiences

Along with the responses above, there were many, many, MANY replies of:  “Enjoying the Ride in ’25” looked like FUN!  Those words are music to our ears! FUN is a key element to learning and growth that fosters the unique experiences at camp that continue to influence these boys’ lives for years to come.  

We can’t wait to see your son(s) again next year for another spectacular summer of creating fond memories at Towering Pines!  Don’t wait — REGISTER HERE!

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.”