Life at Red Pine Camp

"Up in the woods where the lakes are blue
And the sun shines brightly on me and you"

Links: Cabins - Food - Daily Schedule - Instructed Activities - Camp Traditions - Personal Goals - Staff -  Leadership and Counselor Training Program

Cabins

Sixteen well-maintained, permanently constructed cabins are the summer homes for our 120 campers. They are cozy, comfortable, and safe. All cabins include double bunks, hanging areas for clothes, screened windows, electricity, and some have bathrooms. For cabins without bathrooms, there are several Scrub Pubs with hot and cold running water, sinks, toilets, and individual shower stalls. These facilities are thoughtfully placed close to the cabins and are only steps away. Cabins are arranged in clusters or "units" and girls are assigned according to their age to a cabin in the age-appropriate unit. A girl's age, grade in school, skills, ability, emotional and physical requirements, special interests, and previous camping experience determine her assignment to the cabin and counselors most suitable for her. Counselors reside in the cabins with the girls and are on duty both at rest hour and in the evening with the exception of the oldest campers where two or more counselors are on duty within the unit.

The cabins have plenty of space for comfortable sleeping, for storing a limited amount of clothing and personal possessions, and for room to play. Each cabin has a clothesline outside to hang wet towels and bathing suits. Campers are given daily chores, like bed-making, sweeping, tending to the clothesline, or watering plants making everyone feel like members of a family.

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Food

Well-prepared quality foods, attractively served make each meal an anticipated event. Meals are served family style in our knotty-pine dining room overlooking Clear Lake. Campers sit with their fellow cabin mates and counselors and eat 3 meals together everyday, serving food from platters and talking with one another throughout the meal. Girls set and clear the tables for meals, just like at home. Girls often sing camp songs adding to the enjoyment of the meals and all-camp announcements and recognition of special camper accomplishments are made at the end of the meal. Once a week, cabin mates have outdoor cookouts or a pontoon ride on the lake for a special picnic.

Red Pine food is really good! The kitchen staff works hard on planning and maintaining well-balanced, interesting, and varied camp meals for the campers and staff. Breakfast is always served in two courses. The first course consists of a selection of hot and cold cereals and fruit. The second course is toast, bagels with cream cheese, pancakes or French toast and eggs. Lunch and dinner feature a wide variety of nutritious offerings including vegetarian options. Healthy snacks are available at various times throughout the day. Special dietary needs can be accommodated when necessary.

Red Pine prides itself on its efficient and sanitary kitchen. Food handling and sanitation comply with ACA and State Board of Health standards.

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Daily Schedule

Routine periods of activities, rest, meals and relaxation establish desirable habits and promote an even tempo in camp.

Monday - Saturday

7:15am Wake up Bell

7:45am Flag Raising

7:50am- 8:30am Breakfast

8:30am-9:00am Cabin Clean-up, Staff Meetings

9:15am – 12:15pm Three Activity Periods

12:15pm - 2:00pm Lunch, Candy Store, Mail and Rest Hour

2:15pm - 5:00pm Three Activity Periods

5:00pm Supervised Free Hour

6:00pm Dinner

7:00 p.m. Evening Program

8:30pm - 9:30pm Bed times

Sunday

Sunday is a more relaxed day-cabin groups may elect to do various activities or join in all-camp programs. Red Pine is non-sectarian.  A different group of campers and staff work each week to prepare and conduct the evening Vesper's service, which focuses on values they feel are important.  Topics range from the merits of friendship to the appreciation of nature to the sharing of a special tripping experience.

At Sunday dinner, letters written to home are collected at the table by the counselors and are mailed the following day. This assures that parents get at least one letter a week! A weekly card from each girl's counselor is sent home to keep the family posted on their camper's activities and progress.

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Instructed Activities

Individual activity programming is determined by abilities and interests, allowing campers to meet and interact with others outside of their cabin group. Campers are encouraged in a safe and supportive environment to enter wholeheartedly into the fun and spirit of daily life and adventure. Campers, along with their parents, select their own activities prior to arrival at camp and follow a daily schedule. The program encourages each girl to live and perform to the best of her ability - with consideration for others at all times. The balanced program affords rich opportunity to broaden interest and develop skills in a wide variety of activities:

All campers are evaluated on their first day at camp to check their proficiency in swimming. At that time, it is decided which waterfront activities will be best suited for their level of expertise. All campers are required to wear life vests at all times when on all boats and while water-skiing.

Other Activities

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About Our Instructional Program

Learning is not confined to our exceptionally large ring as miles of wooded trails provide new experiences. Cell phones are taken on trail rides as an added safety mechanism. Safety approved riding helmets and footwear are required before participation in this program. There is an additional fee should your daughter elect to take riding.

Swimming - The waterfront meets with the exacting standards of the American Red Cross, ACA and the Wisconsin State Board of Health both in supervision and physical setup. Red Cross certified Water Safety Instructors and Lifeguards give daily individualized instruction to campers in all Red Cross classifications (Beginners to Advanced Skills). After attaining level VI a camper may elect to further her skills by taking Life Guarding (which includes CPR and First Aid) or expanding on personal interests that range from Competitive or Synchronized Swimming, Water Aerobics or the Red Cross 50 Mile Swim. Swimming is the only required activity at Red Pine as swimming ability is essential for participation in various waterfront activities.

Canoeing and Tripping - Canoeing provides never ending adventure for all ages. Knowledge of proper technique, safety precautions, rescue procedures and proper use of equipment are part of the instruction for campers before they venture out to explore the extensive shoreline and intriguing bays of Clear Lake. Skills and physical conditioning ensure self confidence for trips on other lakes and rivers in northern Wisconsin or the ranger patrolled beautiful Sylvania area of Michigan.

Sailing - Qualified Small Craft and Water Safety Instructors teach not only the fun of sailing but rigging, terminology, weather, care of equipment and rescue  techniques. Staff patrols the waters of Clear Lake while campers enjoy sailing Red Pine’s fleet of quality boats. Advanced sailors may compete in invitational regattas.

* Waterfront Safety - Approved floatation devices are required for all waterfront activities both instructional and for leisure. Red Pine provides additional supervision from our patrol boats and our office. Waterfront activities are canceled immediately at the first sight of threatening weather.

Tennis - High fences surround our three tennis courts, two of which have attached backboards for individual practice. Campers are classified according to ability and instruction is offered at the beginner, intermediate and advanced levels. Emphasis is on knowledge of fundamentals, coordination of skills and employment of strategy as well as tennis etiquette. Red Pine belongs to the U.S. Tennis Association. All campers are eligible to try out for our tennis team which often competes in local tournaments or with other area camps.

Other Activities - All other activities are led by qualified instructors with well thought out lesson plans. Equipment is well-maintained and safety is a key consideration at all times.

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Camp Traditions

Anything you can imagine for sunny days, fun days, rainy days or restful days! Camper-tested, safety-approved.

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Personal Goals for the Summer

Each girl sets her own goals when she comes to camp. A camper’s individual goals may range from making new friends, to advancing a level in an activity, to aspiring to attain a place on one of Red Pine’s honor boards for the highest level of achievement in an activity. Other honor boards recognize All-Around Camper, an honor voted on by fellow campers, or that of Red Pine Lady which recognizes courtesy and graciousness. Other honor boards include American Archer, Canadian Tripper, Commodore, Expert Skier, Le Cercle du Tennis, and Medallion Rider.

At Red Pine we never forget that the success is in the attempt. An individual hand-crafted Birch Bark award is presented to each four-week camper at the closing awards ceremony in recognition of her outstanding ability, character trait or contribution to camp life.

Staff

Nothing is of more vital importance to a successful camp than an excellent staff. It is essential that those who share their summers with young girls exert a positive influence. Each member of Red Pine's staff must meet high standards of maturity, character, experience, and personal warmth, in addition to being a specialist in a field of instruction. Minimum age requirements for staff are age 18 or participation in Red Pine's Leadership and Counselor-in-Training program. All senior counselors are either in college or college graduates. An average ratio of one counselor, or more, to every four campers (1:4) provides each girl with personal attention and individual instruction. This ratio is further supplemented by the constant supervision of the Executive Director, Head Counselor, Program Director, department heads, medical staff, kitchen, maintenance and other support staff. International staff members add enrichment to camp life.

The medical staff is made up of at least one registered nurse in a well-equipped infirmary. Counselors are C.P.R. certified. Early detection of symptoms or possible illness, emphasis on personal hygiene, sanitation and safety have contributed to Red Pine's commendable health record. Any special recommendations from a camper's physician will be followed. Marshfield Clinic: Lakeland Center is minutes away and adjacent to Howard Young Hospital in Minocqua. Any illness or injury will be reported to parents by email or telephone. The protection of a camper's health is not left to chance.

An aspiration of even the youngest camper is to become a Red Pine counselor! Red Pine enjoys great continuity of staff. The majority of our staff have been former campers who have participated in Red Pine's three-year Leadership Training Program. The highest level a camper can attain is recognition as a Leadership Girl. These girls participate as campers in full camp activities under the guidance of staff advisors, and are given additional responsibilities and growth opportunities. After their first Leadership year, they are eligible to apply for Counselor-in-Training - Level 1 (CIT 1), where they specialize in chosen departments and train as cabin counselors. In the third year, preceding their entrance into college, those completing the program serve as CIT 2.