|
Camp Ehawee Facts
|
 |
|
 |
Facts about Camp Ehawee:
- Camp Ehawee’s Bertha Shuman Lodge, Nakomis Lodge and Hope lodge can be rented out to user groups year round!
- The Camp Ranger Steven “Bass Man” Freehill lives on site year round!
- Camp Staff do not use their real names during the camp season, they use camp names! Some examples include: Daisy, Powder, Calypso, Flip Flop, Pixel and Pebbles!
- All campers Junior level and above participate in swimming, canoeing, and archery during their week long session at Camp Ehawee!
- Our log cabins and screened windows, doors, ceiling fans and electricity!
- Camp Ehawee offers EMAs (Early Morning Activities) that begin at 6:45am every day!
- At Camp Ehawee if you have been a camper for 4 years you will go through a super secret TeePee Ceremony to commemorate your 4 year milestone! After 8 years you will be “Wigwamed” and then for 16 years “Totem Poled!”
- Meals are served Family Style at Camp Ehawee and everyone helps clean up after meals with the “Wheel of Kapers!”
- At Camp Ehawee we have at least 3 cookouts a week!
- Every Wednesday night at Camp Ehawee we have a theme dance! Be sure to check out the web-site for the 2012 themes!
- Camp Ehawee runs a destination called Midwest Madness at the end of July where Girl Scouts from around the country join in on Midwestern fun!
|
|
|
|
Quotes from Camp
|
|
|
|
- “Camp has taught me how to conquer my fears.” – camper 2011
- “I never knew how to make pudgie pies, but now I do!” – camper 2011
- “Camp has taught me what I want to be when I grow up. I want to learn how to become a counselor and a leader.” camper 2011
- “I used to worry about what others thought of me, but after coming to camp, I know I can be me.” – camper 2011
- “Camp helped me learn how to face my fears and to never give up.” – camper 2011
- “Camp helped me become more mature.” – camper 2011
- “Camp helped me canoe better.” – camper 2011
- “Camp helped me learn how to be safer in pools.” – camper 2011
- “Camp helped me connect with my daughter in a special way.” – parent 2011
- “Camp helped me learn how to cook food over a fire!” – camper 2011
- “Summer camp is a great opportunity for my daughter to make lifelong friends.” – parent 2011
- “Summer camp is my vacation getaway!” – camper 2011
- “Every year my daughter goes to camp, she comes back more confident and responsible. Camp helps her grow.” – parent 2011
- “Camp Ehawee has changed my life, I now know what I want to pursue as my major in college – education!” – staff 2011
- “When people ask about what things helped shape you into who you are today, I always mention Camp Ehawee. So much of me has come from this camp and I couldn’t be a happier person.” – staff 2011
- “I met my best friend at Camp Ehawee.” – staff 2011
|
|
|
|
|
|
Andrea “Harper” Tsilis, Camp Ehawee Director
|
Hi!
My name is Harper and I have been the director at Camp Ehawee for 6 years! I am originally from Sparta, Wis. and graduated from the University of Wisconsin - La Crosse with a Masters Degree in Education focusing in Adventure Education and Outdoor Pursuits. I love being outside and have tons of fun things to share with you this summer! While participating in camp activities like creek hopping, swimming, archery and canoeing you will also be making lifelong friends, practicing responsibility, building self-confidence and laughing till your sides hurt! I look forward to meeting you this summer at Camp Ehawee where pine trees touch the sky!
|
About Camp Ehawee
Camp Ehawee is located near Mindoro on 308 acres of land in La Crosse County, Wis. It is approximately 40 minutes of travel from La Crosse, 2 hours and 45 minutes from Madison or Platteville, and 3 ½ hours from Beloit. Campers live up to 8 to a cabin with other campers in their program group. The cabins have bunk beds with shelving for storing personal items, electricity for lights and ventilation, and a table for writing letters or playing cards. Each unit has an outdoor campfire ring for outdoor cooking, an enclosed unit house, running water, and a bathroom with flush toilets. The main camp is centered around Hope Lodge which houses the dining hall, trading post, nurse’s station, and camp staff offices. There is a softball field, paved basketball court, archery range, and sand volleyball court. The pool house allows secure access to the newly resurfaced 4 lane, 25 yard pool with a deep water area for experienced swimmers. This building also provides the shower facility for campers while they are at camp. Campers will also experience canoeing on a slough which is a small tributary to the Wisconsin River and go creek hopping at Crystal Creek. There are level trails and for walking as a group and experiencing nature. We have added donated items to the Stry Nature Center this past year to expand our nature education and also created the Camp Ehawee Performing Arts Center. This space added with donated time and items will allow girls to explore drama, singing, and even some dance time. Next door, girls always love the art center where they can let their creativity run wild! Every Thursday night, the entire camp gathers at the amphitheater for a special time together at their Scout’s Own ceremony looking through a row of pine trees down to Hope Lodge. Camp Ehawee allows campers to create memories to last a lifetime!
|
Camp Ehawee History
|
|
|
|
History Notes on Camp Ehawee:
- In 1951 this 240 acre farm was purchased from the Wild Brothers and converted to a camp. A contest was held to decide the name of the camp and a 10-year old Girl Scout won with the name "Ehawee", an Indian word meaning Laughing Maidens.
- By the summer of 1952, camp was set for the first group of troop campers, with 2 units of tents and a large central tent for cooking.
- In the fall of 1952, the first unit house was built in the Sacajawea Unit. This building was also used for storage in the winter.
- By 1959 Camp Ehawee was ready for it's first resident camp season with 2 more unit houses, a swimming pool and shower house, and a central dining lodge.
- The Girl Scouts decided to expand to a year-round program by building the first winterized lodge in 1963. The lodge was named Bertha Shuman.
- In 1965 a trading post/office and a health center were built to replace the old farmhouse, which had been on the site since the farm was purchased. In 1972 the farmhouse was removed.
- A second winterized lodge, Nakomis, was built in 1972. Following that, through the help of a YCCED grant, a ski trail, fitness trail and 2 nature trails were constructed.
- In 1985 an addition was built onto Bertha Shuman lodge with a full basement, sleeping rooms, indoor showers and toilets, and laundry room.
- Camp Ehawee continues to grow . . . the purchase of 68 acres adjacent to our site makes us 308 acres. The construction of a home for the year-round Camp Director and the addition of a new swimming pool and shower house were completed in 1988.
- In 1990, the limestone amphitheater was constructed near Minnehaha Unit and 1992 saw the addition of a beautiful softball field and “flushing” toilet facilities and hand washing stations in each tent unit.
- In 1995 Nakomis Lodge was remodeled by the Wisconsin Conservation Corps. WCC returned in 1996 and designed a new hiking trail by Crystal Creek called the Hill and Dale Trail. This trail includes two bridges over the creek. In 1997 the WCC crew built a memorial gazebo in Whippoorwill Tent Unit in the name of Mary Marx-Drazkowski, a former Girl Scout Leader.
The original swimming pool was demolished in June of 1998 and made into a sand volleyball court.
- In the summer of 1998 a storm ripped through Camp Ehawee damaging Bertha Shuman Lodge and demolishing Sacajawea Tent Unit and part of Minnehaha Tent Unit. Over 1,000 trees fell. Volunteers and staff members volunteered their time during the week of the Fourth of July to repair camp so it could open yet again the following Sunday.
- 2001 The Hope Lodge Dining and Activity Center was completed in May!
- 2006 A log cabin was added to the Marinuka unit. A yurt was added to the Minnehaha unit. The two parking lots were paved with blacktop. An archery range was added were the old pool used to be.
- 2007 Six log cabins replaced all of the platform tents in the Sacajewea unit. A log cabin was added to the Minnehaha unit. Five more log cabins were added to the Marinuka unit. For a grand total of 12 brand new log cabins! A regulation sized basketball court and sand volleyball court was added to the sports fields and over $4,000.00 in sporting equipment was purchased! The art center received a face-lift and the Nature Center was divided in half to share Day Camp. The pool was resurfaced beautifying the pool area.
- 2008 Hope Floors refinished. Bertha Shuman Floors replaced. Ranger’s House re-roofed. Dale Trail was extended from Crystal Creek to Whipporwill Unit. Blazer Trail was fixed up and re-instated. Pool was modified to meet all 2009 standards to be certified by the State of WI – Virginia Greene Baker Act.
- 2009 Re-opened Hill trail! Camp beautification near staff parking area – tiger lilies planted along parking lot. Bird feeders and Bat houses added throughout camp to help naturally decrease the bug population at camp.
- 2010 Regular maintenance projects kept Camp Ehawee beautiful during the re-alignment of the girl scout councils.
- 2011 Paul Stry Nature Center was transformed into a Performing Arts Center and Nature Center. A half wall was built creating separation and a mural was painted on the performing arts wall to enhance the program area. The Art Room floor was resurfaced and walls were given a fresh coat of paint. Tables and chairs were also replaced in the Art Room.
|
|
|
|
|
|