Testimonials

“There is no doubt that Camp Ojibwa played an enormous role in shaping the man that I am today. OJ teaches you about the importance of teamwork, integrity and respect. I…“

– Adam K. – Alumni

“There is no doubt that Camp Ojibwa played an enormous role in shaping the man that I am today. OJ teaches you about the importance of teamwork, integrity and respect. I built lifelong friendships with guys who I still talk to almost every day (20+ years later). There is no other place quite like Camp Ojibwa. I spent seven years as a camper and a few more as a counselor. It’s a true home away from home.“

– Adam K. – Alumni

“Duncan spent his first Summer at Camp Ojibwa when he was 7. My Los Angeles friends and family thought we were insane for sending our newly graduated first grader across the…“

– Sharon L.

“Duncan spent his first Summer at Camp Ojibwa when he was 7. My Los Angeles friends and family thought we were insane for sending our newly graduated first grader across the country for 4 weeks. We obviously made the right decision, as he became a camper for 10 straight years, most often for the full 8 weeks. Camp Ojibwa became a second home to Duncan–his true “happy place”. He can’t explain why camp is so meaningful to him exactly, but it’s a combination of the people, the place, the traditions, the sports and the freedom. It has been a pleasure to share with Camp Ojibwa in the role of raising Duncan to become a confident, competitive, caring and independent young man. As he approaches his first summer as a counselor, we know he will take on this role with a sense of pride and responsibility and will make his Ojibwa Family proud.“

– Sharon L.

“I am the person who I am because of Camp Ojibwa. I have always led my life the “Ojibwa Way” and the friends and connections I have made in life are all due to this…“

– David A.

“I am the person who I am because of Camp Ojibwa. I have always led my life the “Ojibwa Way” and the friends and connections I have made in life are all due to this special piece of land in Eagle River, WI. It is simply the best place on earth where boys truly learn how to become the future leaders of tomorrow. It doesn’t matter if you are 8 or 88, the Ojibwa bond lasts for life.“

– David A.

“When I think about Camp Ojibwa I can’t help but think about tradition. It has been absolutely incredible that Ojibwa has continued to thrive 90+ years into its existence….“

– Jon M.

“When I think about Camp Ojibwa I can’t help but think about tradition. It has been absolutely incredible that Ojibwa has continued to thrive 90+ years into its existence. Yet Camp Ojibwa has found a way to change with the times in its tenth decade to provide an amazing camp experience for so many boys year after year. My dad told me about this magical place “Up North” from my days in diapers and I still remember the day I crossed through the gate into a place that would change my life. So it was with great honor that I then got to introduce my own boys to the greatest place on earth. They have truly found Ojibwa to be their home away from home, starting to count the days they will return from the moment the summer ends. The friendships, experiences, lessons, and memories have had a profound impact on us all and we can only hope others will get to have the “OJ Experience” for generations to come.“

– Jon M.

“The summer of 2019 will mark my 64th consecutive summer at Ojibwa, either as a camper, counselor or guest. I even saved up enough leave-time while in the service, back in…“

– Bernie K.

“The summer of 2019 will mark my 64th consecutive summer at Ojibwa, either as a camper, counselor or guest. I even saved up enough leave-time while in the service, back in the 60’s, to make a visit. The one major flaw with Ojibwa is it’s not big enough. Not big enough to accommodate every young man on Earth so he may experience the most wonderful times of his life. And to experience the comradery and competition so vital in the early years of his life. “

– Bernie K.

“Camp has given me the most precious friendships anybody could ever want in life. Summers are never long enough at camp, you just never want to leave. I wouldn’t be the man I…“

– Noah A.

“Camp has given me the most precious friendships anybody could ever want in life. Summers are never long enough at camp, you just never want to leave. I wouldn’t be the man I am today without the love, friendships, and growth I have experienced at Camp Ojibwa.“

– Noah A.

Dear Camp Ojibwa Families

For more than 92 years, Camp Ojibwa’s mission has been to help turn boys into men and to teach them strength and perseverance. We live that mission every single day, and will continue to do so for years to come.

The COVID-19 pandemic presented a significant challenge for Ojibwa. From the very beginning, we believed we could overcome the hurdles that the pandemic would set in our path, and open Ojibwa for our boys this summer. We developed a comprehensive plan with protocols and procedures based on guidance from the American Camping Association and the CDC. Our Plan was thoroughly reviewed and vetted by our internal leadership team of Camp alumni and by medical professionals across multiple disciplines throughout the country. We were, and remain, convinced that we had the expertise, the training, and the ability to execute the plan this summer. As we have said in numerous writings over the past three months, our goal was to make Camp Ojibwa the safest place on Earth in the summer of 2020. Therefore, in the true Ojibwa spirit, we fought “with all our strength and might” for Camp Ojibwa. We believed that we could conquer all obstacles and barriers, and overcome all health-related issues. We stayed in the game as long as possible and refused to give up, including conversations held in the past 48 hours with Government officials

Ultimately, however, we were defeated by the State of Wisconsin and the Vilas County Health Department. As we compiled all of the data, reviewed the current trends of Wisconsin’s cases, and analyzed the local healthcare system, we determined that we could not proceed with our regular camp operation and programming this summer. It was particularly significant that the Vilas County Health Department advised us that it would be unable to provide us with any support this summer, and may shut us down should we have any positive COVID cases. As you know, most of our brother and sister camps are located in counties in Wisconsin other than Vilas. Ojibwa is one of the few of our peer overnight camps located in Vilas County and subject to the stringent regulations issued by that County. Nevertheless, we respect the County’s position, and we will accept and abide by its determination. We therefore have no choice but to cancel the 2020 camp season.

This unthinkable outcome came as a blow to all of us. We are grieving the loss of this summer alongside all of you. The two of us, as Directors and as parents of campers and staff, know personally how significantly this impacts the lives of our campers, staff, and families. We are deeply hurt, but we are not down. We learn at Camp that we must always be resilient, and must never give up. We did everything humanly possible to open Camp. We did it for Ojibwa because, as we sing in our fight song, “we love her truly and for her we’ll always fight.”

During the past three months, we received an outpouring of support and encouragement from our camper families, staff, and the entire Ojibwa community. The letters, emails, texts, calls, and video messages demonstrate your passion and commitment to Ojibwa, and reaffirms what makes Ojibwa so special. We are grateful for all of you, and take great pride in being a part of the lives of our campers and staff. The two of us are here for all of you in any way that you need. Do not hesitate to reach out at any time. We are together, we are PureBWA.

We will send follow-ups to you about tuition refunds, and our great plans for the summer of 2021, as soon as possible. Until then, please click here to watch this video and join us in appreciating the true spirit of Camp Ojibwa. Here’s to Camp Ojibwa,

Joel and Joey