Birthday Adventure Camp

We just returned from an exhausting and exhilerating weekend celebrating Thor's 11th birthday. They all seemed to have a blast and it was so gratifying to see Camp Freedom used in precisely the way it was intended. We gave each boy a small pocket knife and upon arrival at Camp, the first order of business was to start making weapons. They quickly amassed an arsenal of swords, complete with duct tape handles, spears, daggers and killing boomerangs. They decided to go on a Minotaur Hunt when it started to get dark. They enjoyed archery and the bb gun range, as well as the zipline and other classic camping activities like fire-making and toasting marshmallows. I spend a lot of time with young boys and I have developed a few theories about them which are surprisingly counter-intuitive. Boys can be crazy and ridiculous and extremely difficult to manage under certain circumstances. But what I have found is that the minute you introduce a little bit of real danger, i.e. fire, guns or knives, in a controlled environment, they immediately become mature, respectful, and eager to hear what you have to say! Rather than vilify their desire to experiment with these things, showing them that we trust them enough to teach them how to use them safely, seems to have a wonderful effect on the boy's self-confidence. Camp Freedom has given us the opportunity to give our boys some real freedom and independence and allow them to experiment with many activities that would be impossible in their urban neighborhood.

Simon

Simon is already a proven outdoorsman who has been camping since before he could walk. It was no surprise to me that he was quite at home at Camp Freedom and was a real asset to have around. Cheerful, cooperative and helpful, Simon really seemed to enjoy all that Camp has to offer!

Oscar

Eager to develop new skills, Oscar quickly absorbed all the tips Ray had to offer about shooting and using his pocket knife. Ray even let him take down a small tree with a hatchet. Oscar turned out to be quite a good shot and by the end of our weekend he was picking off cans with surprising accuracy!

Sam

Sam, a thoughtful and sensitive boy, always made sure that everyone, including younger brother Guthrie, was included and having fun. He was a bit cautious when he first tried out the zipline, but quickly discovered how much fun it is! Sam is extremely imaginative and thoroughly enjoyed being possessed by a gargoyle during the minotaur hunt.

Kyle

This was Kyle's second trip up to Camp and he is always a great camper and a good sport. Some of his pictures are from his first time up. Kyle wasn't overly impressed with our bb guns because on his family trips, his dad, an avid hunter and sportsman, lets him shoot 22's. That was alright, though, because it left him plenty of time for his favorite activity, the zipline!

Roadside Attraction

I came across this scene on the way to Camp Freedom over Memorial Day weekend and have been meaning to blog about it ever since. During the holiday, the couches were filled with sunburned, shirtless drunks shouting at cars and pumping their fists in the air. I was slightly offended when a neighbor of mine referred to Wisconsin as the "Arkansas of the North," but unfortunately, scenes like this do nothing to refute his claim.

A new spin

Hello friends, Ray here reporting on a successful weekend of manning around in the woods with some trusty friends. Camp freedom didn't let us down. This trip was markedly different from others though (in so many ways...). most of my time there has been with family, or one other family, or possible just me and one friend there to complete a certain task or job. I think we spent more time sitting around and talking and playing games than I ever have before. In some ways it was a typical trip - it rained each night, we ate nothing but sausage (and a few token grilled vegetables), and the wildlife was everywhere.... but in many more ways it was brand new again. New, thanks in no small part to the particular guests! So different was this trip, I don't think I even turned on my chainsaw. Unheard of! It doesn't quite feel like Camp Freedom if there isn't some wood to be cut, but maybe that just means that it was actually vacation..
Never content to rest, though, on this trip I also packed up the sink and the stand and the boys helped me lug it down the hill. I think it's a nice addition to the common area.

Everything Including the Kitchen Sink

I was recently in Chicago for a few days, visiting my mom. When I came home, this was in my backyard. Some friends salvaged this great double bowl, cast iron kitchen sink for us from some relatives who were remodeling their kitchen. They thought maybe we could use it in the cabin kitchen. I was excited about that and stashed it in my garage, imagining we would use it some time in the future. Ray had other ideas. This set-up will sit outside the camp kitchen, also known as "Chow House." It can be used for hand washing, dish washing, fish cleaning, etc. The water sits on the shelf above the sink and has a nozzle that can be turned on. The water drains out of the sink normally, but rather than going into a pipe, it just drains into a 5 gallon bucket underneath. When the bucket fills up, it just gets emptied. All the lumber for the project came from discarded pallets that we didn't use for the wetland walkway. The rough edges on the "countertop" were lovingly hand-planed and polyurethaned by Ray. When the cabin is built, it may not have actual plumbing in its first incarnation. I imagine this kitchen set-up may end up being moved indoors one day, or we may create something similar for the real kitchen. Just because there is no plumbing, doesn't necessarily mean there isn't running water!

Kings of Cumberland

We are fast approaching the 1 year anniversary of Camp Freedom. I discovered the real estate listing on the Internet around this time last year and it seemed to fit all the parameters we had established in terms of location, size and price. We quickly arranged a visit and just as quickly, we all four decided that it was the right place for this project. It just felt right. I really don't believe in a god or fate, but I do believe that when you're on a positive path in your life, there are signs of it all around if you just pay attention. There have been many serendipitous events surrounding our acquisition and enjoyment of Camp Freedom that have always made me feel very confident in this decision. Thor often reminds me that we happened to sign the purchase agreement for the property on his 10th birthday. The town of Cumberland which Camp Freedom is located in is nicknamed "the Island City," which also happens to be the nickname of Minocqua, WI, which is a town that also holds great significance to me. Ray ran into a man at work wearing a Rutabaga Festival t-shirt, which is Cumberland's main summer festival. So imagine my delight when finding our family name in some town history on the Cumberland's Chamber of Commerce website. Not only are the names familiar but the spirit of the characters involved really resonate. Please check out the link and pay special attention to the last paragraph. Happy 4th of July to you all. I hope you are all fully embracing your freedoms! http://www.cumberland-wisconsin.com/