The Latest Addition to the Anokijig Fleet

Regular readers of the Anokijig Insider will remember the feature we did on Ken & Melody Cavan's donation of a Kubota UTV a few years ago.  We're happy to report these generous supporters have made another donation to the Anokijig fleet- a brand-new Honda Foreman Rubicon.  This is the fourth ATV/UTV Ken & Melody have donated to Anokijig over the years and we can't thank them enough for their generosity.

We tried to get a photo of all four vehicles in the same place, but these vehicles are in such high demand at Anokijig, that we felt fortunate to find two in the same place, at the same time.  Anyone who has ever walked up the hill behind Western Lodge has probably noticed a few of these vehicles parked next to the kitchen windows.  These aren't the most glamorous of donations and they certainly aren't kept in the most obvious of areas at Camp, but they are integral to the operations of Anokijig and we don't know what we would do without them.

Many of our donors have preferences in what they give or how they support Anokijig.  Our campership program, which provides camping opportunities for underprivileged kids is extremely popular, as is support of our program areas.  These types of gifts are often high-profile or at least easy for donors to make a connection to how they benefit kids.  An ATV is not such a donation, because our campers never use them and they aren't directly used in our program areas.  However, their uses around camp, from hauling luggage trailers on check-in days, to providing access to hard-to-reach areas of Anokijig simply make Camp function.

Anokijig wouldn't be what it is today without our donors and while we appreciate all our donors, we feel especially fortunate to have supporters like Ken & Melody Cavan, who understand the needs of Anokijig on a behind-the-scenes level and are willing to support the infrastructure that makes the Anokijig engine run so well!

What are the driving directions to Camp Anokijig?

You've remembered to pack everything for your child's first week at summer camp and you even made it out of the house on time.  Now, you suddenly find yourself 30 minutes from your house, heading in the general direction of Camp Anokijig, without actually knowing how to get there.  What do you do?  If you're like many folks, you summons the Internet, via your smart phone and begin searching for directions to Anokijig.  We thought we'd post them here, just in case you were having trouble with your navigation system.

If you're coming from the South, take I-43 North and exit to the left at the split for Highway 57, which directs you toward Plymouth.  At this point, you will be about 30 minutes from Anokijig.  Stay on Highway 57 North all the way through Random Lake, Waldo & Plymouth.  You will pass 23 as you head North of Plymouth and  a few miles up the road is Highway J.  Turn left on Highway J and head West.  The next major road is Highway E.  Turn right on Highway E and head North.  Camp Anokijig will be just a few miles up the road on the left hand (West) side and you will see our Indian head sign as you come up the hill.

If you are coming from the North, exit off I-43 at Highway 23 in Sheboygan and head West for several miles.  You will cross over Highway 57 and shortly after that, you will come up on Highway E.  Turn right on Highway E and head North for a few minutes and Camp Anokijig will be on your left (West) side of the road.

If you are coming from the West (or Madison area), take Highway 151 North to Highway 23 and head East on 23.  Shortly after you cross over Highway 67, you will come to Highway E.  Turn left on Highway E and head North for a few minutes and Camp Anokijig will be on your left (West) side of the road.

If you are coming from the East (or Sheboygan area), take Highway 23 West, crossing over Highway 57, until you reach Highway E.  Turn right on Highway E and head North for a few minutes and Camp Anokijig will be on your left (West) side of the road.

We hope these directions help you find Camp Anokijig, but if you still need assistance, please don't hesitate to call us at 920-893-0782

Equestrian Teen Tour Summer Camp?

We thought our eyes were playing tricks on us when we read the story about the Equestrian Teen Tour Summer Camp.  Accommodations at Joseph Stalin's former estate, near Moscow, roudtrip airfare from New York, morning riding lessons, museum and cultural tours of Moscow, St. Petersburg, including ballet and opera performances.  How can we possibly compete with that?

The answer is we simply cannot.  Even though we have about 50 horses and nearly 400 acres of pristine rolling hills and forest land, our ranch program simply cannot hold a candle to the Equestrian Teen Tour Summer Camp.  However, families who aren't able to swing the $8,500 price tag for this one week "camp" experience may be able to afford to send their son or daughter to Camp Anokijig's ranch program, where we charge $7,905 per week less, although ground transportation (the camp bus) to and from Anokijig is not included in that price.

We must be doing something right, because Anokijig is nearly sold out for the remainder of the summer.  We do have some availability remaining, but space is limited.  Call the camp office today to save your spot at 920-893-0782

Remaining Space is Limited at Anokijig for Summer Camp 2011

Every year we try to encourage folks to sign up early, as historically, Anokijig routinely sells out several of it's summer camp sessions. We're happy to report 2011 is no exception. Week Eight of summer camp at Anokijig sold out completely by June 20th and there are just a few openings remaining in some of the other weeks and programs. Here is the latest update:

• Week Six has nine spots remaining
• Week Seven has four spots remaining
• Week Eight is sold out
• Week Nine has 99 spots remaining
• Week Six Stampers are sold out
• Week Seven Stampers are sold out
• Week Eight Stampers are sold out
• Week Nine Stampers are nearly sold out
• Week Six Sylvania Canoe & Fishing trip has three spots remaining
• Week Seven Lake Superior Kayak trip has six spots remaining
• Week Eight Rock, Roll & Splash has one spot remaining
• Week Six Fishing Expedition I is nearly sold out
• Week Seven Adventure Challenge is nearly sold out
• Week Six Minicamp has nine spots remaining
• Week Seven Minicamp has two spots remaining
• Week Eight Minicamp is sold out
• Week Nine Minicamp is nearly sold out
• Week Six Circle A Riders has nine spots remaining
• Week Seven Circle A Riders has four spots remaining
• Week Eight Circle A Riders 13 spots available only to campers already registered for that week
• Week Nine Circle A Riders has 14 spots remaining
• Week Six Ranch Camp has six spots remaining
• Week Seven Ranch Camp has four spots remaining
• Week Eight Ranch Camp has six spots remaining only to campers already registered for that week
• Week Nine Ranch Camp has 18 spots remaining
• Week Six Noah's Ark day trip has eight spots remaining
• Week Seven Noah's Ark day trip has four spots remaining
• Week Eight Noah's Ark day trip has 14 spots remaining only to campers already registered for that week
• Week Nine Noah's Ark day trip has 15 spots remaining
• Week Six Fondy Sports day trip has nine spots remaining
• Week Seven Fondy Sports day trip has four spots remaining
• Week Eight Fondy Sports day trip has 17 spots remaining only to campers already registered for that week
• Week Nine Fondy Sports day trip has 18 spots remaining
• Week Seven Ropes Course day trip has four spots remaining
• Week Nine Ropes Course day trip has 17 spots remaining
• Week Six Paintball day trip has four spots remaining
• Week Seven Paintball day trip has four spots remaining
• Week Eight Paintball day trip has six spots remaining only to campers already registered for that week
  
• Week Nine Paintball day trip has 13 spots remaining
• Week Six Caving day trip has nine spots remaining
• Week Eight Caving day trip has eleven spots remaining only to campers already registered for that week
• Week Six EAA Air Venture day trip has nine spots remaining
• Week Nine EAA Air Venture day trip has 20 spots remaining

As you can see, it pays to register early for Anokijig, especially considering those who registered prior to May 1st received a discount. This list may not be current, as our phones ring all day long. If you'd like to know which programs are currently available or would like to register your child for Anokijig, it's not too late. Call us at 920-893-0782 today!

Anokijig's Newest Skill: Drumming

Each year we try to add new and interesting skills at Anokijig. This year, drumming was added to the lineup, although that title is a bit misleading. Our head drumming (no pun intended) instructor, Sandy Stewart, has brought with her a host of percussion items, including a wide variety drums, as well as castanets, maracas, cowbells, claves, & güiros, to name a few.

The end result is an enchanting musical experience, that adds a very cool ambiance to all of Anokijig, as the sounds of the drums echo through the hills and valleys of Anokijig.

An Anokijig Print by Joe Garcia

Last month, the first Anokijig 100 go-kart event was held at Road America. That location seemed a fitting venue to debut a beautiful, limited edition watercolor painting of Camp Anokijig's boat house, created by acclaimed artist, Joe Garcia. Camp Anokijig was connected to Joe through former camper, counselor and long-time supporter, Phil Binks, who is a mutual friend. In fact, Phil composed the following description of this work, entitled, Rest Period.

Rest Period

By Phil Binks

Anokijig Alumni

November 2007

The summer days at Camp Anokijig are long and busy; reveille comes at 7:00 AM and taps at 9:00PM. After lunch, campers take a break from the day’s activities, as they have since the camp opened in 1926. Campers lounge on their bunks, some write letters home, others read and some take naps in the shade provided by their tent.

At the same time, down on Little Lake Elkhart just offshore from the “old rock Boathouse”, a snipe rests on a floating log, enjoying a little peace and quiet. In 1939, rocks gathered on the camp property were used to build the boathouse. This building has been a landmark ever since. When you return to camp from the west side of the lake, as you round Optimist Island, you can see only the old boathouse against the foliage.

When rest period is over, a big bell will ring, telling the campers that rest period has ended and the free period has begun. Campers will come running down to the waterfront to swim, paddle, row and fish. The hills will echo with the sound of youngsters having FUN. The little snipe will have to fly all the way around Indian Village Point to that secluded bay, to find a place to rest.

The Snipe has special meaning to old campers. Many of us got left holding a burlap sack in the dark, ankle deep water, calling “here snipe, here snipe”, until we realized this was a trick and the snipe hunt was phony. So little snipe, rest easy until you hear the bell. Then you’d better fly away fast!

Signed & numbered prints of this painting are available in limited quantities at Camp Anokijig. If you are interested in purchasing this print, please call the camp office at 1-800-741-6931. Click here to learn more about Joe Garcia. Special thanks to Angel Lithographing for underwriting the cost of producing these prints.

Karting for a Cause

 On Saturday, May 14, 2011, Camp Anokijig held the first Anokijig 100 Go-Kart Enduro fundraising event at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin.  While Anokijig has held many different fundraising events in the past, this one was a little bit different.  The biggest difference was that this event was the first major fundraiser organized without the assistance of Anokijig's staff.  This is significant, because Camp Anokijig hosted an Indian Guide group at Anokijig the same weekend this event took place.  It is very difficult to be in two places at once and there are enough demands on our full-time staff, just making sure Anokijig runs as it should.  While Anokijig needs to fundraise, we cannot afford to do so at the expense of the quality of our regular programs.  This event allowed our staff to do their regular jobs of providing an outstanding camping experience for our guests from the Indian Guides. 

As with many of Anokijig's activities, this event could not have happened without the dedicated support of our many wonderful volunteers.  These people are responsible for more than 40,000 hours worth of work at Anokijig each year and while the Anokijig staff focused their efforts on Anokijig's operations, it was our volunteers who stepped forward to organize and run this event and we thank them for all of their hard work.

Just as this event would not have been possible without our volunteers, it also would not have been possible without our many generous sponsors and donors.  Donors include Anonymous, Steve Cottingham, Al Petkus, & Tom Vickers.  Sponsors include Bode Financial Group Ltd, KS Energy Services, OPTIMA Batteries, Inc., Twin Disc and a special thank you to the Elkhart Inn for providing us with our wonderful dinner for the evening.  The support of all these wonderful donors and sponsors, as well as that of our participants made it possible for this event to raise more than $10,000, which we think is pretty good for a first-time effort.

The existence of this event may come as a surprise to many of our supporters and that was by design.  Since this was a new fundraising event, we didn't want it's success to come at the expense of our other existing events.  We also know even our strongest supporters can only give so much of their time, treasure and talent. While there were a few familiar Anokijig faces in this crowd, many of the participants were relative newcomers to all things Anokijig.  This event was a tremendous opportunity for us to introduce Anokijig to a new audience and help further spread the word about all the great things we are doing for children and families.

Finally, is there a specific focus for this fundraising effort?  Yes.  While many of our fundraising efforts help fund camperships for deserving children, this event had a different purpose.  When the Friends of Camp Anokijig acquired Anokijig in 2005, they did so with loans from a bank and a very generous foundation.  While it seemed like a monumental task at the time, getting the loans and buying Anokijig was the easy part.  The real challenge comes in paying the loans off and we're making good headway.  As we enter into our sixth summer camping season as an independent, non-profit camp, we have paid off approximately $1.5 million of the $5.5 million purchase price.

That is quite an accomplishment and we've depended on the generosity of some wonderful people to make the kind of progress we have.  When we first started fundraising to eliminate our debt, experts warned us "debt reduction" is not a popular fundraising cause and they were right.  In spite of that challenge, we have received some tremendous support from very generous people.  Up until now, we have not come up with a way to properly and permanently recognize the people, groups and organizations, who have kept Anokijig going strong, including donors, volunteers and staff.  We'd like to do something about that and we're hoping the proceeds from this event (and future go-kart events) will help us in that regard.  Is "permanent supporter recognition" as an unpopular fundraising cause, like "debt reduction?"  We hope that is not the case and so far it doesn't seem to be.

This rendering has been created to help stimulate ideas, conversation and support for how we might go about permanently recognizing our wonderful supporters.  In this concept, the steps leading up to Western Lodge from the main parking lots have been re-built.  The uneven steps have been replaced with even steps and arrowheads featuring the names of donors have been placed in random patterns amongst aggregate stone work.  In addition, a similarly-designed wheelchair-accessible ramp has also been added, to make it easier for those with special needs to access Western Lodge.  These two pathways to Western Lodge surround a five-foot tall stone Anokijig Arrowhead monument, featuring a raised CA interlocked logo on the front and the names of Anokijig's supporters engraved on the back.

Repairing and replacing the stairways leading up to Western Lodge is on our long wish list of things to do at Anokijig and this concept would allow us to improve Anokijig's physical condition, while also providing us with the permanent means to recognize supporters, which we currently lack.  Special care has been taken to ensure this concept is in keeping with Anokijig's rustic setting.  Interlocking paving bricks are a proven concept and perhaps more cost-effective, but they really wouldn't look right at Anokijig. 

As we mentioned before, this rendering is simply a beginning and the money raised at this karting event is only a start.  Our hope is that someone might look at this idea and build on it, modify it or enhance it in some way that will allow us to move forward toward our goal.  If this particular concept or the idea of a way for us to permanently recognize the supporters who have made Anokijig what it is today interests you, contact Mary Krahn and ask her how you can get involved.

Your Child Could Make The Catch of a Lifetime This Summer!

One of the great benefits of Camp Anokijig being located in Sheboygan County, is our close proximity to Lake Michigan. Lake Michigan is a tremendous natural resource and one that presents a wonderful opportunity for us to expose our campers to fishing for salmon on the Great Lakes.

As you can see from this video, the typical fish caught on one of these outings easily exceeds the size of the biggest fish many folks will catch on their best trip to an inland lake. These campers were all a part of our Expedition Fishing program, one of several different specialty camping opportunities we offer every summer at Camp Anokijig. If you'd like more information on this program, our Irish Dance Camp, Yoga Camp, or Competitive Swim Camp program, please call us today at 1-800-741-6931 today!

Catching Fish at Summer Camp...and lots of them!

One of Camp Anokijig's most-popular activities is fishing and Little Elkhart Lake is perfect setting for doing just that.  Kids can start out small, catching pan fish and work their way up to reeling in large mouth bass the size of their thigh (or so our fish stories usually go).  Anokijig campers actually do quite well at not just fishing, but catching and our wonderful staff is there to help them every step of the way.

Some of our campers are really avid fishermen and prefer an even more involved fishing experience.  For those campers, we offer our Fishing Expedition programs.  These campers will do night fishing for bass, northern and pan fish, as well as learn how to fly fish.  Their fly-fishing skills will be put to the test when we take them to one of our area trout ponds and weather-permitting, we'll cap the week off with a chartered fishing trip on Lake Michigan, to catch the really big ones and those fish really are as big as their thighs!

It is easy to talk about all the fish your child can catch during a week at Anokijig, but is the fishing really that good?  Watch this video and decide for yourself-

One Less Camp and Fewer Opportunities for Children & Families

We were very saddened to hear of the closing of Camp Algonquin, which was run by the YMCA of McHenry County. Sad because we know how perilously close Anokijig came to meeting a similar fate, when the Racine YMCA decided to sell Anokijig in 2005. Sad because we know Camp Algonquin served an important role in it's community for thousands of children and families for more than 100 years. Sad because we know when camps close, new camps do not open somewhere else to replace them, rather, we are simply left with one less camp.

Algonquin's closing will likely signal the end of outdoor experiences for many of it's former campers, while Anokijig may see a new group of displaced Algonquin campers this summer, who are seeking out camping alternatives. That is certainly not the circumstances under which we would like to welcome new campers. We know the special feelings a summer camp can foster in the hearts and minds of those who attend it and we know Algonquin will be missed by all those who were fortunate enough to have camping experiences there.

Don't miss your chance at Anokijig Summer Camp 2011

With winter breathing its last breath, it’s time for spring at Anokijig. This very weekend a host of volunteers will arrive to start bringing Anokijig Summer Camp out of storage!

The days for swimming, sailing, fishing, horserides, drama, dance, campfires, archery, beach parties, and all the summer fun are just around the corner.

The Anokijig staff is busy making plans and preparations for this to be the best summer ever. All of our great returning programs are getting ready as well as new specialty skills like Yoga, Theatre in the Woods, and Irish Dance, plus a great new day trip to the EAA Air museum. This is going to be one of the most exciting summers ever!

Now that the days are longer, temperatures warmer, and summer sports activity schedules are out; our office has registrations pouring in. Since we never want to see a camper miss out on a chance to return to Anokijig, we thought we’d drop you a line just to be sure that if you haven’t already signed up for your 2011 session; now is the time.

If you are looking to come a particular week, with certain friends, for your favorite “special theme day”, or on one of our great trips, please sign up now. It would be a shame if you missed your favorites because they filled before you were able to register. Don’t miss your chance to get in on the fun.

We’ve made it incredibly easy to get yourself a spot. If you still need to reserve your date; choose your method:

• Just hop on the website at http://www.anokijig.com/forms.html and sign up on our online registration page.
• Download a printable form for US Mail, scan and email, or fax from http://www.anokijig.com/forms.html.
• Or call our office direct at 1-800-741-6931 (920-893-0782) and we’ll gladly have a real live person ready to help you.

It’s time for another summer of Outrageous Fun, New Friends, Old Friends, and Incredible Experiences.

Unfortunately if you wait too long you may find your chosen week, trip, or program full; so please don’t delay!

We also know that in today’s economy decisions may be a little tougher to make. Remember that at Anokijig we do have some programs that might help.

• All campers can participate in candy sales (50% of every bar sold goes directly to the campers’ account).
  
• Our unique internet fundraising sales (magazines, gifts, candies, with 40% of every item sold going directly to the campers’ account).
  
• For campers 14 years old or older the Stamper program is priced significantly lower in exchange for the campers’ service in the dining/dish room area for one meal per day.
• Partial or Full camperships based on financial need are available.
  

For information on any of these programs please feel to contact our office at 1-800-741-6931 (920-893-0782) or anokijig@excel.net.

For information on all of our programs and happenings see www.anokijig.com.

If you are one of the many that have already secured your session; WELCOME BACK! We can’t wait to see you! Also remember if you recruit a new friend to come to camp you get a discount, recruit 5 new friends and your week is FREE. Or maybe that lets you come for another week of camp and more Outrageous Fun!

Anokijig 2011 is going to be great. Let us be your summer stimulus package. Sign-up now!

See you this summer!

Take Care,
Darin Holden
Program Director
Camp Anokijig
www.anokijig.com
"Anokijig Changes Lives"