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What is Camp Nebagamon's greatest strength?
What is Nebagamon's staff ratio?
Why is your staff ratio so high?
Who supervises your staff?
How do you select your staff?
How do you go about training your staff?
What are the core values of Nebagamon?
What is the tuition?
Do you still have the same traditions as when I went to Nebagamon?
What makes Nebagamon unique?
WHAT IS CAMP NEBAGAMON'S GREATEST STRENGTH?
As much pride as we have in our camp program and in the fantastic wilderness tripping opportunities we provide our campers, we are even prouder of Nebagamon's staff. Year-in and year-out we hire responsible, caring men and women who demonstrate a desire to work with, teach, and have fun with children. Staff is the most important aspect of any camp, and we strongly believe ours is as good as any in the industry.
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WHAT IS NEBAGAMON'S STAFF RATIO?
Approximately one to two. Each year we hire approximately 120 staff members for 240 campers. This includes 54 cabin counselors, four village directors, a program director, 12 program specialists, 20 wilderness trip staff, 13 kitchen staff, four office employees, three caretakers, an M.D., one nurse, two nurse's aides, along with Adam, Stephanie, Adam Fornear (Associate Director/Wilderness Trip Director), and Emily Jodock (Associate Director/Office Manager).
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WHY IS YOUR STAFF RATIO SO HIGH?
Several reasons:
- Many skill programs are taught and supervised by specialists-i.e. men and women whose sole responsibility is the planning and teaching of their program skill areas. In other words, because these individuals have no cabin assignments, they have the time to develop dynamic curricula in their respective projects.
- We believe in teaching our skill activities using in-depth instruction. For instance, when a camper attends the tennis project, he will have an instructor on his court with him; as a result, he will enjoy the equivalent of a semi-private tennis lesson. (We have seven courts and seven tennis teachers.) This type of personal attention occurs in all program areas.
- We have an extensive wilderness tripping program. At any given time, as many as 100 boys might be out on the trail. Accordingly, we have 20 staff members and a trip director whose sole responsibility is to plan and to lead our canoeing, river canoeing, hiking, cycling, and sailing trips. These trip staffers possess not only extensive wilderness backgrounds, but also fine counseling skills. Moreover, each member of the staff is required to attain certification as a Wilderness First Responder and receives specialized training prior to leading any Nebagamon trips.
- Counselors need adequate time off. As almost any parent will appreciate, counseling is a challenging job and our staff members need time away from our campers to recharge their batteries. By hiring a large staff, we guarantee that our campers are never shortchanged either in the cabin or at projects because of staff time-off schedules.
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WHO SUPERVISES YOUR STAFF?
In addition to Adam and Stephanie, our counseling staff is directed by a group of adult professionals who have a breadth of experience, both at Nebagamon and in the outside world. It is worth noting that these individuals do not "double" as cabin counselors or skill instructors. (In our opinion, one person cannot do justice to both jobs simultaneously.) This past summer, our four village directors, trip director, and program director had a collective 52 years of experience at camp. They share a belief in Nebagamon's mission and a commitment to its principles. Through their work training and supervising our staff, we ensure the legacy of counseling excellence that has been a hallmark of Camp Nebagamon since 1929.
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HOW DO YOU SELECT YOUR STAFF?
All applicants must 1) complete a written application 2) have a personal interview and 3) submit three references. We thoroughly check the references on every person who applies for a position with us, regardless of where he or she might be working in camp. Even former campers whom we've known for seven or eight years must go through this process. Furthermore, we do extensive background checks on each of our staff members. Ultimately, counselors are hired based upon their character, judgment, maturity, experience, and ability to relate to children.
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HOW DO YOU GO ABOUT TRAINING YOUR STAFF?
Due to the difficult nature of their jobs, we never stop training our staff. In fact, we think training begins during the staff interview. Then we start the summer with an intense week of staff orientation, during which we cover topics ranging from effective communication skills to proper hygiene to issues concerning child development. Moreover, counselors practice teaching techniques in their respective program areas. Once our campers arrive, we continue to work with our staff throughout the summer. Through interactions both one-on-one and in groups, structured and informal, we carry on a constant dialogue with our staff about how to create the most positive environment possible for our campers.
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WHAT ARE THE CORE VALUES OF NEBAGAMON?
In our minds, in addition to being a really fun place to spend the summer, camp should serve a greater purpose. As camp directors, we genuinely view ourselves as educators, and we spend a good deal of time and energy stressing the importance of values like tolerance and respect that are essential to successful group living. We also encourage our campers to think about the natural world and the part they can play in preserving it. The camp environment provides many opportunities for personal growth and we take great pride in the fact that Nebagamon's campers develop valuable life skills while under our supervision.
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WHAT IS THE TUITION?
The tuition includes most everything with the exception of air transportation to and from the Minneapolis airport, permits for a handful of wilderness trips (primarily for older boys), and a few individual expenses. Click here for this year's tuition. A deposit is made for a spending account (camp store, Dairy Queen in town, etc.). This is $100 for four-weekers and $150 for eight-weekers. The unused portion is refunded at the end of the summer.
Financial aid is available. Approximately 9 percent of our campers receive partial to full tuition.
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DO YOU STILL HAVE THE SAME TRADITIONS AS WHEN I WENT TO NEBAGAMON?
Oftentimes, we get asked this question by alums who haven't been back to camp since they "graduated" from Nebagamon many years ago. The truth is that in most cases things haven't changed all that much over time-we still give Keylogs every Sunday night; we still sing rousing renditions of One Dark Night, Mountain Dew, and Drop a Nickel to name a few favorites; and Chief A.K. still makes the pilgrimage from the Yo-Yo Islands every August. Needless to say, tradition continues to play an important role in the life of Nebagamon today. One need only walk through the dining hall to get a sense of the history of our camp. Hanging on the walls of the "Rec Hall" are pictures dating back to camp's first summer in 1929, plaques commemorating "Big Trips" from the last seven decades, and a growing collection of nameplates marking the names of campers who have followed in the footsteps of their fathers and grandfathers at Nebagamon. If you're totally new to camp, and you're afraid you might feel left out, don't worry. Because while we believe it's important to honor our past, we add a new chapter to our history each and every summer.
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WHAT MAKES NEBAGAMON UNIQUE?
To be honest, we don't like to compare ourselves to other camps when presenting Nebagamon to prospective families. We recognize there are many other wonderful camps, and we believe our program speaks for itself. Having said that, we feel the sense of community we foster at Nebagamon is second to none. As soon as a boy first signs up for camp, he (along with his parents and siblings) becomes a member of the Nebagamon family. In doing so, he joins a community numbering in the thousands throughout the United States and around the world. For the vast majority of these individuals, the memories and friendships they made at camp remain with them always.
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