As we kick off the New Year, we’re already looking forward to what our camping season has in store. The story of the summer of 2026 will be written by campers from around the world, and staff members committed to ensuring that the story is one that will change campers’ lives for the better. It will include timeless traditions shaped over nearly a century of camping, programs that have become staples during summers at Nebagamon, alongside new additions rendering our 97th season as unique and transformative as the 96 before it.
We’re excited to share with you just a handful of the countless aspects of our program we’re really excited about as the summer of 2026 takes shape.
Wilderness Trips
Our wilderness trips have always been a hallmark of Camp Nebagamon and this summer our tripping program will be moving full-speed ahead. As always, campers of all ages will explore the Northwoods. They’ll paddle pristine lakes in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and Sylvania Wilderness and navigate rivers like the Namekagon and Brule. They’ll backpack on the Superior Hiking Trail and in Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.
Our 8th graders will embark on “Big Trip” to Isle Royale National Park, the largest Island in Lake Superior for 14 days, if they so choose, while Big Trip for our 9th graders will take them to Quetico Provincial Park for 14 days of canoeing the Canadian wilderness.
We will once again offer “Long Trip” this summer for our 9th graders. Long Trippers will paddle for 21 days from the northern border of Quetico Provincial Park south to the shores of Lake Superior, canoeing over 200 miles. Entering the Boundary Waters after the first two weeks of the trip, they’ll finish their expedition paddling along the breathtaking lakes lining the Canadian border for a week before reaching their final destination by foot, carrying their boats and gear across the Grand Portage, an 8-mile trail connecting the Boundary Waters to Superior.
We’re also STOKED that this summer we’ll be returning to Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan as well as Sleeping Giant Provincial Park near Thunder Bay, Ontario.
Cruiser Days
Every Wednesday at Camp is a punctuation mark on the week. We throw our whole amazing 20-project program out the window and do something completely different, often involving a unifying theme or working together to accomplish a goal. This summer will feature classic village-wide cruiser days alongside newer all-camp style cruiser days.
We’re especially excited to share that “Branch Day,” our cruiser day of community service, will return this summer. Last summer on Branch Day, Campers planted trees, collected trash at a local beach and held a bake sale in town for a local charity. Others cleaned up campgrounds and yet another group helped out at a nearby food pantry. For Branch Day 2026, we’ll replay some of the highlights from last summer and add some new components as well. You can read about last summer’s Branch Day to get excited for Branch Day 2026 here.
And it should go without saying but… there will be ice cream on all Cruiser Days!
Cookie Glop vs. Brownie Glop
While we’re talking about sweets, the great debate will rage on this summer. In the summer of 2025 we rolled out a new dessert, cookie glop, to rival an all-time favorite, brownie glop. (It’s probably prudent to add that brownie glop is vanilla ice cream over mushy brownies and cookie glop is the same thing with chocolate chip cookies…gross, right)? Our menu at camp is delicious so any change is subject to intense scrutiny from campers and staff alike. Fortunately, and unsurprisingly, cookie glop was a hit, and its arrival shaped a fun, running debate over which dessert reigned supreme. So this summer we will once again enjoy both!
Trails Forward
We have a truly impressive alumni network filled with folks with a range of experiences and areas of expertise. For decades, our Trails Forward program has given campers the opportunity to learn from alumni who return to camp to share about their career or teach campers a skill they’re passionate about. Thanks to our camp family, we already have some memorable Trails Forwards planned, with more to come. Campers can look forward to learning to plant crops, and all about (safely!) beekeeping.
Chickens!
You read that right. We’ll be joined this summer by a flock of chickens! Campers who are interested will learn how to care for them. We’ll even get to use their eggs in our MOCA project.
Exciting New Equipment!
Attention mountain bikers! Are you ready to rip around our 4.5 miles of trails on some fresh bikes? Well you’re in luck. This summer we’ll introduce a fleet of Giant bikes that reflect the ways the sport of mountain biking has evolved since the project was first introduced at camp, designed specifically for the cross-country mountain biking you’ll find in our trail system. These are perfect for beginners to learn the basics, including those who have never ridden a bike before, and will feel more capable for experienced bikers looking to ride our hardest trails in camp.
Attention climbers! Are you ready to ascend our freshly-sealed 50 foot wall with holds that will feel unused? We’re refinishing the wall and plan to replace all our climbing holds to make climbing a much grippier project, and look a little more like the climbing walls you might find in your gym back at home. On belay!
Needless to say we also have a brand-new chicken coop at Camp, because, well, where will the chickens live?
Opportunities for Mentorship
Between our Big Brother- Little Brother, OBR (older boy responsible) programs, and organic moments that occur every day, opportunities for older campers to mentor younger campers abound at Nebagamon. This summer we’re excited to keep building on our Big Brother and OBR programs, including additional structured opportunities for Big Brothers and Little Brothers to connect, and more opportunities for OBR’s to learn counseling techniques and put them to use working with younger campers.
Pathfinders Weekend
This summer we’re looking forward to our inaugural Pathfinders weekend. A chance for families considering Nebagamon to experience camp in action, Pathfinders will give prospective campers a chance to choose their activities, make friends, and enjoy some time in nature just like they will as campers at Nebagamon. More information for Pathfinders can be found here, and if you know anyone interested in Nebagamon, please reach out to noah@campnebagamon.com.
Our list could really go on and on. We’re excited for ALL OF IT. We didn’t even get into each of the 20 project areas, or special days like the 4th of July or Paul Bunyan Day or the Grand Pursuit. Times for introspection like Council Fires and Sunday Services. All of that will happen and more in the summer of 2026. Bring it on.