By Adam Kaplan
Since 1929, Camp Nebagamon has consistently striven to execute its mission. Now I know that in the modern world, the modus operandi when it comes to mission statements is to make them short and to the point. Essays are not de rigueur in the world of missions. But anyone who knows me is well aware that I absolutely refuse to say in a few words what I can say in many! Apparently, I am not alone in this propensity to both discard convention and use lots of words when articulating our mission at camp. I have been going through some of the mission statements from the previous directors and have found that words are not used sparingly at all! There are lots of historical mission statements to sift through, and lots of words in all of them! Which of course makes sense since we do SO MUCH at camp!
But, in truth, they have all said the exact same things. The mission of Nebagamon has remained the same since 1929. In short (I know… I have already admitted that I can’t do anything “in short”….except for, obviously, my stature!), our mission at camp is to provide boys with life-changing experiences that will teach them about independence and interdependence. We nurture an environment that teaches ethical behavior, one in which people are accepted and accepting of others’ beliefs and backgrounds. We are here to provide a place that allows boys to discover who they are, to gain competence, and to take safe risks. We are committed to fostering an appreciation of nature and the determination to respect and protect it. We are an institution that fosters connections and friendships that are truly enduring, stabilizing, and supporting. And oh yeah, we are a place that exists to create a tremendous amount of plain old summer fun!
No matter which set of directors wrote up that mission and however they articulated it, that core mission has remained the same…for nearly 100 years.
Sure, there have been some alterations to the program over the years. It used to be that Nebagamon was open only for eight-week sessions. It used to be that all boys arrived at the beginning of the summer by train to a nearby town, and a parade of folks from town would pick up the boys and ferry them to camp (can you imagine!?!?!). It used to be that our summer daily schedule was significantly less structured. There used to be no climbing wall and no waterskiing. It used to be that the Rec Hall was a MUCH quieter place during meals than it is now (sorry about that one Sally, Nardie, Roger and Judy…I am a loud guy and the noise just follows me!) The list of alterations and improvements to camp in order to keep it relevant to its era (and to put together the best camp program possible) is a long one.
These changes have often caused some angst when introduced. (Want to hear the one about my bringing two new songs to camp, from the previous camp I ran, when I started directing at Nebagamon? Want to see the emails I received from unhappy alumni about my dangerous changing of camp?!) But each of them was only adopted by the directors with the sole intention of better delivering on the mission of Nebagamon. Still, every time something new is introduced at a place so steeped in tradition, a camp that has been delivering on its goals for so long, it makes some folks uneasy. I get it.
But the truth is this: NONE of these changes really altered anything about what Camp Nebagamon is. None of these changes altered anything about what Camp Nebagamon strives to accomplish. None of these changes altered anything about how camp FEELS to the boys who call it home every summer. And amazingly, whenever alumni visit camp and spend some time walking around and soaking in the place, they ALL come to the same conclusion. They say, “It’s amazing! I cannot believe how much this place is just like I remember it!” This quote is repeated by folks who have been gone for five years…and for fifty years. They all say it…they all feel it.
So, admittedly, Steph and I were a bit nervous about our big announcement last week. We were nervous that folks would fear the alteration in camp’s “back of the house” structure. But we have been truly humbled (and relieved!!!) by the numerous expressions of support from so many corners of our community. At the same time, we want to be clear, we understand if you are feeling some of that nervousness. It is totally natural, especially given how much Nebagamon means to so many of you.
The transition of Camp from private ownership to a non-profit organization run by an alumni board is just like every other alteration made in Nebagamon’s history. It is being done to further our mission and to ensure that we are delivering on this mission for as many kids as possible and for as long as possible. The camp experience, that every camper and every staff member enjoys while spending a summer at camp, will not change, and this transition will ensure that kids get to experience it in perpetuity.
I hope that you are all looking forward to YOUR visit to camp, whether that be in a couple of years or in a couple of decades. I hope you are looking forward to wandering the grounds and soaking in the sights and sounds of children playing and growing and thriving. And I hope you are looking forward to saying, “It’s amazing! I cannot believe how much this place is just like I remember it!”