Camp Nebagamon

Compiled by Louis Levin

As I wrap up interview season, and hiring for 2025 is nearly complete, I’ve been reflecting on the incredible group of people we’ve got signed on to make camp magic at Nebagamon this summer, and all the new folks that will be joining our community as first time staffers. As I’ve done for a few years now, I thought I’d share with our readership the amazing quality of these staff in their own words. I ask each staff member at the end of their interview what a successful summer would look like for them. Here’s what our new staff had to say about 2025…

• This year, I hope to have a really fun summer. A successful summer would be spending some time outside, coming home with stories and memories that will last a lifetime.
• Success would be building a great community. That means a community that lasts these campers’ lifetimes, and making sure camp is a place that they feel welcome in and look forward to returning to!
• I want to have a sense of accomplishment that the campers had an amazing summer… I hope I can do the job that I saw my counselors do for me, and that I can make sure this summer is up to the Nebagamon standard.
• It would be amazing to make sure I have good relationships with my campers, that I feel satisfied with how I taught my activity, and to feel like I connected with the staff. I want to make sure I put 110% into my campers’ summers, and I know that’ll make it feel really satisfying.
• If the kids I’m counseling leave happy and I get to spend time outside with them, I’ll be happy.
• Success would be mutually beneficial. I feel like I have so much to offer and camp has something to offer me. Helping kids set their individual goals and meeting my own goals to grow as a leader and educator. And it’s simpler than that too… It’s important that the summer is just really fun.
• Success would be exploring new places with our campers!
• I just want to make sure my campers don’t get hurt! And I hope they have a fun summer too!
• I’d like to teach life skills this summer, and teach our values. I want campers to learn to live their lives freely, to step out of their comfort zones, and to take risks.
• I want to look back and know I took full advantage of the opportunities the wilderness provides to make a great experience for kids, and to prep them (and me!) for bigger adventures to come.
• This summer I want to bond with our campers and give them the big life-changing experience I had as a camper as well.
• Success would be safe campers, fun summers, connections with each other — and to have learned something as a counselor and a leader.
• Is it OK if I say I want them to cry when they get on the bus to go home? [What do you mean?] Like, um, good crying, bittersweet tears. [Yeah, that’s alright] Ok, then yeah, I want the campers to have such a good summer that they’re sad to go home.
• If I sent just one single camper home who I had a part in helping them learn a new skill, take on a new opportunity, or discover something about themselves, that would be enough. But I think there’ll be more than one!

We’ve got a great team assembled for the summer, and we’ll publish the full list in the June Arrowhead Newsletter. Based on all the interviews, references, and meetings and phone calls I’ve held with the staff over the past few months, I’m confident this group of folks will achieve all the successes they described to me during their interviews.

There’s a few more news items to share this month from the camp family – if you have something you’d like to share, send me an email at [email protected]!

IT MAY INTEREST YOU TO KNOW… In San Francisco, Ben Hall is kicking off the mountain biking season, competing in two events at the Sea Otter Classic: the downhill and dual slalom races. In Memphis, Eitan Kaminsky placed second in his school’s geography bee. In Chicago, Chase Barnett had a leading role in his middle school production of Newsies, and Grant Hall is working on his Green Belt in Tae Kwon Do, as well as practicing saxophone and joined his middle school’s most advanced concert band.In Durnago, CO, Micah Wachter spent the winter honing his snowboarding skills, and competed in the slalom, super-g, and boardercross events at nationals. In D.C., Ezra Bennett picked up the upright bass and played his first gig at his school’s spring concert, and Josh Desenberg ran track for his middle school team in the 4×70 relay, as well as practicing his canoe strokes with the local Scout troop. In Dallas, Ari Foxman qualified to compete in the Texas Math and Science Coaches Association Middle School State Meet – his school placed 7th overall in the science category! And in St. Louis, Danylo Babak is programming computer games and has worked his way to his Tae Kwon Do Orange Belt this winter, and Tristan Mattson has been improving in his soccer skills and started playing competitive soccer for his local club, St. Louis Stars SC.

BAR MITZVAH CONGRATULATIONS GO TO… Ethan Mack (D.C.), Nate Feldman (D.C.), and Jack Chait (NYC).

CONGRATULATIONS ON RECENT ENGAGEMENTS TO… Nate Mendelsohn (Brookline, MA/NYC, 2001-’07, ‘09-’11, ‘23) and Bridget O’Toole