A recent op/ed that appeared in the New York Times, “The Joy of Quiet”, by Pico Iyer, spoke of a growing movement to find time to unplug and disconnect. Iyer offered examples of Internet rescue camps in S. Korea and China, Intel scheduling no screen time for employees and resorts catering to individuals seeking respite from the onslaught of information.One of the many attributes that make Camp Winnebago so special is the focus on preserving some of the universal values and elements so important to young boys since 1919 (ho). Using flashlights at night, leaving phones/computers and the constant buzz of the media behind while being open to engage with the world around them in perhaps a different way.  Whether it be sitting on the docks after dinner gazing across the lake in deep thought, building a dam in the creek that runs through camp or engaged in a conversations walking across the lawn or while sitting on the porch of the lodge,  the space created by leaving technology behind is filled almost effortlessly by our innate human need for genuine connections.

Which brings us back to the important role of the counselors at Winnebago.  The glue that holds camp together for the summer, they instruct, play, and keep the boys safe. It is staggering to think of all the individuals who have made up the staff at Winnebago for the past 92 summers. Men and women of all ages, backgrounds and nationalities have helped shape camper experiences, both at camp and throughout their lives away from summer camp. During our  orientation week or S.A.L.T (Staff and Leadership Training) prior to camp, one of our oft repeated phrases is “to lead by example”. This phrase is  not foreign to the staff as it is a theme talked about during their job interviews as part of a larger conversation about role models and relationships.

We know that campers are profoundly influenced by their counselors at camp and that young people are generally drawn to individuals who exemplify qualities they admire. We believe that the Winnebago staff should not only be proficient in the skill they are teaching but more importantly, have a clearly defined value system that informs the way they chose to live. The incredible ground stroke of a tennis counselor plays second fiddle to their ability to role model kindness, compassion and willingness to succeed or fail with grace .

In a similar tone to Uncle Howie Lilienthal who once stated, “Winnebago is not for the boy who can but for the boy who will,” A Camp Winnebago counselor is not defined by what they have done, but by how they have lived. By leaving technology at the gates of Winnebago, we believe young boys become more aware, receptive and able to take advantage of the teachings of the quality individuals who make up the camp staff.

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