“The Book of Virtues” by William Bennet. This collection of short stories and poems will appeal to both young and more mature campers. It is devoid of any conservative or liberal slant and instead looks at the qualities that make up an individual’s sense of character. Many of the stories will be familiar and explore a virtue and the vice that challenges that virtue.

“Tolkien’s Ordinary Virtue” by Mark Eddy Smith.  For older campers who have read the Lord of the Rings series. This book takes a look at the virtues explored in Tolkien’s epic series of the struggle between good and evil forces in Middle Earth. Each chapter explores a different virtue, such as friendship, sacrifice or humility.

“Adventure of Mali and Keela” by Jonathan Collins. This children’s book appropriate for younger campers demonstrates how virtuous behavior can make the world a better place. “Each tale is built around four of the 52 virtues that have been identified by The Virtues Project™, a global grassroots initiative that inspires the practice of virtues in everyday life.” -Mom’s Choice Award Gold Recipient

“Character Building Day by Day: 180 Quick Read-Alouds for Elementary School and Home” by Anne Mather and Louise Weldon. Another collection of short stories and vignettes for parents to read with younger campers in order to create conversations about virtues that lead to strong character.

“The Tao Te Ching” by Lao Tzu. This short collection of 81 chapters or poems is an excellent introduction to the eastern viewpoint on virtue and reason and would appeal to older campers. Its simple but clear style can be enjoyed in one sitting or mulled over throughout a lifetime.

Pranks at Winnebago have evolved and there are some basic ground rules that help make Winnebago pranks great:

1. Pranks should not single out any single person or small group
2. They should not be destructive
3. The pranksters can clean up the prank relatively easily

This last summer, upon entering the dining hall  for breakfast, we were surprised to see that  every table had been replaced by a well-supported canoe complete with place settings. Campers and staff alike gazed with wonder at a prank that had been performed by our oldest campers (Senior Arrows) sometime in the wee hours of the morning.

One of the more famous pranks in Winnebago history happened one morning of Visiting Day in the late 1960’s. Uncle Howie, Director at the time, came into the Dining Room for breakfast to find no one there. After getting more anxious and worried sitting all alone in the Dining Room, he looked up to see the campers and counselors entering the dining room single file whistling the tune to “Bridge Over the River Kwai.”

The 93rd summer of boy’s camp at Camp Winnebago will be the Summer of Virtue. What does virtue mean to you? Virtue conveys a sense of moral excellence without defining these values absolutely.  When preparing for camp this summer we will do so with inquisitiveness about what moral fibers we weave together to make camp an excellent, unique, dynamic, positive and friend filled community.

SOME ADDITIONS THIS SUMMER:
Due to positive camper and parent feedback about our small experimental garden located on the side of the kitchen (where each day campers and staff watched peppers, tomatoes, cabbage and a variety of herbs grow into mature plants) we have expanded the garden into the space between arts and crafts and the library. The garden will be part of the Nature program and also a regular Sunday sign up where interested campers will tend to and harvest the fruits of their labor for use by the kitchen.

Additionally, during our regular end of the summer meetings with the three oldest divisions, there was a strong desire for Stand Up Surfboards to appear at the waterfront. Get ready to stand up and paddle to Turtle Island, White Rock and the dam as they are already waiting for you!