Camp Oconto enters its 86th season

Jun 30, 2010

Beginning this season Camp Oconto expands its programming to include campers ages 5-8 (Camp Director Lisa Wilson on far right)

Nestled on the north shore of Eagle Lake, Camp Oconto is one of the county’s longest running and oldest camps. Now entering its 86th season, Oconto’s popularity continues to rise, so much so that current owners Lisa and Bruce Wilson have expanded their programming this year to include an ever-growing group of female campers aged 5-8 who have recently joined the ranks.

When I arrived on June 18, one of these new programs had just begun and a group of 24 excited young campers were proceeding to the beach where they would take their first-ever camp swim. For many it was likely their first time away from home but you would never know it as they laughed and frolicked in the water and sunshine.

Lisa Wilson stressed that while the camp has always offered a wide range of land, waterfront and arts-related activities - including sailing, windsurfing, canoeing, kayaking, canoe tripping, horseback riding, archery, tennis, pottery, drama, and more - the underlying purpose of the camp experience has always been to encourage the campers’ growth on all levels, emotionally, physically, and intellectually while simultaneously promoting confidence, independence, and leadership. Lisa explained how the programs, the natural setting and carefully chosen staff are all instrumental in developing in the campers a greater maturity, and cooperative mindset, keeping in mind that many of these girls and young women will grow up to become the leaders of tomorrow.

Lisa elaborated, “At camp we’re purposefully promoting more traditional, old-fashioned values in a natural setting. These days kids seem to often have the option to “tune out”. No so at camp. Here they are forced to interact, and are in fact encouraged to create their own games. A lot of the games the campers play are the games that I played when I was young.”

Everyone who has experienced outdoor adventures understands that being embedded in nature without the usual creature comforts can develop character in ways that nothing else can. Lisa said, “ At camp you are sometimes forced to learn how to deal with being uncomfortable and that can be a huge and very important life lesson. Life is not always easy and knowing how to deal with those situations in a positive way when they arise can be very valuable.”

Founded in 1924 by Ferna Graham Halliday, Camp Oconto was originally established as a safe haven and getaway for female children during the Second World War. At that time most camps were single gender and Miss Halliday, as she was known, a single woman with no children of her own, ran the camp for its first 25 seasons.

Lisa’s mother, June Kennedy Labett, who had worked for a number of seasons at the camp alongside Miss Halliday, took over the camp in 1949 with her husband Cliff Labett and together they ran it for 33 years. Lisa recalled, “Running a camp had always been a dream of my mother’s.”

Lisa who basically grew up at the camp and who has a background in outdoor education was naturally next in line when her parents decided to retire as directors in 1982.

Lisa and Bruce have been running it ever since and today it is home in the summer months to over 200 campers and 80 staff.

Lisa and Bruce each have their specific areas of expertise at camp; Lisa does all of the programming and manages the staff while Bruce takes care of the office, business, kitchen, and maintenance.

For both it continues to be a rewarding undertaking. Lisa explained, “Being able to be part of something that has such a significant influence on the lives of these girls and young women makes me feel part of something very big and very special.”

Lisa says that the staff are an integral part of the camp’s long success and she takes every care in choosing staff who love to work with children and are also effective and inspiring role models. Most staff have attended the camp as both campers and counselors in training and are very familiar with the tone and traditions of the camp.

Lisa also mentions that currently the Camp’s alumni group is 1500 members strong, composed of women who met at camp as youngsters and who continue to share close relationships. “At camp you are forced to live in a small space with others, which can create very close relationships that can last for an entire lifetime.”

The camp has always remained strictly a girls’ camp. Lisa explained, “The campers seem to like it that way, and so do the parents and also the staff - so we just have never found a reason or felt the need to change that.”

She also explained that a single gender camping experience can be very valuable and encourage the girls to try to do what they might not do if the male component were a factor. “Though some campers are unsure at the start, they definitely get used to it and eventually come to appreciate not having that added factor to consider.”

As the young campers line up on the beach for a photo it’s hard not to wonder where these youngsters will be in another 20 years and how their camp experience might have affected their choices and decisions along the way.

When I think back on my camp days, now a long time gone, I am certain that they have affected mine.

For more information visit www.campoconto.com