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July 7, 2003

The sun is shining, it's nice and warm, and there is a nice breeze blowing just enough to create a rustle in the leaves on the trees... it's truly summertime in the northwoods! We would like to welcome you to the first of two editions of "News from Franklin Lake" for week three at Camp Nicolet! There is lots and lots going on this week, as those campers who are only with us for the first three weeks will be heading home this coming Saturday, July 12th. Coming up this week are great events like the annual Riding Gymkhana, which includes fun and exciting games and relays on horseback. Also this week is the Heart Friends Party, Week 3 Cookouts and Trail Activities, the Isle Royale Honors Trip departs (we'll tell you more about that in just a bit), and the first Nicolet Players Drama Production will take place on the evening of Friday, July 11th. Parent visitation also begins that day, so if you would like to visit your daughter at camp, please contact the camp office for further visitation information. One other item before we get to some great pictures from Nicolet's Independence Day celebration... there will be two editions of "News from Franklin Lake" this week because the newsletter editor (that's me!) will be helping lead the Isle Royale trip and, thus, will not be in the office next Monday to do an update. So, look for an update on Wednesday evening of this week, and then a big update coming up on Monday, July 21st. In the meantime, thanks for checking out this edition of "News from Franklin Lake," enjoy the pictures, and Think Sunshine!

- Excellent Events At Nicolet -

July 7th, 2003:
First Session Riding Gymkhana!

July 8th, 2003:
First Session Heart Friends Party!

July 9th, 2003:
Week 3 Cookouts & Trail Adventures!

July 10th, 2003:
Isle Royale Honors Trip Departs!

July 11th, 2003:
Visitation Begins & First Session Nicolet Players Production

July 12th, 2003:
First Session concludes & 7 Weeker Special Trip!

July 13th, 2003:
Second Session campers arrive!!!

July 15th, 2003:
Second Session Camp Sister Party!

July 16th, 2003:
Week 4 Cookouts & Trail Adventures!

July 17th, 2003:
Isle Royale Honors Trip Returns


"Independence Day at Nicolet!"
photos by Georgi Starz and Allison Adams


The CITs pull off another noisy July 4th wakeup
& Ski Director Chris presents the Stars and Stripes at flag

Independence Day is not only a special day across the United States, but it's also a special day full of fun and excitement here at Camp Nicolet. Camp's Fourth of July 2003 celebration was especially action-packed... it began with the traditional "Paul Revere" re-enactment where campers are awakened to the riding staff cantering through camp on horseback dressed as Paul Revere and British troops. Then the CITs cruised through cabins with pots and pans making lots of noise and making sure everyone was up and out of bed. Campers proceeded to the flag pole, where the flag was "skiied in" by Ski Director Chris Starz and the Independence Day flag line. This was followed by breakfast, a bell ringing ceremony, cabin skits (with the theme this year being "Entertainment Through the Ages") and then a Freedom Lunch. In the afternoon, each camper was assigned a spot on the Red, White, or Blue team, and the traditional Fourth of July field games followed thereafter. In the evening everyone in camp loaded up the buses, and we joined Red Arrow Camp in Woodruff, Wisconsin for their traditional barndance and fireworks display. It was a day full of great activities and was lots of fun for all! A great celebration of our nation's birthday!


Campers line the road to watch Paul Revere and the British!


The CITs and Nicolet Staff get set for the big celebration!


Birch and Juniper perform their cabin skits!


Fourth of July skits are a little wacky... but a lot of FUN!


Cabin Pines performs their skit about Vaudeville! On with the show!


Having lots of fun... and you can't beat those costumes!


The CITs go all out for Fourth of July...
and "Are you ready for some relays?"


Relay Time!!!
July 4th
Fun and Games!
by Jeremy Starz

Afternoon field games for the Fourth of July have been a Nicolet tradition for as long as I can remember. Year after year campers and staff anticipate their spot on the Red, White, or Blue team and the chance to compete in these awesome field activities. The afternoon kicks off with the bat spin relay, where campers run down the field, grab a baseball bat and spin around it five times with their heads to the handle of the bat.... dizzy! Other relays are the counselor carry - where a group of the buffest campers on the team carry their leaders down the field - and the three legged race, of which we have lots of great pictures of happy campers participating! There is also the challenging trolley relay, were campers discover the importance of working together to achieve a goal. And let's not forget the exciting CIT balloon pop and the all-camp tug-of-war contest! Wow!





Fourth of July relays are awesome!




Spinnin' round and round with the bat spin relay!


Bouncin' with the sack race... and able to use only three legs! Yikes!


Working together to win the race! Go team!


"You know, this race is really hard... but it's really fun, too!"


More three-legged racers... and here comes the trolley team!


"One... two... three... left... one... two... three... right!"

TUG-OF-WAR!!!
 The finale event!
photos by Jeremy Starz


Blue and White go head to head in the first tug-of-war match...


Go red team... go white team... 1-2-3 Pull! 1-2-3 Pull!

"Continuing
A Tradition..."
Isle Royale 2003
by Jeremy Starz

The 2002 trip marked the beginning of a new tradition at Camp Nicolet... and we are excited that the 2003 trip will continue that tradition! Of course, I'm speaking of the Isle Royale Honors Backpacking Trip, one of Nicolet's new flagship Camping/Tripping experiences. Just as Wendall Schrader and Staff were able to give Advanced Campers and CITs the opportunity to travel to Canada for a week-long Boundary Waters canoe trip from the late 40's through the early 70's, Chris and Jeremy Starz along with 2003 Staff Allison Adams and Gabriel Brockman are able to lead these older campers on a week-long backpacking experience to Lake Superior's most beautiful and most rugged island, giving these campers a camping experience which would be hard to find anywhere else other than through an outdoor leadership program or the like. It's a trip centered around the ideology of setting goals, attaining goals, accepting challenges, challenging previous limits, and building self-confidence. The challenging atmosphere which the Isle has to offer makes it a one-of-a-kind experience - an positive experience which can stay with you for years to come. Here's a little about this years trip; we will depart Windigo this year, heading south on the Feldtmann Lake trail which follows old beachlines, interesting rock formations, and winds through the woods and marshes of the west end of Isle Royale. Eventually the trail will lead us to Feldtmann Lake, a beautiful body of water crowned in the southeast corner by Feldtmann Ridge and Sugar Mountain off in the distance. We will camp there the first night. On day two the Feldtmann Lake Trail becomes the Feldtmann Ridge Trail, which takes us up 240 feet in elevation, onto the high conglomerate rock bluffs of Feldtmann Ridge, and eventually to a very scenic point where we will be able to see Grace Harbor, Rock of Ages Lighthouse, Siskiwit Bay, and the Greenstone Ridge. Then we will head into the Siskiwit Bay Campground where we will spend the night. On day three we will be hiking the Island Mine Trail which is a historical walk through much of the park’s past. Along the way, we will hike near the beaches of Siskiwit Bay, across the Big Siskiwit River, and will pass by

Senter Point with was used by the Island Mine Company in the 1870’s to store their explosives. Further along the trail we will be hiking through an old mining town, down mining wagon roads, and past the old Island Mine itself before arriving at the Island Mine Campground, our destination for the evening. Day four will be spent hiking north out of the Island Mine Campground, up to the crest of the Greenstone Ridge, and then eastbound along the ridge to the junction of the trail with will take us to the South Lake Desor Campground. This campground is a beautiful spot, situated above the shoreline of the lake itself. The Greenstone Ridge Trail, on which we will be hiking exclusively on day five, follows a series of ascents and descents which provides views of Lake Desor, the Minong Ridge, and across Lake Superior to Canada. The trail will then make its final and steepest climb to the top of Mount Desor - elevation 1394 feet - which is the highest point on Isle Royale. We will pass Sugar Mountain, where, up until the 1870’s, Native Americans would tap the sugar maple trees for the sweet sap. From Sugar Mountain, the hike to Windigo and the Washington Creek Campground - which serves as our destination - is mostly downhill. As we near Windigo, the trail will make a rapid descent off of the Greenstone Ridge, which can be a rather sentimental moment as this means we are nearing the end of our Isle Royale adventure. We will pass the junction with the Minong Ridge Trail, and then just ahead is the Washington Creek Campground, which is just a very short distance from Windigo. Our stay at the Washington Creek Campground will give us some time to reflect on the trip and to prepare for the boat ride back to Grand Portage and the journey back to Nicolet late in the afternoon on the following day. We are all so excited about this trip, and hope to update you with some comments and stories from participants upon our return to camp a week from this coming Thursday. All of us are looking forward to Isle Royale 2003!

Featured
Next Issue...

Eco-Challenge Coverage...
& More pictures from camp!
Check back for full photo coverage of the Nicolet Eco-Challenge, and see more great pictures from camp!

Are you an alum interested in visiting camp this summer? Drop us a line!


A "PARTING SHOT" for this edition...



You think your gonna beat me in the CIT balloon pop contest?
YOU THOUGHT WRONG!




See other issues of the newsletter.