June 30, 2003

It's week two at Camp Nicolet, and we would like to welcome you to another exciting edition of News from Franklin Lake! This week we have lots of pictures to show you from some great events like Campfire, Picture Day, the First Session Talent Show, Wild-Wild West Night in the Dining Hall, and more! And, we want to get you all caught up on what's coming up at Camp Nicolet during Week 2, so please be sure to check out the events calendar. We're all gearing up for Nicolet's traditional Independence Day celebration at the end of the week, which includes fun games, more great food, and fireworks and a barndance at Red Arrow! Always an awesome time! And, of course, we're very happy to say that after a chilly couple of days at the end of last week, the weather has indeed warmed up and everyone is super happy that water activites like Skiing and Smallcraft are part of their daily routines! So, thanks for dropping by this week, enjoy the pictures, and Think Sunshine!

- Excellent Events At Nicolet -

June 30th, 2003:
Annual Camp Kawaga Sailing Regatta

July 2nd, 2003:
Week 2 Cookouts & Trail Adventures

July 4th, 2003:
Nicolet Independence Day Celebration!

July 5th, 2003:
Week 2 Campfire!

July 6th, 2003:
Northwoods Eco-Challenge & Vespers

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!

Head 'em Up... Move 'em Out!
Wild-Wild West Night 2003
photos by Georgi Starz


Welcome to the Wild West! Are you ready to rope some cows???

Rodeo fans watch the ropin'... meet the Nicolet cowboys! Howdy!

On With The Show! First Session Talent Show by Jeremy Starz Ladies and gentlemen... announcing the First Session Talent show... complete with Allison Schmidt and Rachel Stern - awesome Nicolet Junior Counselors - as your hosts! The talent show was held on Sunday, June 29th after the eveing Bar-B-Que, and featured one-of-a-kind acts from many Nicolet campers of all ages. The audience was treated to piano solos, a trumpet solo, a drum solo, dances, cheering routines, creative skits, stories, juggling, and more! Just when you thought the talent show couldn't get any better, the next act would take the stage and would continue to "WOW" the audience! Congratulations to all who participated and to the Nicolet Drama Staff on a job well done! Way to go!

Talented campers and great acts! It's the 1st Session Talent Show!

The Lakewood super-stars perform a skit about adventures at camp

"Each Campfire Lights Anew..."
by Jeremy Starz


Presenting the History of Camp Nicolet
& receiving cabin mascots at Opening Campfire 2003

Saturday night campfire has been a Nicolet tradition for as long as I can remember. I remember being very small - two or three years old - and attending Nicolet campfires with my grandparents, Ann and Wendall Schrader. We sang songs then like Pearly Shells, Witchcraft, White Wings, Boatman, and One Bottle of Pop, which we still sing now at campfires. It's amazing how the tradition of these songs hasn't faded a bit over the years, even though the people at camp - aside from just a few of us - are completely different than they were then; new campers, new staff, new people in general. But the magic of campfire exists in the concept that "Each Campfire Lights Anew" a year of old and new friends, new challenges, new goals to be met, and new learning experiences in activites, on trips, and in the cabin to be had. This past Saturday was the first campfire of 2003, and included a presentation on the early history of Camp Nicolet; stories of fur traders, Native Americans, glaciers, and early settlers. After this presentation, the campfire theme for 2003 - International Folklore - was kicked off with a skit about North America's Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox. Cabin mascots were also presented for the summer, which is always an exciting time for all cabins of all ages! This is also one of those long-standing Nicolet traditions. Here are some pictures from this past Saturday's campfire... enjoy!


Receiving cabin mascots is always an exciting time for campers!

Singing with friends - old and new - at campfire!

Campfire is another great time to hang out with your cabinmates!

Singing those traditional camp songs just can't be beat! Way cool!
Little Fawn rockin' out at campfire... "Nah, na-na-na, nah!"

"Be Advised..." Jeremy Starz In spring of 2002, the concept of an Advisory Board for Camp Nicolet was had. Through the next few months, past campers, past staff, current staff, past and present administrators, and past and present camp parents were recruited to sit on the new advisory board, officially established at the beginning of summer, 2002. While this may seem like old news, were are excited to tell you more about the board because of it's activities this past winter. At it's second meeting in Milwaukee in October 2002, a plan for the Camp Nicolet Foundation was established, which allows Nicolet to accept both cash and non-cash donation for Nicolet Camperships and program and site improvements. The foundation is established in honor of Ann and Wendall Schrader - Nicolet's founders and first directors - and celebrates the opportunities they gave to children to experience "learning to live together" in such a great, supportive environment. Through camperships, the foundation is able to give children who otherwise would not be able to attend a camp the opportunity to come to Nicolet and experience some of the great things which a recreational/ educational program has to offer. The establishment of this foundation was one of the Advisory Board's first projects, and has proven to be very successful. Although camp-related decisions are made solely by the camp owners, the Starz family, the board acts as a "sounding board" in assisting with weighty camp-related decisions. The expertise of the variety of people who sit on the board is key in making decisions which are deemed to be in the best interest of camp. Below is a picture of just some of the members of the new camp Advisory Board.

By Request... Spring at Camp! Jeremy Starz It seems more than ever that this year people have asked me, "Jer, what does camp look like before all the campers arrive?" Well, it just so happens that I have some really cool - no pun intended - pictures from around camp from this past spring. Check out the thawing lake (for you "Ice Off Contest" buffs), the flagpole, the trees, etc. It's, of course, a really different and really quiet place without all the energy and hustle and bustle of campers heading to and from activities. So, here are some pictures from spring 2003 at camp. Featured Next Week... Independence Day Coverage... & the Isle Royale Honors Trip! Check back for 4th of July photos and for full details on one of Nicolet's newest traditions - Isle Royale! Are you an alum interested in visiting camp this summer? Drop us a line!

Congratulations to our 2003 Nicolet Regatta Team...



SECOND PLACE OVERALL AT CAMP KAWAGA!

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