8-18-11 This morning is the final awards breakfast for the summer. Many dads will take off after breakfast, but some will stick around for a final morning of activities. The summer of 2011 was a fantastic one. We hope to see you all in 2012!

8-17-11 Today is the final day of activities for father/son camp. It's been a great week with a great group of dads and sons. Tonight is everybody's favorite...fathers vs. sons vs. counselors in the game of SCALP! The last campfire will close out the evening.

8-16-11 Today is guided fishing day, and all the slots are full for a great day of fishing with professional guides. Tonight's evening activity is the fathers vs. counselors in a softball game, followed by a campfire.

8-15-11 There was a consensus today among many people at camp that today was "the best day ever." The weather was beautiful, the people amazing...long lines at the ski dock and sprout ball games that went on for hours...and a picnic supper on the beach. Tonight is Fathers vs. Sons Capture the Flag, followed by a campfire. Don't forget to check out the pictures from Father Son camp on our Shutterfly site. (see link to the left)

8-14-11 Father/Son camp started today. There were lots of dads and sons here first thing in the morning to get a head start on the day. It was a gorgeous day today at camp. Not a whole lot of wind for sailing, but otherwise perfect...blue skies, sunshine, and just warm enough. For lunch we enjoyed chicken fajitas, and dinner was yummy spaghetti. There are lots of new faces this session, but also lots of old friends. We had a meeting after dinner to introduce the staff, then had time after dinner for some organized sports before the first campfire of the father/son session. We're off to a great start!

8-13-11 D session ended in a whirlwind of activity; the water campfire and final awards breakfast allowed many to put words to the feelings Deerhorn creates. A common theme was a feeling of home. I will be missing my home away from home and my Deerhorn family as we once again part ways for the school year. Camp is not over, yet, though! Ten boys are staying over for Father/Son camp, which will see the return of many veteran Deerhorn counselors (and former campers). Thanks for the memories, Deerhorn 2011. -Will

This morning was the final awards breakfast for regular sessions in 2011. It was bittersweet, as it has been an incredible summer. We still have a 5 day father/son camp that starts tomorrow, but our regular sessions are over for the summer. Many awards were passed out, including riflery awards, most improved awards, and patches for stars earned in activities. The Deerhorn Spirit Awards went to George Landsberg for juniors, Trevor Yamada for intermediates, and Daniel Toal for seniors. Outstanding Camper trophies went to Michael Thistlethwaite for juniors, Charlie Blackwell for intermediates, and Jack Landsberg for seniors. The David Ritchie Memorial Award for most improved swimmer went to Zach Mandel. The LLoyd Richmond Memorial sailing award went to Miguel Galofre. The Robinson Knife Award, which is given to the senior boy who has shown service and loyalty to camp, went to Henry Pollock. The Deeley Lyons Award for outstanding staff member was given to Mark Brooks. Congratulations, guys. You make us all so proud! For team competition totals for the summer, check out the Team Comp Updates link on this page. We have 10 boys staying over for tomorrow's Father/Son camp, and they will be having some fun activities at camp this afternoon.

8-12-11 Camp is nearing the end, and this summer couldn't have been more fun and exciting. From the kids, to the counselors, and all the directors, everything about Deerhorn was amazing. The past couple days have been very special and sports and games have been playing the classics, such as quiddich and klepton. Thursday night was the final campfire of the season and it was lead by Matty G, Yates Webb, and Mike Maicke on guitar. To change things up a bit, I brought out a keyboard and played some popular songs the kids could sing along to. Last night was the hilarious counselor show and for two hours the boys were falling out of their seats laughing so hard. Today is the final day of activities and sports and games is having multiple activities going on and letting the campers decide what they want to do! Lots of parents will be showing up today as tonight is the water campfire. As a first year counselor I am not sure what to expect other then some very emotional and inspiring speeches by the leaders and a few counselors. I couldn't have asked for a more incredible first summer at Camp Deerhorn, I am so happy to be a part of this family and I hope to come back for many years! -Matt

8-11-11 Today was the last full day of activities for the summer of 2011. Campers were so excited to play Klepton today in Sports and Games, and we all enjoyed the beautiful sunshine until mid-afternoon, when it rained for about an hour. Tonight is the counselor show, which is always a much-anticipated event among campers.

We had a great morning and afternoon! Esteban Lopez, Trevor Yamada, and Connor Husting all learned how to do the jean float and earned their gold stars! It was a great way to end their last swimming activity! -Brittni

8-10-11 Campers enjoyed french toast for breakfast this morning, pizza fries for lunch, and tortellini for dinner. The weather has definitely cooled off this week, but it hasn't slowed camp down one bit. Lots of kids are still working on stars in swimming and skiing, and there has been plenty of wind for sailing. Sports and Games entered the world of Harry Potter to play some games of "Quidditch" (minus the flying brooms) up on the soccer field. Chase Larson proved to be a very difficult "Golden Snitch" to catch. The cooler weather didn't stop lots of kids for lining up at G-Swim to go to the Rave. This session always goes so fast. It's hard to believe there are only 2 days left!

8-9-11 It was a bit colder today than it has been so far this session but the kids still made the best of it! Will Corson really enjoyed the slide; George Landsberg and Tate Phillips worked really hard to earn their blue star in the rain and they did it! More to come from the waterfront tomorrow! -Britt

8-8-11 Softball went off without a hitch this morning, until the clouds briefly darkened in the middle of the afternoon. This passed and, relieved, campers and counselors resumed their regular activities. Koogee 4 continues to explore and discover at Deerhorn. After discussing our days at milk line, and continuing Boy, Koogee 4, and I, were ready for bed. -Will

Sunday was a fantastic day filled with lots of fun. Kids slept in an hour later and words of wisdom was given by Matty G. The special event was the Deerhorn Olympics and kids participated in one activity for their team. Some of the fun events included wiffle ball, tennis, soccer, and the javelin throw. The Iroquois took first place and expanded their lead for the summer. Today, regular activities took place and sports and games played softball at Dick Kinney field. Tommy Kempf had a great game along with John McCabe and John Meyers who played very solid defense. The first scalp game of D session was the after dinner activity, and the Iroquois seniors won the majority of the matches. There is only four full days of camp left, all the campers and counselors are scared summer is almost over. -Matt

8-7-11 Today was the first Sunday of D session and the last Sunday of the summer. Matty G delivered a subtle, intelligent words of wisdom about the intangible aspects of camp one keeps with him upon leaving Deerhorn. The four camp teams competed in the Deerhorn Olympics after the bearing of the torch, with the Olympic theme playing during the ceremony. Campers competed in a variety of events, including tennis, baseball, basketball, soccer, hockey, a relay race, an iron man and rave tumbling. After another beautiful day in the sun, Deerhorn campers gathered around the campfire ring to rock into the night. -Will

Sundays at Deerhorn mean sleeping in an extra hour, and enjoying some rare free time at camp. There was a street hockey game on the skeeter and an ultimate frisbee game on the soccer field. Mattie G did the words of wisdom in the lodge before a 1pm lunchtime. This afternoon was the Deerhorn Olympics. Campers were excited to don their newly acquired team colors and compete in various events. Congratulations to the Iroquois on their victory! Dinner was hot dogs and brats in a picnic on the beach, followed by some time spent with their koogee. The day ended with a great campfire by our amazing performers.

8-6-11 Today each new camper was placed on one of the four teams and received their team shirt. The first team competition of D session was forced inside because of rain and thunder but the kids still had a blast. Ping pong, rafter ball and trivia replaced the outdoor activities and kids had fun while staying safe and dry. Earlier today in sports and games, Jack Landsberg played an amazing round of sprout ball, eliminating almost every other opponent. Tomorrow the boys will sleep in an hour later and have a fun relaxing day with a special event in the afternoon! -Matt

8-5-11 Today was the first full day of the final session of the summer: D session. Sports & Games played World Cup this morning; orientation is more in depth D session, because for many campers, it is their first year at Deerhorn. In Sports & Games, star requirements are earned by following the example of the Deerhorn creed, written in 1930 by Don C. Broadbridge. Although the lines from the creed were unfamiliar to the juniors, many campers made an effort to win modestly, lose gracefully, and have a kind word for the opposing side; see the other fellow's side of the question and strive for harmony; and to be a booster, rather than a knocker. After grilled cheese for lunch, a camp favorite, sailing with Koogee 4 was thrilling despite the relative lack of wind. I was on a boat with J.D., K.P., and Will; initially Will had the mainsheet and I had the tiller, but everyone got a chance to steer and harness the wind as we zigzagged across Pelican Lake. The rest of the afternoon passed like a pleasant dream one does not wish to wake from. Before bed, Koogee 4 began Boy, an autobiographical book by Roald Dahl. After two chapters, my campers were fast asleep :). D session has a different flavor than the other sessions, and I like it. -Will

It was a very fun but emotional end to the fantastic 3 week C session. It was hard saying goodbye to so many nice kids but we look forward to seeing them again next summer. The Iroquois are currently in the lead by a significant margin but the Apache are not out of it yet. D session has started and there are so many new, younger boys running around. For most of the boys it is their first summer here at camp and they seem to be loving everything about it. Today sports and games had a brief orientation to talk about rules and safety precautions followed by the exciting soccer game World Cup. Tonight the boys will be playing an all camp camper hunt, a game from the past that hasn't been played all summer. -Matt

Today was a great day on the waterfront! Beautiful weather allowed for everyone in swimming to earn their red stars. All the campers were really enthusiastic about their first day of activities. Hopefully tomorrow can be just as great. More to come from the waterfront tomorrow! -Britt

8-4-11 C session passed in the blink of an eye. With the older, more experienced campers and the return of the Voyagers, it is almost as if camp runs itself, especially once everyone has settled into the camp groove. The C session awards breakfast is always momentous, as all departing Voyagers are eligible for most outstanding senior. I had the privilege of presenting the most outstanding junior award to Philip Meyers, who I was lucky enough to have in my Koogee this session. Philip is a miraculous camper: mature, calm, positive and blithe; consequently his speech was very easy to write. It wasn't this mushy, though. Nick Charlton, another member of the Koogee 4 wolf pack, received the junior spirit award. Nick was a spike buck last year, and came to Father/Son 1 this year. I did not get to see much of him during Father/Son; I was showing Tom Mok the ropes in crafts; Nick spent most of his time in Sports & Games. Here, in his first full session at camp, on his own, Nick really made a name for himself. His enthusiasm and Joie de vivre were rare and inspiring. I remember meeting Nick on the first day and making his bed; he has grown and learned much in three weeks. I am very proud of all my campers and the strides they have made towards maturity and manhood. Their departure, and the memories we have shared make my heart swell unbearably. After an emotionally draining farewell, the 20 or so campers staying over, the leaders, Spellman, Bear and myself went to the YMCA, McDonald's and Cowboys vs. Aliens. It was a marathon day, and a sleepy bus ride back to camp after the film. Koogee 4's bunks are empty once again. Although the silence is not unwelcome, I am excited to begin D session. By this time in the summer, being a camp counselor is second nature. -Will

It was a beautiful day at Camp Deerhorn, with lots of sunshine and blue skies. As kids arrived, they were put into activity groups by age and spent the day playing sprout ball, tennis, and shooting archery. After rest hour, all of the kids who just arrived took their swim tests. The buses arrived around 3 and camp was full of lots of fresh faces. We had a meeting at 5 to introduce the staff, followed by spaghetti for dinner. The after dinner activity was Capture the Flag, with even numbered koogees facing off against the odd numbered koogees.

8-3-11 This morning was the awards breakfast for C Session. Lots of awards were passed out, including Most Improved Awards, riflery awards, and patches for stars earned. Congratulations to our 4 Perfect Warriors this session, who earned every star in camp while they were here...Ted Decker, Henry Pollock, Alex Mandel, and Jack Mignin. Tennis trophies went to Alex Trevino for juniors and Griff Parry for seniors. Spirit Awards went to Nick Charlton for juniors, Evan Bell for intermediates, and Alex Mandel for seniors. Outstanding Camper trophies were awarded to Philip Meyers for juniors, Bernardo Girault for intermediates, and Ted Decker for seniors. The Dr. Don C Broadbridge Memorial Horseback Riding trophy went to Alex Mandel. We had great music from Yates Webb and Mark Brooks, and a very moving speech from Danny Nordstrom. To find team totals at the end of this session, check out the Team Comp Updates on this page. This afternoon the 20 kids who are staying over are heading to the YMCA in town to swim and waterslide. Then they'll go to McDonald's for dinner and then to see a movie. It's a beautiful sunny day here at Camp Deerhorn, which we're grateful for after yesterday morning's storms.

8-2-11 Thunderstorms began last night and continued through the morning. However, kids still had tons of fun at their activities, like mud sliding, arts and crafts, and board games in the lodge. Luckily the rain quit by lunchtime so that our afternoon of fun could go on. Today we are celebrating Dick Kinney Day, in honor of the most amazing counselor who has been on staff for the last 30 years. It was a fun afternoon of carnival games and prizes, followed by a long game of Scalp, and finally the counselor show after dinner. It was agreed by many that it was one of the best days of the summer.

8-1-11 After a rousing breakfast announcement confirming camper's suspicions, Sports & Games played Klepton for C session's last day of activities. As C session comes to a close, time seems to pass even more quickly; I spend as much of it as I can with Koogee 4, who I will be missing grately Wednesday afternoon. The evening activity tonight was Civil War, a camp favorite, combining elements of scalp and capture the flag. Everyone was exhausted after milkline, discussing stars earned at the last minute while searching the laundry bags in the lodge. Sleep came quickly and easily for Koogee 4 tonight. The camp schedule is second nature now. -Will

Lots of fun activities and excitement have taken place the past two days at camp. Yesterday the kids had an awesome time during the monkey relays as the Apache, led by Vicente Garcia, swiftly moved along winning first place and 10,000 points. The Iroquois came in second followed by the Navajo and finally the Chips. An amazing camp fire was the perfect way to finish up an incredible day of fun. Mark Brooks, Dave Littman and Yates Webb are always fun to watch, but the song of the night had to go to Palmer Hitchens and Johnny Sudekum who sang the song Tribute by Tenacious D. All the counselors agree that it was the best camp fire of the year! The fun continued today with the last full day of activities. The boys gave it their all to earn stars and try to help their teams get points. Sports and games played the intergalactic game of Klepton, where kids try and capture the opposing teams ion and run back to their side without getting their flag pulled. Everyone showed great hustle and sportsmanship and it was the perfect ending to sports and games. Tonight the kids will be playing Civil War for evening activity. This is the most anticipated game of the session and kids were going crazy in the dining hall when it was announced. Tomorrow is the last full day of C session, I cannot believe how fast this summer is going by. -Matt

It was a great day on the waterfront! We did soap and slide in swimming today and the kids had a ton of fun! Parker North flew down the slide with a huge smile on his face. Tomorrow morning is the last full day of camp, I can't believe how fast C session flew by! More to come from the waterfront tomorrow! -Brittni

7-31-11 Today is the monkey relays, a Sunday activity which utilizes every activity at camp. I watched the drama unfold on the golf green. Vicente Garcia was the first to reach the green, tagging an anxious Robbie Turnbull. Despite being the youngest chipper, and the first to go, Robbie accomplished his goal of landing two golf balls in the designated area in only 3 strokes, faster by a significant margin than all three campers that followed him. The Apache used this momentum to cinch a first place finish in the monkey relays. For Koogee time, Koogees 4 and 7 had a casino night in the lodge for fabulous prizes. An unforgettable campfire marked the end of another stellar Sunday at Camp Deerhorn. -Will

It was a gorgeous day at camp. Perfect sunshine and a breeze off the lake. There were awesome games of roller hockey and ultimate frisbee this morning, followed by the words of wisdom by Jake Mandel. This afternoon was the most-anticipated event of the summer-the Monkey Relays. Congratulations to the Apaches on their victory!

7-30-11 In the morning, Sports & Games played Quidditch; groups 11 and 12 had the opportunity to chase not one but two golden snitches: Palmer Taylor and Ryan Farrell. Inigo Banos and Finley Turnbull caught Ryan before Philip Meyers and Nick Charlton caught Palmer, resulting in a Slytherin victory. Although Inigo was ecstatic after his first game as seeker, he voiced a strong desire to be sorted into Gryffindor next year. -Will

Voyager was amazing! We started our trip off hiking in the Porcupine Mountains in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. The boys had a great time swimming in Lake Superior, cooking outdoors, and challenging their physical abilities on the trails. We ended our hiking portion at Lake of the Clouds; a beautiful spot to end. After hiking we got on the bus and headed to Bayfield, WI where we would start the kayaking portion of the trip in the Apostle Islands. My group of 8 had a long haul the first day but it was great to get on the water and paddle with them! We had beautiful weather the second day of kayaking and we enjoyed it on one of the island's docks. We were able to end the kayak portion on Sand Island where the boys saw some breathtaking sea caves that were truly a testament to Lake Superior's beauty. All the boys were so great on the trip. They were really able to come together and work as a team but still add their own individual touches to things. It's great to be back at camp, tomorrow is supposed to be another fantastic day in the Northwoods! -Brittni

Big storms today moved all activities inside where the kids voted on watching Napoleon Dynamite. Sports and games began the day playing quidditch, the fun and exciting game based on Harry Potter. Tonight is the all camp variety show where kids will be showing off their talents. Some kids have been working on skits and dances while others will be showing off their musical talents. Tomorrow is the monkey relays which is undoubtedly the most exciting Sunday event of the year!-Matt

7-29-11 Hot and sunny was the forecast for today at camp. Sports and games played baseball for the first half of the day then headed on down to the water front for some water basketball. Charlie Wells showed off his power as hit he a home run for his team and Ryan Shearson lead his basketball team to a victory. The one week Spike Buck campers left today and made room for the voyagers who returned home from their 8 day adventure. Evening activity tonight is scalp, a long time camper favorite! -Matt

7-28-11 Time is flying by here at camp. There is only one week left in C session and the monkey relays are right around the corner. Sports and games has been having a blast the past couple days playing sprout ball yesterday and handball today. Indian ball was played last night by the intermediates, a version of dodge ball where the playing field gets bigger and smaller by the minute. In riflery, CJ Yager and Alex Mandel have been the best sharp shooters this session both scoring a remarkable 46 points. -Matt

Handball on the soccer field was the foundation of another beautiful day at Deerhorn. Despite a rather cool, dark morning, the gray clouds passed, revealing a nourishing July sun. With only a few days of activities left in C session, voyagers returning and spike bucks leaving, and the monkey relays looming on the horizon, Deerhorn is abuzz with activity. Steak Fajitas for dinner tonight has got my stomach rumbling in anticipation. More to come tomorrow from S & G! -Will

7-27-11 Today Sports & Games played Sproutball on the soccer field during a light morning mist. Thankfully by the afternoon the sun had come out -- the rain coats disappeared and the day progressed as normal. Robbie Turnbull and I played an intense game of Battleship the only period we took shelter in the lodge. The townspeople won the game of mafia that was simultaneously occurring in the lodge, a rare feat.- Will

When we all awoke this morning, our beautiful weather had turned into a downpour of rain. Luckily, the rain only lasted until mid-morning, and then activities were able to resume as normal. Kids loved playing Sprout Ball in Sports and Games today.

7-26-11 Today was the perfect Northern Wisconsin weather day. Blue skies, breeze off the lake, cool in the morning, and plenty warm by the afternoon. Younger kids in sailing class enjoyed playing on the sailboards and Sports and Games played flag football up on the soccer field. Today was also another letter day, so kids had to turn in a letter home at dinner.

7-25-11 Today I bounced around a bit, filling in for counselors in archery and canoeing. Archery was par for the course, but conversations with Evan Bell about Batman made the morning fly by. Canoeing with longtime friend Yates Webb was a nice change of pace. The wind was fierce today -- a healthy challenge for any sailor, but an imposing challenge to anyone, regardless of age, in an canoe. We took the opportunity to kayak past "The Point," and go exploring in one of lake Pelican's channels. Alvaro Girault made great company on the float boat as we listened to The Beach Boys and discussed the complexities of life. -Will

Today was another fantastic day at camp. We celebrated two birthdays at camp, one was Dottie Gauvreau who has been on the nursing staff for 10 years and the other was Diego Banos who turned 12 years old today. Sports and games played the exciting game of world cup, and the kids escaped the heat by jumping on the water trampoline (rave) during general swim. For team competition tonight, the juniors played nukem, intermediates played flag football and the seniors played street hockey. -Matt

Today was another beautiful day at Camp Deerhorn and a great day of regular activities. The E Session kids have settled into camp well and are excited for their first day of regular activities. The Voyagers have finished their backpacking section and launched their kayaks from Bayfield, heading into the Apostle Islands. They are healthy and happy and excited to get on the water.

7-24-11 Attack of the Sioux today perfectly divided camp into five teams: Navajo, Apahce, Chippewa, Iroquois and Sioux (the staff!). Campers and counselors competed in events inspired by American Gladiator; Powerball against the Seniors was a great warm-up for Scalp third period. The assistant counselors faced off against the juniors on the baseball diamond, and the counselors relived their glory days on the soccer field against campers 13 years and older. The weather stayed sweet and hot during the campfire until it was time for bed. Another successful week at CDH. -Will

Sunday was a very exciting day at Camp Deerhorn as the counselors squared off against the campers in the attack of the Sioux. Some of the fun events included balco ball home run derby, powerball, and scalp. The counselors (Sioux team) won most events but the campers had our number in almost every scalp round. A cookout on the beach was for dinner followed by koogee time and finally a campfire to end the night. Mark Brooks, Matty G, Yates Weeb and Danny Nordstrom amazed all of us with their guitar playing and singing but everyone who played was great. -Matt

Sunday morning at Camp Deerhorn means sleeping in an extra hour...but it also means lots of great activities during a morning of rare "free time" for our campers. There was a game of street hockey on the Skeeter, a game of Ultimate Frisbee on the soccer field, and a game of sprout ball and nuke 'em for our E session kids. Will Kocher gave our "Words of Wisdom" at noon, followed by lunch at one. This afternoon was the Sunday event "Attack of the Sioux," where the counselors take on the four camp teams in various activities, culminating in a much-anticipated game of 5 team Scalp. Tonight we had dinner on the beach, followed by koogee time. Sunday will end, as it always does, with a campfire.

7-23-11 Today begins E Session, when our "Spike Bucks" join us for a week. These kids are 7-10 and have never been to camp before. It certainly adds a great deal more energy to camp. They always come in with so much enthusiasm and excitement about camp that it reminds us all why we're here. They all got tours of camp, then took their swim tests and were off to activities. We had a short thunderstorm during rest hour, but it stopped quickly and afternoon activities resumed as normal. Sports and Games played slip and slide kickball on the soccer field this morning. Check out the great pictures on our Shutterfly site. (See the link on the left.)

7-22-11 The Voyagers left this morning at 7am and were really excited to finally be going. They will hike for three days in the Porcupine Mountains in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, then spend 5 days sea kayaking in the Apostle Islands of Lake Superior. Back at camp, we all settled back into the normal activity schedule again, after having different activities while the Lake Superior Trip was gone. The weather was pleasantly cooler this morning, but definitely got warm this afternoon. Lots of sunshine and beautiful breezes off the lake made for a great afternoon of sailing, but there were lots of first time skiers and wakeboarders today too.

7-21-11 Voyager packing today! It was great packing on the lower basketball court and getting all the final pieces together. The boys are all really excited and ready to go as are the leaders. I'll make sure to have some great stories, memories, and pictures when I come back! See you on the 29th! -Brittni

The kids returned today from the Lake Superior trip and it seems like they all had a great time. Highlights from the trip include a trip to the zoo, the waterfalls at Copper Falls, and a pizza party. Kids slept outside in sleeping bags and really loved the experience. Team competition resumed tonight with ultimate frisbee, and water handball. The boys are all exhausted from the trip and should fall asleep right away tonight! -Matt

7-20-11 Camp was very quiet today as 70 boys took off for the annual Lake Superior overnight trip. Once again it was very hot at camp but the strong winds created a nice breeze which made it very comfortable. Lots of groups were sent down to the waterfront as sailing, canoeing and the rave were among the most popular activities. Tomorrow the boys arrive back at camp around general swim time ready to start week two of C session. -Matt

It was a very busy day at camp. The Lake Superior Trip left this morning after breakfast with 66 kids and a handful of staff. Everyone was very excited. They'll head north, stopping at Wildwood Animal Park in Minocqua, before arriving in Bayfield, gateway to the Apostle Islands. They'll take a ferry across to Madeline Island and spend the day playing on the beach. Tonight they'll camp on the mainland, and have a campfire. Tomorrow morning they'll spend some time in Bayfield before heading home. On the way, they'll stop for a hike at Copper Falls State Park. It's always a great trip. The kids who stayed at camp were put into different activity groups and did a different schedule of activities than normal. Most of the activities involved the waterfront, as it was 94 degrees today! Thank goodness for the great wind off the lake. Tonight they are pumped up to play all camp Scalp on the soccer field. The Voyagers spent the afternoon packing the food for their 8 day trip. They'll pack all their gear and the boats tomorrow and then head off Friday morning. All of camp was excited by the announcement that we are sleeping in an extra hour tomorrow morning!

7-19-11 Today, before the superior trip and voyager, Sports & Games played a camp favorite: Sprout Ball. It was brought to camp by Mitch Dudek many years ago, becoming an instant classic among after-dinner activities. It's something like a never ending dodgeball game in a circle of death. While you are sitting out, waiting for the person who hit you with the sprout ball to get out, you help fellow campers by "Sprouting" them, since you can't run with the ball. It's complicated, but kids catch on fast. In fact, 90% of kids today already knew the rules. Playing with Charlie Blackwell in the afternoon when the summer heat was intense was a boost of energy, even though at 12 he has a better arm than me. Thankfully the rain was avoided until milkline, where Koogee 4 dried off and discussed plans for tomorrow: the superior trip. It's Inigo Banos' maiden voyage, which he will enjoy with his brother Diego, and a few other lucky campers and counselors. -Will

The storms yesterday washed out a few activities but Scalp was played in the evening which made everyone at Deerhorn happy. The Navajo won its first two games of the year and the Chippewa picked up a win as well. The sun was shining all day today as kids were earning their red stars left and right. Sports and games played sprout ball, a camp favorite, and many activities headed down to the waterfront because of the warm temperatures. Lunch today was grilled cheese and tomato soup which all the boys love and look forward to. Tonight the kids will head back to the waterfront for water basketball and a sand castle contest. There is never a dull moment here in the Northwoods! -Matt

7-18-11 The waterfront was great today! A few clouds and one thunderstorm in the afternoon but overall the campers had a great day in the water! Robbie Turnbull, Jacob Robb, Michael Thistlethwaite, and Conor Husting worked really hard today and earned their blue stars. We had almost an all staff attendance during g-swim this afternoon to beat the heat. More to come from the waterfront tomorrow! -Brittni

7-17-11 Today was a peculiar day. After a lovely extra hour of rest, Deerhorn stayed hydrated with Water Wars. The entire camp was down at the Beach, Broadbridges and all, kayaking, canoeing, and rave-quaking all afternoon. The clouds parted, and by the leader gunnels, everyone was cheering in the sunshine for their respective teams. Cool stuff. -Will

Sunday is a great change of pace here at Deerhorn. Everyone is well rested from the extra hour of sleep and ready for a great day. Ultimate frisbee and roller hockey are always played after breakfast, and lots of kids showed up ready for some action. The words of wisdom today was by Mark Brooks who had an incredible speech on staying young and being a productive member here at camp. This afternoon the activities will be taken down to the waterfront for some water wars, which is perfect for this hot summer day. Tonight is the first C session camp fire and the talented Deerhorn musicians have been practicing guitar all day. -Matt

7-16-11 Another hot one on the soccer field! Today we played Ultimate, a great game to learn names and work up a sweat. The teamwork and sportsmanship so far this session has been fantastic -- the experience and maturity of the campers is awesome. Koogee 4 is criminally chill this session; looking forward to more quality time with Smitty and the boys! -Will

It was hot and humid today at camp. Suntan lotion and water breaks were essential for the campers to stay safe and hydrated. Sports and games played ultimate frisbee, and crafts began working on lanyards. Charlie Beauregard had a great game scoring 3 times for his team and Patty Ray showed lots of enthusiasm on defense. Tonight's koogee competition includes hand ball, Indian ball, and street hockey. Tomorrow is Sunday and everyone is excited to sleep in an extra hour! -Matt

7-15-11 Today I took 40 kids who were here B session, and 4 other counselors to a water park about an hour away. The boys had a great time going down many different water slides, floating in the lazy river and playing water basketball. They also enjoyed eating pizza and having a soda for lunch. The new campers stayed at camp and had orientation to the activities which included rules, safety regulations, and different ways to obtain stars. Tonight is the second night of Koogee competition and by Sunday each kid will be placed on one of four teams. -Matt

The first full day of C session is going so well! We had some clouds this morning but the boy still managed to have fun on the beach! Clayton, Will P., and Will N., really tore up the slide during 3rd period activities. We're supposed to start getting some really warm weather so we'll see what's in store for the waterfront tomorrow! -Brittni

Today is orientation day at Deerhorn; Tom Mok is on the water park trip, so I am reprising my role as crafts counselor. The change of scenery in nice, and examining the changes to the craft shop walls is always interesting. After only 2 years (since my summer in the craft shop), the walls are covered with an entirely new crop of camper's ideas. Giving the orientation gives me that old familiar feeling, as I remind campers that the only thing limiting them in the craft shop are their own imaginations. Lanyards, ahoy! -Will

7-14-11 C session is surreal -- I feel like I know everyone at camp. Faces emerge from crowds walking to and from the lodge which spark forgotten memories of summers gone by. Here in my 10th year at Deerhorn, everyone, including myself, keeps getting older. I remember Alex Mandel's first year at camp; now he is 14, entering his 5th week at camp this summer. I am giddy with excitement anticipating Koogee 4 this session with Alex Smith. We have Inigo Banos in our Koogee, Diego Banos' younger brother. I was friends with Diego during his first year at camp: now I have the opportunity to be Inigo's counselor during his first year, something I never imagined. Koogee 4 is full of younger brothers, actually: Turnbull, Temple, Meyers; all receiving help from their older brothers settling in at camp. I grew up with two sisters who attending camp Red Pine, so these displays of fraternity warm my heart. So here's to C session 2011: lets make the most of our time together, Camp Deerhorn! -Will

Today marks the first day of C session at Camp Deerhorn. Some kids have already moved into their koogees and most will be arriving at 3:00 on the bus. Some activities going on now include tennis, sprout ball, kickball and crafts. Swim tests will need to be taken by all the new kids, and the cool temperatures might make it hard to dive in. If C session is anything like A or B, then the next three weeks should be a blast! -Matt

7-13-11 This morning was the awards breakfast for B Session. Lots of awards were passed out, including tennis trophies, most improved awards, riflery awards and individual patches for points earned in stars. Yates Webb and Mark Brooks provided great guitar entertainment and Max Turner gave a short speech. Spirit awards went to Henry Freedman for junior, Zion Brown for intermediate, and Bobby Thomas for senior. Outstanding camper awards went to Guillermo Alejo for junior, Frankie Mayfield for intermediate, and Griff Bryant for senior. Great job guys! We had about 40 kids stay over for C session and they had an amazing afternoon. They sailed and played tennis, but the hands down favorite was the bungee trampoline. Check out some awesome pictures on our Shutterfly site. Dinner was Domino's pizza on the beach, then campers watched a movie in the lodge. All in all a great day at Camp Deerhorn!

B session ends in a whirlwind of activity: a social with camp Clearwater, the counselor show, cleaning (in Koogee 4!), and the awards breakfast. Here in the dog days of summer the hours blur with excitement and activity. I am looking forward to my new Koogee arrangement: I am going to be shacking up with Alex Smith and Inigo Banos. C session has been and always will be my favorite session; time to rest up and reflect before embarking upon the second half of the summer. -Will

7-12-11 Today was the last day of B session and regular activities took the first half of the day followed by team competitions the rest of the day. Seniors participated in the Viking Ship races, which is a race with two canoes tied together and 16 kids on a team. Other fun activities included gasebolf, scalp, nukem, and baseball. Tonight is the hilarious counselor show which all the kids love and always walk out with a big smile. -Matt

7-11-11 Camp Deerhorn is hosting a social this afternoon with Clearwater. The 14,15, and16 year old boys are all really excited about it! The residents of the Hen House and I have invited all the thirteen year old boys to dinner and a movie, should be fun! -Brittni

Today was a very exciting day at Camp Deerhorn. After going a few years without a social, about 40 girls ages 14 and up from Camp Clearwater made their way to our camp grounds for a fun filled day of activities, food and dancing. Everyone had a great time and we hope to have them back soon. Though the 13 year olds weren't old enough for the social, they got to go in town to see Transformers 3 and have a bite to eat at the famous Birchwood. Juniors spent the afternoon on a treasure hunt for gold running around the entire camp. There is only 1 day left in B session, it will be sad to see everyone leave. -Matt

7-10-11 Early showers this morning quickly departed and made way for a hot and sunny day. Craig "Bear" Miller inspired camp with his words of wisdom as he talked about dedication and hard work. The special event for today was the ever popular chariots of fire as the campers try to slay the gods (counselors) for pieces of the chariot. After each piece is collected the leader begins to build his chariot and once completed his teams pulls them to the finish line. Tonight will be the weekly camp fire where Deerhorns' finest musicians will amaze us all. Life at camp is amazing! -Matt

Sunday again! After an extra hour of sleep and a rousing words of wisdom by Bear, Deerhorn was ready to take advantage of the gorgeous July weather. Today's Sunday special event was chariots of fire; the four camp teams assembled chariots on the soccer field. The various parts of the chariot were divvied out to the counselors at Deerhorn, each the "God" of an activity. "God slayers" ran around camp, challenging the various counselors at their preferred activity. Once the campers defeated the Gods in combat, they ran the pieces back to the soccer field to be assembled by their leaders. This year first place came down to the wire -- Vicente, the Apache leader and Mark Deacon, the Iroquois leader both began constructing their chariots at the same time. As Mark Deacon edged out Vicente, and his team pulled him across the soccer field, two voyagers holding either side of the dolly, the "Chariot's of Fire" theme was playing in my head. -Will

This morning started off a little rainy but the afternoon was beautiful! Chariots of Fire went really well and it came down to a close assembly between the Iroquois and the Apache, with Quois pulling it out in the end. Campfire was awesome; Alex Mandel, Frankie Mayfield, Patty Ray, and Carl Anderson all showcased their musical talents. More from the waterfront tomorrow! -Brittni

7-9-11 Today was another great day in the Northwoods as the storms held off. Klepton, a Deerhorn favorite, was played throughout the day in sports and games. A unique version of capture the flag, Klepton lets the boys use their imagination as Pluto and Mars battle for control of the solar system. If it couldn't get any better, team competition tonight is Civil War which the kids are very excited to play! Tomorrow is Sunday and everyone is ready for that extra hour of sleep! -Matt

Today was a day of warfare: Sports & Games waged intergalactic war on the soccer field with Klepton, and the after dinner activity was Civil War, second in popularity only to scalp (and maybe skeeterball). Both incorporate elements of scalp and capture the flag, which begins to explain their popularity and sheer awesomeness. Klepton was created on a whim by the Sports & Games counselors my voyager year: Hootie, Herrman and Suds, simply by throwing a bunch of things together they felt were the components of the "ultimate" game. I hope Roffe, Funk and I can put our heads together and try and create a game. Or at least introduce a new one here at Deerhorn. The bar has been set very high. -Will

7-8-11 A beautiful day on the waterfront today, with 80+ degree weather! Grant Papastefan, Declan Graver, T.J. Farrell, Parker Frautschi, and Henry Freedman worked really hard towards their gold stars in swimming today, keep up the hard work boys! More to come from the waterfront tomorrow! -Brittni

Hot and sunny was the forecast today at camp and basketball had to be moved down to the water front because of the heat. Sports and games played the infamous sprout ball on the soccer field, and tennis matches continued for the tournament. Sailing took out the sail boards which is basically wind surfing without the sail and boys of all ages had a blast. Team competition games included balco ball for the intermediates, water basketball for the seniors, and a sand castle contest for the juniors. Another fantastic day here at Camp Deerhorn! -Matt

7-7-11 In honor of the upcoming 7th Harry Potter film, today we played Quidditch. I dressed up as Harry Potter for the occasion (I've already got the dark brown hair, glasses, and green eyes); after adding a sharpie lightning bolt to my forehead and bursting into the dining room to announce Quidditch, anticipation had reached a fever pitch. Although many volunteered, only two campers per period could fill the coveted role of seeker, chasing the Golden Snitch all around Deerhorn. Since today was Matt Roffe's day off, he was the Golden Snitch twice this morning. It was his first time being the snitch, so I made Deigo Banos a seeker, a studly camper who had captured me as the snitch last year. I think Roffe underestimated the tenacity of an adrenaline fueled seeker: Roffe was captured minutes before the bell rang by Deigo, cinching a win for Gryffindor. -Will

7-6-11 Today Sports & Games played Gase bolf. Like a Bappy Hirthday, everything about Gase bolf is mixed up: you tee off at home plate with a Tennis ball, and you run to third base first, following the bases in a reverse pattern. I was astonished when Grant Papastefan scored a homerun -- the first I have ever seen as a Sports & Games counselor. Koogee 4 continues to make headway in The Hatchet every night before bed. I hope we can finish by the end of the session! Will

Today was another fantastic day at Camp Deerhorn. Sunny and 80 degrees is the perfect recipe for a full day of activities. Sports and games played gasebolf which is played like baseball except the batter hits a tennis ball with a golf club. There was only one home run hit out of Dick Kinney field and that was accomplish by the big swinging Grant Papastefan. Tonight I will be the officer of the day which means I will be walking around koogee row making sure the kids are safe and quite in their beds around 9PM. Tomorrow is the exciting counselor hockey game where kids will be able to bet on who they think will score a goal in order to win some candy. Time is flying by here at at camp! -Matt

7-5-11 When I was a camper, the activity "Sports & Games" was "Soccer/Baseball." In Sports & Games, although we have a lot of fun, there is still an emphasis on self-improvement and building basic athletic skills; consequently we played Soccer and World Cup today: one is a sport and the other is a game. Most of the groups chose to play World Cup, but the voyagers and the 13-year-old campers decided to play soccer instead. Usually the energy wanes in the 3rd period in the afternoon, but Griff Gardener turned up the heat, scoring two jaw-dropping goals. I can see his relation to Nick Kerr. Reffing Senior scalp with Sadie Grace was the perfect way to end my day. -Will

There has been a lot going on at Camp Deerhorn the past couple days. 4th of July was a blast here at camp, from the land and water relays to the counselor softball game and best of all the fireworks. Kids had normal activities in the morning and team competitions all afternoon. After all the activities kids enjoyed chicken tenders and potatoes on the beach. There was patriotic songs being sung during all meals, and red, white, and blue proudly worn by all. The weather could not have been nicer! Today things got back to normal at camp. Sports and games played the popular game of World Cup where teams of two compete against other groups and represent one country. Griff Gardner had an amazing game scoring two goals, along with Jimmy Toussaint who had an outstanding game. A few thunderstorms in the area interrupted general swim, so kids took time to write to their loved ones back home. Tonight the kids will be playing scalp, the most fun team competition here at camp. Deerhorn hockey has also begun for some kids and the counselors have been practicing for the game on Thursday. Life is great here in the Northwoods. -Matt

7-4-11 Happy Birthday America! Camp Deerhorn, one of the most patriotic places I know, celebrated our triumph over Britain so many years ago. Things started at Breakfast with decorations form the A.C.'s and a rousing recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance. Unlike last year's Fourth of July Relays, where I was an Iroquois judge for Mack in the rain, today was absolutely gorgeous. Watching Mark Deacon's studly Iroquois place first in bat spin and potato sack relays on this perfect July day was poetic. -Will

Happy Fourth of July! Such a busy day! In the morning we had regular activities but the kids were definitely showing their nation's pride with a range of t-shirts and tattoos. This afternoon we did Fourth of July Relays which were a ton of fun! All the kids had a great time with the potato sack races and the greased watermelon. Lillies and Lubbers game tonight followed by fireworks. It's going to be a great night! -Brittni

7-3-11 Today was filled with fun activities and the weather continued to stay beautiful. The boys got an extra hour of sleep followed by breakfast, free time and words of wisdom, provided by Yates Weeb. After rest hour the campers faced off against the counselors in the Olympics. Different events included ultimate frisbee, archery, tennis, iron man, basketball, soccer and more. Once again the campers beat up on us counselors and everyone had a blast. After dinner was Koogee time where each Koogee gets together for an hour to do something as a group. Some kids went to the rave or played water basketball, my Koogee played tennis and took batting practice on Dick Kinney field. A camp fire is the perfect way to end such a great day!-Matt

Another beautiful Sunday here at Camp Deerhorn. Today's Sunday event was the Camper vs. Counselor Olympics: the camp leaders place the counselors in activities they lack expertise in, so that the campers stand a fighting chance. Sadie, Claire and I were placed in basketball, which is crazy, since I used to go to basketball camps in middle school; we lost 22-0 to the senior campers. Many members of the Deerhorn family are visiting for the 4th of July, which led to an impossibly good campfire, ended by "Tears in Heaven," played by Max Turner. -Will

7-2-11 Wow. Another hot one on the soccer field. Deerhorn campers cooled off on the Slip n' Slide when scoring a run in kickball today on the soccer field. Even in the blistering heat Henry Freedman managed to score 3 home runs, a feat we discussed over pulled pork sandwiches. Since I was at the waterpark yesterday, today was my first chance to see the voyagers in activities: it's going to be a great session. -Will

80 degrees and sunny makes for the perfect Deerhorn day. Sport and games took advantage of the sun by playing slip and slide kickball at the soccer field. Henry Freedman carried his junior group by hitting two home runs and driving in 6 RBI's. Tennis is getting ready for the tournament by playing doubles matches all day. Team competitions are continuing tonight with soccer, volleyball, and baseball. Tomorrow is Sunday and the boys are excited to sleep in the extra hour and have special events going on all day! -Matt

Beautiful day on the waterfront! Basketball and horseback riding made appearances at the beach to cool off from the heat of the Skeeter and stables. We went on the Rave a lot today but it was a great time! Tomorrow's Sunday event is Camper vs. Counselor Olympics, should be a good one. Hoping for more gorgeous beach weather tomorrow! -Brittni

7-1-11 I got to go to the water park today with the multi-session campers: it was incredible! I had a transcendental moment laying down next to Warren Van Ryzin as an enormous bucket of water came falling down upon our heads. George Lyman set the new hi-score on the arcade basketball machine: skills he clearly learned from Kevin Crawford. Charlie Young, a new member of my Koogee, was my partner on the "Sasquatch," a giant toilet bowl water slide. Everyone had a blast escaping the heat in the water park, young and old. Can't wait to get back to Sports & Games tomorrow. -Will

The first official day of activities for B session was extremely fun, but very hot. The heat was tough to fight through but plenty of sun screen and water breaks made things possible. Sports and games explained the rules and regulations for about 20 minutes and finished off the period with ultimate frisbee. Tonight is the first Koogee competition and the boys seem ready to get back out in the heat. Games being played are Indian ball, and flag football. -Matt

6-30-11 The new counselors and campers have already given B session a unique flavor. Swim tests, unpacking and introductions have everyone excited and exhausted. The traditional spaghetti dinner and capture the flag were the entertainments of evening. While preparing for capture the flag, my new Koogee mates were a few clothing items short of the required apparel but problem solved by offering each other long socks, extra pants and white shirts. I can't wait to get to know them better! -Will

B session at Camp Deerhorn has arrived and the kids are bouncing off the wall with excitement. After taking the dreaded swim test and organizing their koogee, boys were off exploring camp figuring their way around and making new friends. There are about 150 kids from all over the United States including a big group of boys from Mexico. After a long welcome meeting the kids enjoyed spaghetti with meat sauce and are now playing all camp capture the flag. The weather is perfect and the start to B session couldn't have been better. The next two weeks will be a blast! -Matt

Start of B Session today! It is so great seeing so many campers running all over the place! Swim tests went really well today and it was fantastic to see all the Voyagers come to camp and reunite! More to come from the waterfront tomorrow! -Brittni

6-29-11 The first session has come to an end and it's amazing how fast it went. There were many special activities going on the last two days including team competitions, talent shows and the ever popular counselor show. Many boys played an instrument, sang a song, danced or even acted out skits. They worked hard during rest hour and general swim getting ready and each act was fantastic. The team competitions also played a big part the last few days. Each of the four teams played hard throughout the last two weeks, but the Iroquois are currently in the lead, followed by the Apache in a close second place. There is still lots of time for the Navajo and Chippewa to make a run for first place and I have a feeling they will. It is very quiet at Camp Deerhorn today. All but about 35 kids left camp today and it was sad seeing them leave on the bus and saying our final goodbye. For the kids who are staying for B session, they get to enjoy a climbing wall set up on Dick Kinney baseball field. It is a tough challagnge that the boys seem to be really enjoying. Almost every kid has moved koogees and they are busy getting all there stuff organized for another exciting two weeks. If the upcoming session is anything like the first session, we are all in for a treat! Over 100 kids will be arriving tomorrow and the staff is eager to meet their new koogee mates. -Matt

6-28-11 Last day of A Session, it was such a beautiful day for it; warm and sunny weather. This morning we did regular activities and some campers took advantage of their last chance to earn blue stars. This afternoon it was all team competition. Scalp was great to watch, tons of high energy. Counselor show tonight and awards breakfast tomorrow, I'll let you all know how it goes! -Brittni

This afternoon all campers participated in team competition, which culminated in scalp. Afterwards was the counselor show: a storied Deerhorn tradition where the counselors put on skits for the campers. I was lucky enough to be the 2nd day in the 12 days of Deerhorn (a camper who cannot find the bathroom). After the counselor show, the entire camp linked arms for a solemn rendition of "Deerhorn Hall" for the last time this session. -Will

We had quite a downpour last night at dinner time, but the skies have cleared to make for a great last day. Last night's talent show was full of great acts, like Koogee 6's penguin song and the guitar talent of Asher Motew, Frankie Mayfield, and Alex Mandel. Zion Brown showed us his awesome dance moves as well. Check out video on our Facebook page, www.facebook.com/campdeerhorn. Today campers had a last morning of activities and then an afternoon of three periods of team competition, ending with a final scalp game. Tonight is the counselor show, one of the campers' favorite events.

6-27-11 Today was the last full day of activities, which meant intergalactic warfare on the soccer field in the form of Klepton. Mark Deacon was the first leader to earn his red star, an arduous process, by playing with the juniors this morning for the fiery war planet: Mars. Klepton has elements of scalp, capture the flag and dodgeball, which is to say it is awesome. Zach Mandel and Zev Motew were locked in mortal combat for nearly the entire second period in the afternoon; the ensuing "breakdown" in the rain resulting in extraordinary volume levels. -Will

Today was a little bit cloudy on the waterfront but Group 9 definitely made the best out of it. With t-shirt, life jacket, and kickboard relays, T.J., Parker, Henry, Alex, Declan, Callum, Logan, and Rob had a blast on the beach. I can't believe A session is already almost over. That flew by! The campers are putting on a talent show tonight so that should be a great time! More to come from the waterfront tomorrow! -Brittni

6-26-11 The sun and warmth made for another beautiful day at camp. The boys enjoyed an extra hour of sleep followed by pancakes. After lots of rain earlier this week, the senior tennis tournament has finally come to an end as Tim Leathery beat Cal Martin in a very close set. Dinner tonight will be a BBQ on the beach with burgers and hotdogs. The boys will then spend some quality time with their koogee mates and counselors to practice for tomorrow's talent show. This incredible day will come to a close as Deerhorn's finest musicians entertain us around the camp fire. There is no better place in the world! -Matt

Today was the Treasure Hunt. I was the judge for the Iroquois: Marc Deacon sent his team all around camp in search of items to be placed into the team canoe. Once all the clues had been deciphered, only a few objects were missing, including the complete lyrics of "Whip My Hair" by Willow Smith. Although Marc finished fourth, as he unearthed his treasure from the beach, all four teams cheered him on. The smile on Eric Deacon's face when a chant of "Deacon! Deacon!" broke out was priceless. -Will

6-25-11 Today was another exciting and warm day at Camp Deerhorn. The explorers returned from their trip yesterday and were eager to get back to activities. Sports and games played balco ball which is basically wiffle ball played in center field of Dick Kinney field. Home runs were hit by many kids including Cal Martin, Jake Freedman, McKinley Shea, Willis Weinstein and Justin Parker! Tonight's team competitions are street hockey up at the skeeter, Indian ball on the tennis courts, and ultimate frisbee at the soccer field. Tomorrow is Sunday and the boys are happy to sleep in an extra hour and have a nice relaxing day at camp! -Matt

Another beautiful day on the baseball diamond. Justin Mildenberger scored the first home run in Balco Ball this morning: he hadn't been that excited since he discovered Klepton last night. Tim Leathery, by contrast, scored a home run nearly every time he stepped up to bat. Inigo Banos still calls me "Kocher Potter," and beams while doing so. Watching his growth at camp has been wonderful: his english has improved by leaps and bounds. -Will

6-24-11 Finally the sun has made its way to back to Camp Deerhorn. Sports and games played the extremely popular game quidditch, based on the Harry Potter movies. During breakfast and lunch, counselors Will Kocher and Luke Funk acted out some hilarious skits to get kids laughing and ready for an amazing game. If quiddich wasn't enough, the intermediates are about to being playing Klepton which has been a camp favorite for years! Today was another amazing day at camp. -Matt

Explorer just returned today, and it was so fantastic. Filled with some good kayaking, good fires, great conversation, and phenomenal company. The boys had a great time starting fires and learning how to "clean" dishes out in the wilderness. They also were able to bond over some campfire games and songs. The weather wasn't great but we did the best with what we were given; Explorer 2011 was a definite success. -Brittni

Today Sports & Games played Quidditch, a semi-contact sport played by wizards and witches around the world. A Single Golden Snitch was released each period: a leader with a scalp flag, who must avoid the two seekers for as long as possible. Although Deerhorn campers of all ages enjoy Harry Potter, groups 9 & 10 in particular were able to savor the spirit of Quidditch. T.J. Farrell and Eric Kent spent the morning searching for T.J.'s older brother, Ryan Farrell. Although they worked together, it was Ryan's brother, T.J., who had the game winning capture. -Will

6-23-11 Campers awoke to another rainy morning and cool temperatures. Once again, that did not slow them down. Some activities, like riflery and crafts, are able to continue no matter the weather. Other activities moved to the lodge for some fun games like Catchphrase and Apples to Apples, which are two camper favorites. The rain quit halfway through the morning and most activities were able to resume. The younger kids enjoyed playing on the sailboards in sailing class, since there was not much wind for sailing. Campers were excited about corndogs for lunch and activities resumed like normal this afternoon. There were even some hearty souls who went to G-swim, despite the cool weather. Those are some diehard Rave fans! Last night was the first letter day of the session, so those camper letters went out this morning.

Deerhorn is the best place to have a Birthday. Everyone knows your name. I have had 22 Birthdays, and all the best ones have all been at Deerhorn. When I was a camper I came during the four week session, so I got to celebrate my birthday with my family before coming to camp. This year I got to celebrate with my Deerhorn family. Thanks for an awesome birthday, Camp Deerhorn! -Will

6-22-11 The sun has finally returned to Camp Deerhorn and the beautiful day made for a fun filled day of activities. George Lyman played a great game of flag football in sports and games as he gave 110%, like he always does. The team competitions are about to start and the games include hand ball, kick ball and hockey up at the skeeter. Even though the weather has been a bit chilly, the kids don't seem to care as they are running around having the time of their lives. The first week is about to come to an end and tomorrow each kid will be placed at a new table in the mess hall. The explorers left today for a camping adventure and will return on Friday. -Matt

The sun has reappeared after a brief absence, revitalizing the camp. Flag football was a pleasant surprise this morning. The juniors put forth a superhuman effort to catch my wonky passes. Matt is a much better quarterback than I am, but there was great athleticism and sportsmanship all around. I spent the afternoon in crafts with Claire and Spellman while the trails dried out; the time went quickly. -Will

6-21-11 The rain washed out all morning activities but campers stayed dry playing board games and rafter ball in the lodge. Pizza bagels for lunch brightened up the campers' day as the rain stopped and afternoon activities resumed as normal. Sports and games enjoyed sprout ball which is definitely one of the most popular games in camp. Right now the boys are playing the team competition which includes games like volleyball, koogee ball, and indian ball. Let's hope tomorrow the sun will come out and dry up the flooded camp grounds! -Matt

Rainy day at Camp Deerhorn but rather than playing games indoors we went mudsliding! The golf green provided an awesome venue for some pretty sick slides. Tons of campers and counselors participated in this rainy day activity and it was a lot of fun! Explorer is going out tomorrow and coming back Friday so I'll be sure to write then with lots of stories! -Brittni

Today Sports & Games stayed dry in the lodge. Rafter-ball, catch-phrase, board games, and of course the fireplace were among the most popular activities. The leaders passed the time with a game of Risk; they made it about an hour before they made up their own rules. Farrell fled to Alaska where he made his last stand, while Palmer amassed troops in Australia, in preparation for the coming nuclear winter. -Will

6-20-11 The camp fire last night was amazing. Each guitar player was fantastic but Mark Brooks, Frankie Mayfield, and Yates Webb stole the show with their incredible voices and guitar skills. Today was mostly cloudy at Camp Deerhorn but the rain held off for another fun day of activities. Sports and games played hand ball which is just like ultimate frisbee but with a soccer ball. For the team competition tonight the boys are playing scalp which is undoubtedly the campers' favorite after dinner activity! -Matt

Today in swimming T.J. Farrell informed me that he is able to share shorts with his brother Ryan because he likes them long. I asked T.J. why he was able to wear his shorts so long and still look so cool. His response..."Brittni I AM the boss." Fair enough, T.J., fair enough. More love from the waterfront tomorrow. -Brittni

The leaders led their teams into battle (scalp) for the first time this summer. The Iroquois edged out the competition during the first and second round. Everyone rallied against the Iroquois in the third game for a change of pace, culminating in a showdown between Alex Mandel, Zev Motew and the Morabito brothers. Zev was the the victor with his absurd reach and steely nerves. -Will

6-19-11 Sundays are a little different at Camp Deerhorn. This morning involved some rare free time for our campers, and then Claire Poulin did our first Sunday Words of Wisdom speech of the summer. She discussed her two year experience in the Peace Corps in Mozambique. After the Words of Wisdom the campers all got to find out what team they are on...much excitement around camp about that! This afternoon will be the first all camp Sunday event of the summer. Our special events guys had to get a little creative to plan a rainy day special event. There were some pretty crazy events in the decathalon this afternoon, including ping pong, trivia, cereal eating, knock out, and ninja. Although some of the events were a little random, the campers all had a great time. Check out pictures on our Shutterfly site, which you can access through the "photos" link at the bottom of this page, or bookmark it directly at www.campdeerhorn.shutterfly.com.

Even though it has been raining all day today, the boys loved getting an extra hour of sleep. After the pancake breakfast each boy was placed on one of four teams (Navajo, Iroquois, Apache, or Chippewa.) Because of all the rain, campers have been able to spend some quality time with their counselors in the koogees. Right now kids are participating in a decathalon which is a ten event competition and it seems like the kids are having a blast. Tonight is the first camp fire of session and we are all expecting some amazing guitar playing by the talented campers and counselors. I am the officer or the day and will be patrolling koogee row making sure the kids are quiet before going to sleep!-Matt

After a glorious extra hour of sleep, the first Sunday of the session began. Claire gave a great words of wisdom about her experience in the Peace Corps in Mozambique and the various Deerhorn personalities who had also volunteered, and where they had been stationed. This Sunday's special event was the Decathlon; despite the rain, a smashing good time was had by all. Matt and I were the officers of the day, so we made sure everyone got some sleep after the excellent campfire and marshmallows. -Will

6-18-11 Today was another fun day at Camp Deerhorn. Sports and games played softball on Dick Kinney field and had fun and excitement all day. Cal Miller and Zach Mandel showed great dedication and sportsmanship which is a huge part of obtaining stars in sports and games. It has just started to rain so the after dinner activities have switched to fun indoor games like rafter ball and ping pong. Tomorrow is Sunday and the boys are very excited to sleep in an extra hour! -Matt

Eric Kent loves to explore. He is 8 and 1/4 years old and lives in the neighboring Koogee (Koogee 3), with my friend Yates Webb. He brought a compass to camp, which accompanies him to all meals. Eric won the clearing question at breakfast: "Which is the best kind of Cheerios?" with the answer "Reeses Puffs." It's Reeses for breakfast. What is there not to love? -Will

6-17-11 The weather is nice again at Camp Deerhorn. This morning kids were busy cleaning the koogee for the first inspection of the summer. Then after breakfast the kids were placed into groups according to age and had activities all morning. Sports and games is playing the exciting game of World Cup, horseback riders were busy out on the trails and many boys had fun sailing on North Pelican Lake. -Matt

Logan, Callum, Declan and Rob. Four 10 year olds in Koogee 4: everyone gets their own bunk. Surprisingly, everyone opted for the top bunk. Sports & Games played World Cup today: the most popular country was Narnia. -Will

6-16-11 Today is the start of session A, and the kids are very excited and ready to go! After arriving and getting a tour of beautiful Camp Deerhorn, campers headed down to the water front for the swim test. Activities going on around camp were kickball, sproutball, tennis, volleyball and basketball. The rest of the campers are about to arrive on the bus and the counselors are hard at work getting them settled into their koogees. Tonight there will be an all camp capture the flag! -Matt

First day of A Session! It's so great to see campers running around. Swim tests went really well today despite the water being a little chilly. Rave is back in the water and the waterfront is looking great! Looking forward to watching capture the flag tonight. More to come from the waterfront tomorrow! -Brittni

After loading up the buses with familiar faces, Kevin & I began the trip back to Deerhorn from Wilmette. The four leaders of our camp teams arrived in camp today, and the kids in Koogee 4 with me are spirited and bright. Everyone is full of energy and enthusiasm: "real" camp is about to begin. -Will

6-15-11 Father-son camp ended today after a spectacular award's breakfast. And just like that, camp was empty again. No worries: at noon Kevin and I began the drive down to Illinois with Blaine and Barb Broadbridge to pick up the A session campers. Despite tomorrow morning's rainy forecast, I am looking forward to loading the buses. Koogee 1 is about to be full of 16 year olds.-Will

Father son camp unfortunately had to come to an end today. This morning was the awards breakfast and there were some very emotional speeches made by the fathers. Each child received an award and the top riflery shooters gained extra recognition. It was an incredible session with perfect weather throughout the 4 days. Each counselor has moved into their koogee and is excited to meet all the campers tomorrow. The 11 kids who are staying for A session are heading to the Birchwood for dinner then back to camp to watch game 7 of the NHL playoffs. -Matt

6-14-11 The last day of FS1 has been filled with some beautiful weather. Unfortunately the Rave is currently out of commission due to a slow leak but no worries it will back in the water tomorrow! Scalp, steaks, and the last FS1 campfire should provide for a great evening tonight. More to come from the waterfront tomorrow! -Brittni

Last night the fathers beat the counselors in softball 11-9 in extra innings. Everyone had a blast and it couldn't have been more exciting! Today sports and games played a very fun game of slip and slide kickball. What a fun way to cool down from the sun. Tonight is the last night of father/son camp and everyone is excited for the final camp fire. -Matt

I scored three home runs in Slip 'n Slide kickball this afternoon without breaking my sunglasses. Running the activity was a breeze with Matt, who will be teaching Sports & Games with me once A session starts. I can't wait to move into Koogee 4 (lakefront property) and meet my campers. Before that, though, is a steak dinner, scalp, the final father-son campfire, and the awards breakfast. -Will

6-13-11 This morning I built and designed a new Koogee Row sign with Simon Motew. At 11:30 a.m. my day-off started. The weather up here has been so gorgeous I was glad to escape the sun for a day. I've got a great feeling about this summer deep in my gut that I just can't shake. Can't wait to drive down to Chicago with Kevin Crawford on Wednesday and ride the buses back on Thursday with a bus full of excited campers (some of them making the trip for the first time). -Will

Today was fishing day for the fathers and sons. Alex Mandel caught a 38 inch musky! James Blazina caught a 25 inch Pike! Overall it was another busy day on the waterfront not only with fishing but also water basketball and the slide. More to come from the waterfront tomorrow! -Brittni

The camp fire last night had some incredible talent, including 12 year old guitar master Frankie Mayfield. Today was another beautiful day at Camp Deerhorn. Popular activities included fishing, horseback riding, and the father/son ping pong tournament. Tonight the counselors face off against the fathers in a softball game at Dick Kinney field. -Matt

6-12-11 Day two of FS1 had a full beach. Many of the fathers and sons were first time Rave goers today. The water slide was also a popular commodity today with sons, fathers, and counselors riding down. Vincent, Connor, and Owen built a great sand castle that included a trench going all the way to the lake and two boats to top it all off! Sports and Games came down to the waterfront in the afternoon to play some rousing games of sand volleyball. Capture the Flag tonight for an after dinner activity. More to come from the waterfront tomorrow! -Brittni

Today is another beautiful day at Camp Deerhorn. Last night was the first campfire of the season and it was led by some amazing guitar playing by Matty G, Yates Webb, and Alex Mandel. The kids also loved roasting marshmallows and eating popcorn around the fire. This morning the sons beat the dads and counselors in a soccer game. Everyone is settled in their koogees ready for an amazing father-son session! -Matt

Tom is quickly familiarizing himself with the craft shop. Today I taught Tom how to start a hemp bracelet. I spent the afternoon on the beach, playing volleyball in the sun. Roaming with Yates Webb during capture the flag was excellent; singing Edelweiss during the campfire was the highlight of my day. -Will

6-11-11 Welcome to the summer of 2011! This summer, we will have three staff members contributing to the blog. It will be a great opportunity to see what's going on all over camp on a daily basis. Brittni Danner is a third year staff member from Rhinelander, Wisconsin. Matt Roffe is a first year staff member from Chicago, Illinois. Will Kocher is a long time camper and staff member from Waukesha, Wisconsin. Many thanks to them for their willingness to blog this summer!

The first day of FS1 on the waterfront was a success despite the mild temperatures. The Rave saw its first action of the summer with Sadie, Will, Alex, Callum, and Jefferey being the first ones on. The water slide was popular today with many fathers and sons riding down. Hoping to see more action on the waterfront tomorrow with a warmer forecast! -Brittni

What a great start to Father Son camp! This morning sports and games played the never ending game of sprout ball which was won by Mason Schultz. After a delicious lunch of bbq pulled pork sandwiches, there was fun filled softball game. Other activities being played around camp included archery, riflery, and hockey up at the skeeter. Everyone, including myself, seems to be very excited to be at Camp Deerhorn! -Matt

Father/Son is the perfect way to start the summer. The fathers remind me of the patience and understanding required with kids. The first year campers remind me how exciting camp is. I spent a slow morning in the craft shop with Tom from New Zealand. I taught him how to start a lanyard. I am sure this will be his first of many. -Will