What should I bring to camp?
A complete suggested clothing and linens list will be sent to your parents well in advance of your arrival date. You'll probably want to bring your own baseball glove, tennis racquet,fishing pole, and in line skates with protective gear to include a helmet, elbow and knee pads, and hockey gloves or wrist guards. We ask that you do not bring battery operated electronic gear to camp, and cell phones are absolutely not permitted.

Can I call home?
Unfortunately, if we allowed every camper to call home even once, the phone would be tied up almost constantly. It is better to correspond with your parents by mail.

Who does laundry?
Deerhorn has a laundry service from town that will pick up your laundry once a week and return it to you the same day.

Will I be homesick?
Most of our staff members each summer are former Deerhorn campers. We have a very positive support group to help any campers who feel homesick as they adjust to camp life. You will be so busy doing new and fun things that you won't really have time to get homesick! Most campers who feel a little homesick the first couple days are the same ones who don't want to go home at the end of the session!

Do I have to write home?
Yes, twice a week. We'll let you know when letters to your parents are required. We suggest parents send their boys to camp with preaddressed,stamped envelopes. Incoming mail is distributed to you every day at dinner.

Do I have to go to all the camp activities?
We will strongly urge you to try all of our regular activities. In almost every case, you end up really having fun in the things you thought you wouldn't like! Some activities are split, like canoeing and the outdoor education center, or biking and arts and crafts. However, horseback riding is the only optional activity.

Is Deerhorn a very competitive camp?
Competition is definitely here for the boys who thrive on it, but it is not something that is forced on any of our campers. While we do offer most team sports, such as baseball, basketball, ice and roller hockey, and soccer, the facts remains that Deerhorn places great emphasis on lifetime sports such as tennis, water skiing, sailing, archery, golf, and riding. Nearly all of our awards presented the last day of each session are based upon improvement. You do not have to be a great athlete to enjoy Deerhorn!

Will camp be fun?
To say camp will be fun is a huge understatement. We have always felt that if you are ready to participate and give Deerhorn a try, then yes, you will probably have the best time of your life. You can enjoy a myriad of activities while enjoying the Great Outdoors and making lifelong friendships with people of all ages. It is almost impossible to not like Deerhorn.

What size should my footlocker be?
The maximum height should be less than or equal to 15 inches. Length and width are not as important.

WHERE does the bus pick up and drop off?
The bus picks up and drops off at Northbrook Court. It is located on Lake Cook Road, east of 94, between Waukegan Road and Skokie Boulevard. If you are coming north from Chicago on the Edens Expressway, you'll want to stay on 41 and not take the exit for 94 west when it splits. Lake Cook Road is the first exit north of the split. Take a left onto Lake Cook Road. The pick up/drop off point is the northeast section of the parking lot, near Neiman Marcus.

WHAT TIME does the bus pick up and drop off?
The bus leaves at 9 am on the first day of camp. Please be at the bus by 8:15am so we can get the bus loaded. On the last day of camp, the bus will arrive at Northbrook Court around 6pm.

Can we email our son?
Yes. Any emails for campers should be sent to camper@deerhorn.com. Please put the camper's name in the subject line. The cost is $1 per email, and can be taken out of your son's spending account money. Campers are able to receive text emails only, no pictures or attachments.

How much money does my son need at camp?
Campers do not need cash while they are at camp, so please do not send any. We set up spending accounts for each boy at camp, and we recommend $25 a week per child. This can be spent on needed items from the store, out of camp trips, etc. If they would like to buy clothing or items from the Deerhorn Trading Post, we ask they bring additional funds. Also, if they are participating in the Voyager trip, they will need additional funds as well for purchasing any forgotten items. We ask that parents send one check written out to their son for the amount needed. (e.g. $75 for a 3 week camper).

Can I send my son a package at camp?
If you would like to send your son a package while he is at camp, you are welcome to. However, please do not send any food. Campers are not allowed to have it in their koogees and it will be kept in the safe until they go home.

When can I drop my son off and pick him up?
On the first day of camp, you are welcome to drop your son off anytime after 9 am. We will have activities running all day. On the last day of camp, we have an awards breakfast that starts at 8 and runs until about 10:30. If you would like to see the awards breakfast, you are welcome to come around 9am. After the breakfast is over, you are welcome to leave with your son. You are also welcome to stay for awhile so your son can show you around camp.

Can I visit my son at camp?
We do not have special visiting days for parents, as you are welcome to come visit anytime. It is best to call first to make sure your son will not be out of camp on a trip. While we welcome visitors, we unfortunately cannot accommodate parents and siblings for meals, in koogees, or in activities. Also, if you come visit us at camp, please do not bring your dog. When you get to camp, please come to the office to sign in and if your son wants to leave camp for awhile with you, please remember to sign him out.

What is the schedule for the last two day of camp?
The last full day of camp is a little bit different. We have morning activities from 9am-11:35am. The afternoon is three periods of team competition that runs from 2-4:45pm. The last night of camp is a counselor show that begins at 7pm. If you are in town, you are more than welcome to come see the show. The only exception to this is the last session of camp (D Session). The counselor show will be two nights before camp ends, as the last night of camp is the water campfire, celebrating the achievements of the four camp leaders. The last day of camp includes the awards breakfast. The breakfast starts at 8am, and you are welcome to come at 9am for the awards portion.

How's the food?
The food is terrific! How do we know? Every fall, we send out a questionnaire to all Deerhorn campers from the previous summer. Every year, the answers are about the same: "Awesome, better than I expected, great, super." These are the opinions of the great majority of boys. You'll have juice, hot and cold cereal, eggs, pancakes, or french toast for breakfast. For lunch, you'll enjoy hot soup, a salad bar, and things like tacos, pizza bagels, sloppy Joe's, grilled cheese sandwiches, etc. For dinner you might have roast beef, baked chicken, spaghetti, burritos, etc. You will have ice cream, cookies, fresh fruit, apple crisp, chocolate cake, and other delicious things for dessert.

Will my son be able to celebrate his birthday at camp?
We definitely celebrate birthdays here at camp. We sing to him during one of the meals and later he and his koogee will enjoy cake at milkline.

Can you recommend places to stay in Rhinelander?
Claridge Motor Inn (downtown Rhinelander)- 715-362-7100.......Holiday Inn (two miles west of town)- 715-369-3600......Comfort Inn (one mile east of town) 715-369-1100......Holiday Acres(about 5 miles east of town on Lake Thompson) 715-369-1500.....Americinn (next to Holiday Inn) 715-369-9600

How do I get to camp from Minocqua?
Take 47 south out of Minocqua until you come to the intersection with Business 8 in Rhinelander (stoplight). Go through that light and stay on 47 south until you see signs for 17 north. ( you'll go through two more stoplights before turning left at the north 17 intersection. )Follow signs for 17 north until you see signs for county C. (Again, you'll go through two stoplights before making a right on to county C at the ice rink.) Follow county C for 7 miles until you see the Camp Deerhorn sign on the right side of the road. Turn right and follow the road 2 miles into camp.

How do I get to camp from Rhinelander?
Take business 8 east through town, past Wal-Mart, and take a left at the intersection with County C (also 17 north). Go through one stoplight and take a right at the ice rink. Follow county C 7 miles until you come to the Deerhorn sign on the right side of the road. Take a right and follow the road 2 miles into camp.

Can I call my son at camp?
We only allow campers to talk to their parents if it is an emergency, or if it is a special occasion, such as a birthday. You can correspond with your son by letters or emails.

What is a typical day like at Deerhorn?
When you arrive at camp, you will be placed in one of 12 activity groups, with boys your age. You will have an activity schedule to follow where you will go to six activities on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, and six different activities on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. The typical day at Deerhorn looks something like this: 7:15am The bell rings. This is the time for you to get dressed, brush your teeth, and clean up your area in the koogee. 8:00am Breakfast in the lodge. 9:00-11:35am Three activity periods. 12:00pm Lunch in the lodge. 1:00 Rest Hour in koogees. 2:10-4:45 Three afternoon activity periods. 5:00pm General Swim/Free time 6:00 Dinner in the lodge 7:00 After dinner activities 8:30pm Milkline 9:00 Lights out for youngest campers 10:00pm Lights out for oldest campers..... Sundays are a little different at camp. We sleep in an hour later and do not have regular activities. Instead, we have an all-camp activity in the afternoon, a cookout on the beach, and a campfire to end the day.

Can we eat and stay at camp while visiting?
While we love to have former campers visit camp, unfortunately, we do not have space in the dining room for visitors to eat with us. Visitors are also not allowed to stay overnight at camp while visiting, including in tents or koogees. This includes former campers. We would be happy to help you secure accommodations in town.