FRIDAYS WITH FRANKY! Camp Through the Eyes of Campers!

Hey everyone, it’s me Franky, the Camp WeHaKee dog!  Now that it’s April and Spring is blooming out all over, we are really getting excited for camp this summer.  Why, it’s only a few weeks away!!  We are really excited to meet the new girls who will be joining us for the first time this summer. And for those returning campers – we can’t wait to see how you’ve grown and what you’re into these days!

What is really behind why are campers so excited to return to WeHaKee each summer?  As I thought about it, I remembered that during each Council Fire, some of our older campers share in their own words what makes WeHaKee so special and why they return year after year.

Here a selection of the wonderful words shared by some of our older girls at WeHaKee Camp for Girls last summer.  I hope you’ll enjoy them as much as I!

I went to a few camps before WeHaKee, but I wasn’t really impressed and didn’t want to go back. But I knew that I wanted to find a camp that was a good fit before I was too old to be a camper. Finally, my mom suggested that we Google camps. I picked a few camps and contacted them. WeHaKee was the first who responded; I’m really glad that they did. When the time came to leave for camp, I was nervous about leaving my friends and family and traveling half way across the country. I spent a whole day traveling and suddenly found myself stepping off of the bus-more scared than ever. I felt like a deer in the headlights-frozen. I knew absolutely no one, and it seemed like everyone else was connected in some way. By the next morning, I already felt completely welcome. It was a great summer, and I knew that I wanted to come back this summer. Camp WeHaKee has taught me so much about interacting with others and about myself. I’ve had so many great memories here and cant wait for the future. I feel 100% confident in recommending WeHaKee to anyone. It’s one of a kind and truly irreplaceable.
A WeHaKee Camper for 2 years from Albany, NY.

“For people who say Disney World
is the happiest place on earth,
its probabaly because they haven’t been
to Camp WeHaKee!”

I take so much from camp and I can honestly say I don’t think I’d be in a good place without it. I’ve met so many amazing friends here and even some I can call my best friends. It’s the hardest thing to put into words how important camp is to me. It’s the only place I can come out of my shell and be who I am. It’s the only place I can truly call home. I could tell you all about every insane cabin night, about all the amazing fires, and even the chillest of valley times; I could tell you all my past counselors and cabin mates that have inspired me and helped me grow up, but we’d be here all night. So no matter how many times I laugh and cry here, this will always be my home and my favorite place.
A WeHaKee Camper for 9 years from La Crosse, WI.

I don’t have a specific reason or moment or person that makes camp important. The reason camp means so much, the reason I always come back, is that I can’t really remember my life before this place. Camp WeHaKee has just always been there. This is the place I grew up. The place I went for more than half my life and over the years I’ve noticed something. I’ve heard a lot of girls call this camp their second home, but I’ve never called it that. Camp WeHaKee isn’t my second home and it never was. It’s just my home. Over my ten years here, the lake, the cabins, the paths, the people, have all become indistinguishable from my room, my house, and my family in Chicago. And just like when anyone else goes on a trip from their house, I’m never sad leaving camp because this is my home and I’ll find my way back.
A WeHaKee Camper for 10 years from Chicago, IL.

For people who say Disney World is the happiest place on earth, its probably because they haven’t been to Camp WeHaKee! The first time I went to camp I was so scared; such a big place, so many faces, a different country, and different language for me but I soon discovered that at camp everyone welcomes you no matter where youre from, what you wear, or what you believe in and in a matter of days you become family. Even though camp’s during the summer and far away from home, it has helped me in so many ways in life. Its safe to say camp’s a part of who I am and a place that feels just like home.
A WeHaKee Camper for 4 years from San Luis Potosi, Mexico

Leaving for a wonderful place,
Packed every bag and every suit case,
Flying or driving for hours on end,
Finally arriving, surrounded by friends.
Some may be new, others a bit old,
Recent stories shard, memories retold.
So much to do, so many games to play,
2, 4, even 6 weeks we will stay.
Relationships here are made to last,
Even though time goes by so fast.
Singing, talking, running together,
Having fun despite bad weather.
Almost done with my journey, just a bit longer,
These years I’ve spent here made me stronger.
This place helped me learn so much and grow,
It goes by in a blink, I never want to go.
I’m proud to be apart of this camp’s 90 years,
It’s been worth all the homesickness and tears.
I’ll come back again, but as a camper no more,
I’ll come back will all that I’ve learned from before.
Thank you to this family I’ve had for so long,
Leaving this place always feels so wrong.
But I know that I’ve been loved and always cared for,
This place is all I could want and more.
Thank you all for making my time here count every day,
And not I have but one thing left to say.
Don’t ever forget Camp WeHaKee, because I never will.
A WeHaKee Camper for 6 years from Island Lake, IL.

Thanks for reading and have a great weekend everyone!