Category Archives: nuts+bolts

Countdown to Summer!

May 20, 2016

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    We’re 29 days away from the start of our 113th camping season. And we can’t wait!
    We have an incredible array of campers and staff coming this season—and we have made some exciting improvements in our camp facilities to ensure that, while we’re still the oldest continuously-operated boys camp in the midwest, we’re still making the necessary improvements to keep camp awesome. Just wait until you see the TWO new cabins we’ve built!
    Right now we’re starting to review travel plans, consider cabin assignments and order t-shirts. If you haven’t finished filling out your forms, we encourage you to do so as soon as possible. We especially need to know if your son is going to be riding the bus by May 25. If your son will be taking prescription medication, you are required to register them with CampRx. Those directions can be found in the forms section of the website. We stock most over-the-counter medications like Tylenol, Ibuprofen, Benedryl, etc. at the infirmary to be distributed by our health staff.
    If your son’s physical isn’t until closer to the start of camp, that’s OK! While we’d prefer to have them in as soon as possible, we understand the headaches joys of trying to get your kids into the doctor during this busy time. Please make sure to photo copy both front and back of your insurance card and to sign the bottom of that form. That is the medical release form.
    Finally, we have two helpful resources that will be like gold to you—especially if you’re a first-time Highlands parent. That is the Highlands Handbook and the Packing List, both of which are located in the Forms and Documents section in the parent log in page. Almost any question you have can be answered in the Handbook. Mail, email, packages, homesickness, medication – you name it – it’s in there.
    We are so excited for this upcoming season. We’ve got another incredible lineup on the staff, including a few new faces that I know are going to be awesome fits at Highlands. And we’ve still got a few spaces in our first term—so if you know some great young guy that would benefit from the Highlands experience, send them our way!
    We can’t wait for another incredible season at Camp Highlands!
    Better. Worthwhile. Highlands.
    –Andy

  2. Forms, Prescriptions and Travel

    Screen Shot 2015-05-20 at 11.21.48 PMHey guys! If you are like me, packing for camp is about the last thing you are thinking about right now. Too many end-of-year parties, graduations and cleaning out of backpacks for that business!
    However…There are a few things that are really important right now.
    #1. Camp Rx paperwork:
    This is big. They need 30 days in order to fill, pack and mail your son’s prescription medication. If your child is going to need medication at camp (including vitamins) you are required to utilize this service. Please call us with questions. You must go to their website and complete their paperwork. **Please make sure you complete all steps specified, including emailing and/or faxing necessary information to them. Thank you! This is just one of the measures we take to ensure that everyone stays safe at camp.
    #2. Travel!
    We start to make travel preparations now. Please indicate on your forms how your son will be arriving at camp.
    How do you fill out forms? It’s pretty easy! Just log into your account and click the “forms” link. Most forms are web-based, and those that aren’t you can just scan and upload directly to your son’s record.
    We are getting so super duper excited to get 2015 underway, and we are thrilled you’ll be with us! We still have a few spots available, so if you haven’t already, enroll today!

  3. First term is coming to an end

    Argh! It's Pirate Day!

    Argh! It’s Pirate Day!

    We had an awesome weekend! You likely saw the pictures from Pirate Day on Saturday. We had somuchfun! The boys were placed into four teams and spent the day in pirate-themed activities. I don’t know who had more fun, the campers or the staff (including Andy Bachmann, who fully embraced his role as Black Beard). Saturday evening we had a picnic supper on Junior Hill. It was a great end to the day.
    Sunday’s Assembly allowed us a time to reflect on our summer so far. Boys shared in their cabin groups whether they had achieved the goals they set during the first week at camp. If they hadn’t, they were prompted to think about what they could do to achieve them this week. Assembly is a quiet time in camp. After a fast and fun week, it’s always good to have a few moments to think about the incredible achievements the boys have made.
    The show must go on!

    The show must go on!

    Sunday afternoons are open activities, so boys can choose which activity to attend in order to work on Achievement Credits or just participate in whatever their favorite activities might be. And of course Sunday Night Sing is a blast. The power was knocked out by a brief thunderstorm. Conveniently our caretaker Kevin is the fire chief and he cruised up Junior Hill in a fire truck and hooked up a generator to run the electricity for the lantern slide projector! What a hoot!
    The week ahead is going to be a good one. Today is the final Division Day. The Cubbies have the bus today and are headed to the Wildwood Wildlife Park and then to the Lumberjack Show. They have a big time, complete with ice cream at the corner store! The other divisions have camp-based activities and a cookout tonight.
    Tomorrow will bring to Sayner, WI the 2014 First Term Stunt Show. We would call it a talent show, but that might be a stretch! In all honesty, it’s a blast – and rumor has it there are several outstanding skits and performances planned.
    Thursday evening is the Kerchief Ceremony, a quiet and special time at camp when boys are recognized for their achievements at camp. They’ll don their red kerchiefs and each boy will place his stick into the “fire of friendship.” In this busy, changed world, it’s so neat that boys get to have this sort of rite-of-passage experience.
    Friday is our final banquet, Highlands fans. If you’ll be joining us, we’d love to know. You most likely made a note on your forms, but if you suddenly decide to come, just send me an email. We’d love to have you! The schedule for the day is as follows:
    3 p.m.: Water Carnival
    6 p.m.: Picnic supper and banquet festivities
    8:45 p.m.: Wrap up!
    You are free to take your son home with you, or you can pick him up by 9 a.m. on Saturday when First Term comes to a close. We are really looking forward to seeing all you parents and caregivers, but we aren’t ready to stop the fun yet! Off we go to make the most of this last week!
    And on that note…

  4. Camp Highlands Meet & Greet

    Make new friends, but keep the old… It’s a favorite song at Sunday night sing – which you can learn more about at this year’s Chicagoland meet and greet! Here are the details:
    Saturday, March 8, 201410 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
    The Rench home
    150 N. Main St., Glen Ellyn
    Parking on Fairview just south of their lovely home
    Please RSVP to Tracy.
    Whether this is your 39th season, you’re enrolled this summer for the first time, or you are just looking for more information about CH, we’d love to see you there!
    We will:
    • Watch videos from last summer
    • Staff will be on hand to answer all of your questions
    • Catch up on all the latest CH news
    • Enjoy some punch and cookies, see old friends or make some new friends before camp this summer
    This is a fun and easy way for you to introduce some of your friends to the world of Camp Highlands, so bring a guest with you. You can link to the Facebook event page and share it with your friends. 
    We hope to see you there!

  5. Communication at Camp

    Dear Moms and Dads,
    I just wanted to introduce myself and let you know a few things about communication at Camp. My name is Tracy Bachmann. I’m Andy’s wife and Mike and Sharon’s daughter-in-law (not to mention Judah, Stella and Remy’s mom). I am the person that you will be hearing from when you read our daily blog during camp. As a mom, I understand how important it is to feel connected! I’m in the office every day answering the phone, shepherding emails and making Camp Facebook updates. Communication is my passion! I’m also wearing the new hat of database wrangler (yippee kai yay), and I’m still learning the ins and outs of this great system. Please bear with us as we live through our first summer with CampMinder.
    A few things I’d like you to know:
    • Feel free to call or email me any time. Do not hesitate to ask for an update on your camper – I’m happy to make inquiries and give you a report. I am in the office all morning long, and much of the afternoon. If we are not at the phone, leave a message and we will call you back shortly.
    • We make frequent blog posts all week long reporting on the weather, fun stuff going on at Camp, what the boys are eating for lunch and MORE. It’s a great way to feel connected to your camper, as well as a great way to relive the memories once he’s home from Camp.
    • Sign in to the gallery on the website.  We upload photos often. We try our best to get as many faces as possible on there, if you don’t see your child don’t worry.
    • If you’d like to email your son, please use our two-way email system through Bunk1. Just click on the “send an email” link on the home page of camphighlands.com. I can usually answer questions you have about this system, and their customer service is great.
    • Like us on Facebook! We will be making daily posts there. Tell your friends and family! It’s a great way for them to stay connected with your camper, too!
    • Follow us on Twitter @CampHighlands  and on Instagram too! (ok, full disclosure, I even have several Highlands Pinterest boards!
    We so appreciate your son’s attendance at Camp Highlands. We try our best to keep you informed about what’s going on at Camp. If you have ideas about things you’d like us to report on, just let me know! I love hearing from parents, and am always available for a chat. If you have any concerns at all just give me a ring.
    Sincerely,
    Tracy B.
    P.S. I’ll be sending my 8 year old, Stella Plum, off to four weeks of camp in July. I completely understand the mix of excitement and apprehension about shipping a child off to camp. So, seriously, if you’re worried, please call me! I can run recon for you and let you know how that boy of yours is doing!
     

  6. Mom-o-gram

    Hello Highlands Moms (and Dads too),
    Just a few words to you from a Highlands mom who has been around for a while. As camp time nears, I know that your and your son’s thoughts will be turning to Camp Highlands. We are so glad that he will be with us this summer.
    I have been re-reading the comments from the parent response forms that we sent out at the end of last summer. Those comments help us know that we are on the right track. Your son will learn much while he is here– learning to take responsibility – learning to put his energy to the good — and learning what it means to be a Worthwhile man.
    Mike and I have been in your shoes. It was a little easier to send our sons Tim and Andy to camp. They were at Highlands and we had selected and knew all of the staff. But when we took our daughter Laura to her camp — that was another story! Her first year, as we reached the gates of her new camp she started sobbing. That did it for me. I was a wreck for the first week she was there. I’m a worrier, how about you?
    I am writing to assure you that your son will be in good hands!  We have an absolutely wonderful staff! We can assure you of that, because we know them. Our staff is an amazing blend of teachers and college students. Our main criterion in staffing is selecting “nice people.” Your son will have a ball!
    We care about your son, and will do all that we can to help him have a great time. Andy, Tracy, Mike and I think about the boys as our own while they are at camp. Please know that we stay on top of any “homesick” situation, and help boys work through any adjustment problems. There are surprisingly few.
    A friend here in Western Springs was telling me how nervous she was because her daughter is going away to camp for the first time. I told her what I want to tell you: Don’t hesitate to call if you have a concern about your child. We are in and out of the office every day, so chances are good that you will reach a Bachmann when you call. We also check the answering machine throughout the day. One of us will follow up on any question or concern, and get back to you with an up-to-the minute report. The office number is 715-542-3443.
    Thank you for the confidence you show in all of us on the Highlands staff. We are looking forward to a terrific summer with your son!
    Sincerely,
    Sharon Bachmann

  7. Make sure you are ready for camp!

    From Andy and Mike Bachmann….
    Dear Highlands Parents:
    We are happy that your son is going to be with us at Camp Highlands this summer. You will want to make sure you’ve read all the information about travel to camp, mail, the email system and more. Please don’t hesitate to give us a call with any questions.
    Mail: Please write your son frequently. He will check the mail every day! The summer address is: “your son’s name” c/o Camp Highlands, 8450 Camp Highlands Road, Sayner, WI 54560. If you’d like your son to write you, we strongly suggest sending him with pre-addressed, pre-stamped envelopes.
    E-mail: We utilize the services of Bunk1 for e-mails. They coordinate the notes so we receive them in an organized manner. You can download the Bunk1 information on the homepage. We even have the instructions in Spanish! There is a link on the homepage called “email your camper.” Once you’ve set up your Bunk1 account, this is the link you can click to access the Bunk1 portal.
    Also, if you need to contact us you can always call, but we also answer email. Our e-mail addresses are: Mike: mike@camphighlands.com, Andy: andy@camphighlands.com, Tracy: tracy@camphighlands.com, Sharon: sharon@camphighlands.com.
    Packages: We encourage packages, but we ask that you NOT send food – even the healthy stuff. Packages are opened in the office, and edibles will have to be confiscated (and will not be saved until the end of camp). The four-legged critters can clean out a cabin in no time. Books, magazines, games, and puzzles are always popular. PRIORITY MAIL, UPS, DHL, and FED EX deliver right to camp.
    Telephone: The camp office telephone number is 715-542-3443. The best time to reach us is between 9:00 and 12:00 in the morning. The answering machine is always on, and we promise to get back to you if we are out when you call. We do not allow the campers to receive or make phone calls. It’s an interruption of life at camp and has a way of bringing on homesickness! Please don’t send cell phones, unless you want one for your son’s travel (remember to include the charger). We will keep the phone in the office until it is time for him to go home.
    The Lodge: If you plan to come to gather your son at the close of his session, or visit camp during the summer, consider staying in the Highlands Lodge. It features seven guest cottages and a separate dining facility. The Lodge cabins all focus on the lake and maintain their rustic northwoods charm. This is a convenient and fun way to visit camp! To make your reservation, email Sharon or call her at 715-542-2950.
    Friends + Family Camp: August 11 to 18, we offer a fun vacation where the parents get to play too! Each family has an individual cabin. The meals are great, and it is a lot of fun. Contact Sharon to enroll.
    Concerns: Please know that when you have a concern about your son; we want you to call or email us. You may read something “between the lines” in a letter and worry about it for a week before calling. Nine times out of ten it is something we can check on and clear up immediately – giving you a better night’s sleep! We do not consider your calls to us a bother. They are one way you can assist us in helping your son have the best possible time at camp.
    A time to grow: At Camp Highlands, character and values are important. Your son will learn new skills and make new friends. We will do our best to help him have a relaxed and fun time. We emphasize the value of each person. We provide different chores to foster responsibility. We encourage boys to try new challenges and finish what they start. Kindness and consideration are a big part of everyday life at camp. We will do what we can in our own unique setting to reinforce those qualities we know you believe to be important. We will have a wonderful time with your son! Thanks for sharing him with us!
    Here are some things you’ll want to know about Sunday:
    Bus riders:
    • Please have your son at the O’Hare Oasis by 9:15 a.m. so that we can be on time for our 10 a.m. departure. This is a link to a Google map showing the location of the Oasis.
    • Don’t forget to pack your son a lunch. (although if you do forget, we have a stash of PB&Js on hand)
    • Our Rockford stop is between 11:00 and 11:30 am at the Clock Tower at Business 20/State Street.
    • We stop in Madison, WI at the Pine Cone Shell, Exit 132, 51 Madison/Deforest between 12:30 and1:00 p.m.
    Arriving by car:
    • The best time to arrive is 1:00 – 3:00 p.m on Sunday.
    • If you are staying in the area and need to drive back home, you may bring your son earlier that day (hint, if you get here around noon, you are welcome to join us for lunch!)
    Directions from Minocqua: US 51 North to County M. Right on M until you reach N. Right on N 4.5 miles to The Corner Store. (Great ice cream cones!) Turn left at the store on Razorback Road, then right on Camp Highlands Road; the road dead-ends at Camp. It’s about 5 miles from The Corner Store to Camp.
    Directions from Eagle River: Hwy 70 west to St. Germain. Go straight on 155 at the intersection with the giant statue of Chief St. Germain. Go through Sayner to County N. Left on N to The Corner Store. Turn right on Razorback Road, then right on Camp Highlands Road; the road dead-ends at Camp. It’s about 5 miles from The Corner Store to Camp.
    Arrival by plane:
We will call you once your boy has landed and is in our care. We will then get him to the busses to be transported to camp. All boys will be in camp and ready to eat supper by 6 p.m.!
    Forms: A special thank you to all the parents who got all those forms completed! Thank you!! And thanks for bearing with us as we experience our first summer using this new database system!
    We can’t wait! We fully expect this to be….the best summer ever!

  8. Sooooo many good questions about your kid's first time at summer camp!

    So it’s the first summer your son is packing up his ball glove and sleeping bag and headed off to camp. It seems like it would be so easy – boys, cabins, nature. But then you start worrying about the weather, the trip up, the trip home. It’s a lot! I’ll tell you what one of my amazing midwives told me when I had my first child. “Trust in the process.” We’ve been at this for 110 years! If you forget to pack something, it’s NOT a big deal. (Honestly, there’s Amazon Prime now!) And anyway, we probably have it in the store.
    As usual, we have lots of first-timers this summer and I’ve been collecting all the great questions moms and dads have been emailing me, so without too much fanfare I’ll get right to it…

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    Trunks, duffles and back packs, oh my – just pack it up however you see fit.

    Q. My daughter’s camp asks that we ship the bedding in the trunks and bring the clothes in the bags.  You say differently but I wanted to make sure I have that correct. Does your staff make the kids beds, or do the campers?
    A. Don’t worry how you pack it. Just get it here! We do recommend putting clothes in the trunk and bedding in the duffel, but it’s really however you can fit it all in. The counselors make the beds for the little guys and they help the bigger guys make their beds when they arrive. I prefer to pack my kid’s clothes in the trunk so that they don’t need to repack when they get to camp. But honestly, it doesn’t really matter.
    Q. Do boys ever bring e-readers? Books are kind of like friends to my son and he’s really nervous about camp.
    A. He can bring it, but it falls into a grey area of “what if something happens to it?” Can you guys be OK with it getting wet, stepped on – or worse – if it walks off? The e-reader is up to you guys. But all other electronics should be left at home. Maybe just stock him up on books before camp. (P.S. We have hundreds if not thousands of books here at camp. We have a great tradition of bringing a book you’ve read during the year to camp to donate to the library.)
    Q. Do we need to pack mosquito netting for his bunk?
    A. We provide the mosquito netting or “dinglebats” (as we call them). Make sure you pack a bottle of DEET bug spray. We are hoping the dragonflies and bats will do their job before the campers get here, but we’ve had a very wet spring and the skeeters are pretty thick right now.
    Q. Do boys his age (nine) bring blankets/stuffed animals, etc?  He has a special blanket that he sleeps with EVERY night but he thinks the other boys will laugh at him.
    A. Absolutely. My 11 year old still sleeps with his (grungy) blanket at camp.
    Q. For a nervous camper, what time do you recommend arriving?  Will we have time to tour around or should I drop him and go? You tell me what’s best so I can prepare him…he does better knowing these things in advance.
    A. If I were you, I’d arrive after lunch – around 1 p.m. is perfect. Meet his counselor and the nurse, tour camp and then quickly and assuredly say good bye. I’d aim to head out of camp around 3:00 p.m. or so. That way there won’t be too much down-time before the buses with the rest of the campers arrive around 5:00 and camp really gets underway with spaghetti dinner at 6:00 p.m.
    Q. I wanted to clarify how pick-up works. I understand there is a banquet. Is it on Friday or Saturday? Do some people go to the banquet and spend the night there and then leave the next day?
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    Speeches at the final banquet are always great!

    A. The banquet is on FRIDAY at the end of camp. Festivities start at 3 pm, a picnic supper is at 6 pm, followed by awards, etc. The evening ends around 8:45. Depending on your travel plans, your son can go home with you after the banquet OR they can spend the night and be picked up by 9 a.m. on Saturday.
    Q. His birthday will be during camp. Do you celebrate birthdays?
    A. Do we ever! They get recognized at breakfast with a birthday button (like Disney World!) and their cabin gets their own special birthday cake a lunch, and of course all of camp sings happy birthday to him! It’s pretty great.
    So, I know there are LOTS more questions, and maybe you old professional camp parents have two cents you’d like to thrown in here? Just put them in the comments section and we can start answering! Or you can send me an email, or give me a jingle here at Camp. We are looking forward to an amazing summer!
    Q. Do you have a visiting day?
    A. Parents are invited to come at any time to camp. However, we suggest keeping the visits brief. You are welcome to make a reservation in the Lodge (call 715-542-2950 and talk to Sharon), or stay in one of the area’s accomodations. We also recommend that if your son may be wrestling with homesickness, a visit can actually make things worse, not better. If you do visit, we ask that you are a “fly on the wall.” Free time is a good time to spend time together. Having parents join in activities is disruptive to the boy’s experience.
    Q. May we call our son during camp?
    A. We have a very strict policy of no phone calls at camp. The exception is if it’s your son’s birthday. This applies to all of our campers, including international campers. Phone calls home are difficult for office staff to arrange, as we have only one line at camp. We also believe that a phone call home can induce homesickness, something that no parent wants to do. Thank you for respecting this policy!

  9. Top 5 items in your kid's summer camp trunk

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    Carrying the trunk and duffel bag to the cabin. Everyone pitches in when the buses from Chicago arrive. It’s amazing to see how quickly everyone gets settled.

     
    Summer is right around the corner! And if your kids are like mine, they are totally into the gear. Trunks, dop kits, Swiss Army knife (totally up to parental discretion), the right towels, a new bathing suit, flip flops. Preparing that summer camp trunk is important, so let’s get packing…
    What goes in the trunk?
    1. Well, clothes. But not too many, and not too few. Look at the packing list and try and stick to it. Highlands can get pretty chilly at night. A warm pair of fleece jammie pants go a long way. To the same point, a pair of flip flops or crocs is crucial. Follow the list and your child will be good to go.
    2. A flashlight and batteries. Since the cabins don’t have electricity, they WILL use that flashlight. And, if they need to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night, there’s nothing worse than not having a spare set of batteries for that torch. Of course we sell both items in the store, but it’s a good idea to make sure you send some extra batteries.
    3. Labels. Label everything. Socks, underwear, the whole kit and caboodle. Toothpaste. Everything. Heck, you can even send them with labels in case you miss something or they buy a nice hoodie in the camp store. There’s nothing worse than losing a $50 rain jacket (!? How do they get away with charging that!?) because it wasn’t properly labeled.
    Magazines and books are a great thing to send along with your child to camp.

    Magazines and books are a great thing to send along with your child to camp.

    4. Hobby materials. Is your son obsessed with paracord bracelets like my kid? He loves to draw? Send him with the proper materials to putz around with during downtime. Remember, to a nine year old, 1 1/2 hours of “rest hour” can seem like a 1000 years!
    5. ADDRESSED and STAMPED postcards and stationery. In this digital era, kids (we are finding), have no clue how to post a letter. We have found that even better than an example envelope, a stack of pre-posted and addressed envelopes are gold. Would you really like it he wrote to his Granny and Pop and Aunt Carrie this summer? Send those too. You’ll be glad you did!
    Remember, stick to the packing list. Don’t send food (of any kind!) or electronics. Label everything, and if you’d like to hear from your child, take a step of work out of the process for him and pre-address the envelopes.
    And, to our professional CH moms and dads out there, what else are essentials for your child? What have you found that he can’t live without?
    We are counting the days until we see your boys at Camp Highlands!
    And on that note,
    I ❤ CH // tracy b.

  10. Traveling to Highlands

    Ok moms and dads, it’s GO TIME – time to start making those travel plans to camp. Here’s an overview of what you need to know about travel to camp.
    By Car
    To Camp
    • The best time to arrive is 1:00 – 3:00 p.m on Sunday, June 23 or Sunday, July 14.
    • If you are staying in the area and need to drive back home, you may bring your son earlier that day.
    Directions from Minocqua: US 51 North to County M. Right on M until you reach N. Right on N 4.5 miles to The Corner Store. (Great ice cream cones!) Turn left at the store on Razorback Road, then right on Camp Highlands Road; the road dead-ends at Camp. It’s about 5 miles from The Corner Store to Camp.
    Directions from Eagle River: Hwy 70 west to St. Germain. Go straight on 155 at the intersection with the giant statue of Chief St. Germain. Go through Sayner to County N. Left on N to The Corner Store. Turn right on Razorback Road, then right on Camp Highlands Road; the road dead-ends at Camp. It’s about 5 miles from The Corner Store to Camp.
    Returning home by car
    We hope you will join us on the final Friday of the term for our Family picnic and banquet celebration, starting at 3 p.m. and ending around 8:30 p.m. Many parents will take their son home after the banquet is over around 8:30 p.m. on Friday night, and others will wait and take them home on Saturday morning. Camp is over at 9 a.m. on Saturday July 13 and August 10.
    By Bus
    To Camp – First term: Sunday, June 23     |    Second term: Sunday, July 14
    • Campers may travel from Chicago one-way or round-trip on our chartered motor coaches.
    • We will depart from the EAST SIDE (the northbound side) of the O’Hare Oasis on Highway I-294 on both Sunday, June 23 and Sunday, July 14.
    • Please have your son there by 9:15 a.m. to load all of his baggage and leave by 10:00 a.m.
    • We stop in Rockford, IL to pick up boys at the Rockford Clock Tower at Business 20/State Street between 11:00 and 11:30 a.m.
    • We stop in Madison, WI at the Pine Cone Shell, Exit 132, 51 Madison/Deforest between 12:30 and1:00 p.m.
    • Each boy should bring a sack lunch to eat along the way.
    • The bus cost of $75 each way will be added to your statement at the end of camp.
    Returning home by bus –  First term: Saturday, July 13     |    Second term: Saturday, August 10
    • The motor coaches will return boys on July 13 and August 10 to O’Hare Airport, and the O’Hare Oasis on I-294 heading south. We expect to reach the O’Hare Airport by 3:45 p.m. where the boys on planes are escorted to their flights. Then the bus will continue to the Oasis. It should arrive by 4:00 p.m.
    • If your son is being dropped off in Madison, we plan to arrive by 1:00 p.m. If he is being dropped off in Rockford, we plan to arrive by 2:15 p.m.
    By Plane
    To Camp – First term: Sunday, June 23     |    Second term: Sunday, July 14
    Returning Home –  First term: Saturday, July 13     |    Second term: Saturday, August 10 
    To Camp
    Fly into Chicago O’Hare and join the boys on the bus
    • Campers flying into O’Hare should arrive before 9:00 a.m. June 23 or July 14.
    • Please UPS or Fed Ex your son’s baggage to camp a week ahead. Include tracy@camphighlands.com with a confirmation email with the tracking number.
    • To complete an unaccompanied minor (UM) form, call or email camp the day before your son is traveling so that we can give you the name and phone number of the staffer to use on the UM form.
    • A counselor in a Highlands shirt will meet your son at the arrival gate and escort him through the airport and to where the busses pick them up.
    • We will call to let you know your son has been met.
    • If you are not using the unaccompanied minor form, we will meet your son at his baggage claim.
    • Once your son has been met by the CH staff member, he will board the bus and they will take the trip up to Camp. They usually arrive at camp around 4–5 p.m. And don’t worry moms, we make sure they are fed, but it doesn’t hurt to send them with snacks!
    • If you purchase a round trip ticket, please have a return departure time after 6 p.m. on either July 14 or August 10 so we can be sure he will make the flight on time.
    • We must have a copy of your son’s itinerary and confirmation code.
    From Camp:
    • If you purchase a round trip ticket, please have a return departure time after 6 p.m. on either July 14 or August 10 so we can be sure he will make the flight on time.

    Fly into Rhinelander or Central Wisconsin Airports
    To Camp
    – First term: Sunday, June 23     |    Second term: Sunday, July 14
    Returning Home –  First term: Saturday, July 13     |    Second term: Saturday, August 10
    • A counselor in a Highlands shirt will meet each boy who flies into Rhinelander (RHI) or Central Wisconsin Airport in Wausau/Mosinee (CWA) on June 23 or July 14.
    • We will call to let you know your son has been met.
    • If you are completing an unaccompanied minor form, call or email camp to get the name of the counselor who will meet your son.
    • If you purchase a round trip ticket, please arrange a return departure after 9:00 a.m. from Rhinelander and after 10:00 a.m. from Central Wisconsin.
    • We must have a copy of your son’s itinerary and confirmation code.
    International Travel
    To Camp – First term: Sunday, June 23     |    Second term: Sunday, July 14
    Returning Home –  First term: Saturday, July 13     |    Second term: Saturday, August 10
    • Your son may fly in and out of Wausau/Mosinee (CWA) on June 23 or July 14. This is often the best option.
    • If your child needs to change planes at any point on the trip, he must stay on the same airline carrier. This is to ensure he does not have any issues as an unaccompanied minor. If you have questions, please call us or discuss this with your travel agent or airline representative.
    • Campers flying into O’Hare should arrive before 9:00 a.m. June 23 or July 14. -OR- We are able to coordinate pick-up of your son from Chicago O’Hare (ORD) the night before Camp. They will spend the night in Chicago and then ride the bus to Highlands the next morning. However, their flight needs to arrive after 6 p.m. the Saturday night before Camp starts. If you purchase a round trip ticket, please have a return departure time after 6 p.m. on either July 13 or August 10 so we can be sure he will make the flight on time.
    • We will call you to let you know your son has been met. Please make sure we have the best numbers to reach you.
    • You must pay the unaccompanied minor fee for both directions. It is very difficult for us to manage this at the terminal.