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How lucky we are to be continuing a wealth of timeless traditions at Camp Highlands...for over 105 years in fact!

The traditions began back in 1904 when University of Chicago Laboratory School Headmaster, Harry O. Gilette, brought ten boys from the city to a remote point on Plum Lake in the Northwoods of Wisconsin for a summer in the wilderness.

Highlands flourished and grew under the ownership and direction of Dr. William J. Monilaw. Doc was Director of Athletics at the lab school. He believed in the importance of character building that was the underlying purpose of a Highlands summer.

In the Doc Monilaw Dining Room you will see the honor camper qualities on the wall. Honesty, Responsibility, Dependability, Initiative, Perseverance, Clean Thoughts and Clean Speech. These and ten others are traits we all seek to nurture, and strive to live at camp. They reflect the wisdom and guidance that Doc Monilaw brought to his role as Camp Director from 1914 to 1959.

When Doc's health began to fail, six long-time educators and Highlands counselors pooled their money and talents and formed a corporation to assure that Camp Highlands would live on. Doc's partner, Norvil Beeman became the director while Bob Mannschott, Tony Anthony, Ralph Magor, Unk Nelson, and Orville "Snow" Nothdurft completed the Board of Directors. The Board and their wives assured the continuation of the Highlands Spirit.

The Board changed in 1963 when Mike Bachmann purchased Norvil' Beemans interest in the camp. Mike took over the camper recruiting and staff selection in his role as assistant director. Bob Mannschott became the summer director.

It was Bob Mannschott who brought the saying, "I'm Third" to Highlands. I'm Third became the camp motto and still today is a wonderfully simple way to remind all of us to keep God — however known — first, Others second, and I'm Third. We believe that trying to live our core values, and thinking of the other person's feelings makes Camp Highlands a place where everybody counts.

Bob Mannschott died in 1969 and Mike Bachmann has been the director ever since. A key component of Mike's leadership has been his belief that every boy can have success at Highlands. He holds to the original idea that Highlands is a Northwoods boys camp. A place where each boy can learn a true appreciation of the beauty of the natural world that surrounds him at camp. He believes that the various activities are the tools the counseling staff uses to help build character. At Camp Highlands it really does matter how you play the game.

In 2007, Mike's son, Andy Bachmann moved from assistant director to co-director, and now Andy is taking the lead in the summer while Mike is still directing the hiring of the staff and the enrolling of the campers.