Bathroom facilities — main lodge, lighted path, counselor escorts at night
Our bathrooms are clean and modern with hot and cold running water. They are located in our main Lodge building a short walk from the cabins. At night campers take that walk with a buddy and a counselor. Children are scheduled to shower every other day or so. Most campers take a quick shower after they go swimming. Every cabin has a nightlight so you don't get hurt getting out of bed. You can also keep a flashlight in your bed to help find your way along the lighted trail when going to the bathroom at night — don't worry, your counselor will walk with you.
80-acre campus in Northwestern Wisconsin Northwoods, on the Minong Flowage (1,500-acre lake), adjacent to 1,500 acres of county forest. Private sandy beach with nearly half-mile of shoreline.
Ages
6–17
Enrollment
Coed
Accreditations stated by camp
American Camp Association
Activities
Waterfront
Swimming
Canoeing
Kayaking
Sailing
Fishing
Land Sports
Archery
Arts & Creative
Pottery
Outdoor Adventure
Hiking
Camping
Clues to fit
Belonging and identity — SNC culture of kindness, 9 values
First and foremost SNC is a culture of kindness! Kindness comes through what we say and how we say it, and everyone on the staff from the directors to the cook are thoughtful with their words and actions. Our camp is a place where kids are free to be themselves without the social pressures they face in school. SNC is a place to become campers who can choose to pursue what interests them with the people who interest them and treat them with kindness. Many of our campers return year after year saying that 'Swift allows me to be my real self with real people.'
Adventure trips — canoe, backpack, bike for 3 & 6 week programs
An integral part of our 3- and 6-week camp sessions is the overnight camping trips you will be taking. They are a perfect opportunity to fall in love with nature, overcome challenges, and make lasting memories with your closest camp friends. Our older campers (13+) spend nearly 1/3 of their camp time on adventure trips to places like the Apostle Islands, Superior Hiking Trail, Brule River, National Wolf Sanctuary, Namekagon River, and the Porcupine Mountains. Campers agree that SNC camping trips are a blast. They tell us time and time again that it is during these trips that cabin mates really come together as a team.
Cabin life — up to 10 campers, 2 counselors, your home at camp
When you join the community of Swift Nature Camp it might seem a bit overwhelming with 80 or so children at camp. Yet it is your cabin with no more than 10 campers that will be your home during your stay. These boys or girls will be your core group, kinda like a family. You will spend a majority of your time with these brothers or sisters, eating, playing and working together as a cabin to enjoy camp to the fullest. What you will find is your cabin filled with kindness and respect will bring you back to SNC year after year.
Lasting impact — independence, resilience, campers return year after year
At SNC we believe we are an integral part of your child's development. We see ourselves as more than a place of fun and new adventures. Our goal is to help your camper mature and grow up to be a responsible, kind friend to others. For most children, camp is the first time they become fully independent of their families. They learn to take healthy risks, make good decisions, and live on their own. The independence they learn at camp will help them succeed at college and throughout their lives. At the end of each year over 90% of our campers wish to return, so the answer is easy: nearly all children will enjoy SNC.
Conflict resolution — daily staff meetings, no blame, growth focus
Should a conflict arise, it is brought up and discussed at our daily staff meeting. This is a perfect opportunity for all staff members to give their input into any current situation and refresh their skills for conflict resolution. Our goal is to help each child with personal growth. You can't accomplish this goal by assigning blame and punishments. The only way to make true change is to help children see the impact of their choices and to encourage them to find a replacement action so they will know how to react to the same situation in the future. Because our campers really are amazingly good children, a camper being asked to go home early has only happened a handful of times since we became Directors in 1996.
One of the best ways to give children a feeling of security is to have a regular daily schedule. That is why just about every day at SNC campers make choices within a familiar routine. Mornings: cabin mates stay together for two structured activity periods, building teamwork and comfort. Afternoons: fully elective — every individual selects the activity they wish. Free Time follows, 1.5 hours when campers are fully in charge: swimming, boating, Nature Center, or whatever they choose. Evenings: camp-wide games and activities where ages and genders mix. Before bed, counselors use a routine called 'apples, onions and bananas' to check in with each camper about what was good and bad about the day — and what they are looking forward to the next day.
