Camp Birchwood for Boys

I had the fortunate experience of working at Camp Birchwood for Boys when it was Gunflint Wilderness Camp (co-ed) in 1995, 1996, and 1997. It was honestly a life-changing experience that had a large part in shaping who I am today. There isn't a day that goes by as a teacher and a school counselor that I don't use the skills and experiences gained from working there. My son now has the joy of attending Birchwood for Boys. He will go for his third summer in 2015. I firmly believe that this camp has had such a positive influence on him. We live in a tiny town and he goes to a very small school. Going to camp has allowed him to stretch his wings, take healthy risks, make friends from all over the world, and gain confidence in himself. He loves the trips and in-camp time equally. Plus, importantly, he has a BLAST!!! I am so thankful for Dan and Melissa (directors). They are amazing humans who embrace kids and give them an experience that they all deserve. This place is stunning! There is nothing better than Camp Birchwood for Boys.

Our son has attended Camp Birchwood for Boys for 5 summers. It would be difficult for me to overstate the positive impact that this camp experience has had on him. We have seen a big boost in confidence and independence. In addition to the normal summer camp activities that one would expect, he has been able to sail on Lake Superior, fish and canoe in the Boundary Waters, mountain bike and hike in the Superior National Forest, and meet kids his age from all over the country. My wife and I have met the directors, Dan and Melissa as well as some of their staff on numerous occasions. I have been really impressed with them and how they run their camp. We have just signed our son up for another summer, and I can't wait to hear the stories about his adventures!

I have been to Camp Birchwood for Boys for four summers - on each occasion I have had the most fantastic experience. When I first arrived at camp I could never have imagined what it would eventually mean to me. During my time in Northern Minnesota I have learned many skills as well as developing existing ones. Learning about a respect for the wilderness and each other lies at the centre of everything. I believe that this is an invaluable principle acquired by campers and staff alike through all the activities and teaching provided by the camp. One of the things that has impressed me most is the genuine desire of the campers to ensure that everybody has a great time. The overwhelming experience is one of fun and laughter, which is underpinned by a very strong culture of community, respect and individual responsibility. Over the four years I have been there, the camp has got even better. Every year there are more activities to take part in and new trips to choose from. Everyone who goes to camp, including me, becomes part of the tradition. I've seen old traditions continue and new ones emerge. Each year there are many returning campers as well as staff, which is always a highlight for me. Camp has become an important part of who I am and how I act. I often find myself telling people from other aspects of my life the stories and experiences I have had at Camp Birchwood for Boys and I can't recommend it highly enough.

I had the pleasure of stoping by Birchwood Camp to visit friends who are/were counselors and former campers at Birchwood. All the campers young and old that were in attendance seemed to be having the time of their lives creating lasting friendships and gaining vital skills that will not only help them in the woods but also in real life.

I was at Camp Birchwood for Boys in the summer of 2013. Unfortunately I endured a really bad experience while I was there. The director of Camp Birchwood for Boys fired me for something I didn't do. On the day I was fired I was accused of some horrible things in regards to a homesick camper who had allegedly accused me and another counselor of shouting and swearing at him on a 3 day canoeing trip. The homesick camper was never in my canoe or tent as part of the trip, which means that this could have only been the other counselor that could have possibly done this and yet only I was fired while he kept his job. Myself and the other trip counselor were even informed beforehand by another counselor that the homesick camper was out to get us for not letting him go back to camp during the trip, This is something the other counselor suggested and what I believe was the right thing as it was a one-way trip and the only way back to camp was to keep going forward. The homesick camper never seemed to enjoy himself during his entire time at camp and I don't remember a day where I didn't see him upset and crying, yet the director didn't send him home, which I believe was wrong and that he should have been sent home as he was clearly unhappy. Also recently who I believe to be the homesick camper has made a comment against Camp Birchwood for Boys, which I believe only proves my innocence. Also what I was accused of on the day was different from what the director had accused me of to the organisation I applied through, where he accused me of something that he never mentioned to me and this was something that I believe another counselor was involved in that kept his job, while I was fired. At the end of my time there I didn't enjoy a lot of my time, I felt a particular counselor had something against me where I heard him bad mouthing me, Scottish people and Scotland to campers and I also believe the director had something against me at the end as well as he seemed to react badly to simple questions I would ask. Also during my time there and in particular the weekly trips, there was a tent that had a busted zipper, which meant its door couldn't shut. This tent was given to my group on the first trip, I put in a complaint about it and yet I was given the exact same tent 2 weeks later with the same problem, so I put in another complaint about it. On my last week there I then found out the same tent again had been given to another trip where a counselor had to stay up all night making sure the door would stay closed, so that the campers wouldn't get soaked as there was severe thunderstorms during the trip. I believe with the broken tent and the homesick camper not being sent home show that the campers safety is at risk under the current directors. I believe it to be clear that the director knowingly fired me for something I didn't do and I have asked for an honest answer and I have also messaged the other director last year to get some answers and yet there was no reply and I am still to this day with no answers to why this actually happened to me or as to why the director accused me of something different on the day I was fired compared to what he told the organisation I applied through. So if the director truly believed in what he accused me of then why hasn't he told or showed to me why he believes this and why hasn't he answered any of the questions that show I have been wrongly accused and show that the director may have knowingly done this to me on purpose. I believe that if the director truly believed that I had done this then he would want to clear it up and again as I have stated he and others have chosen to ignore the questions and I believe this to be because they have wronged me and know that they don't actually have anything to answer the questions. Unfortunately I don't believe the directors to be trustworthy after what they did to me and I would recommend anyone against this camp whilst the current directors are in charge as it could happen again.