CAMP NAWAKWA FOR ALL. Since the great community effort to purchase and preserve Camp Nawakwa came to fruition last year, volunteer group continues to welcome kids and adults to utilize and enjoy the grounds.

An effort to breathe new life into a beloved youth camp in Chippewa County is continuing to move forward, whether by hiking boot, canoe paddle, or snowshoe.

Our Nawakwa Inc. – a nonprofit group formed to purchase, preserve, and promote Camp Nawakwa between Bloomer and Cornell – has raised more than $1.3 million toward its capital campaign goal of $2.3 million. Most of the funds raised, about $780,000, were used to purchase the camp from the Girl Scouts of the Northwestern Great Lakes in early 2024.

The volunteer group’s efforts have paid off, and last year hundreds of kids and adults used the camp during dozens of rental events, amounting to more than 2,000 “camper days.” User groups have included Scout troops, student councils, youth sports teams, and church groups, said Sherry Jasper, a volunteer and member of Our Nawakwa’s board of directors.

“We want this property to be alive with the voices of kids.” –Sherry Jasper, Our Nawakwa Inc. board of directors

And this diversity is the goal, said Jasper, who emphasized that Camp Nawakwa isn’t just a Girl Scout camp anymore – it can be rented by anyone who wants to enjoy the opportunities provided by the idyllic facility.

“We want this property to be alive with the voices of kids,” said Jasper, whose own life was positively shaped by memorable time spent at Girl Scout camps. The 75-acre camp includes a 26-acre lake, three winterized lodges, a seasonal dining hall, 12 rustic sleeping units, a historic lodge, an archery range, and lots of space for any outdoor activity you can imagine.

In the immediate future, that activity includes a snowshoe hike from 1-4pm on Feb. 22 at the camp, co-sponsored with the Chippewa Moraine Chapter of the Ice Age Trail Alliance. The free event is open to families and youth groups, and participants are invited to bring their own snowshoes or to borrow some from the camp (which has 45 new pairs).

Our Nawakwa is eager to attract more users to the camp, and part of that is making necessary improvements to aging facilities. Jasper said that much of the remaining $1 million the group wishes to raise as part of its capital campaign will go to facility upgrades, such as winterizing the dining hall’s commercial kitchen and replacing its equipment, making energy efficiency upgrades to multiple buildings, and possibly building a new lodge to replace tent cabins.

Jasper hopes the capital campaign can be wrapped up within the next two years thanks to the continued generosity of community donors. It’s all in the service of bringing in more people to enjoy the serenity of Camp Nawakwa.

“For me, it’s a property that speaks to my soul,” she said.

Learn more about the camp – and how to make a donation or arrange a rental – at ournawakwa.org or www.facebook.com/OurNawakwa.