Senior Campers

Senior Campers

Be a Peer Leader

Be a Peer Leader

Senior Campers, ages 15 through 17, learn leadership skills and gain hands-on experience through participation in Camp Nicolet’s instructional activities, advanced wilderness trips, and special events.  Although campers may begin participation at any time (at age 15 or completed 9th grade), the complete program is comprised of three summers: Advanced Camper at age 15, Counselor In Training (Year 1) at age 16, and Counselor In Training (Year 2) at age 17.  Senior Campers are eligible to return as a Nicolet Staff member at age 18.

Senior Campers participate in activities they love, can choose to assist with instructional activities, challenge themselves on top-level Northpoint Adventures trips (included in tuition), work with a Staff committee to plan special activities, and assist with younger camper cabins. Additionally, leadership skill development for CITs is facilitated by an advisor. Experience gained throughout this essay-worthy program prepares participants for future summers working at Nicolet, as well as for jobs and internships during college and beyond.

a progression

a progression

Advanced Campers – age 15 or completed 9th grade

Activities & excitement include:

  • Wake the entire camp with pots & pans on the 4th of July
  • Participate in the annual “AC Balloon Pop” on the 4th of July (an AC exclusive!)
  • Generally are campers who optionally participate in the Isle Royale Backpacking trip (for campers ages 14+)
  • Optionally participate in the Peshtigo River Whitewater Rafting day trip (for campers ages 14+)
  • Have a customizable in-camp activity schedule, including access to Advanced Water Skiing

  • Participate as a cabin group in weekly Wednesday cookouts

Leadership Opportunities include:

  • Assist Staff members at Dining Hall tables
  • Are captains for the Red, White, & Blue relay teams on the 4th of July
  • Assist a CIT with “cabin-sitting” responsibilities (during Staff Meetings, etc.)

  • Lead fun songs in the Dining Hall after lunch or dinner

Advanced Campers take the first steps towards becoming Nicolet Staff one day! Have fun this summer while taking initiative and challenging yourself.

Counselor In Training (Year 1) – age 16 or completed 10th grade

  • Enroll in the Session of your choice

  • Reside in Chickadee with CIT counselors

  • Have a dedicated CIT Advisor who facilitates group discussion & processing

  • Are positive role models for peers and younger campers

Activities & excitement include:

  • Have a customizable in-camp activity schedule, including access to Advanced Water Skiing
  • May choose to participate in up to four instructional activities, plus electives, per day
  • Optionally participate in the Isle Royale Backpacking trip (for campers ages 14+)
  • Generally are campers who optionally participate in the Voyageurs Wilderness Canoe trip (for campers ages 15+)

  • Participate in the Camp Manito-Wish Leadership Day & ropes course experience (a CIT exclusive!)

  • Participate in group discussion & processing about the CIT experience, lead by an advisor

Leadership Opportunities include:

  • May choose to help Staff teach or facilitate up to two instructional activities per day for campers (optional)

  • May choose to help Staff teach or facilitate 5th Hour and Evening Elective activities

  • Work with the Weekend/Rainy Day committee to help facilitate 4th of July team relays

  • Emcee camper and Staff Talent Shows
  • Act as team captains for all-camp activities, as requested
  • Assist with “cabin-sitting” responsibilities (during Staff Meetings, etc.)
  • Assist supervising Dining Hall tables, as requested
  • Lead fun songs in the Dining Hall after lunch or dinner

  • Assist cabin counselors on a rotating basis, to learn supervisory skills and group dynamics

Counselor In Training (Year 2) – age 17 or completed 11th grade

  • Enroll in the Session of your choice

  • Live in a cabin together with CIT counselors

  • Have a dedicated CIT Advisor who facilitates group discussion & processing

  • Are positive role models for peers and younger campers

Activities & excitement include:

  • All of the activity aspects noted for CIT-1 campers become available, plus:
  • Generally are campers who optionally participate in the Rocky Mountain Backpacking trip (for campers ages 16+)
  • Work in collaboration on a special CIT Project, which is presented at Final Banquet (Session II)

Leadership Opportunities include:

  • All of the leadership aspects noted for CIT-1 campers become available, plus:

  • May choose to help Staff teach or facilitate up to three instructional activities per day for campers (optional)

  • May choose to help Staff teach or facilitate 5th Hour and Evening Elective activities

  • Assist on a Staff Committee – like Campfire, Dining Hall, Vespers, or Weekend/Rainy Day

  • Act as a tour guide for parents/families or visitors from other camps, as requested

Choosing to help Staff members teach or facilitate elective & core instructional activities for campers is encouraged, but not required. We realize some Counselors In Training desire a more “camper-like” experience, while others desire one in which more leadership opportunities and the ability to take initiative exists. We work individually with Senior Campers to craft an experience which is enjoyable and worthwhile. Please contact us if you have additional questions or would like to discuss the customizable nature of these special, formative summers at camp.

Counselor In Training Perks – Both Summers

  • Access to the Staff Room after evening activities until 11pm (Monday through Saturday)
  • Enjoy one chaperoned evening off per week in Eagle River, Wisconsin (5:45pm until 11pm) – transportation provided

  • Option to stay overnight out of camp with family for one night, when parents are visiting

Even more amazing camp memories are made as a Senior Camper. If you wish to work at camp (ages 18+), you’ll have the advantage of experience! We facilitate an environment where today’s youth learn to assist, demonstrate, mentor, organize, self-advocate, and take initiative. Learn and grow with us!

Testimonials

Testimonials

Because of camp, I have been able to meet so many different people with all different backgrounds. Camp is just a magical place where girls from all over come to be girls, and I can honestly say there has not been a day at camp out of all my years that I did not feel like I had best friends who really cared for me.

Alumni
Camp means more to me that you will ever know. My best friends/sisters are the most important people in my life. I am forever grateful to you for providing me (and my mom!) with nine wonderful summers. I would not be who I am today without Nicolet.
Alumni

My 9 years at Camp Nicolet are some of the highlights of my life.  I think of my time on Lake Franklin, laughing, singing, learning new skills, and making lifelong friends. The memories are a source of pure joy and happiness buffering the inevitable challenges of life!

Alumni
One day, I will return to gather Nicolet up into my arms. One does not forget, ever, being so very lucky to have grown up with such a friend as Nicolet. I treasure it always.
Alumni

Everyone was so kind and attentive. I enjoyed getting the letters and seeing the excitement in our daughters handwriting. She survived without her phone! We have camp as a reference now, as we remind her of how much she accomplished without devices or streaming media

Parent of Camper

The fact that you are able to slow these girls down, detach them from their electronics, and show them all that Nicolet has to offer is amazing to me and very lucky for them. You have not only kept the very special legacy of Nicolet going, but you have added to and changed camp in such a way that you have kept it relevant to this next generation. Thank you for that.

Alumni

Camp Nicolet is a tremendous gift, not just for our daughter, but for our whole family. It’s always nice to remind our daughter that her favorite time of year is the one month she doesn’t have a phone in her hands. Camp is a huge part of who our daughter is – for that we are thankful.

Parent of Camper

As a preteen who struggled to find her place in school— I absolutely flourished at camp and was forever changed. Camp Nicolet helped me discover who I was and how powerful one girl could become.

Alumni
Our daughter would not be the strong, confident person she is today without the experiences she had at Camp Nicolet. Thank you a thousand times over!
Parent of Camper

Cannot begin to thank you enough for giving my daughter a chance to have the most amazing summer of her young life. she thoroughly enjoyed her time at camp, made so many nice friends, and had so many wonderful experiences (including the backpacking trip along Lake Superior) that she can’t stop talking about it.

Parent of Camper