new visitors girls


How do you pronounce KAMAJI??
Say it as if it were written “comma-G.”
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What is Kamaji?
Kamaji is a summer sleep-away summer camp for girls. It is a place to have fun, make new friends and learn new things.
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Why is Kamaji a camp just for girls?
All too often, society tells girls how they should look, act, think and behave. How silly is that?? Who  wants to be told that you have to look a certain way, act a certain way, dress a certain way, pretend  that you’re not as smart as you really are — just because you’re a girl??

Camp Kamaji is a place where you are judged not by your appearance, not by your grades, not by your  athletic ability, not by the clothes you wear. At Kamaji each girl is free to be whoever she wants to be –  to become whoever it is she will someday grow up to be. We want Kamaji’s campers to have fun, to  make new friends, to learn, to try things they’ve never tried before; and to grow and develop at their  own pace in a positive way. And we want our campers NOT to be concerned about how they look. We  want each camper to simply be herself. Most importantly, we want who the camper is on the inside to  be the person we see on the outside.

Kamaji is a girl’s world where the it’s okay to be exactly who you are!! It’s the real you who matters  most!!
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mapWhere is Kamaji?
Kamaji is way up in northern Minnesota, not too far from the Canadian border. Check out the map here. Find your state, then look for the big red star in Minnesota. Hopefully, that will give you a bit of an idea of where camp is from where  you live!!
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What does Kamaji look like?

Simply put, there are lots of trees and a lake that is big enough to do all our waterfront activities.  Kamaji sits on 135 wooded acres of towering pine trees. There are several well-marked paths  throughout camp which lead to the different cabins and activities, riding stables, archery field, tennis  courts and Council Fire ring. Kamaji has almost a mile of shoreline on Big Wolf Lake – a secluded lake  where Kamaji’s waterfront activities are always happening – at least in the summertime!!

To find out more where things are located at camp, please go to Kamaji’s interactive map.
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How long do campers stay at Kamaji?
Great question with two answers:

  1. Each summer girls attend Kamaji for either four or eight weeks – it’s your choice.
  2. Most campers come back summer after summer: four, five, six – even seven years in a row!

What are the other campers like?
They’re girls of all shapes and sizes, of many different religions and colors. The youngest girls are 7;  the oldest are 15. Campers come from all over the United States as well as other countries, too.

Most importantly, they’re girls very much like you. They like to have fun, learn new things and make  new friends. When they were first thinking about going away to camp, they had a zillion questions, too!  (Oh yeah, they also like to laugh, sing and “play.” Hopefully you do too!!)
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Where would I live at camp?
You’ll live in a cabin with seven or eight other campers who are the same age as you. Campers live  with girls from many different cities, most of whom have never met until coming to Kamaji.

Also living in your cabin will be three counselors who are there to help you have the best time possible  and who will, if you let them, become some of your closest friends at camp.
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What if I don’t know anyone else at Kamaji when I first get there?
Not to worry! In fact, a lot of our first-year Kamaji campers do not know anyone when they first arrive at  Kamaji and few, if any, come to camp with a friend-from-home. Camp is a great place to make a brand  new start with a brand new group of friends!! Would you really and truly want to go to a camp where  everyone in your school classroom ended up being in your cabin group? Or would you rather make a  group of camp friends who are separate from your at-home and at-school friends??

It is our preference that sisters, cousins, friends-from-home and friends-from-school not live together in  the same cabin group while at camp. After all, isn’t making new friends one of the best reasons to go  to camp??!!
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What exactly is a “camp friend”?
When you ask any Kamaji camper why she returns to camp summer-after-summer, “My camp friends!!” is sure to top the list!

A camp friend is much more than a friend you meet at camp! A camp friend is a friend for life. And  camp friendships are unlike those you have home and school. In fact, camp friends likely will be the  only people in your life — other than your family — who understand you the best, love you  unconditionally, encourage and support you when you are feeling bad, celebrate with you when things  are great, and cheer you on when you are successful. Even when camp is over, a camp friend is  someone you can talk to anytime . . . and amazingly it won’t even seem you’ve ever been apart. The  times you spend at camp together will always be an amazing connection.
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How will I make camp friends at Kamaji?
It is at camp where you learn not only how to make a friend but also how to be a friend. From the  moment you arrive at camp, you will begin meeting new people – in your cabin, in your instructional  activities, in your tribes, during your free time and during all-camp programs. In fact, by the end of your  first day at Kamaji you will have met far more people than you would meet on any given day back at  home and school. Lots of those people – campers and counselors – will become great camp friends.

While each camper has her own way of making friends, at Camp Kamaji we purposely put several  things in place so that it will be easier to make friends.

In the Cabin
There is something magical that happens when a camper spends a lot of time with her cabinmates.  Cabinmates learn each other’s likes and dislikes; they play together, eat together, work together, make  group decisions together, resolve conflicts together, share the same sleeping quarters together, sing  songs together, laugh and sometimes even cry together; most importantly, they grow up at camp  together. That’s how great friendships begin forming between cabinmates!!

In the Instructional Activity Program
When a camper goes to the different instructional activity periods each day, she does not go with her  cabin mates. Instead, with help from Kamaji’s program staff, a camper is placed in activities she  chooses — in a skill level that fits her abilities rather than her age. So, for example, if you are a  beginner in horseback riding, you would be placed in a riding class with campers who are all beginner  riders even if they aren’t in your age group or in your cabin.

Sharing experiences in the different activities are important in helping friendships form. Even a shy  camper finds comfort and confidence in knowing that others enjoy the same things – whether it’s  waterskiing, sailing, drama or tennis – that she enjoys. She finds new friends too.

All Camp Programs
Each evening Kamaji’s entire population – campers and staff – join together for a single all-camp  program. Whether it be an exciting game of Capture the Flag or BattleBall, a Carnival Night or relay  races, a Dance Off or Skit Night, or at dusk when everyone gathers quietly around the Council Fire – all  provide another opportunity for every camper to meet and make friends with so many others at Kamaji.  Not only will a camper make friends with other campers when joining in on all-camp fun, she’ll also be  able to develop friendships with Kamaji’s staff.

Kamaji’s Tribes: A Truly Unique Experience
At the beginning of her first summer at Kamaji, each camper is “initiated” for life into one of Kamaji’s six  tribes. Each of the six tribes — signified by the colors red, orange, yellow, green, blue and purple — is made up of almost 25 girls of all different ages. Having older girls in your tribe is like having older  sisters; and having younger girls is like having younger sisters — much like a family. Tribe members  often become some of a camper’s closest friends at Kamaji.

Tribes do a lot of different things together at camp. They take responsibility for raising and lowering the  flag, they plan weekly campfire programs, they even take turns setting the dining room tables (which  goes quickly with so many people!). Tribes also play together – Tribe Day and Goofy Relays are some  of the tribes’ favorite times at camp. Each tribe has its own cheers and songs – many of which have  been sung at Kamaji for over 95 years!!

There are tribe meetings just about every single day of camp so tribe members spend a lot of time together and, as a result, get to know each other really well. Tribe members have a special connection with one another that allows them the chance to become fast friends.

So will you make friends at camp? ABSOLUTELY!! Maybe not on the first day or the first week but trust us, it won’t be long before you meet those campers who will become your best friends for life!!
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What will I do at camp?
Lots!! From choosing your own activities to being “initiated” into one of Kamaji’s six tribes. From eating  great camp food to participating in fun all-camp activities. From making new friends to kayaking the  Mississippi River. From moonlight sailing to taking the horses swimming. From making your own bed  to cooking tin-foil dinners and s’mores over a campfire. And so much more!
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Is there a ‘typical’ day’ at Kamaji?
At Kamaji no two days are ever alike but we do have a typical day schedule that looks like this . . .

Time What’s Happening What You’ll Likely Be Doing
8:00 a.m. Rise and Shine!!

Wake Up Sleepy Head!!

Get Up! Get Up! Get Out of Bed!!

 Kamaji’s bell, heard throughout all of camp, rings to start the day. Campers have 30 minutes to get up, get dressed, get to the washhouse to wash their faces and brush their teeth just in time for . . .
8:30 a.m. Breakfast in the Dining Hall At each meal we sing a grace song before eating. Campers sit at a table with their counselors and cabin group. Food is served family-style — which is probably similar to the way you and your family eat at home. Oh yeah – Kamaji’s food is great!! Kid-friendly too!!

Immediately following breakfast we sing . . . and sing . . . and sing!! Mike and the counselors make lots of announcements about different things that are happening throughout the day.
9:15 a.m. Flag Raising followed by Cabin Clean-Up Immediately after we leave the dining hall we head to the flagpole where the flag is raised and we pledge allegiance to the flag.

Then it’s time for Cabin Clean-Up!! All campers go back to their cabins and share in the responsibility of making sure the floors are swept, the trash is emptied and the cabin looks great! Each camper has to make her own bed and straighten up her cubby area (where clothing is stored). Not to worry — the counselors will help you if you’ve never done this before. After your counselors give the ”Thumbs Up“ meaning the cabin looks great, it’s time to check your schedule and get ready for the first and second instructional activities of the day.
10:15 a.m. First Instructional Activity Period You and your cabinmates will go your separate ways as you head to the activity you have chosen. Maybe you’ll head to the waterfront or to the horse stables or to the tennis courts or to the climbing wall. Or maybe to the Art Village or the Dance/Aerobic ”studio“ or to the archery range.
11:15 a.m. Second Instructional Activity Period Second Instructional Activity Period Time to head to whatever activity you’ll be doing this hour. Oh by the way, there are two rules about Kamaji’s activities:

1. You can’t do nothing! You must participate in an activity rather than sit out.

2. You can’t do the same activity every day all day. For example, you can’t just take horseback riding every single activity period of the time you are at camp. If you love to ride, you can definitely take riding but we also want you to take a variety of different activities and, especially, participate in those activities you don’t get a chance to do at home.
12:15 p.m. Lunch!! Another great meal served in Kamaji’s dining hall. There
will also be a salad bar where you can ”create“ your own salad if you wish. There’s always fruit on the salad bar and peanut butter and jelly too.

Lunch is followed by lots more singing (Kamaji campers sing a lot!!) . . . followed by more announcements from Mike and the counselors . . . followed by . . .
1:15 p.m. Tribe Meetings At the beginning of her first summer at Kamaji, each new camper is initiated into one of six tribes. Each of Kamaji’s six tribes is made up of about 25 girls of all different ages. Having older campers in your tribe is like having an older sister and having younger campers is like having younger sisters — much like a family. Tribe members can become some of your closest camp friends.

Tribes do a lot of different things at camp: they take responsibility for flag raising and lowering; they plan weekly campfire programs; they even take turns setting the dining hall tables. Tribes also play together — Tribe Day and Goofy Relay Night are two of the tribes’ favorite times at camp. Each tribe also has its own cheers and songs.

When former Kamaji campers revisit camp as grown-ups, they are always asked ”What tribe are you in?“ There is not one camper who ever forgets the name of her tribe or the words to her tribe songs!!

During tribe meetings the leaders of each tribe introduce new girls to the others in their tribe, they teach songs, they plan activities . . .
1:30 p.m. Mail call . . .
. . . followed by Rest Period		 Campers take turns being the ”mail person“ for her cabin group and head to the office right after Tribe Meetings to pick up and deliver mail sent to her and her cabinmates.

Rest period is a time for each cabin to spend quiet time — either writing letters, taking a nap, or playing quiet games with your cabinmates in the cabin.
2:45 p.m. Third Instructional Activity Period Head off to yet another instructional period that you signed up to take.
3:45 p.m. Fourth Instructional Activity Period Last instructional activity period of the day.
4:45 p.m. Free Period During this period you are ”free“ to do whatever you wish — within camp, of course. You might choose to play tetherball or tennis or head to the waterfront to swim or sail. You might want to help the Riding Director groom and feed the horses. You might get together with your tribe to plan an all-camp program or write a new tribe song. Maybe you’ll take a shower!! The choice is yours!! Lots of campers choose this time to just hang out with their camp friends.
6:00 p.m. Dinner As always, a delicious meal is ready-and-waiting!! Our kitchen staff work hard to make sure the food is the best around!! There is always a vegetarian option for those campers and staff who don’t eat meat and a fruit dessert option at every meal.
7:15 p.m. All-Camp Evening Program Total fun — with totally everyone in camp!! Staff and campers come together to do something different every single night. Maybe we’ll have a Carnival up on the archery field or a Casino Night in the Lodge or a game of All Camp Capture the Flag or head to the Council Fire Ring for a campfire. Sometimes our staff will put on a show for all of camp; and sometimes our campers — including you — will be part of a skit, a dance-a-thon or a talent show.
8:45 p.m. Time to head back to the cabins and get ready for bed It’s been a long day — after all you woke up 12 hours ago and you’ve been super busy all day long. You and your cabinmates — and even your cabin counselors — are ready to end the day by this time and return to the cabin..

But first you’ll need to head to the washhouse, wash up, brush your teeth and get ready for bed.
9:30 p.m. Quiet cabin activity followed by bedtime Quiet cabin activity followed by bedtime By this time all campers — regardless of their age — are back in their cabin for the night. The cabin counselors will have planned a quiet, mellow, wind-down activity — could be reading a story aloud or playing the guitar and singing songs or sharing the day’s events with each other.

”Lights-out“ vary from age group to age group. Trust us when we tell you it’s easy to fall asleep once the day has ended.

Get a good night’s sleep so you can get up tomorrow and do it all over again!!

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What instructional activities can I choose from if I go to Kamaji?
Swimming, Canoeing, Kayaking, Windsurfing, Waterskiing, Sailing and Fishing
AND
Photography, Ceramics and Pottery, Arts and Crafts, Painting and Drawing, Dance and Drama
AND
Archery, Tennis, English Horseback Riding, Ropes Course, Climbing Wall, Campcraft, Wilderness Trip Prep, Geocaching and Aerobics.

You can do them all, no matter how old you are! And remember, you get to choose what you want to do!
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What kind of wilderness camping trips can I take?
No matter if it is your first summer at Kamaji –  no matter how old you are —  you will have an opportunity to go on at least one wilderness camping trip.  Campers can canoe and kayak lakes and rivers in northern Minnesota, northern Wisconsin – even Canada! You can also go on sea-kayak trips, horseback riding trips, rock climbing trips and even sailing trips. These  trips last from two to nine days.
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What’s the staff like at Kamaji?
Most of our staff are women who work as both cabin counselors and activity instructors. Most are college-aged or older. Many were campers at Kamaji when they were your age!  We also have cooks, drivers, wilderness trip leaders, maintenance workers, office staff, nurse assistants and even a camp doctor.  All of our staff live at Kamaji.

We do our best to hire staff who are friendly, helpful, likable, responsible and FUN!   Our staff members like to spend time with kids just like you. They like to do the same things you do. They don’t just watch you play or swim or slide through mud puddles – they’re playing and swimming and sliding, too!
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How’s the food at camp?
GREAT!
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How GREAT is the food at Kamaji?
So GREAT that many of our campers’ parents and staff ask for our recipes! So GREAT that our camp cook, who’s been at Kamaji since 1981(!!), is thinking of publishing a Kamaji Cookbook! So GREAT that our own two kids would beg us to bring the Kamaji cook home with us when summer was over!
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