Home » News » Waupaca News » Summer camp reopens on Stratton Lake

Summer camp reopens on Stratton Lake

Camp Young Judaea Midwest will reopen this summer.Submitted Photo CN-WP-campJudaea2-210429
<
>
Youth enjoy outdoor activities at Camp Young Judaea Midwest on Stratton Lake. Submitted Photo

Safety protocols established

By Robert Cloud


After closing last summer due to the pandemic, Camp Young Judaea on Stratton Lake will reopen on June 15.

“Our kids are ready for Waupaca this summer,” said Robin Anderson, camp director. “We have over 200 kids registered for camp.”

Anderson said Camp Young Judaea has set special protocols to make the experience safe for campers, the staff and the community.

First, all staff must be vaccinated.

The summer camp is divided into two 27-day sessions and each session is divided into “cohorts,” which are smaller groups of youth who share a cabin, meals and activities.

Masks will not be required when campers and staff are located inside their own cabins or when they are outdoors and more than 6 feet apart from any other cohort.

Anderson noted the camp has upgraded its ventilation system and added more tents so that more activities and meals may be held outdoors.

Camp’s mission

Located on 80 wooded acres off Stratton Lake Road, Camp Young Judaea moved to its current site in 1989.

In addition to the beauty of the Chain O’ Lakes, Anderson said the staff appreciates how friendly their neighbors are.

“When the kids are out on the beach, our neighbors are out on the lake and they wave at our kids,” Robinson said.

Helping Jewish youth from different backgrounds connect with and learn from each other is one of the camp’s goals.

The camp provides youth a safe space to ask questions.
“They learn a love for Israel,” Anderson said. “They learn to be a good person for the world.”

The camp’s focus is to foster five guiding principles:

• Treat others the way you want to be treated;

• Respect other people’s differences;

• Help people who are in need and ask for help if you need it;

• Use kind words when you speak to people or about them;

• Be a role model for others.

“Everybody has differences amd we need to be respectful,” Anderson said.

In the past, campers have worked at the local community garden and donated to the Waupaca Area Food Pantry.

This summer, the youth will be asked to leave behind their towels in order to give them to the animal shelter.

“We want to be a part of the community, not just someone who shows up in the summer,” Anderson said.

Anderson said the camp likes to hire locally for some positions.

To learn more about working at Camp Young Judaea, contact [email protected].

Scroll to Top