Wandawega Blog Archive

Meet our nightwatch dog, SCOUTShe does not listen.Never warns us of danger Is only committed to protecting her food bowl.But she works the night shift making her rounds with endless enthusiasm.Her predecessor Frankie held this post for 15 years,Taught her the ropes in the 3months they overlappedHe left his station on July 9, 2023 after a lifetime of selfless duty.(Last shot was his favorite spot to stand guard & chase away the dangerous chipmunks & keep the raccoons from raising the smores station) On some nights, when the lake & campers are finally still,we swear we still see him making his rounds I think Scout sees him, too- (maybe thats why a cabin could be on fire and shes off obliviously rolling in the grass on the other side of the grounds)She knows that hell never leave his watch.

June 29, 2024 • Published by Tereasa Surratt • Instagram

Surprise visitors. Some of the original Latvian kids – campers from the 1960s – stopped by last weekend with a stack of photos, some super 8 – and a whole lot of stories. We are just beginning to peel back the layers of history through the gift of their time and memories. (Photos feature members of the Berzins, Velkme, Students, and Strods families, among others).Already found a bakers dozen details that we want to bring back. Well be sharing them as we crack open the archives. (Including film footage of the archbishop blessing the property in 1961).For now, starting with a handful of tiny details that were obsessing over:.- The upper compartment of the old smoker is a salvaged ice box/fridge.- The T-shirt on the guy is the Latvian-era spelling of Wandawega (Latvians dont have a W sound in their language).- The beach used to have a built in boardwalk and retaining wall – The beach was so big it looked like a sand dune – Circa 1972, the entrance fence with the Latvian star motif is erected by volunteers – The 1960s swim trunks and logo on the potato chip box – the RV parking where the shower house now sits – The tiny orange canvas life vest by the home made dock (we found this one in the basement when we purchased camp) – The bunkhouse reveals its old colors: brown and yellow.

June 26, 2024 • Published by Tereasa Surratt • Instagram

WARNING: Bluegill like nipples (they sometimes mistake them as worms) Our tiny lake, left behind by the last ice age, is only about 110 acres, and continues to be fed by springs and rainfall.That means its full of lilly pads, cattails – and a diverse variety of aquatic vegetation. Large mouth bass, northern pike, and a variety of panfish, turtles, and frogs live here too.Its great to kayak through. But hard to row all the way across. Its not for the meek. Those scared of swimming with the fishes and lake vegetation will not enjoy Midwestern lake swimming.Reminder : All campers must read the mandatory materials: M.L.E. Manifesto of Low ExpectationsSummertime at Wandawega.Not new. Not improved since 1925.Photos shared by our community of campers(And WandawegaHistory.org- peek the last shots of the weed cutter circa 1938!) For a deeper dive: Native aquatic species with especially positive ecological value include muskgrass, large-leaf pondweed, and white stem pondweed; this is indicative of a healthy lake and a good habitat for fish and wildlife. The immediate riparian area is home to muskrats, raccoons, eastern red fox, Virginia opossum, grey and Southern flying squirrels, mink, cottontail rabbit, and whitetail deer. Waterfowl include mallards, wood duck, and blue-winged teal. Sandhills cranes nest in the wetlands. And bald eagles enjoy fishing here.

June 23, 2024 • Published by Tereasa Surratt • Instagram

Camp Wandawega is a National Register of Historic Places destination – available for groups to book, organize, & host their own private, all-property themed camps.And, when we have openings in-between these camp takeovers. we allow folks to book portions for their own self-guided visits.We also run a NFP wandawegaHistory.org – that is dedicated to historic preservation and restoration.*Also HI : Im Tereasa (the one who answers your DMs at all hours and can be found mulching the grounds most weekends) – and this is my better half David (4th pic) here as a teenager in the 80s. We bought this place 20 years ago to save it from the wrecking ball and have been restoring it ever since – to share with people from all over. Please be sure to read our Manifesto of Low Expectations before paying us a visit. We still cant believe most of the accolades weve somehow received and want to make sure yall are prepared to rough it like good scouts.P.S. We welcome all, but hate has no home here. Please be kind, we try our best. #GoodVibesOnly

June 20, 2024 • Published by Tereasa Surratt • Instagram

10 years! Such a joy to have our friends from @studiogang back for their annual creative retreat. Architects, designers and creatives of all disciplines gathered from Paris, New York, San Fran & the farthest reaching corners. They held dying workshops, wine tastings, bird watching and all sorts of classes.The biggest lesson running this old camp has taught us is that life is short – Surround yourself with the most inspiring people. Make things for purpose & greater good. These folks set the bar.

June 19, 2024 • Published by Tereasa Surratt • Instagram

We have a new addition to the camp fleet.HINT: this one is XXL. Designing the graphics for it now Working with our friends again at @rightwaysigns -Revealing the newest addition just in time for peak summer .

June 15, 2024 • Published by Tereasa Surratt • Instagram

Old school Crewnecks.Seems like every small town had a Hunt & Gun Sportsmens club- just folks getting together to fish, hunt pheasant, rabbit- whatever was local. So when an elderly camp neighbor showed up a couple of years ago with a members antique club card that said Wandawega Sportsmens Club — we knew we had to bring it back – at least as a sweatshirt. The card didnt have an illustration – so we started digging and unearthed a decommissioned club emblem from the 50s ( and re sketched it over a beer). Then we called our friend Nate at our local mom & pop screen printer to bring it back to life on National park brown crew necks – in a mustard yellow ink. (To match the old state park yellow they use on their routed wooden signs, it takes Nate two layers to nail this shade.THE WANDAWEGA SPORTSMENS CLUB crew neck Is the Newest old thing in our little campstore..Thanks to @nathanbobey and our other favorite Nate & small business silk-screener @hansenscreenprinting (with a little help from our volunteer models – Charliegirl and @prezpipe ).

June 14, 2024 • Published by Tereasa Surratt • Instagram

Theyre here! The new Wandawega Rest Stops.Now you dont need to sh*t like a bear in the woods.Well, I guess its still similiar but now with porcelain thrones! That flush!And lights.Even fans & vents.The luxury just doesnt stop.Our backwoods latrines FINALLY got their long overdue upgrade. The kind of upgrade that gives proper porcelain thrones instead of glorified plastic trailer restrooms. Porcelain farm sinks with chrome faucets instead of spigots out of a hole in the ground. Real, actual floors. (Be still my heart – the OG Forbo tile of my dreams). Even lights. That work. (Deadstock 1960s) first aid boxes (that are actually stocked). Benches for trail side resting.(Theres a reason that we warn folks about camp being a one eighth of a star on a five star scale. These new seasonal latrines may have just kicked us up to quarter of a star. Maybe.A heartfelt apology to every camper whos stayed in the Rustic Camping Cluster, Girlscout Cabins, Hickory, wedge tents, Dome, BSA tents before now cause you really had to rough it. In Wisconsin, for rustic camping, a trench and a shovel are considered suitable for rustic campsites. But up to now, we opted for nicer flushable porta potties. They did the trick, but were happy to see them go and never ever come back.Better late than never. Weve never been more excited about giving campers a nicer place to SSS. Sh*t/Shower/Shave (outdoor showers next?)Last shot is the best part: just like our OG latrines, these are still seasonal, portable units – with a bobcat and forks they are designed and built to lift & shift. We just plug them in to power and connect them to a hose, and voil.

June 13, 2024 • Published by Tereasa Surratt • Instagram

Our little green cedar cabin just got a facelift.In gutting it, we had to peel back decades of paneling, drywall, dry board, wallpaper – to discover that it had wood walls just like this back in the 1920s. A few of the new details that folks wont notice -But hopefully leave them feeling like theyve stepped back in time :Maple wood walls. Forest green enamel wood floors. Some new (old) paintings & photos from the heyday of American tourism.-and a pheasant named Henry.

June 10, 2024 • Published by Tereasa Surratt • Instagram