We miss having our traditional big gatherings around here. (100 people around an epic bonfire).This morning I came across this clip from one of the creative retreats we hosted. It reminded us of how good it feels to be able to be with people.In this case, shooting skeet, arrows and whiskey with our creative friends at @shinola Were looking forward to the day we can all hang out in big camp groups again, around our traditional huge bonfires. .Until then, were happy to be hosting smaller socially distanced quaranteam groups of guests – where we can still offer all of the traditional outdoor activities.We may be spreading smaller groups of folks across 25 acres of cabins and 5 campfires these days (instead of packed around one massive bonfire) but as Charlie pointed out the other day (with the sarcastic eye roll a 9 year old who thinks shes 16):MOM, smores taste just as good on the little campfires as they do on those big scary ones.Shes got a point.(Learning something new everyday from this little adult).Stay safe.Eat more smores.(No matter if its in your fireplace, backyard or stovetop).
A STORM BLOWING THROUGH.Our creative crush paid us a surprise visit and got this shot of the clouds rolling in by our Tipi – a minute later it was coming down sideways.@AmandaDemme Is a director, photographer, designer, music producer, creative. A Swiss Army knife the most prolific, diverse and talented human Ive ever met. She speaks truth to power through images. The Women New Yorker cover being one of many..When you meet her, she somehow feels like she has stepped out of both a past decade and a future one. Thank you for stopping by, for the good energy & inspiration, @amandademme.(Last two images here are Amanda, the others are a few of my favorite pieces of her work)
Its almost here! Excited to be included in the new book FAMILY ADVENTURES. Exploring the world with children from @Gestalten, written by our friend @AustinSailsbury. It arrives Sept 22 in EU & UK, then on Nov 3 in the US / rest of the world (but you can pre-order now on gestalten.com)ABOUT:Pack your bags, young adventurers! In these pages, families of all ages, sizes, and interests will find inspiration and tips for hitting the road together.The rewards of traveling with kids are boundless; new cultures, friends, landscapes, and perspectives broaden young minds and instill a lifelong spirit of adventure. Family Adventures shares the stories of intrepid families on the move, from round-the-world voyages to spontaneous weekend escapes, journeys into the wilderness, and big-city explorations. Be prepared for a family adventure with practical and detailed insights on how to plan a trip with your loved ones.Wanderlust should not be limited by time or budget: there are discoveries waiting in far-off continents and around the corner in your hometowns. City stroll, road trips, sailing excursions and mountain hikes, Family Adventures delves into the most exciting traveling experiences from families around the world. Whether day-trip or epic vacation, leaving the everyday behind to seek moments of wonder creates family memories that last a lifetime.Austin Sailsbury is an American writer whose work has been featured in numerous online and print publications, including Magnolia Journal, Kinfolk Magazine, and Ark Journal. He is also the author of three books about travel and lifestyle. He lives with his family in Copenhagen.Shown here: some excerpts+feature families *first / last photo: @BobCoscarelli
“I love old things. They come with layers of past lives” *We have a lot of layers here.Some of them captured by @Meganyanz*part of a sentiment Candace Bushnell once said
In good times and bad..A magical little commitment ceremony happened here once in our back woods.It was years ago now and that human-sized birds nest they stood in has almost disintegrated back into the earth now.It made our hearts heavy thinking about all the brides (and grooms, and bride-grooms) who spent a year or more sweating every detail planning their big day here (little did any of us know that it wouldnt come to be in 2020).We dont think It matters much where you end up having your commitment ceremony. (Says the mom & pop business who pays the bills with event bookings )We think that the meaningful part is the act of committing in front of everyone that you love & care about (that also loves and cares about you).For better, for worse, For richer, for poorer, In sickness and health…-Thats the stuff that keeps us sane and happy in the end. Most of us will only say those words of commitment once in our lifetimes (and only to one other person).But doesnt it feel like wed all be a little more happy/sane/safe/loved if we made that promise to our immediate family and friends, too? We think it couldnt hurt.So heres to committing everyday to making more good times out of these bad times – for better or worse, richer or poorer, in sickness & health (wherever you happen to be standing when you say it)..And – just thinking…Its time to restore that human-sized-birds nest now. I dont think its ready to return to the earth just yet. (And we dont like to give up on things around here.)……….The visionary (aka: Creative Director/ producer/designer/stylist/planner) in all of these photos is also the beautiful bride, Victoria Hermanny : @viorlandi Photography by @meganyanz. Floral by the talented @courtneyjoy_floral. Planning by @huebysd
IT IS NOT EASY TO FIND US.GPS occasionally lies – and for fun, sends folks to a 90s subdivision a few miles away. There are no highway attraction signs that point to us.We dont have a roadside marker, or even the smallest directional post to tell you where to go. To get here, you kinda just need to already know where youre going.But we realize that some folks dont know, and so occasionally when they find their way to the edge of the property on Wandawega, will drive straight up into the woods instead.Last week, we watched as someone drove down our vacated stub road, cutting straight through the grounds, up a rocky trail, and just keep on going up into the backwoods. (It was surprising to see them make it up what is essentially a gravel logging road that leads up to the back acres).So it was high time we hung a directional sign on the stub road gate. .And three weeks later, here she is (in all her utilitarian park ranger brown glory).Because we tend to make things harder than they need to be (with the design details part)- here are the steps, if you also want to make your own campground gate sign:#NoShortcuts * Research the history of 1920s-70s camp signs. .* Locate the actual Natl Parks standardized typeface..* Dig up the U.S. Natl Parks guidelines to get the Pantones for brown & yellow.* Typeset it. Project it. Trace it. (Dont forget to Measure five times, cut the boards once).* Route out letterforms for hours. And hours. And hours. .* 2 coats yellow, 4 coats brown..* Update the old swing gate hardware (the staple at campgrounds) then hang your new (old school) sign on it..The gate now works greats (but its useless to keep a herd of 9 puppies in) .So when you come to camp next, please dont drive through the gate – just follow the sign down to the actual entrance..Thanks @bhwoodworks for knowing how to build everything and to his crew George, Arlo & Ellie
(on)Theyre on the truck! Finally arriving next week (and we couldnt be more excited). When we first opened the #WandawegaHillHouse our search for a 100+ year old U.S.A. maker led us to partner up with The Homer Laughlin China Company in Newell, West Virginia.They created a custom line of old school diner style dishes to stock up our kitchen, for event dinners and chef events…they created hundreds of pieces in a wide range and sizes of plates, bowls, cups, platters.EVERY piece is hand pinstriped (watch this old timer in the film) in what they call their Green Bay Stripe forest green shade. We get a lot of guests asking if they can buy our house hammer mugs (a nickname earned sometime in the mid century because they weigh in at about a pound each, heavy enough and durable enough to pound a nail).THEIR STORY Is what means the most to us:- They where founded in 1871, and still make the dishes in the original beautiful ivy-covered brick compound shown here.- In 1903, their biggest customer was the 5 & dime Woolworths (where they were made famous because the lunch counter waitresses could drop a diner mug and it wouldnt break).- The American Cereal Co. out of Chicago packed free oatmeal bowls in Mother’s Oats boxes.- During World War II, they shifted their production to making dishes to support the U.S. armed forces.We will be introducing a small collection that includes three different Homer Laughlin x Camp Wandawega custom pieces.They arrive next week- And we cant wait to add them to wandawegacampstore.com, and to share the story behind each piece, and let folks finally get to take home a little piece of hand made American history…#homerlaughlin #homerlaughlinchina #homerlaughlinchinacompany ..Special thanks to our friend and brand alchemist @maxwastler. He is the reason for this and a few of our other camp brand collaborations, and we are indebted to him. We first learned of this amazing American company by watching Maxs show Made Right Here. Every cool thing that gets made, Max can tell you the story behind, and he tells it so well.
What kind of bird are YOU We tracked down the family who invented the Audubon birdcall back in the 50s and asked them to make custom ones for guests.Ours come engraved & arrive with a little camp bird song identifier chart, a bird feather, in a linen carrying pouch. (So you can tote it around when you take our Camp Counselor-led nature walk).Youll find the Audubon bird call in the campstore, but youre on your own to find the birds. ABOUT:Photo is from the New York Times magazine 1953, talking about his new invention. From his farm in Newington, Connecticut, Roger Eddy and his family made and sold the original Audubon Bird Call for over 50 years. his grandsons Martin and Sam Fox moved the company to their home state of Rhode Island. The Fox brothers have continued Roger Eddy’s commitment to high quality and hand-made bird calls.HOWS IT WORK?The bird calls sound is produced by rotating the wooden cylinder against the cast zinc plug. By varying the pressure between the two surfaces while twisting back and forth, a variety of bird sounds can be accurately imitated. WHERED IT START?Originally conceived by songbird hunters, the bird call attracts birds by creating the illusion that other birds are in the area.Recognized by multiple generations of birders and outdoors people, the Audubon Bird Call has been made and tuned by hand in the USA in the same way for over 60 years.+ Each bird call is made in Rhode Island of USA components, and with care, will provide decades of service. + The original Audubon Bird Call, in classic red packed in standard gift box. + Sturdy cast zinc and solid birch construction. + Rosin capsule included to maintain the calls distinctive chirp. .First shot of Charliegirl by @bobcoscarelli Darren
We took a social distancing staycation 90 min from Chicago.And it was fast. Easy. & we cant recommend it enough. .Weve been quarantining here since March so we decided to make a break and head to Michigan this past weekend.Turns out that renting a dream house on a farm (this place has been featured in our fav mags) is a great way to avoid people, and still feel like youre taking a vaca.We got to move into a gorgeous farm estate and pretend like we live there. The best part: the whole place cost about the same price as one fancy downtown hotel room – and anyone can rent it – sleeps up to 8.Top 10 fav socially distanced things we did that we cant recommend enough.1. HIKE Tryon Farm trails (yard cocktails at a friends place there, but there are private home & guest house rentals). Gorgeous Dwell-Like homes, nature trails. .2. TOUR the @thefrosthouse . Our good friends hosted us this time but watch for their 2021 tours dates that you can get through various charity auctions..3. BOOK the @ParchmentHouse where we stayed (but book fast, its popular).4. SHOP all the roadside farmers stands to grill out at the farm on their outdoor culinary setup. .5. DRIVE and tour of Sawyer, New Buffalo, Three Oaks area (we are architecture freaks so the lakeshore homes and historic towns are ).6. PICK your own fruits at the open farms in the area..7. TASTE the meats at family owned since 1800s Driers butcher shop in Three Oaks.8. STOP at the outdoor vintage market on the square at Three Oaks .9. Update : Reccos by commenters here : @journeyman_co (well visit next time ).10.WHAT WE DO NOT RECOMMENDWrestling a garden snake with your bare hands in an attempt to save a toad from of its fangs, to keep your 9 year old from having nightmares. This last shot is of David). Ultimately, The snake would not let go…. and Charlie is not going to befriend snakes in the future.Photo of frost house : @bobcoscarelli bobcoscarelli
Giveaway!(Tag somebody to follow / enter). The Camp treehouse library is mostly empty these days. With Covid cancelling our large group visits this season – and with social distancing so crucial – only a couple of people can be up there at a time. So we think the book stacks may be getting a little lonely.The treehouse and its book loft were created to be shared. So we’ve decided to them virtually by giving away the book that tells the story of how this treehouse came to be. It came out a few years ago (so many new followers might not know theres a book about the treehouse, explaining its origins)..Its called The Forever Tree and its a story about how you can look at something that has died and see something sad or you can choose to see something beautiful. Its about community and loss.Its about finding hope in the face of losing someone, someplace. Recommended reading for kids ages 4-100.If you want one, TO ENTER, just double tap (or leave a good vibes comment for somebody else). Then tag the person you think might want one, too.You & the friend you choose (both following along with us here) will both be entered to win. We will randomly pick winners Sunday. We’ll ship yall out a book wrapped up in our camp swag goodies along with one special little addition:A little good luck and good karma talisman. It is a piece of the actual treehouse tree, cut from one of the limbs & carved up by one of the tree house builders @teichelman1973 .Each comes with a little note that explains the milestones associated with the tree rings in the 100 years since the tree was a sprout… and how anything can be a good luck charm if you choose to believe in the power of positive thought & second chances. (Zoom 4th pic)Somebody alot smarter than us once said that “A ROOM WITHOUT BOOKS IS LIKE A BODY WITHOUT A SOUL. We tend to agree. And think theres always more space in our rooms & homes for more soul…..Quote: Marcus Tullius CiceroCo-author: @donnalukascp Illustrator: @nicolaslater Photos 2/3/8: @bobcoscarelli builders: @teichelman1973 @bladonconner @finney____finney @tylerjordanpeterson @shaun_oa
