Dragging the camp fleet out of their long winter slumber (my dad used to call this blowin the cobs out).Its been a hard winter, (these poor old guys def need some TLC) Every year there is a little more rust, more surprise woodland creatures that have decided to take up residence- more broken brake lines, weaker leaf springs, more fuel pumps to replace.Dont let anybody tell you different…Owning vintage vehicles (and using them for work) is impractical. But weve always had a soft spot for them. They havent given up on us yet- so well keep repairing them every spring (sometimes it feels like restoring a car every year) Mother Nature is not friendly to old cars (but we celebrate today for all that she is friendly to)The things we do for love.
April 22, 2021 • Published by Tereasa Surratt
The (canoe) route less traveled.Our friend, neighbor & artist @lori_seidemann sent us a photo she took rowing across the lake.In one shot, you can see the tents, tipis, A frame All the little things weve added over the years – but this last image was shot in the 40s (all the buildings are unchanged)They say that when youre creatively stuck, to break your daily monotony and take a different path to work…. getting a different perspective will help you see things differently and find new ways to move forward. We spend a lot of time looking to the past for Inspiration for the future Looking back.Looking forward.Welcoming spring and a very busy season after a hard past year. And were going to do more rowing from the other side of the lake.
April 21, 2021 • Published by Tereasa Surratt
“And we stand shoulder to shoulder with all those who are committed to guaranteeing every American the full measure of justice that George and so many others have been denied” -BO@meganyanz
April 21, 2021 • Published by Tereasa Surratt
Follow us into one of camps prop rooms…Weve kicked off spring-By getting booked with nearly back-to-back photo shoots.Having the brands/photographers/stylists/ designers take over breathes spring life into this places old bones…especially after a long hard winter. One of our favorites things is opening up our prop rooms (in our lodge attic, cabin basement) for crews to explore and pull from. (Truth is that it gives me more reasons to keep shopping the flea markets). #hoarderswithoutborders Shots here: Going behind the scenes the past couple of days with the Uber talented @dkelleghan … with a few stolen moments from a rad crew @katrynes @pacheoco_hktr @zero.studios @rticoutdoors
April 20, 2021 • Published by Tereasa Surratt
Welcome to the Mess Hall.Sadly, a 100 year old Girl Scout Camp up the road just sold liquidating everything in an auction. The now empty main lodge may also be slated for demo. We hated to see it close, and tried to rescue as much as we could from the sale.(More posts coming later on this we got a lot.)Our favorite thing that we were able to salvage was the entire lodge full of the original vintage craft tables and benches (which are now outfitting our mess hall).They are the perfect National Park Green paint on the legs and matching benches, with a painted patina earned from the hands of generations of campers.Theyre under the Big top….Which has its own story.The 4th generation, 130 year old Gallagher Tent and Awning Madison, Wisco. has been making tents for the Walworth County Fair for over a hundred years.(Hand-sewn canvas striped with scalloped white trim edges )After seeing their hand-stenciled logos on their tents at the fair, we got in touch with the great grandson – and were so excited to hear that they still had a vintage one in stock- its now our Messhall tent. They repair and clean it for us every year. Not sure how much longer its going to last, but were determined to keep it as long as it will have us. Because they literally dont make them like they used to.We are drawn to the things that show their stories in layers.When youre here next dining in the Mess Hall tent, look closer at the stories painted & carved into the tables.Shot 2: the new home for the OG Camp Pottawatomi Hills Girl Scout Camp tables and & benches – seats 10 each. We got 11 sets.
April 18, 2021 • Published by Tereasa Surratt
So damn grateful to wake up to this !!(And still have imposter syndrome to be included)TRAVEL & LEISUREThe Best Lakefront Escapes in the U.S.(…and excited to now have more places to add to our bucket list to check out)Excerpt:For generations, lakefront hotels and homes have been at the forefront of American travel. From sea to shining sea, our country is blessed with shimmering, crystal-clear lakes in a variety of shapes and sizes, each with its own spellbinding view that only nature can produce. With many lakes located in remote locales, lakefront retreats have become the de rigueur choice of late for domestic travelers who are venturing to spread out spaces and keeping social distancing guidelines in mind. From historical, national park lodges to a hip, freshly minted hotel in the Finger Lakes and a grand estate on Lake Michigan’s shores, these are the best lakefront hotels and vacation rentals around the U.S. right now for year-round fun and memory-making.This story by @dankoday ARTICLE LINK on @travelandleisure https://www.travelandleisure.com/trip-ideas/nature-travel/best-lakefront-rentals-hotels-usIN BETTER COMPANY here alongside :Suttle Lodge IN Oregon> @suttlelodgeHalf Mile Farm IN North Carolina> @halfmilefarmKenoza Hall IN New York >@kenozahallExcerpt:Reminiscent of the old-school camp experience you likely had as a kid, this Elkhorn, WI retreat set across 25 acres has access to private beaches and fishing, and the best canoeing and S’mores-filled campfires you’ve been daydreaming about well into adulthood. The property boasts plenty of accommodation options, including vintage side-by-side cabins which are available on Airbnb, as well as a bunkhouse, A-frame cabin, and more.Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Camp Wandawega has been receiving visitors (of all kinds) since the ’20s first as a speakeasy and hideout for Chicago mobsters, then as a brothel, and later cleaning up its image as a popular resort and, eventually, as a Latvian Church Camp. Today’s owner came to said camp as a kid, purchased it in 2003, and has been tending to its 60-some guests ever since. THANK YOU @annastanicoff
April 16, 2021 • Published by Tereasa Surratt
Dressing for camp chores.i would break a hip restocking the woodshed in these boots.its not even summer yet and it already makes me want to dress for fall.shoot last fall just came out in @elegantmagazine The dream Team: PHOTOGRAPHER: @bekahwriedtHMUA : @finemakeupartSTYLIST: @brandonfreinMODELS: @serenityane @scaffidsASST: @abiv01
April 15, 2021 • Published by Tereasa Surratt
Quiet before the storm.It’s been all hands on deck with our new hires getting set up for the season.it’s looking like its going to be a busy one!#GetReadyPulling out the bike fleet.Patching up the canoes.Building out the tipi.Erecting scout tents.Setting up the mess hall.Laying out the event pews.Unwrapping everything that’s been in sleeping storage since the fall…It takes a solid two weeks to ‘build’ camp for the season.And its a labor of love.Some days emphasis on labor.But most days emphasis on love.Welcoming 2021.Photos @anda_marie
April 14, 2021 • Published by Tereasa Surratt
Time Travelers Wanted. THE TOURIST STOP.Weve never felt official.(& still get Imposters syndrome every time we show up in press alongside real hotels)Those that have a concierge & a towering brochure rack in a lobby when you check in.We’ve always wanted one of those shiny official tourist literature racks. For small businesses along along Americas byways (like route 12 where we are) it says :Were worth making a stop for”Makes a place feel more official. So after 97 years, we got one!(found in warehouse on the west coast)These racks acted as the original travel agent- Youd go to the train depot & peruse for your next adventure.Back in the 1940’s the primary mode of public transport was still by bus.The US was beginning to open up to travelers- but a family car and the birth of the modern road trip was still a ways off for most Americans, But for 67 hours a vacationer could watch out their window as the scene changed from Pueblo architecture, to the farmland of the Great Plains.Even to little resort towns in Wisco. (3rd shot: taken at the bus stop at the end of Wandawega drive.) Travel modes have changed, but one thing remains : Sightseers need sights to see. So now that we finally found a 30s bus stop Tourist rack to fill…. Weve started researching attractions that are still around- that the day tripper from Wandawega might have visited in 20s-60s.The challenge – is that most brochures have been modernized with cheesy colors, fonts & clip art.so we found their original brochures on Online the for each slot….supper clubs and fish fries, parks to museums… all the attractions within a couple hours of us.Our fav part of this rack is that it came with its original hand- painted Art Cards ( top row edges and 2nd row center)They are the original bus line ads that lured travelers to u known adventures. Visiting time travelers looking for ideas, start here! at our new WANDAWEGA TOURIST STOP *We just gave it that name so we feel 1% more official FOR FELLOW HISTORY NERDS:>Shot 9: 1943 Esther Bubley spent a month photographing the people traveling cross country >Shot 3&4 Wisco tourism promo in c
April 13, 2021 • Published by Tereasa Surratt
Welcome to the new Camp Directors office!This is where youll find @ahutchgram – (thanks to @bhwoodworks for the elbow grease)If walls (and this desk) could talk! We shared a bit about its backstory in our 4/2 post. This little room with a view is where the schedules are made, programming is designed, camp staff is managed. Its stocked with bullhorns and whistles, scout manuals and clipboards. Its where Abe watches over and the flag still waves. (Every self respecting Scoutmasters den had to display them). This space needed to come equipped with a rack for a directors hat and a place to keep your boots.This is the desk that came with this place – the one that hid the last remaining copy of the 1925business card & bears the address rubber stamp (zoom into shot 5). This was back when phone numbers only had 3 digits. This is the room with the crooked floor with the trapdoor for hiding bourbon.This is the room where plans will be hatched for future cabins (and someday if we are lucky – a real pavilion like most summer camp have… were saving our pennies).This is the room that reminds us that nothing worth having comes easy. Welcome to the new Camp Directors Office. The door’s always open. (Partially due to its broken lock).Lamp, file tray, cabinet and radio from our friends at @deconstructioninc
April 12, 2021 • Published by Tereasa Surratt
