NSC Winter Pic of the Day - Dec. 31st

The Council Ring - click to enlarge

As we say goodbye to 2011, we're finishing our slate of winter pictures with The Council Ring. There is no more fitting way to end the year than with the place we spend every Friday night during the summer. We have a lot of keylogs to offer for the year past, starting with our awesome campers. Of course, without all of our North Star parents, their summer at camp wouldn't be possible. We'd also like to thank our tremendous staff, who work tirelessly during the summer and sacrifice so much. Finally we'd like to thank our alumni who support North Star in so many ways, from recommending us to friends to donating to the scholarship fund.

We're very lucky to be able to work at a place like North Star with such great people. We throw in the final keylog of 2011 to our North Star family!

- Leb, Sue, Andy and Dan

NSC Winter Pic of the Day - Dec. 30th

The Terrace - click to enlarge

In recent years, we've been faced with after meal announcements that go on, and on, and on.... and on. We've tried figuring out how to make them a bit shorter so, especially after lunch, we can head back to our cabins and enjoy a nice, long rest period. Well, maybe the key is making sure that the terrace is covered with snow and temps are below freezing! 

Check out the entire Winter Picture of the Day photo album.

NSC Winter Pic of the Day - Dec. 29th

The Tipi - click to enlarge

During the summer, the tipi is covered with a large canvas, and for many years, we took the entire tipi down at the end of each camp season. Of course, that meant that in June, we had to put the entire thing back up. It gave us great appreciation of the Native American tribes of the Great Plains, because even with an illustrated manual, for us, putting up the tipi poles is an adventure. Kind of like tinfoil surprise, we never knew what our final product would look like. Several years ago, another camp told us that they just remove the canvas, but leave the poles up year round. Needless to say, it makes our lives a lot easier and our Counselors in Training, who are tasked with putting up the tipi, much happier.

Check out the entire Winter Picture of the Day photo album.

NSC Winter Pic of the Day - Dec. 28th

A Walk in the Snow - click to enlarge

While many of our camp families and friends are enjoying nice long walks along a beach somewhere on their winter breaks, that's not what this picture is of. While this might resemble footprints in the sand, about to be erased by an incoming wave, these are actually bootprints in the newly fallen snow on a frozen Brewer's Bay. There is also probably a slight temp difference, too... today, its 19 degrees in Hayward, WI.

Check out the entire Winter Picture of the Day photo album.

NSC Winter Pic of the Day - Dec. 27th

North Star - click to enlarge

There's nothing that a layer of snow doesn't add a nice element to... unless, of course, you don't like snow. One of the really cool things about the early sunset and its perspective on the horizon during the winter is that it tends to light things up differently during the winter and  create some really cool shadows.

Check out the entire Winter Picture of the Day photo album.

NSC Winter Pic of the Day - Dec. 26th

Day is Done... - click to enlarge

Our 12/19 Picture of the Day had a view of the sun setting on cabin Junior 6, illuminating the cabin. Here is a view of that same sunset, but from inside the cabin. The J6 counselor quarters have had many residents who love living there, waking up to the lake view. That lake view is a big different when Brewers Bay has been transformed to a sheet of ice covered by a layer of snow.

Check out the entire Winter Picture of the Day photo album.

NSC Winter Pic of the Day - Dec. 25th

Brewers Bay - click to enlarge

We wanted to take a moment to wish a Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah to all of our camp families, staff, alumni and friends who celebrate the holidays. We hope that you all are enjoying the day with loved ones! As always, we thank you for your continued support  and we're glad that you're part of the North Star family.

Check out the entire Winter Picture of the Day photo album.

NSC Winter Pic of the Day - Dec. 24th

Fun Bug Tree - click to enlarge

During the winter, the fun bug area (aka the Purple Martin Village) is quiet. The lone tree has lost all of its leaves and has always reminded me of something out of an Ansel Adams picture. For those keeping track, we're about 178 days until we have the inaugural fun bug dude of 2012!

Check out the entire Winter Picture of the Day photo album.

NSC Winter Pic of the Day - Dec. 23rd

Villa Campsite - click to enlarge

Anyone for tinfoil surprise? Good luck getting your fire started!

Check out the entire Winter Picture of the Day photo album.

NSC Winter Pic of the Day - Dec. 22nd

Athletic Fields - Click to Enlarge

While our friends out west have gotten some snow, at least in the midwest, we're still waiting for a good covering of white. Today I decided to pass along this picture from the middle of the athletic fields, showing the the fields, lodge and other buildings covered with snow.

Check out the entire Winter Picture of the Day photo album.

NSC Winter Pic of the Day - Dec. 21st

Brewers Bay Sunset - click to enlarge

Our Winter Picture of the Day on 12/19 featured the sun setting on cabin J6. Here you can see where the sun actually sets during the winter. This shot of Brewers Bay is taken with the senior village along the right hand side of the picture. So instead if the sun setting behind the council ring, during the winter, it sets over Brewers Bay.

Check out the entire Winter Picture of the Day photo album.

NSC Winter Pic of the Day - Dec. 20th

Lets Play Two! - Click to enlarge

Bleacher seating with a great view of Lou's Diamond and the rest of the athletic field is pretty inexpensive during the winter months. Then again, there isn't much action to watch... but don't worry, we'll make sure that an usher wipes down your seat for you.

These rocking chairs, on the porch of the Handler Health Center, overlook one of our baseball diamonds as well as the athletic fields. During one of our winter camp visits, we actually did play a (short) game of snow softball. Needless to say, hitting a ball while bundled in a few layers and running to first in half a foot of snow isn't the easiest thing in the world. 

Check out the entire Winter Picture of the Day photo album.

NSC Winter Pic of the Day - Dec. 19th

J6 Sunset - Click to Enlarge

During the summer, we're all used to the sun setting over the Council Ring. During the winter, however, visitors to camp are very surprised when they realize that the sun actually sets over Tipi Island. With camp being so far north, you can see a notable difference of where the sun is in the horizon, rising near swim point and, throughout the day, moves across the southern horizon. Here, you can see the setting sun reflecting off the front of cabin J6.

Check out the entire Winter Picture of the Day photo album.

NSC Winter Pic of the Day - Dec. 18th

Tipi Island - Click to Enlarge

During the summer, we head out towards Tipi Island on canoes, kayaks and other boats. During the winter, no watercraft is necessary to get there. Once a thick layer of ice covers Brewers Bay, you get there on foot. One of the neat parts of being at camp during the winter is taking a hike from the canoe racks, towards Tipi Island, and then over to swim point. If you're really adventurous and can withstand the cold, you can take an extended hike along the ridge, to the opening between Little Spider Lake and Clear Lake, and over to the Council Ring.

Check out the entire Winter Picture of the Day photo album.

NSC Winter Pic of the Day - Dec. 17th

With the holiday season approaching and not much snow thus far, we wanted to get into the holiday spirit. Each day up until the end of the year, we're going to post a picture of North Star during the winter. Not many people get to experience camp during the winter, when you can drive a car on the lake and see cabins covered with feet of snow. We hope all of our campers, staff, alumni and friends enjoy pictures of camp during the winter.

The Lodge - Click to enlarge

We wish you all a happy holidays. Safe travels to those of you who are headed somewhere for vacation.