The Unit System is somewhat unique to Nor’wester and is central to our mission and philosophy. We believe that a camper is best supported at camp when they have a strong group of peers and counselors surrounding them, helping them learn and grow from the camp experience.
What can I expect from my unit?
When you’re enrolled as a camper, you will be placed in a unit, most likely according to your age and grade. Two staff, called Unit Leaders, are assigned to your unit for the duration of the session – their main job is to support you and the rest of your unit mates in having the best camp experience you can. They will join you in all activities during the session. Unit Leaders are hired for their commitment to their campers, and genuine interest in spending time with young people. There will also be four or more Department staff living in your unit. You’ll see them during the day in their program area – maybe in the Craftshop, Kitchen, at the Archery range or on a Nature hike, depending on their job. They will also spend time with your unit on Overnights, and during Rest Hours and at night. All of these staff are there to support and connect with you, and hopefully teach you new skills throughout the session.
One of the main goals of the Unit System is for you to have a small group of other campers your same age to live and experience camp with – these are your unit mates. On Arrival Day, before you get on the boats to camp, you will group up with your counselors and unit mates to meet together for the first time. When you get to camp, you’ll learn who your tent mates are – you’ll be living in a tent with two or three other campers in your unit. We hope that in the first weeks of camp your unit mates get to know each other and bond during activities. You’ll probably have some closer friends in your unit than others, but you’ll get to know everyone, and having that cohesive group around you during the session will be a big support and make for a lot of fun experiences together. We often see lifelong friends made at camp!
There will be times when something proves to be a challenge for your unit – a session at the Ropes course, or a tough paddle on your canoeing overnight, or maybe a disagreement between a few campers. These situations do happen, but the point of living and working in a group of peers is that you can get through it together. Your Unit Leaders will be there to facilitate discussion or to help you resolve conflict. A summer camp experience can be challenging at time; we don’t assume everything will be easy. We want you to learn and grow from your experiences and interactions with others, building your understanding of people who come from backgrounds that are different than yours, improving your communication skills, and hopefully making friends and great memories along the way.
Being prepared for and open to the possibilities of this kind of group-living experience will really help you have a great time at camp. Who knows, this year might be the year you learn to sail, or throw your first mug on the pottery wheel! These kinds of experiences will be awesome in their own right, but it will be so much better to have a close group of peers around you to celebrate with when you do them!
Unit Assignments
| Camper Ages/Grades (approximate) | North Star Units | San Juan Units |
|---|---|---|
| 9-10, completing grades 3-4 | Archers | Explorers |
| 11, completing grade 5 | Mariners | Rangers |
| 12, completing grade 6 | Vagabonds | Pioneers |
| 13, completing grade 7 | Voyageurs | Foresters |
| 14, completing grade 8 | Wayfarers | Islanders |
| 15, completing grade 9 | Navigators | Pathfinders |
| 16, completing grade 10 | Troubadour | Mountaineers |
Camp Nor’wester strives to be a welcoming, inclusive and safe space for all people. One of the goals of our Unit System is to put a group of peers together in a living situation that creates a supportive and cohesive dynamic, allowing for both individual and group growth and development. Our founders, Frank and Lucile Henderson, ran San Juan International Camp for Boys and North Star Camp for Girls from 1942-1967, so we have chosen to honor our history by bringing back these two identifiers – San Juan Units (for boys) and North Star Units (for girls). Using these names allows us to begin the process of cultural sensitivity toward gender fluidity/expansiveness and to be aware of how campers and staff may identify outside of the structured binary of traditional girl/boy labels, roles and stereotypes.
Any family with questions about their camper’s unit assignment should contact the camp office directly at the time of enrollment to confirm the best fit for their child.
Nor’wester’s Camper Preparedness Statement
Nor’wester is structured around a Unit System where campers live, interact, and participate in activities with a group of peers, and are led by staff members. Most of each day is spent in close community with others. With the hope for the greatest success for each camper at Camp, families should be confident their camper can self-manage in the settings and structures of the camp environment. This might include:
- Following a structured group schedule, as well as verbal and written directions and guidelines from staff.
- Having tolerance for unpredicted but necessary schedule changes and adjustments to the daily plan.
- Managing frustrations, disagreements, and building strong interpersonal relationships.
Enrolled campers will also complete a “Camper Commitment to Community” form as part of their spring forms packet, which includes specific behavioral expectations for participating in the program.
We would love to connect with families early and openly to discuss any areas of support or concern for their campers, so we can work together to campers up for success in our program. Please contact us – before, during, or after submitting a camper application – so we can begin to learn about your family and your camper’s needs this summer.