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A Summer camp run by one person is today an antiquated notion. Camps offer so much variety and so much attention to individual campers that a team administration is required. At Birch Trail, Barbara Chernov is the owner and one of the directors of the camp. She brings over three decades of organized camping experience to the job. Barbara's son Gabe Chernov is also a director and has been at camp for two decades. He has worked as a ski instructor, climbing instructor, maintenance assistant, wilderness trip leader, wilderness trip director and Assistant Director. Laura Beilman-Dulin is Birch Trail's Assistant Director. Laura has been at Birch Trail for a number of summers and has been a counselor, village director and program director before becoming the full time Assistant Director. Laura brings over 10 years of organized camping experience to the job. 
Barbara's other two children, Dylan and Tanya, are directly involved in the camp operation as well. Dylan is the director of the adventure component of the camp program--more specifically he is in charge of all climbing, canoeing, backpacking, sea kayaking, mountain biking, camping, sailing and horseback riding trips. Tanya helps to run the camp office in the summer and organizes materials throughout the winter months. Three additional members round out Birch Trail's administrative team. Gabe's wife Erin Chernov has been at camp for many years and runs the Arts and Crafts program. Erin is a 5th grade teacher during the school year. Caleb and Jessie Knight live in Hong Kong during the winter and return to camp every summer. Caleb has his Ph.D in Child Psychology and has been the Waterfront Director for almost three decades. Jessie is an internationally certified Master Yoga instructor and runs the Yoga program at camp. Each member of the administrative team is capable of running camp. It is this breath of talent and this willingness to cooperate that enables Birch Trail to function on such an incredibly high level. Accreditation Barbara, Laura and Gabe are active members of the American Camping Association (ACA), the leading national group devoted to organized camping in the United States. Laura and Gabe are frequent speakers at conventions and conferences regarding professional camping. Likewise, Birch Trail has always earned accreditation from the ACA. The standards for accreditation are stringent and include an on-site review of health, safety, program and administrative practices. Beyond the ACA, Birch Trail's professional affiliations include the Association for Experiential Education, the Outdoor Recreation Coalition of America and the Wilderness Education Association. Our philosophy of camping We see camping as one of the few remaining opportunities for a child to experience the beauty and fun to be found in a natural setting. We believe that the academic and social pressures which are part of our children's lives need to be relieved occasionally; Birch Trail satisfies that need with a happy, nurturing, relaxed, but well-structured experience.
Tradition Happiness abounds at Birch Trail. It helps that camping is new and different, fresh and stimulating. Happiness and fun are also the legacy of a program rich in history and memories tied to special events- shared traditions passed on from counselors to campers and from older campers to younger campers. One example is our "Big and Little Sister" program where each first year camper becomes the "little sister" of an older, experienced camper. The big sister calls and writes to her little sister before camp even begins - their friendship is a positive ingredient in the adjustment of every first year camper. Moreover, Birch Trail becomes a second home for its campers and staff - a place where people can be appreciated for who they are, a place of unconditional acceptance and unconditional love. A setting made for fun A camper at Birch Trail will spend her summers under tall, lush trees, and see many animals and birds, including our bald eagles! Cabins are close to the lake where she can water-ski, swim, sail and enjoy colorful sunsets each night! Birch Trail Camp is located on the East Shore of Lake Pokegama, with over 450 acres of sparkling clear water. The camp property includes: 430 acres, wooded with birch and pine 4700 feet of lake frontage and a large sandy beach 22 camper cabins with electrical service, bunk beds and shelves, and a table and chairs 25 support buildings including the main lodge, a large craft shop, photolab, trip-supply house, wash-houses near the cabins (with hot water and showers), theater, health center, and more. Birch Trail is home to the states newest and most advanced outdoor climbing wall. Our climbing wall simulates the variety of rock faces found across the country and provides the most realistic climbing experience. A low ropes course is nestled in one of our wilderness settings. There are four tennis courts and one basketball court plus a huge crafts building. Some six miles of hiking and biking trails wind through the Birch Trail woods. Camp-sites along the trail offer a chance to back-pack out for a quiet cabin camp-out. The gymnastics equipment includes all of the popular apparatus--mats, pommel horse and balance beam. The waterfront has rowboats, canoes, kayaks, large and small sailboats, wind-surfers and three water-ski boats. Our horseback riding program is conducted 20 miles from camp at a beautiful facility. The ranch includes a ring for instruction and over 50 miles of trails for one-hour to two-hour rides and overnight camping trips. Health and safety first Our record of good health within an accident-free environment is a source of pride for us. This outstanding history is the result of a carefully planned, well structured program where potential problems are anticipated, analyzed and discussed by our staff. Where the American Red Cross would permit one lifeguard for every 25 swimmers, we maintain a ratio of one guard for every 6 swimmers. We take safety very seriously. Our health care staff includes EMT's, nurses and an in-camp physician. A well-staffed community health clinic is just two miles from camp. Two primary care hospitals are within 20 miles of Birch Trail. Health maintenance is promoted at camp - we encourage campers to take responsibility for their well-being. Our nurses are trained in holistic health approaches. We support proper diet, exercise, good personal hygiene and rest as key ingredients to good health. All of our staff are trained in Red Cross CPR and First Aid. Food, glorious food Birch Trail offers a well-rounded menu approved by a licensed dietitian, which is prepared and served by a professional staff. Fresh fruit and vegetables, salads, protein and carbohydrates are offered at every meal. Vegetarian entrees are available at all meals. To the campers, what matters most is "How does it taste?" Our food tastes great! Daily meals are one of the great, everyday pleasures at Birch Trail. People who love kids The American Camping Association recommends a ratio of one counselor for every eight campers. To give your daughter the individual attention that we believe is so important, our camper-to-staff ratio is 2.5 to 1. We spend a great deal of time and energy selecting our staff. Our entire year is devoted to Birch Trail, and we correspond with and interview staff applicants all over the country. We have staff join us from other countries as well, including England, Israel, Scotland, Holland, Denmark, Sweden, Australia, and New Zealand. Hiring the very best staff who will provide outstanding role models for your daughters is our first priority. We look for people who are sincerely interested in working with kids for an extended period of time. We want staff members who are patient, understanding, sensitive and nurturing. These intangible qualities are hard to find and harder to measure - our experience has shown that we need to interview at least 10 applicants for each staff opening. Our commitment to excellence offers no shortcuts. Indeed, our best investment of time and energy is to provide our campers with counselors who can best attend to their physical, emotional and social needs. Comprehensive staff preparation and training The time and energy that we put into hiring staff pays dividends for our campers. But we don't stop with just selecting the best people from the largest talent pool. Birch Trail's staff training program is among the longest and most comprehensive in the country! (Training begins two weeks prior to camp for wilderness trip leaders! Our remaining staff arrive in camp 9 days prior to the beginning of first session). They receive extensive training in counseling techniques, activity instruction, safety & risk avoidance, developing self-esteem and team-building. They, too, learn experientially, as they participate in our adventure course. They create cohesive teams, care for each other, refine skills and develop resources for the coming season. Our counselors truly care about children and have the skills and training to make sure that each girl has a great summer at Birch Trail. We are proud of our staff - they make camp fun, safe and rewarding for all of our campers! Meet our campers Birch Trail accepts 200 campers each session. Geographic diversity is valued at Birch Trail, and our campers come from an average of 45 cities in 30 states, plus international representation. Campers start camp as early as age eight and continue through age fifteen. At camp, your daughter will live in a cabin with six to twelve other girls of the same grade level. Typically, three counselors live with each cabin group. Birch Trail is divided into three villages, according to grade level. The Maple village consists of girls entering grades three through six, while girls beginning the seventh and eighth grades are in the Linden village. Our oldest campers are in the Tamarack village - these girls entering ninth and tenth grade have special responsibilities consistent with their age and maturity, such as being "big sisters" for our first-time campers. Projects, programs...and just plain fun Selection for projects is based on interest, age and skill level. (After your daughter has indicated her activity preferences, our staff places her in those classes - we call them "projects.") We believe it is neither beneficial nor appropriate to make activity selection by cabin groups. Activity selections by cabin groups would be a far simpler scheduling process for us, but we are committed to the individual needs, abilities and interests of our campers. A wide variety of activities are available to our campers for skills, instruction and for fun. Our program combines freedom of choice - and the resulting sense of independence for our campers - within the structure of a balanced and coordinated schedule. Activity selection is accomplished by picking twelve desired choices from a list of over thirty-five options. The activity selection sheet is mailed to you in March, so you have input regarding your daughter's choices! Lesson plans for projects are geared to her age and skill level. Each camper receives instruction in three projects per day. To add variety to the program, the instructional activities alternate on an every-other-day basis. In this fashion, six instructional activities will be taught to your daughter over a two week cycle. After the first cycle is completed, a second series of activities will begin, this one including your daughter's remaining six selections. A typical day of activities includes three 70 minute periods of instruction in 3 different areas, with an additional 60 minutes of organized free time. This organized free period - we call it "Prime Time" - gives the girls a chance to practice decision-making skills, supplement their learning, further improve their skills and have fun! Within this broad array of activities is something to let every girl sparkle, to have success and to gain recognition! All of our activities are designed to accommodate all skill levels. No prior experience is necessary to enjoy any activity at Birch Trail! You'll get lots of time to improve your skills, with tons of attention and guidance from our staff! Birch Trail offers instruction in the following: Camp Play - Pottery - Jazz Dance - Nature Crafts - Climbing - Aerobics - Ecology - Photography - Windsurfing - Sailing - Tie-Dye - Water skiing - Drama - Diving - Soccer - Games & Sports - Basketball - Gymnastics - Tennis - Field Hockey - Batik - Swimming* - Skating - Horseback Riding - Volleyball - Golf - Canoeing - Camp Newspaper - Painting - Chorus - Archery - Ropes Course - Fishing - Trampball - Volleyball - Outdoor Cooking - Yoga - Radio Broadcasting - Creative Writing - Jogging - Knitting - Mountain Biking - Martial Arts and Self Defense *Red Cross swimming ranks A great variety of special activities Much of the fun at camp comes from events unique to Birch Trail. We have special days during each session that are set aside for all-camp activities. Some of these include an all-camp Color war, special theme days and celebrations. On Sunday mornings we offer "club" groups which indulge special interests such as fishing, singing, fitness, aerobics and dozens morel There are plays, shows, council fires and skits that are open to everyone, and we even take some plays to nearby camps! Classes for girls who are specially skilled in such areas as gymnastics, tennis, water-skiing and crafts are also available. All this extra fun provides an opportunity for practice, learning and participating in special interests. Birch Trail, and its Sunday services, are nondenominational. Campers - usually in cabin groups assisted by counselors - organize, prepare and present the services. Our services relate the values, thoughts, and feelings of life at camp to a previously acquired ethical and spiritual value system. The focus of the service is to help each camper to clarify her feelings and reinforce her basic values within our setting. Cabin days and nights One of the objectives of Birch Trail is to offer children the chance to be part of a positively motivated team. Cabin days and cabin nights mix fun, adventure and time together in a positive, team-building experience. Birch Trail gives each child the opportunity and the challenge of living and cooperating with a variety of personalities. We believe that participation in cabin activities is crucial to the development of group living skills. This is precisely why our cabin activities are so carefully planned. Fun is always the main ingredient for cabin activities! Each cabin plans two evenings together a week. On Wednesdays, they pack a bag lunch and spend part of their day away from camp. Campers and their counselors may take a canoe trip on our lake, sail, ski, hike or use a camp van to visit a nearby lake or park. Our Tamarack campers spend at least one day enjoying the challenge and exhilaration of our High Ropes Adventure Course. It isn't unusual for some campers to spend an hour or two in the Minong metroplex (pop. 521). It's a fun day and a good break from the regular pattern of the project schedule! After-dinner fun Nightfall arrives late at camp. The sun doesn't set until 9:00pm or later for most of the summer. Our after-dinner programs are a great outlet for some silly, funny, wonderful, and entertaining efforts. In addition to the two cabin nights each week, campers can enjoy special cook-outs in our tipi, have an evening on the waterfront go water-skiing, roller-skating, enjoy our all-camp musicals or a night of sheer camp fun at its best with Biffer. The structure is simple enough; cabin nights are scheduled for Monday and Friday; the remainder of the week is divided between two "Village Nights" and three "All-Camp" events. Village nights are larger group activities; several cabins, close in age, get together for a special program. Three nights a week bring the entire camp together for a special program. Our camper shows, staff shows and Sunday camp-fire are always fun. Other all-camp events include Birch Trail's version of "Truth or Consequences", "Jewel of the Brule"(capture the flag) and "Biffer" - a very much modified tag game where tagging is done by tapping someone with a sweat-sock saturated with flour! If it sounds crazy, it is! Ask a Birch Trail veteran to explain it. Helping out At Birch Trail, all campers have cabin responsibilities. Each camper, on a rotating basis within her cabin group, helps in the dining room where she will set and clear tables for our family-style meals, and keep the food bowls and platters full. The girls are also responsible for keeping their cabins clean, their beds made and their belongings in order. They have jobs that fulfill their obligations as members of our camp community - they help to plan and produce many evening programs and special events. They also help with the camp store, help to sort in-coming mail and take charge of most shows and skills demonstrations with the guidance of our staff. Older campers go on wilderness trips as assistant trip leaders with younger campers - they help the younger campers to acquire camping skills as they take the developmental step of passing on positive skills to others less experienced. Typical Day 8:00 Wake-Up 8:15 You really have to get up! 8:30 Breakfast 9:30 Cabin Clean- Up 10:30 1st Activity Period 11:45 2nd Activity Period 1:00 Lunch 2:00 Rest Hour 3:15 3rd Activity Period 4:30 Prime Time (campers choose any activity) 5:45 Free-time 6:00 Dinner 7:30 Evening Programs Begin 9:30-11:00 Bedtime! (youngest first!) (* The 1st, 2nd and 3rd Activity periods are assigned based on the selections you make in April.) Effort, achievement and cooperation We are committed to encouraging and helping each girl do the very best she can - activity incentives are structured on that basis. We have tennis rankings, water-skiing achievement levels and the like, all rooted on an objective, non-competitive framework. Praise for effort and achievement is given to all our girls, not just to the best competitors. At Birch Trail, competition is not seen as an "end" itself, but rather as one of several means to an end. We believe in competition to test one's skills, to learn the benefits of teamwork and to have fun. We do not endorse competition as a basis for recognition, because equal effort on the part of two or more campers may not provide equal praise. If competition is the primary standard for attention, there will always be "losers". At Birch Trail, everyone is a winner! Within the positive setting that camp provides, we have special fun days and nights with contests, races and relays. We emphasize relay events especially, since they offer enough "cushion" to avoid the possibility of one or two campers feeling responsible for their team's loss. Here we can capitalize on the benefits of competition through teamwork and without the attendant stigma of losing. At Birch Trail, everyone enjoys the satisfaction of success! Wilderness trips and camping Part of the rationale for coming to camp is to experience things that cannot be done at home. Wilderness trips are fun, new, exciting and challenging adventures for most campers. These special trips give campers the opportunity to discover a new world and to become comfortable in it. Beyond the physical beauty of the experience, trips provide an excellent venue for personal growth, leadership and team building. Trips are geared for fun, adventure, new experiences, learning camping skills and interactive group skills. Specially trained staff and counselors take out each trip, under the guidance of our Wilderness Trip Director. Our trip leaders, people with a deep appreciation for the wilderness, are among our most mature and responsible staff. Trips vary in length and destination according to age, ability and interest. All of our Maple and Linden cabins take their trips together as cabin groups, thereby enhancing their team building opportunities. Our younger Maples go on two day "van" trips and possibly one other overnight to one of the beautiful lakes and parks in Minnesota or Wisconsin, with side trips to nature trails, logging camps or Lake Superior shipping centers. Our older Maples and our Lindens go on marvelous canoe trips on some of the most scenic rivers in the country - rivers like the St. Croix, Namekagon, Brule and Flambeau. Lindens may also go on extended backpacking trips as well, to places like the Sylvania National Forest in Upper Michigan, the North Country or Ice Age trails In Wisconsin, or on a "van" trip along the northern coast of Lake Superior, all the way to Canada! Tamaracks enjoy a menu of more challenging trip options, such as: Isle Royale National Forest for six day backpacking trips. Sea kayaking trips on Lake Superior. Extended canoe and backpacking expeditions in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area, Quetico Provincial Park in Canada, Sylvania National Forest, and the Porcupine Mountains. Our oldest campers may also participate in our Voyager/Explorer program. This physically challenging project includes over fifty hours of instruction, practice and study. Explorers culminate in a trip which includes 30 hours of minimal impact solo camping! There are exciting optional trips open to campers of all ages, including: Rock climbing trips along the granite bluffs overlooking Lake Superior Horseback riding overnights Fishing trips to out of the way trout streams Photo trips to the largest waterfalls in Wisconsin River trips on the beautiful rivers of northwest Wisconsin Wherever an outside provider is used for these trips, we pass any costs onto the campers who participate. Four or eight weeks? We are great believers in the value and flexibility of choice between four or eight weeks for our campers and their families. The campers from both sessions mix well and both are popular. There is no compromise in the quality of the program or instruction in either session. Our eight week campers enjoy the variety that both sessions offer. In addition, they gain increased benefits by virtue of their extended stay at camp. Parents most frequently comment on increased self-confidence and self-reliance as the fruits of eight weeks at Birch Trail. Campers generally relish the chance to partake in more of our instructional activities, go on more trips and make more friends. About fifty percent of our campers choose the 8 week stay. Whichever option your family chooses, you can be assured of a delightful, exciting and fun-filled experience in some of the most beautiful country in the United States. Visiting We are delighted when parents visit camp, and we are always happy to show camp to prospective families while it is in session. Parents are invited to visit during the change over between sessions. Maps of how to get to camp, visiting information and any other information are available to you at any time. Reunions and personal visits Each year we try to visit most cities in which we have campers for reunions, to show videos and look at pictures of the previous summer. All prospective campers are welcome to attend reunions, but we like time to talk to these girls separately. Sometimes being introduced to camp through reunions, where everyone already knows one another, might feel intimidating and impersonal. Please feel free to request a private and personal visit. We can explain camp more completely when we can focus our attention your daughter's questions and hear her concerns. Tuition and Fees An initial deposit of $800 is due with registration. A second deposit of $800 is due on or before February 1st. Final payment is due prior to June 1st. Four week tuition is $4350 and eight week tuition is $7400, this does not include travel. All of this sounds great, but take a look for yourself - browse through our Photo Gallery. Thanks for visiting! |
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