DSC_0180
YMCA Camp Minikani
Hubertus, WI
September 30, 2013
Minikani has an incredible ability to retain and invigorate campers and staff. No one is more of an example to this than the current summer camp director Sully, Matt Sullivan. He is in the process of leaving, heading out to Camp Chief Ouray in Colorado, but he has lived the Minikani way for almost his entire life. Growing up as a camper, through the leadership program, staff, and turning down graphic design jobs after graduating from college to be at camp year round. Each camper at Minikani hopes to be a counselor when the "grow up" ironically as staff members they fight the idea of growing up to return to camp year after year.
This commitment at Minikani brings up an interesting argument between bring in fresh blood to camp staff and growing staff completely from with in. At Minikani they never struggle to find staff but rather always have to turn huge numbers away. The staff always know the ins and outs of camp as well as what to expect when they arrive. They can hit the ground running each summer building off the summer before because everyone had been there the summer before. Unfortunately this culture then leads to a lower instance of new ideas and a difficult time changing culture or thoughts. Minikani has found a great way, under Sully's direction, to balance the struggles of this culture with all the positives that come from such a high staff return rate.
-Jack