Important Information
GET CONNECTED WITH CAMP:
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Working at Camp is better with friends!
When you refer a friend and they accept their offer for 2025, you'll receive a $50 bonus for each referral!
It's simple: Fill out the form, and list who you are referring!
Staff FAQs
Going on Trail isn’t just a tradition at Manito-wish, it’s one of the features that make us truly unique; it’s an integral part of every summer camper’s Manito-wish experience. Small groups of two counselors/tripping co-leaders and four or five campers will pack out their gear, and venture out into the Northwoods wilderness.
Along the way, participants will camp in tents, cook, travel, and put their leadership skills to the test. They will be amazed, inspired and challenged. And subsequently, they’ll return with newfound confidence in their leadership and abilities. In short, it’s a transformative experience that puts them on a positive path, ready to achieve any goal they choose to set for themselves. One thing is for certain: They’ll set that bar high.
2025 Travel Information
Now is the perfect time to start planning your transportation and arrival to Camp. If you are driving yourself to Camp, there are designated staff parking lots where you can safely park your car. Plenty of staff get dropped off by family or friends, so please know that having a vehicle is not expected. Staff must be onsite by 8:30am on their agreed upon start date, please plan your travel and accommodations accordingly.
If you are finding yourself in need of a ride to Camp, we've organized a peer-to-peer ride share. Feel free to use it at your convenience. If a ride share doesn't work out, please let your program director know about your transportation needs at least 2 weeks before your needed date, and we'll do our best to assist you!
Please note, if you sign up to give someone else a ride, you assume all liability and will not be reimbursed by Camp for travel expenses.
CAMP DOC
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Starting in mid-March, emails prompting you to set up an account in Camp Doc (health information and doctor’s physical exam).You can get ahead of the game by getting your physical done early! Staff must have a physical within 24 months of their start date and the Physical Exam forms
BIB
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About 6-8 weeks prior to your start date for domestic staff, you will receive a text and e-mail from BiB- Background Investigations Bureau (background check).
Complete the prompts from BiB as soon as you receive the message as it will expire within 7 days of receiving the request.
*All employment is contingent upon an approved background check*
(International Staff background checks are submitted through your international sponsor agency and Camp will review them there)
2025 PRO DEALS & LOCAL DISCOUNTS
We are excited to share a Camp Manito-wish employee benefit that you are eligible to take part in! Our Camp has partnered with many companies and businesses to offer employees of Manito-wish an exclusive discount or pro-deal. These pro-deals are a privilege for us and not a right. As a result, please take note of the following rules for pro-deals to ensure they remain available for all users this year and in the future:
- Employees may only use offers to purchase items for themselves. You may not purchase items for others including friends or family
- Items may not be purchased and resold at higher value than what the employee paid for the item.
- Some companies below will be shipping only to Camp Manito-wish and we will not be forwarding any packages (except hiking boots) before the summer begins.
- Misuse of pro-deals may result in termination of you Camp Manito-wish YMCA employment.
If these partners have reasonable suspicion of misuse, individual pro-deal privileges will be revoked. If vendors notice that individuals from our organization are misusing pro-deal offers, they may suspend the offer for all Camp Manito-wish staff currently and in the future. Please ensure that you are following the rules above as well as those listed by each of the vendors, so that we can continue to utilize these great deals on gear!
2025 PROGRAM DATES
SUMMER CAMP
3-Week Summer Camp (Campers entering 5th-9th grade)
Boys Camp: June 21st - July 11th
Girls Camp: July 21st - August 10th
EMERGING LEADER EXPERIENCE (ELE)
Boys ELE Session Dates: June 28th-July 11th
Girls ELE Session Dates: July 28th- August 10th
OUTPOST WILDERNESS TRIPS 2025
Introductory | 14 Day Trip | 10th Grade
Intermediate Canoeing, Backpacking or Sea Kayaking
Session One - Girls:
June 21st – July 11th
Session Two - Boys:
July 21st – August 10th
Advanced | 25-30 Day Trip | 11th - 12th Grade
Canuck Canoeing: June 21st – July 31st
Western Backpacking: June 28th – July 31st
Mariner Sea Kayaking: June 28th - July 31st
Expeditionary | 45 Day Trip | 12th Grade & Up
Canuck Canoeing: June 21st - August 15th
Alaskan Backpacking: June 21st - August 15th
FAMILY CAMP
6-day Family Camp: July 14-19
4-day Family Camp: August 13-16
2025 TRAINING DATES
TRAINING DATES
LEADERSHIP STAFF
- Spring Admin Training: April 8 - 11
- Challenge Course Training: April 14 – 18
- Spring Training: April 21 & 22
- Prairie School Training: August 16-18
- Fall Admin Training: August 25 & 26
- Fall Training: August 27-31
SUMMER CAMP STAFF
- Upper Admin Training and Prep: May 23 – May 31
- Admin Training: June 1 - 10
- BC Staff Training: June 11-20
- GC Staff Training: July 11-20
OUTPOST STAFF
- Admin: May 29 – June 9
- OP Staff Training: June 10 - 20
- Specialized Training – For Canuck & Expo Canucks ONLY: June 7-8 & June 15 - 18
- Backpacking Specialized Training: June 21 – 23
- Sea Kayaking Specialized Training: June 4 – 8
- Mariner Specialized Kayak Training: June 21 – 27
OUTDOOR LEADERSHIP SCHOOL COURSE DATES
WILDERNESS WATER SAFETY (WWS)
- June 7 - 8
- June 9 - 10
- July 9 - 10
WILDERNESS WATER SAFETY (WWS Recert) RECERTIFICATION
- May 30
- June 9
WILDERNESS FIRST AID (WFA)
- May 27 - 28
- June 7 - 8
- June 9 - 10
- July 7 - 8
WILDERNESS FIRST RESPONDER (WFR) 5-Day
- May 2 – 6
- May 16 - 20
WILDERNESS FIRST RESPONDER (WFR Recert) RECERTIFICATION
- May 4 – 6
- May 21 - 23
Catch up on past communications
Have more questions?
Your question will be directed to the appropriate contact.