Badger Camp I
Camp Chippewa is a traditional boys' overnight camp in Northern Minnesota, offering a wide range of land and water...
▌ Editor's read Camp Chippewa's website loads successfully and presents itself as a traditional boys' overnight camp in Cass Lake, Minnesota. It is accredited by the American Camp Association (ACA) with an expiration year of 2025, confirming adherence to industry standards. The camp, founded by Al and Mary Jane Goldberg, has been operating for over 70 years, indicating a long history and established program. They explicitly state a staff-to-camper ratio of 1:4 and mention that all staff undergo background checks, highlighting a focus on safety and supervision. The camp has a 4.9-star rating from 100 Google reviews, with many reviewers praising the positive impact on their sons' development and the strong sense of community. Program activities include a variety of land and water sports, wilderness trips, and creative arts, emphasizing skill development and personal growth.
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ACA-accredited~300 standards audited
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Since 195670+ years operating
Who thrives here Ages 8–11
Badger Camp I sits in the upper-elementary to middle-school window where specialization starts to mean something. Kids in this band often want to go deeper on one thing rather than rotate through five, and many camps begin offering pre-CIT (counselor-in-training) tracks here. The right overnight/sleepaway fit at this age depends on whether the child wants more autonomy or still wants the safety of a structured rhythm.
Facts & Credentials
- Program type
- Overnight camp
- ACA accredited
- Yes
- Established
- 1956 (70 years)
- Operator
- Private business
- Staff-to-camper ratio
- Published by camp see camp site →
Details
- Category: Overnight/Sleepaway
- Ages: 8–11
- Hours: 24-hour residential
- Address: 22767 Cap Endres Road SE, Cass Lake, MN 56633
- Phone: (218) 335-8807
- Email: [email protected]
- Cost notes: $4,740 for the 2-week session
↗ What parents like
- Introductory session for younger campers
- Focus on character building
- Wilderness canoe trips
↘ Watch for
- Short two-week session
- Limited to first-year campers
Logistics
- Lunch provided: Yes
- Transportation: Yes
- Financial aid: No
- Setting: outdoor
Frequently asked about Badger Camp I
- What ages does Badger Camp I accept?
- Badger Camp I is open to children ages 8–11. Camps publish their own age cutoffs, and some run mixed-age groups internally; check the registration page for that summer's grouping if your child sits at a boundary.
- How much does Badger Camp I cost?
- Badger Camp I publishes $2,370/week for the standard session. $4,740 for the 2-week session Final cost depends on session length, sibling discounts, and whether extended care is added on.
- What are Badger Camp I's hours?
- Badger Camp I runs 24-hour residential. If those hours don't quite cover your work day, check whether extended care or early drop-off is offered separately.
- Is Badger Camp I accredited?
- Yes — Badger Camp I is accredited by the American Camp Association (ACA) and has been operating for 70 years. ACA accreditation means the camp has been audited against ~300 health, safety, and program-quality standards covering staffing, supervision ratios, emergency response, and program design.
- Who runs Badger Camp I?
- Badger Camp I is operated by a private business, with 70 years of operating history. The operator type matters for tuition policy (refunds, financial aid eligibility) and for what kind of staff training pipeline the camp uses.
- Does Badger Camp I provide lunch?
- Yes — Badger Camp I includes lunch in the program. Confirm whether it's a hot lunch, cold lunch, or a snack-plus-bring-your-own setup, and ask about allergy accommodations if relevant.
- Does Badger Camp I offer transportation?
- Badger Camp I provides transportation. Coverage zones and bus stops vary; ask for the route map for the summer you're enrolling in. Some camps fold bus fees into tuition, others bill separately.
- How does Badger Camp I compare to other overnight/sleepaway camps in Cass Lake?
- Badger Camp I is one of 8 overnight/sleepaway camps in Cass Lake that overlap its age range. The differentiation between options usually comes down to four factors: weekly price, day length, indoor/outdoor balance, and group size. Browse same-city alternatives in the directory to compare side by side.
Planning guides
Editorial checklists to use before you compare Badger Camp I with other camps.
- How to choose a summer camp · Use the decision checklist before you compare finalists.
- Day camp vs. overnight camp · Decide whether the format fits your child and schedule.
- Packing list and camp prep · Plan gear, medication notes, labels, and drop-off prep.
- Financial aid and scholarship camps · Compare aid policies, discounts, and application timing.
Camps near here
Same city, with age-overlapping options first. Other camps to consider alongside Badger Camp I.
- Camp Chippewa · Cass Lake, MN · Ages 8–17 · $1,973/week
- Camp Kamaji · Cass Lake, MN · Ages 7–16 · $2,063/week
- Full Session · Cass Lake, MN · Ages 8–17 · $1,715/week
- Badger Camp II · Cass Lake, MN · Ages 8–11 · $2,370/week
- Session I · Cass Lake, MN · Ages 8–17 · $1,973/week
- Session II · Cass Lake, MN · Ages 8–17 · $1,973/week
- Camp Kamaji - Second Four Week Session · Cass Lake, MN · Ages 7–16 · $2,063/week
- CLT Session · Cass Lake, MN · Ages 17–17 · $1,578/week