Friday Night Service at Our Wisconsin Boys Camp
At North Star Camp for Boys in the Wisconsin Northwoods, Friday evenings have a rhythm all their own. Each week the whole camp gathers at the Council Ring, our outdoor gathering place, for Friday Night Service, a tradition that has been part of North Star since the camp was founded in 1945. For families who are new to overnight camp, it is one of the clearest expressions of what this place values, and this past Friday brought a service that captured it especially well.
A Week of Small Victories
The Northwoods gave us a beautiful summer day to close out the week, with sunshine and a steady breeze coming off Spider Lake after a stretch of smoky days when we had been watching the air quality closely. Friday also marked the third and final day of our first set of instructional activities, which meant the boys had spent the week working at skills of their own choosing before starting a whole new schedule. Walking around camp that afternoon, I heard first-year campers proudly telling anyone who would listen that they had passed into the next level of riflery, gotten up on a wakeboard for the first time, or finally reached the top of the climbing wall. All of those things happened because the boys kept trying after they struggled, listened to their coaching, and discovered they were capable of more than they first believed. That is exactly the kind of growth we hope every camper finds here, and it set the tone for a Friday Night Service whose theme, fittingly, was resilience.
Friday Night Service at the Council Ring
A brief rain shower delayed the start of our service just long enough to remind us that even our most meaningful traditions sometimes call for a little flexibility. When the skies cleared, we gathered once again at the Council Ring under a beautiful evening sky and sunset. Ending the week this way feels grounding, with the whole camp together in one place as the light fades over the Northwoods and the fire is lit for the evening.
A Tradition Rooted in 1945
Friday Night Services have been part of North Star since Lou and Renee Rosenblum founded the camp in 1945. Before starting camp, Lou served as Athletic Director at the Milwaukee Jewish Community Center, and one of his hopes in creating North Star, in the closing months of World War II, was that Jewish children would have a place where they could safely experience the joys of childhood. Eighty years later, that commitment remains just as important to us, and it is part of why this weekly gathering still holds such a central place in the life of camp.
A Values-Based, Inclusive Campfire
While Friday Night Service is rooted in the Jewish tradition of Shabbat, it is not a religious ceremony so much as a values-based campfire program. We continue the tradition of saying the Kiddush, both to honor the camp’s history and because its message of gratitude fits the moment so well. At the same time, we work hard to make North Star an inclusive community where every camper and staff member feels that they belong, regardless of religion, race, ethnicity, or background. Following the Kiddush each week, we share a prayer or reflection from another culture. Last week we read the Anishinaabe Morning Prayer, and this week we shared the Sanskrit Karpur Gauram Mantra, a reflection centered on peace and compassion. One of the great gifts of camp is the chance to build friendships with people whose backgrounds and experiences differ from your own, and those relationships broaden perspectives in ways that are difficult to replicate anywhere else.
The Keylog Ceremony
The heart of the evening is the Keylog Ceremony, when campers step forward one by one to place their keylogs into the fire and share something they are grateful for. Tonight they spoke about friendship, family, and the people who had helped them through the week, and staff shared how proud they were of the growth they had already seen in their cabins. One of our counselors, Duncan, delivered a thoughtful sermonette about hardship, perseverance, and the strength that comes from choosing not to quit when things get difficult, along with the importance of supporting others when they are struggling. Watching all of it unfold against another Northwoods sunset, I felt grateful for the chance to do this work alongside your children, and as committed as ever to helping raise young men who do the right thing for the right reasons.
Considering a Summer at North Star
Evenings like this one are a good picture of what a summer at North Star offers, from the small daily victories at activities to the traditions that draw the whole community together at the end of each week. If you are considering a Wisconsin boys summer camp for your son, we would love to help you learn more about our traditions, our activities, and our approach to building character and resilience. You can read more about North Star, explore our camp activities, and reach out through our contact page to start a conversation.
“Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are.” — John Wooden
FAQ
What is Friday Night Service at North Star Camp?
It is a weekly, values-based campfire program held at the Council Ring that has been part of North Star since 1945. Rooted in the Jewish tradition of Shabbat, it centers on gratitude, reflection, and community, and it welcomes campers and staff of every background.
What is the Keylog Ceremony?
The Keylog Ceremony is the part of Friday Night Service when campers place small logs, or keylogs, into the fire and share something or someone they are grateful for, making it one of the most cherished traditions of the week.
Is North Star Camp a religious camp?
North Star is not a religious camp. Its Friday Night Service draws on Jewish tradition, but it is a values-based program focused on gratitude and belonging, and the camp is an inclusive community open to families of all backgrounds.
