North Star Games: A Boys Summer Camp Olympics
Most days at North Star Camp for Boys follow a familiar rhythm of activities, meals, and cabin life in the Northwoods of Wisconsin. One day each summer looks nothing like the others. North Star Games is the camp’s all-day Olympics, and on August 1 it turned the whole property into a wall-to-wall competition from breakfast until dinner. If you are a parent wondering what a signature day at an overnight camp can look like, this is a good place to start.
What is North Star Games?
North Star Games is North Star’s version of an all-day Olympics. Campers are divided into four teams that change every year, each named after a constellation, and this summer the four teams were Sagittarius, Lupus, Crux, and Serpens. From the first event after breakfast to the last one before dinner, the entire camp competes in a wide range of events, and the day is built so that every camper has a way to contribute rather than leaving it to a handful of star athletes. The weather cooperated too, with sunshine, temperatures in the low 80s, and a light Northwoods breeze.
A day of events, from leg wrestling to Polaris Ball
The day began with leg wrestling, always one of the crowd favorites. Lupus came out flying and built an early lead they would hold for the rest of the day. Asher repeated as champion in the oldest division, Dre won his division, and Jake and Will took the junior division. From there the competition moved from one venue to the next, mixing athletic contests, skill events, relays, and games that rewarded teamwork as much as individual talent.
Some of the closest finishes came in the team sports. The championship soccer game could not be settled in regulation and went to penalty kicks, where the tension climbed with every shot. The speedball championship was just as tight, with the lead changing hands until the closing moments. On the softball field, the staff 1-pitch game produced one of the day’s biggest surprises when Crux stormed back in their first game and went on to take first place.
One event you will not find anywhere else is Polaris Ball. Named after the North Star itself, Polaris Ball is a camp-grown version of softball where hitters have to put the ball in or through a series of boxes on the field, and it reliably produces exciting finishes. The tug-of-war battles drew some of the loudest crowds of the day, with teammates digging their heels into the grass while the rest of camp pressed in around the rope. In the staff tug, a counselor the boys know as Big Fish looked immovable at first, though his team came up just short in a close championship match.
A water polo finish for the ages
The final event was water polo, and it gave the day a dramatic ending. The championship game was still scoreless at the end of regulation, which sent it to golden-goal overtime. For 25 minutes, both teams traded chances without anyone scoring, and the boys in the water were exhausted, but no one wanted to be the one to give in. Noah finally broke free, found an opening, and buried the winner to end one of the longest and most exciting water polo games the camp has seen in years. The cheers from Swim Point carried across Spider Lake.
Why a day like this matters
When the final points were tallied, Lupus had held onto the lead they built first thing in the morning and were crowned this year’s North Star Games champions. The scoreboard is only part of the story, though. A day like this works because it is built around contribution, and because the format rewards teamwork as much as individual talent, a strong leg-wrestling round, a clutch penalty kick, and a steady pull on the rope all add to a team’s total. The next morning, camp settles back into its regular rhythm, with new activities beginning and wilderness trips heading out. But for one summer day, every camper had a team to represent, teammates to encourage, and plenty of stories they’ll be talking about long after the final whistle.
“Keep your eyes on the stars, and your feet on the ground.” — Theodore Roosevelt
North Star Games is one of many traditions that shape a summer at North Star Camp for Boys in the Wisconsin Northwoods. If you would like to learn more about the camp, its sessions, or how to plan a visit, we would love to hear from you.
FAQ
What is North Star Games at North Star Camp?
North Star Games is an all-day, camp-wide competition modeled on the Olympics. Campers are split into four teams named after constellations, and they compete in events like soccer, speedball, tug-of-war, Polaris Ball, and water polo from breakfast until dinner.
What is Polaris Ball?
Polaris Ball is a game invented at North Star and named after the North Star. It is a version of softball where hitters aim to put the ball in or through boxes placed on the field, which makes for skillful, exciting finishes.
Where is North Star Camp located?
North Star Camp for Boys is an overnight summer camp in the Northwoods of northern Wisconsin.
