The Solo Trip: Independence at a Boys Summer Camp
Every summer at North Star Camp for Boys in the Wisconsin Northwoods, a handful of our oldest campers sign up for something that sounds unusual to families who are new to overnight camp. It is called the Solo Trip, and it sends each boy out to his own campsite along the North Country Trail for a full twenty-four hours. This week a dozen of our Pine Manor campers did exactly that. Here is what the Solo Trip actually is, why the boys choose it, and how years of camp lead up to a single night in the Northwoods.
What the Solo Trip Is
The Solo Trip is an optional sign-up trip available to our oldest boys. Each camper has his own campsite along the North Country Trail, and our Wilderness Trip Leaders stay within shouting distance in case they are needed. For those twenty-four hours, though, the responsibility belongs to the camper himself. He builds his own shelter, cooks his own meals, and manages his own fire. He decides how to spend the day. For a little while he is alone with his own thoughts and his own abilities, which is a rare thing for a teenage boy in a world that rarely leaves him unsupervised.
Why the Boys Choose It
When parents first hear about the Solo Trip, they usually have one of two reactions. Some think it sounds amazing. Others think we’re crazy. The boys themselves love it, and not because it is easy, since it is intentionally challenging from the first hour to the last. They have to rely on skills they have been building for years on cabin trips and throughout camp, and they have to trust their own preparation. When they hike back to the group the next day, they carry themselves a little differently, because they have proven something to themselves that no one else could have proven for them.
Independence Is Taught, Not Demanded
After reading something Dr. Deborah Gilboa wrote about tracking your kids, I found myself thinking about how different these campers’ lives at home can be from what they experience here at North Star. She framed the tension this way:
Tracking your kids tells them: You are not safe in the world unless I am in your pocket. You are not competent unless I am watching. You don’t have the skills to navigate this. And that may be true of your kid right now. You are the expert on your kid. But then the question is: what is your plan? What do they need to learn so you can STOP tracking them?
We certainly don’t believe in throwing kids into situations they aren’t prepared for. Our trip leaders spend years developing the skills to lead these experiences, and the campers practice building fires, cooking, and setting up shelters long before they ever have the chance to sign up for a Solo Trip. Independence isn’t something we demand of a boy. It is something we teach him gradually, one skill and one trip at a time.
Eventually, though, there has to come a moment when the adults step back. Confidence doesn’t come from someone always standing over your shoulder. It comes from realizing that you can solve a problem on your own, that you can recover when something doesn’t go as planned, and that you can take care of yourself. As parents, that is one of the hardest parts of raising children, because every instinct tells us to protect them, and sometimes protecting them means resisting the urge to step in quite so quickly.
The Morning After
Tomorrow morning our Solo campers will wake up, build another fire, make breakfast, pack up their campsites, and hike back to the group. They’ll be a little smoky, probably a little tired, and very proud of themselves. They will have earned that feeling in a way that no amount of reassurance from an adult could ever hand to them.
Back at Camp
Back at camp, we have been enjoying perfect weather for some especially good days. Last night’s evening program was the Basketball Extravaganza, and tonight we continued our preparations for the North Star Games on Saturday, with all four teams practicing their events and getting their rosters ready for the big day. The North Star Games are one of our signature all-camp competitions, and the buildup across the week is a big part of the fun for everyone at camp.
Those only are happy who have their minds fixed on some object other than their own happiness; on the happiness of others. — John Stuart Mill
If your family is exploring overnight camps and you want your son to grow into a young man who can build a fire, solve a problem, and trust himself when no one is watching, a summer at North Star Camp for Boys in the Wisconsin Northwoods may be the right fit. You can learn more about North Star Camp for Boys, explore our camp activities and trip program, or reach out to start a conversation with us.
FAQ
What is a Solo Trip at summer camp?
At North Star, the Solo Trip is an optional overnight experience for our oldest boys. Each camper spends twenty-four hours at his own campsite along the North Country Trail, building his own shelter, cooking his own meals, and managing his own fire while trained Wilderness Trip Leaders stay within shouting distance.
Is the Solo Trip safe for campers?
Yes. Boys only go on a Solo Trip after years of practice with fire building, cooking, and shelter setup on cabin trips, and our Wilderness Trip Leaders remain close by the entire time. The trip is designed to be challenging and independent while staying carefully supervised from a distance.
How does an overnight camp build independence in boys?
Independence at North Star is taught gradually. Campers pick up outdoor and self-care skills across many summers in Wisconsin before taking on bigger challenges like the Solo Trip, so that confidence grows from real ability rather than from being pushed too far too soon.
