Hunter Lake is fifty steps from their cabin door. Girls paddle, sail, swim, and try things they have never tried before, all summer long.
Into the wild
The adventure program at Camp WeHaKee puts girls on Hunter Lake and in the Northwoods from the very first day. Campers kayak, sail, canoe, and try water sports like wakeboarding, tubing, and water skiing. On land, there are fire-starting skills, camp cooking, knot tying, and for girls who want it, an overnight on the Chicagami Trail that most end up talking about for the rest of the summer.
Activities are open to all experience levels. Girls who have never touched a paddle and girls who have sailed before are in the same program, which turns out to be part of what makes it work.
What they take home
Outdoor confidence does not come from a lecture. It comes from doing something hard and getting through it. Adventure activities at WeHaKee give girls exactly that: real challenges, real results.
- Paddling and navigation on open water
- Sailing and on-water teamwork
- Outdoor survival and camp craft basics
- Confidence through challenge and real accomplishment
"Something magical happens on Hunter Lake. A girl who has never paddled before is steering a kayak by the end of her first week. Every summer, without fail."
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From the lake to the trails, girls explore, challenge themselves, and build confidence through hands-on outdoor adventure.
Fishing
- Fish from the Hunter Lake dock
- Learn casting and basic technique
- Try different rods and lures
- Catch and release on the lake
Sailing
- Learn wind and sail control
- Steer and guide the boat
- Adjust sails while moving
- Work with others onboard
Paddle Board
- Stand and balance on board
- Paddle across calm water
- Practice turning and control
- Build strength and stability
Kayaking
- Launch from the WeHaKee dock
- Learn strokes and steering
- Paddle across open water
- Build rhythm on the lake
Canoeing
- Paddle with a partner
- Learn steering and balance
- Navigate the canoe together
- Move smoothly across water
Camping Skills
- Set up tents and camp space
- Cook meals over a fire
- Sleep outdoors under stars
- Hike the Chicagami Trail at night
More photos
Take a deeper look into the wonderful activities that make Camp WeHakee unforgettable.
Have questions?
Can campers try Camping Skills or Outdoor Skills if they've never camped before?
That's exactly who those activities are built for. Girls learn to set up a tent, build a fire, and navigate the Chicagami Trail with staff guiding every step. First-timers usually leave wondering why they waited so long.
What if my daughter doesn't want to get in the water?
She never has to. Adventure activities include plenty that have nothing to do with the lake — archery, biking, camping skills, outdoor skills. A girl can have a full adventure week without getting her hair wet once.
Is archery supervised? What does safety look like on the range?
The archery range runs with a certified instructor on-site for every session. Campers learn proper form and range rules before they ever pick up a bow. No one draws until the range is clear and the instructor gives the signal.
Do campers need experience to try sailing or kayaking?
No experience needed for any of it. Staff teach from the beginning — proper paddling technique, how to read wind on the water, how to handle a bow. Girls who've never been in a kayak are in the majority, not the minority.
Is water skiing open to beginners?
Yes. Campers start from the beginning, learning deep water starts, finding balance on two skis, and building control before working on turns and speed. No prior experience is needed.
The same goes for wakeboarding. Both are learned progressively, with staff instruction from the first run. Girls who've never been behind a boat before get up on skis at WeHaKee every summer.
Can my daughter try multiple adventure activities or does she pick one?
Campers build a schedule that includes multiple activities, so there's no need to choose just one. A girl can spend time kayaking on Hunter Lake, try archery on the range, and go out on the sailing dock in the same session.
If she wants to go deeper on one thing specifically, like water skiing or wakeboarding, those are also available as optional add-ons for the full session.
How are adventure activities structured throughout the day?
Campers choose their activities at the start of each session and build a schedule around them. Adventure programming runs throughout the day, so girls spend real, repeated time on the water and outdoors, not just a one-time sample.
That repetition matters. A girl who tries kayaking on Hunter Lake on day one is noticeably more confident by the end of the week. The structure gives that progress somewhere to go.
Do campers need to be strong swimmers to participate in waterfront activities?
No. Waterfront activities on Hunter Lake are grouped by comfort and ability level, not swimming proficiency. Girls who are newer to the water start with activities where they feel secure, with instruction and supervision built in from the beginning.
Swim checks happen early in the session so staff know where each camper is. No one is thrown into something they're not ready for.
What if my daughter is nervous about trying something new outdoors?
That's most of them, honestly. A girl who has never stood on a paddleboard or held a kayak paddle is not unusual at WeHaKee. Staff introduce activities in a way that makes the first try feel manageable, not like a test.
The camp setting helps too. When your daughter sees a cabinmate try something and laugh about it, the pressure drops. Most of the nerves disappear by day two.
How is safety managed during water and outdoor activities?
All waterfront activities on Hunter Lake are supervised by trained staff. Before any camper gets in a boat or on the water, they receive instruction specific to that activity. Kayaking, sailing, water skiing, canoeing, each one has its own safety orientation before girls participate.
WeHaKee is ACA accredited, which means waterfront supervision and safety protocols meet standards reviewed by an independent body. The Band Aid, WeHaKee's on-site health center, is staffed by a nurse with more than 20 years of experience if anything does come up.
