Three Summers in Wisconsin

by Steve Jackson
(Monroe, Louisiana)

As a young boy growing up in Louisiana far away from the Northwoods, I never imagined that I would have the chance to spend three glorious summers in Northern Wisconsin at a boys' camp on Trout Lake near Woodruff.

My older brother got a counselor's job there and managed to enroll me in the camp in 1957. Having spent all of my summers in the Louisiana Bayou Country, I was amazed at the beauty and mild weather of Wisconsin, the clear waters and beautiful woods of birch trees. I was introduced to camping and canoeing, which I still am active in to this day. I learned to water ski there and continued to enjoy skiing till my back finally started telling me otherwise when I was in my 50s.

I've never been back to the Northwoods, but have dreamed of it often for the past 50 years. I'd love for my two grown sons to experience the beauty and serenity of the area and to see the magnificent lakes and woods. Wisconsin has been dear to my heart all these years and there is no other place I would like to be more. I dream of spending the summer there.