fun is just the beginning
By sending your child to Overnight Camp, you are providing them an experience far more meaningful than pure fun. During your child’s session, they will be challenged to make an effort; meet new people; take action; and use their mind, body and heart to its full potential. Your child’s counselor, who was once a camper at Minikani, will help them navigate new experiences that may not always be comfortable. They will likely interact with someone who is different. They might try to scale the climbing wall for the first time. Or maybe, they will find it nerve-wracking to sleep away from home on their first night. Throughout these unfamiliar experiences, your child will be safe, supported, challenged and inspired by their counselor. In turn, the Overnight Camp experience will ask that they:
- Be a kind member of a cabin with eight campers and two counselors
- Enjoy cabin sleeping and tent camp outs
- Follow a daily schedule and choose how they spend supervised free time
- Maneuver rustic, sometimes steep natural surroundings while supervised
- Be reasonably responsible for personal care, health and safety
- Understand and engage in group activities
- Participate in songs, campfires, family-style meals and cheers that build a strong sense of community
- Contribute positively to the community of Minikani
Traditional Overnight Camp
Ages 8-13
Our traditional overnight program fosters exploration and independence. In one-or two-week sessions, campers forge lasting bonds with cabinmates and counselors while learning new skills and participating in tradition-rich activities.
EXPLORERS
Ages 13-14
During their first week, Explorers learn wilderness and trip-planning skills taught by well-trained counselors and directors at Minikani. The entire group, including counselors and directors, then travel to Rhinelander to backpack, tent camp and canoe down the Wisconsin River.
Campers must be 13 by August 31 of the year the camp occurs. Explorers or Master Explorers satisfy pre-requisites for the Leadership Training program. Explorers are not allowed to place cabin requests, because a fundamental aspect of the Explorer program is independence. We challenge our Explorers to expand their comfort zone.
Where are they going?
Campers will be traveling to Camp Birchrock in Rhinelander, WI. We have a large group campsite reserved for the entire summer and maintain a great relationship with their team. Camp Birchrock also serves as our access point for safe drinking water, as well as emergency shelters in the event of a storm.
From there, campers will be paired with another cabin and will embark together on a one-night canoe trip along the Wisconsin River and a nearby hike on the Ice Age Trail. All routes, rest stops, and emergency exit points have been carefully planned in advance.
How are they getting to Rhinelander?
Campers will travel by private bus organized by Camp Minikani, supervised by our staff from departure to arrival. While in Rhinelander, the directors drive 15 passenger vans.
What does a typical day look like?
Each day up north is different but will include:
Paddling and setting up camp
Preparing meals as a group
Guided hikes and team-building activities
Swimming
Campfires, games, and reflection
What does the canoe trip look like? What does the hike look
Although three of the five nights up north are spent camping at Camp Birchrock, we spend one night on Menard Island on the Wisconsin River as well as one night on the hike at L148 Ice Age Trail campground. Each cabin pairing and their counselors will be accompanied by an Explorer Director in a kayak on the canoe trip with knowledge of the river route. On the first day campers will paddle 8 miles from Hat Rapids to Menard Island where they will spend the night. On the second day, campers will finish the canoe trip by paddling four more miles to the boat launch at Bottoms Up Bar & Grill in Tomahawk, WI.
What Staff attend the trip?
Each cabin will be led by an experienced counselor, with at least two Explorer Unit Directors attending each trip. All directors are certified in Wilderness First Aid and CPR and have significant outdoor leadership experience. We maintain a low camper-to-staff ratio to ensure individualized support and safety.
What safety measures are in place?
Safety is always our top priority. Our protocols include:
Emergency Communication: Each group carries satellite devices and cellphones for constant contact with camp leadership.
Weather Monitoring: We monitor weather daily and are prepared to adjust plans based on storms, flooding, or heat. We do not launch the canoe or hiking trip if there is persistent inclement weather. Explorer Unit Directors are constantly monitoring changes in water flow to determine whether the river is safe. They use the Wisconsin Hydroelectric project data to monitor water flow in cubic feet per second (cfs); we will only canoe when the water is between 500-1000 cfs.
Evacuation Points: There are multiple exit points along the river ensuring we can respond quickly in case of an emergency. Each counselor and director has these points downloaded on offline maps.
Health Checks: Daily wellness and safety check-ins by staff, with all medications managed and documented according to medical guidelines. All camper medications are stored securely and administered by trained staff and staff are briefed on allergies and medical needs before departure
Can I contact my camper while they’re on the trail?
To maintain the integrity of the experience and ensure safety personal phones are for emergencies and camp communication only. Emails and mail sent to campers during the trip will be delivered upon their return to camp.
What about swimming and water safety?
All swimming is directly supervised by certified lifeguards. Campers always wear PFDs (life jackets) when on or near water. No one swims without permission or outside designated areas.
Canoe & Climb Expedition
Ages 13-14
Come climb and canoe in Devil’s Lake State Park! Campers arrive at camp on Sunday and prepare for their excursion. On Monday morning, they travel to their campsite at Devil’s Lake for two days of hiking and rock climbing with professional climbing guides. On Thursday, campers enjoy canoeing down one of the oldest river systems in the world, the Kickapoo River! After canoeing, they will camp at an established site to finish out the week. Campers return back to Minikani on Friday afternoon for the closing campfire. Campers need to be able to participate in a week of strenuous climbing, canoeing, and hiking. Program is limited to 10 campers.
MASTER EXPLORERS
Ages 14-15
Master Explorers, similar to Explorers, spend their first week at camp in preparation for their second-week trip. Master Explorers travel to base camp in Bayfield, Wisconsin. From there, campers will kayak on Lake Superior and explore the Apostle Islands and its wildlife trails, rustic light houses and sandstone cliffs. Campers are accompanied by trained staff and a professional outfitter who safely guides the adventure. Spaces fill quickly for this popular program.
Campers must be 14 by August 31 of the year the camp occurs. Explorers or Master Explorers satisfy pre-requisites for the Leadership Training program. Explorers are not allowed to place cabin requests, because a fundamental aspect of the Explorer program is independence. We challenge our Explorers to expand their comfort zone.
EXPEDITION TRIP
Ages 15-17
Campers and counselors fly from Milwaukee to Denver for a two-week hiking and rock climbing exploration of the Rocky Mountains. While there, campers and staff work closely with highly trained trip outfitters in CO to safely outfit and accompany the adventures.
Campers need to be able to participate in two weeks of strenuous activity, such as hiking and rafting. Program is limited to 10 campers. Please call the camp office for more details and registration.
Trip details vary from year to year based on flights and outfitter availability, but as an example here is the schedule from a prior year’s trip.
Tuesday: Minikani campers arrive at Denver International Airport. Set up camp and evening hike to Old Mountain if time allows.
Wednesday: Introduction to Rocky Mountains and discussion on altitude, dehydration, and goals for the trip. Hike to Lake Haiyaha via Glacier Gorge Trailhead.
Thursday: Rock Climbing at Jurassic Park
Friday: Deer Mountain Hike from Kent Mountain Adventure Center
Saturday: Rock climbing at Wizard’s Gate
Sunday: Rest day at campsite and afternoon at the Rec Center pool
Monday: Summit day at either Mt. Lady Washington or St. Vrain Mountain
Tuesday: Hike to Ypsilon Lake or Cub Lake
Wednesday: Rock climbing and via ferrata at Deville then final night campfire
Thursday: Transportation back to Denver Airport then Minikani pick-up at Milwaukee Airport
**2026 schedule will be updated soon**