Blog –

Departing Thoughts from a Camper, Counselor, Ad Staff, and Office Staff Member

Apr30

The Minikani Magic can’t accurately be shown on Facebook or Instagram or in a blog post. It may be glimpsed at in a wonderful video by Chole Proebsting or Oliver Weirdsma, but to truly understand what the hype is all about, you’ve got to be surrounded by dancing little andRead More

Unconditional Positive Regard in the Minikani Experience

May17

As a camper, counselor, and administrative staff member, one of my favorite aspects of Minikani culture is the unconditional positive regard between campers and counselors. It’s hard to appreciate the full strength of it as a camper, but as a counselor the love and care you have for yourRead More

100th Anniversary Spotlight: Bruce Rasmussen

Oct18

Bruce Rasmussen was hired as a 22-year-old Crafts and Nature Director in the summer of 1970 and continued to work every summer through 1991, as he had summers ‘off’ due to being a teacher. In those 22 years, he was everything from the Nature Director to the Program Director–with manyRead More

100th Anniversary Spotlight: Calie Herbst

Oct18

Meet Calie Herbst, Minikani Alum and camp parent! Many of you may know Calie through her website, Miltown Moms, ( www.miltownmoms.com) a wonderful resource for Milwaukee area parents that details fun activities and events to do with kids. If you don’t know Calie due to Miltown Moms, it’s probably becauseRead More

100th Anniversary Spotlight: Perry Bump

Oct18

Simply giving a young person the opportunity to attend Camp Minikani can change their life. When Perry Bump was eight years old, his mother Betty discovered a program offered by the local YMCA that helped kids attend camp. The premise behind the ‘Cookies for Camp’ program was simple-sell cookies andRead More

100th Anniversary Spotlight: Nina Shully Darling

Oct18

Community. Responsibility. Leadership. Life-long friendships. Nina Shully Darling began camp as a nine-year-old camper in the mid 90’s and ended in 2008 as the Girls Unit Director. Her experience was ‘indescribable’ and the support, values, and qualities she learned at camp transformed her not only as an adolescent but asRead More

100th Anniversary Spotlight: Brian Kramp and Fox 6 News Milwaukee and Real Milwaukee

Oct18

Brian Kramp came out to camp a couple weeks before our 100th Anniversary and it was a ton of fun! Make sure to click on the link provided to watch all the clips. YMCA Camp Minikani’s 100th Anniversary Celebration will take place August 24th and 25th, 2019. At the celebration,Read More

100th Anniversary Spotlight: Milwaukee Business Journal Article by Rich Kirchen highlighting the 100th Anniversary

Oct18

In advance of YMCA Camp Minikani’s 100th anniversary celebration, I toured the camp I attended as a Milwaukee city youth decades ago acquiring my first extended experience in what seemed like the wilds of Wisconsin. That same sense of adventure and new experiences thrives today at the 150-acre camp inRead More

100th Anniversary Spotlight: Third Space Brewing & The Rambler

Oct18

Kevin Wright and Andy Gehl were both campers, counselors, and Ad staff at camp for years. Their summer homeland had a direct impact on not only who they are, but what they do. They are the founders of Third Space Brewing and are dedicated to making great beer, but alsoRead More