YMCA Camp Minikani is a residential summer camp located along the shores of Lake Amy Belle in Hubertus, Wisconsin

Hubertus, Wisconsin

Hubertus is an unincorporated community in the village of Richfield and the town of Erin in Washington County, Wisconsin, United States.The community was named after the previous parish St. Hubert's .-Visitor attractions:...

, in Washington County, Wisconsin, United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

. YMCA

YMCA

The Young Men's Christian Association is a worldwide organization of more than 45 million members from 125 national federations affiliated through the World Alliance of YMCAs...

 was established in 1919 by the Milwaukee YMCA. Minikani is also home to one of the cleanest lakes in Wisconsin, Mud Lake. At its conception, Minikani served as a summer camp for boys living in the Milwaukee Area who came for two weeks to learn camp skills and participated in competitive athletic events. Minikani has since transformed to a co-ed camp that has shifted from competitive activities to challenge by choice to eliminate the emotional pressure of competitions. To this day, Minikani offers its traditional summer programs such as the Pioneer Unit, Indian Unit, and the Explorer Unit and has since began to offer Day Camp and Equestrian Camps.

The Meaning of Minikani

The meaning of the word Minikani stems from Native American roots and is believed to have a double meaning. In Menomonee

Menominee language

The Menominee language is an Algonquian language originally spoken by the Menominee people of northern Wisconsin and Michigan. It is still spoken on the Menominee Nation lands in Northern Wisconsin in the United States....

, the word Menukunee means, "a place of beginnings", and in Chippewa a different word, Minikani, means "a place where seeds are planted." . This double meaning is very appropriate and consistent with the mission of YMCA summer camps to provide a place for children to participate in new activities and become comfortable in social settings with other campers.

Minikani through the decades

Minikani was established in 1919 as a residential summer camp for young boys from the age of eight to sixteen to participate in outdoor camping skills and athletic competition. The boys would be trained in from Milwaukee to stay for two weeks where they stayed in teepee's. During their training, the boys would learn camp craft skills that included woodworking, setting up "gypsy camps," and other skills with both axes and saws.. Following the great depression, the teepee's were replaced by 16 cabins and a leadership lodge to give Minikani a more resident camp feel. Activities in this era were centered around competitiveness. In the 1940s, Minikani expanded its original 40 acres (161,874.4 m²) to 110 acre (0.4451546 km²) and had added horseback riding and boxing, among other activities. Camp continued throughout World War II offering children to escape from the harsh reality of the war. In the 1960s camp would shift from competitive activities to more challenge by choice activities that didn't bring about pressures from competition. In 1967, Minikani also offered its first girls overnight camp program and has continued ever since. In the 80's Minikani conceptualized the Leadership Training program which has since become its staple program in developing young campers into responsible counselors. In 2006, Minikani added a state of the art equestrian center and added a day camp option to its list of summer programs.

Pioneer and Indian Units

The Pioneer and Indian Units is the resident boys and girls summer program for campers from ages seven to thirteen. Campers have the option of attending for one week or two weeks where they will participate in many community based activities. They will be able to participate in sailing, boating, archery, camp skills, nature, rock climbing and ropes course, horseback riding, swimming, frisbee golf, soccer, .22 rifle and air rifle, and many other cabin based activities throughout their stay. These programs are designed to promote the campers to engage in fun and new activities while establishing a sense of community and involvement with a cabin.

Explorer Unit

By far the most popular unit at camp, the Explorer Unit allows campers to attend camp for one week to learn outdoor camping and adventure skills followed by the second week on a camping trip in the Nicolet National Forest in northern Wisconsin, up until 2009. In 2009 the Explorers due to the old site looking over run has relocated to Camp Birch Rock YMCA camp's outer edge for the main site. As an explorer you will develop whitewater canoeing skills, backpacking skills, the knowledge to maintain a clean and efficient base camp, and also the ability to build strong relationships. Campers in the explorer program are ages 13 and 14 and will be paired with a brother and sister cabin for the week up north, so a strong community bond is essential for success up north. This is also the feeder program into the Leadership Training program, which, develops the necessary leadership skills to become a full-time counselor at camp.

Equestrian and Day Camp programs

Recently added in 2006 due to a neighbor camp closing, Minikani inherited the equestrian and day camp programs. A state of the art equestrian center was constructed on a newly purchased plot of land that allows for resident or day equestrian programs. These campers will train with a knowledgeable instructional staff and learn horse care and riding techniques. The day camp program allows campers to participate in the same individual activities and the residential campers with afternoon group activities with the rest of the unit.