Our Story

We could write a lot here about why we've started a camp. We could talk about the value of social interaction for children in outdoor settings. We could explain our philosophies on intrinsic rewards or the documented changes in self-confidence camp brings to children. But here's the thing; it comes down to one sentence.

We LOVE working at camp!

Working at camp changed our lives. That's not an exaggeration. It changed our majors, it changed our careers, it changed our country of residence. It brought us life-long (so far) friends from around the world in just three months. It held up a mirror to us by showing us what effects we had on our campers. It gave us embarrassing moments of breaking into camp songs while in line at the supermarket.

After we left the camps we had worked at, something was missing from our lives. We all felt it, whether we were at college, teaching in a classroom, or starting a new business. We talked about that "thing" whenever we met up. It seemed like an eternity, but one day, one of us said, "Let's just start our own camp and make it better than all the rest." So we did.

Camp means so much to us and that alone gives us all the reasons in the world to make it mean the same to each and every kid. Let us show you what we mean this summer.

The History

Camp Wewabeca is run by The Janus Center; a company built to change the world by changing its people. The first program of The Janus Center is The Hero Workshop that teaches kids to be heroes. It is a program presented in schools that shows students that regular, small acts of goodness are all it takes to become a hero to others. Click here to find out more about The Hero Workshop.

It is because of the success of this program that Camp Wewabeca chose heroism as the basis for our character development. Camp is not just about fun. Anyone telling you that is just trying to sell you something. It's about character building and the development of relationships with all the lessons that come from them. The fun stuff is the way we teach it. Every day we'll be discussing ways in which our campers can be heroes in their everyday lives.

In 2008, a group of 30 ex-camp staff joined together to make Camp Wewabeca a reality for the summer of 2009. They came from across the country (and the world) with the idea of creating a better camp - better for the campers, parents, and staff. The name comes from that cause -

WE Want A BEtter CAmp

Our Campers

Our campers come from all kinds of backgrounds and that's the way we like it. Social interaction at camp is only productive if it's different to the social interaction at home or school. We want kids from Hartland to meet kids from Detroit, kids from Oxford to meet kids from Spain, and kids from Flint to meet kids from Texas. It is with this kind of mix that our campers will be able to become the heroes of tomorrow. Understanding the world outside of your community is possible through experience, and we aim to provide that.

Our campers are interested in trying new things. They want to meet new people and eat new food. Our campers are excited to push the boundaries of their comfort zones by going up the climbing tower or learning how to canoe. They're interested in taking on new challenges and understanding how they can help others. Our campers are ready to be heroes because they're willing to step into uncharted waters, knowing that they're supported by their friends.

Our parents want to see their children change after a week of camp. They want a child to come home with a new level of self-confidence, an appreciation for the differences in others, and maybe even a new favorite meal. Our parents recognize that camp does a world of good.

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