Red Arrow stands out over other summer camps in many different ways. Our traditions, standards, and way of life are rooted in a strong backbone of brotherhood and friendship. The staff’s been learning the values, philosophy, and culture we have at Red Arrow. This is in an effort for our Counselors to understand the enormous responsibility and privilege it is to be a part of such a memorable experience - the chance to change a boy’s life.
The staff broke into groups to answer four fundamental questions that get to the root of their commitment and purpose in being here. The three questions were:
Why are each of you here, and what does this opportunity mean to you?
What are the hopes you have for yourself in your role this summer?
What are you nervous about?
What specific goals do you have for yourself this summer?
Why are each of you here, and what does this opportunity mean to you?
What are the hopes you have for yourself in your role this summer?
What are you nervous about?
What specific goals do you have for yourself this summer?
The new Rec Hall sign has been mounted. | Photo By: McKenzie Beeby
The staff was vulnerable and honest. Just in a few short days, the bonds amongst everyone is growing deeper, closer, and genuine. It is written many times through generations about the experience of being a counselor. They have to be firm but loving. Be motivating but patient. Spend time with a boy without forgetting about the others. It’s an enormous responsibility and one that our staff doesn’t take lightly.
The famous “Yes, I Can” sign isn’t just to remind our campers of the attitude we expect here at Red Arrow; it’s also for the counselors as well. We have made it clear to everyone working here that we don’t expect them to be perfect, but to try their very best every day. To work tirelessly on generating quality instruction and personal impact on the boys. All of our counselors, new and old, understand who we are and what we intend to do.
This year, the theme for the summer is “Be the water, not the rock”. This metaphor has been previously represented in Eric’s final Chapel Talk of last summer. He brought this message over to be the slogan of this summer. By being the water, we as a staff can create a current strong enough to influence our boys for generations to come. We’re able to flow around any obstacles in our way. We strive to be the water in all situations here. To be able to stream to our next challenge with confidence and speed. Although the rocks may be inevitable, if we’re the water, we will be able to get by.
Rooted In History
Built on 100-year-old traditions, we have provided campers with an unmatched opportunity to challenge themselves, develop confidence, and learn new skills while having the summer of their lives. Red Arrow was established as a boy’s camp in 1920. Our founder, Clarence Rasmussen, or “Razz,” was a school teacher and a part of the famed 32nd Division. The discipline, leadership, teamwork influenced Razz and the life lessons he learned in the army, and he chose to use the symbol of the famed 32nd Wisconsin Division as the namesake and logo for his camp.
The red arrow insignia consists of a red arrow piercing through a horizontal line. This symbolizes the fact that the 32nd Division penetrated every German line of defense that it faced during World War 1.
The red arrow insignia consists of a red arrow piercing through a horizontal line. This symbolizes the fact that the 32nd Division penetrated every German line of defense that it faced during World War 1.
Razz hired two Assistant Directors, Paul Waterman, and Rollie Williams, who were pivotal in helping establish RAC as one of the best camps in America. Paul Waterman, or P.W.W., was a math teacher at Milwaukee Country Day School (MCD). Rollie Williams was the first 9-letter athlete at the University of Wisconsin and later became the head basketball coach at the University of Iowa. These three men used their founding motto, “Don’t wait to be a great man, be a great boy,” to push campers and staff to reach for new heights and never stop challenging themselves.
Razz got married in 1937, and soon after that, both he and Rollie reported for war duty, leaving P.W.W. to run camp. P.W.W. eventually purchased camp from Razz in 1948 and continued to run it until 1953. In 1953 Charlie Boesel purchased camp from P.W.W. Charlie was a former student under Razz at MCD and former Red Arrow counselor. Charlie had two things camp needed: money and a long-standing love for Red Arrow. For the third time, camp had changed hands, and the new owner/director was dedicated to making significant improvements and continuing the traditions of camp.
In the mid-sixties, Charlie’s health began to fail, and he initiated a search to find someone new to take over his beloved Red Arrow. In 1967 fate brought him a young couple, Bob and Sue Krohn, both of whom were teachers and had extensive camping experience. From 1968 until 2012, Bob and Sue owned and operated camp. Their tenure strengthened all the traditions upon which Red Arrow was founded. In 2012, the Krohn’s sold camp to the Red Arrow Camp Foundation to ensure that the camp and its traditions would continue into the next generation. Red Arrow’s foundations lie with Razz’s military background, but camp’s most vital traditions were born out of RAC itself. These are the traditions of friendship and role modeling, and they are symbolized by two of RAC’s highest honors, the Friendship Cup and the Pete Johnson Award. Dave Johnson served as co-director with Sue Krohn after the transition to Foundation ownership. He then served as Interim Director in 2017 and 2018 while the board conducted a search for a permanent director.
In the mid-sixties, Charlie’s health began to fail, and he initiated a search to find someone new to take over his beloved Red Arrow. In 1967 fate brought him a young couple, Bob and Sue Krohn, both of whom were teachers and had extensive camping experience. From 1968 until 2012, Bob and Sue owned and operated camp. Their tenure strengthened all the traditions upon which Red Arrow was founded. In 2012, the Krohn’s sold camp to the Red Arrow Camp Foundation to ensure that the camp and its traditions would continue into the next generation. Red Arrow’s foundations lie with Razz’s military background, but camp’s most vital traditions were born out of RAC itself. These are the traditions of friendship and role modeling, and they are symbolized by two of RAC’s highest honors, the Friendship Cup and the Pete Johnson Award. Dave Johnson served as co-director with Sue Krohn after the transition to Foundation ownership. He then served as Interim Director in 2017 and 2018 while the board conducted a search for a permanent director.
In the mid-sixties, Charlie’s health began to fail, and he initiated a search to find someone new to take over his beloved Red Arrow. In 1967 fate brought him a young couple, Bob and Sue Krohn, both of whom were teachers and had extensive camping experience. From 1968 until 2012, Bob and Sue owned and operated camp. Their tenure strengthened all the traditions upon which Red Arrow was founded. In 2012, the Krohn’s sold camp to the Red Arrow Camp Foundation to ensure that the camp and its traditions would continue into the next generation. Red Arrow’s foundations lie with Razz’s military background, but camp’s most vital traditions were born out of RAC itself. These are the traditions of friendship and role modeling, and they are symbolized by two of RAC’s highest honors, the Friendship Cup and the Pete Johnson Award. Dave Johnson served as co-director with Sue Krohn after the transition to Foundation ownership. He then served as Interim Director in 2017 and 2018 while the board conducted a search for a permanent director.
Dave has over 56 years of history with camp as a camper, counselor, trip director, and director. In 2019, Eric Roche was appointed as Director of Red Arrow Camp. He and Dave co-directed for 2019, and in 2020 Eric fully assumed the role of Camp Director. Eric is a past counselor and maintained an active leadership role with camp serving on the scholarship advisory committee and returning each Spring to assist with counselor training during pre-camp.
