Camp nakanawa
Explore our Facilities
Wigwam
The Wigwam is the most famous structure at Nakanawa. Built in 1920 and located in Senior Camp, the Wigwam is listed on the National Register of Historic Buildings. It is the main meeting place in Senior Camp and hosts assemblies, hand bells class, glee club class, and evening entertainment. It has twelve sides, an encircling porch with rocking chairs and is equipped with a piano and an antique clock with chimes. Its large open fireplace built of mountain stone, radiates good cheer and comfort in chilly weather. Various camp activity achievements also have recognition signage within the Wigwam.
Cabins
Junior Camp has twenty cabins and all can easily accommodate approximately six to eight campers and one or two counselors. They are “double cabins” joined by a breezeway and have screened windows that can be open and shut. Senior Camp’s twenty-one large cabins can house eight to ten campers and one or two counselors. There are also five Tent Row Cabins that accommodate five or six of our oldest campers and are located beside the lake.
Tent Row
Tent Row is located in Senior Camp and is a group of five smaller cabins located right next to the lake. The cabins can accommodate five or six of our oldest campers, and they do not have a counselor living with them in the cabin. Originally, Tent Row was actually canvas tents on platforms right by the lake. They were replaced later with wooden cabins that have lower windows to gaze out upon the lake. Tent Row consists of cabins 1, 2, 3, Cake and Pi.
Bath House
AKA Egypt – Each Camp’s centrally located Bath House is divided into sections containing lavatories, individual showers and toilets. There is hot water in the showers and city water in the lavatories. Lake water is used for the toilets and showers to support our environment.
Crow’s Nest
The Crow’s Nest in Junior Camp is located on the waterfront and a gathering place for all waterfront activities, camp cookouts, and Vesper services on Sunday nights. It is made of Crab Orchard Stone which is a local resource to the area. The Crow’s Nest in Senior Camp is also located on the waterfront and is the main focal point of Senior Camp. It was renovated in 2020 and is completely covered with beautiful Crab Orchard Stone and numerous commemorative bricks. The Crow’s Nest is a favorite gathering place for glee club classes, sharing sunsets, enjoying waterfront activities, Sunday night Vespers and sharing quiet time with a friend.
Dining Hall
The Senior Dining Hall can seat 280 and the junior dining hall can seat 200. Each is fully screened, and the kitchens are furnished with modern equipment which meets the American Camping Association and State Board of Health Requirements. A beautiful mural painted by Ely Mahier can be found within the senior dining hall to recognize the history and beauty of Camp Nakanawa.
Lake
Lake Aloaloa is a beautiful, sparkling, 150 acre, spring-fed lake. It is a very pristine and pure lake. Many fish live in its waters, and there are visiting bald eagle and osprey that fish on the lake regularly. There is a lovely trail that goes completely around the perimeter of the lake and is four and a half miles long. The trail provides hiking opportunities for a nature-filled free day activity.
Beverly Green Memorial Library
The Beverly Green Memorial Library was built in 1962 and dedicated to the memory of a former camper, a second generation Valkyrie. The shelves are filled with many good books of all types donated by campers, counselors, and friends. You will find many unique and historical items within the library.
In the music room of the library is a grand piano and a collection of eighteen dolls created, carved and costumed by Helen Bullard, a noted doll-maker from Tennessee.
Barn & Riding Arena
The Barn in Junior Camp accommodates 12 horses, has a storage room for tack and feed, and a hayloft up above. There is an outdoor riding arena, an impressive indoor arena referred to as the “Centennial Arena”, and many short riding trails located close by. The Centennial Arena is equipped with LED lighting and access to a water system to keep the dust down. There are bleachers and a gazebo house to gather in while waiting to be assigned your horse for the class.
The Barn in Senior Camp has 30 horse stalls with an aisle large enough to conduct indoor riding in inclement weather. The hayloft is large enough to store hay to feed the horses throughout the winter months. There is a large outdoor arena to conduct riding classes and numerous trails close by.
Riflery Range
The Riflery Range is located in the Senior Camp directly behind the Main Office. It is equipped with a pulley system to roll the National Rifle Association targets out 50 feet from the range and to retrieve them after shooting. It is a covered building, protected from the weather. The guns are stored at the range between classes while the instructor is present, but locked up in the main office overnight for safety reasons.
Office
The Main Office is located in Senior Camp and is the business heart of Nakanawa. The Directors, Program Coordinator and Bookkeeper work out of this building. It is equipped with everyday office essentials such as computers, postage machine, copier, and a fax machine. All U.S.P.S. mail is delivered to the main office and outgoing mail is dispersed from this location as well as FedEx and UPS deliveries.
Golf Area
Golf is located in Senior Camp and has covered areas to practice teeing off. There is a golf green, driving cage, and plenty of room to participate in games to hone your golfing skills.
Soccer Field
The soccer and softball field is located in Senior Camp. This field is centrally located and surrounded by tall white pines offering you some shade on sunny days. A volleyball court is also located on the field area but does not interfere with soccer or softball.
Tennis Courts
There are five all weather tennis courts in Junior Camp and six in Senior Camp for you to enjoy. Both camps have Strokemaster ball machines and tennis backboards for extra practice. The tennis courts are open and available for you to play anytime there is free time.
Games Field
Located in Junior Camp, the Games Field is host to a playground area, three tetherballs, volleyball/Newcomb court, various bleachers, and a wide open green grass field to run and play! It is the gathering place prior to each meal. With a flagpole between the Games Field and Tennis Courts, campers line up here for flag raising at breakfast and flag lowering at suppertime.
Playhouse & Kiosk
The Playhouse(JR) and Kiosk(SR) buildings are open-air buildings that were constructed in the late 1940’s. The buildings are used for many things including Instructional activities, as well as, Evening Entertainment, and rainy day activities.
In Junior Camp, the building houses the bouldering wall, tennis backboard, basketball, and is where the tumbling mats live. In Senior Camp, the building is used for Fencing, Aerobics and Dance. There are also bleachers, table tennis, and a basketball goal in the area.
Centennial Plaza
Built in 2019 to commemorate the Centennial Celebration, Centennial Plaza is an amphitheater with beautiful stone benches and affords a breathtaking view of Lake Aloaloa for campers to take it all in and enjoy. The area is filled with Crab Orchard stone paver rocks and benches and customized bricks as an honorable and memorable symbol to campers, counselors, staff, and friends.
Archery Range
The Archery range for Junior Camp is held in the field between the Playhouse and Counselor’s Bunk, “C.B”. The Archery storage building was donated in honor of archery instructor, Val Lambert.
Archery tournaments are held throughout the sessions and the rules and guidelines are governed by the National Archery Association.
The Archery range for Senior Camp is held in the field in front of the Pavilion. There is plenty of room to spread out and shoot at your own speed. The Archery storage building in this area was built in memory of Lou Lloveras who taught Tennis and Archery at Nakanawa for 50 summers. All the bows have recently been replaced by Casey Fisher. Better equipment has made the various levels of achievement much more attainable.
Margaret Matens Nature Cabin
The Margaret Matens Nature Cabin is located in Junior Camp. It is a rustic cabin devoted to the study of nature. You will find many interesting creatures found in and around the Nakanawa Forests within the cabin. Margaret Matens is a certified wildlife rehabilitator and has been our Nature Instructor for many summers. Another special learning experience for campers is the Dolly Mackay Butterfly Garden attracts many beautiful butterflies and birds.
Council House
Located in Junior Camp, the Council House is a large main activities building for all campers and counselors. It has a stage with curtains on one end, a piano, and a large, welcoming stone fireplace. Many activities are held inside its walls such as the musical, operetta, evening entertainment, glee club, assemblies, and games. It boasts a large porch facing the tennis courts complete with rocking chairs and ample space for campers to sit and watch tennis round robins.
Pavilion
Located in Senior Camp, the pavilion is an open air building that has a basketball court, volleyball court, singles tennis court, tennis backboard for practice, indoor climbing wall, and several table tennis tables. Many activities can take place in the large covered area. The pavilion is in constant use by campers all summer long.
Ely Arts & Crafts Building
The beautiful Ely Building for arts and crafts in intermediate and senior camps is the scene for art work such as weaving, sketching, quilting, stitchery, painting, ceramics, and pottery. The building was built and named in memory of Edith Mahier, “Ely”, who taught arts and crafts at Nakanawa for many summers during the 1950’s and 1960’s. She was extremely talented and many of her sketches are on exhibit in our camp library. She planned, wrote, and executed elaborate Amazon and Valkyrie pageants every summer during the eight week sessions.
Climbing Wall & Ropes Course
The climbing wall tower is a 28’ wooden climbing wall with a zip line at the top. It is located in Senior Camp next to the Doctor’s Lodge. This location is right on Lake Aloaloa and the zip line goes across the cove to Valkyrie Point for the landing. An indoor wall is located at the Pavilion and includes a challenging overhang. Two giant swings and several team building low ropes activities are nearby. Junior Camp has a bouldering wall.
Little Theatre
The Little Theatre is located in Senior Camp and is the scene for all theatre events such as bunk stunts, talent shows, musical, and drama plays. It is an open-air area and has a stage with curtains, bleachers for seating and special lighting.
