Last, but certainly not least, in our Look Back at Leaders series, we look back at Zach Osborn’s years as a Deerhorn camper. He is a second generation Deerhorn camper, and his dad was a Leader as well! This year will be Zach’s 5th as a Deerhorn camper, and he is so excited to be leading the Deerhorn Bobcats. Many thanks to his parents, Mike & Juanita, for sharing their thoughts!

Deerhorn has been instrumental in developing Zachary into the confident, fun-loving, loyal friend and young man that he has become.  The camp community has contributed more to his growth than we hoped or imagined when he first pulled up Deerhorn Road five years (and well over 12”) ago.

Zach has always been able to get along with all different kids, the kind of social flexibility that is both a superpower but also sometimes taken for granted at home.  We still worried his first year about him not knowing anyone but he hit the ground running, and now each August just starts the countdown to the next June, when he can see all his camp friends again.

But his time in the Northwoods has been so much more than just a great social experience.  Each summer, we’re amazed at how much he has grown – both literally and maturity-wise.  At the risk of misusing our boys’ video game parlance, it’s like he “levels up” during his time there.  It’s the only place outside of his family home at which he seems to be completely at ease, totally able to be himself and be accepted and appreciated for who he is.  He is more empathetic, more responsible, and a better friend/schoolmate/teammate every time he returns from camp.

Zachary’s time at Deerhorn reminds of Nelson Mandela’s quote, “There is nothing like returning to a place that remains unchanged to find the ways in which you yourself have altered.”  Arriving each summer for Father/Son camp provides this mirror for us to calibrate his maturation, but it’s more than that; more importantly, this place on Fourth Lake has served as the catalyst for so much of his growth.

With his Dad being a Deerhorn camper, we can speak to the incredible timelessness of Camp Deerhorn, both the place and the ethos.  The world needs more places like Deerhorn, where boys can just be boys in a safe and supportive environment.  We wish a most amazing and fun summer to Zach, the other three Leaders, and every other boy lucky enough to spend the summer in the Northwoods.

And go Bobcats!!