OUR COMMUNITY
ON THE COVER

On the Water with
On the Water with

Willoway
Willoway

SETH KRUGER | WILLOWAY DAY CAMP, WEST BLOOMFIELD 
T

o campers at Willoway Day Camp, Walled 
Lake holds a special and unique place in 
their hearts. While all campers are able to 
enjoy pontoon boat rides on the lake, the camp’s 
strongest swimmers who earn their Black Tag 
swim tags also get the opportunity to participate 
in watersports and comradery on the lake. Led 
by veteran program director Jeff Kelley, campers 
learn new sports and perfect their skills.
“Many campers experience water sports for the 
first time. These campers spend so much time 
together at the lake, encouraging and helping each 

other when they’re out there while developing 
solid friendships,” he said. 
 The campers know this is a coveted camp expe-
rience they get to participate in. 
“My fourth-grader Tilly worked so hard to earn 
trips to the lake. The effort and enthusiasm she 
has for the program are inspiring and contagious,” 
said Marni Katz, a former Willoway camper and 
counselor turned camp parent.
Kelley said, “We are very blessed at Willoway 
to have such a built-up and well-run lake pro-
gram. I have worked at other camps, and none of 

them had lake programs that come close to what 
Willoway offers.” 
 Waterskiing, wakeboarding and tubing are 
abundant as campers make new friends on 
Willoway’s two speedboats. Unique days on the 
lake are just one of the many amazing experiences 
campers cherish as Willoway strives to offer the 
best summer ever for generations of campers. 

Seth Kruger of West Bloomfield is a journalism junior at 

University of Wisconsin-Madison and a former Willoway camper 

turned counselor.

SETH KRUGER 

Lily Rasansky riding the waves.

Julien Tindall 
enjoying Willoway’s 
watersports 
program.

The JN once again asked area summer camps to 
share their memories and photos of the season. 

COMPILED BY DANNY SCHWARTZ
SENIOR STAFF REPORTER

S C R A P B O O K 2 0 2 4

Slade Rogers and Collin Carroll 
tubing on the lake.

Campers in the Timberwolves group 
enjoying pontooning on the lake.

8 | SEPTEMBER 5 • 2024 J
N

