Camp Shewahmegon

Every summer since 1934, young boys from throughout the upper Midwest came to the shores of Lake Owen to connect to the great Northwoods of Wisconsin.

The brochures for Camp Shewahmegon promised a summer “free of hurry, strain, worry, and envy.” But when the cost of operating a summer camp became prohibitive, the owners decided to close it.

The popularity of shoreline property has exploded in recent decades, and the shoreline of Camp Shewahmegon had become an increasingly valuable property to developers and second-home buyers.

Luckily, the camp owners chose conservation over development, and they contacted Trust for Public Land to protect the 23.5-acre property.

In 2003, TPL secured the property using its Northwoods Land Protection Fund and then transferred ownership of the camp to the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, forever safeguarding access to Lake Owen’s shorelines. As a result, future generations can experience the essence of the Northwoods experience, including camping, boating, picnicking, swimming, and hiking on scenic trails.

TPL aims to continue protecting northern Wisconsin lakes and forests to avoid development in these highly sought-after nature areas.