Camp Rotamer ready to host open house
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Bill Boyd cuts fallen tree branches with a chainsaw at Camp Rotamer.
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Camp Rotamer Administrator Ed James repairs a picnic table at the camp.
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Janesville Noon Rotary Club member Carl Anderson chews up tall growth at Camp Rotamer using a Cat with a forestry mulcher attachment.
IF YOU GO
Who: Janesville Noon Rotary Club
What: Camp Rotamer open house
When: 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday, July 10.
Where: Camp Rotamer, 5245 E. Rotamer Road, Janesville.
Parking: Rock Prairie Montessori School parking lot, 5246 E. Rotamer Road, Janesville (across the road from the camp entrance).
JANESVILLE — In recent years, use of the facilities at Camp Rotamer has primarily been by area church and youth groups, or by those seeking space for weddings and reunions.
But soon there will be new opportunities for others—specifically nonprofit organizations and businesses—to use the camp three seasons of the year.
Thanks to a $49,000 investment from the Janesville Noon Rotary, $10,000 more in donations and a couple thousand volunteer hours, improvements to this 10-acre camp and adjoining 20-acre pond that started in October 2007 are nearly complete.
The upgrades will be showcased Saturday, July 10, at an open house—a first for the 81-year-old camp. Improvements include the clearing of buckthorn, a remodeled commercial kitchen and showers with a wooden deck that overlooks the now-clean pond.
“The intent is to show off something that is less than two miles out of the city and to reintroduce the community to the camp in its new glory,” said John Wickhem, camp chairman.
Three years ago, the local Rotary Club discussed selling the camp that was built and opened in 1929 in collaboration with the YMCA.
Wickhem didn’t want that to happen.
“With the long history of the camp, I couldn’t see it go by the wayside,” he said. “I wanted to rejuvenate it to like it was before and give youth the opportunity to learn about the outdoors and camp (again).”
So Rotarians set aside $50,000 and started making improvements nearly three years ago.
Camp Administrator Ed James has been talking up the camp with leaders of churches, local nonprofit organizations and businesses to promote increased use. In addition, 1,000 camp brochures were dispersed and camp information was posted online at camp
rotamer.org and janesville
rotary.org.
For those so interested, the camp offers Jon boats and canoes, horseshoes, a volleyball net, a large parade area, a backstop for ball games, a lodge with a commercial kitchen, seven cabins, space for pitching tents and a building for arts and crafts or meetings and retreats.
Improvements continue at the camp.
On July 10, Boy Scouts working on Eagle projects will install about 600 feet of donated fencing at the camp’s entrance. Buckthorn clearing will continue for years to come to make way for trails and the pond will hopefully be approved for swimming as early as next year. Enclosing several more buildings might also help the facility become a four-season camp.
Wickhem said there is no timeline for these improvements to be completed.
“This is a life plan,” he said. “Kids nowadays don’t have an understanding of the world. And you have to understand it to save it.’’
Now Camp Rotamer can continue on as a place to do just that.
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
-- 8 a.m.: Flag raising, yoga.
-- 9 a.m.: Raptor education program, nature hike, fishing instruction and demonstrations, paddling instruction on kayaks and canoes.
-- 10 a.m.: Face painting, “The Amazing Race.”
-- 11 a.m.: Horseshoe demonstration, scavenger hunt, paddling instruction on kayaks and canoes.
-- 11:30 a.m.: Guitarist Bill Stevens performs
-- 1 p.m.: Fishing instruction and demonstrations, safety dog training and demonstrations, paddling instruction on kayaks and canoes.
-- 2 p.m.: Nature crafts, “The Amazing Race.”
-- 3 p.m.: Horseshoe demonstrations
-- 4 p.m.: Paranormal research presentation, paddling instruction on kayaks and canoes.
-- 6 p.m.: Disc jockey and dancing/karaoke, safety dog training and demonstrations, fire building and s’mores, nature paddle.
-- 8 p.m.: Storytelling
-- 9 p.m.: Astronomy presentation and observations, night paddle.
-- 10:30 p.m.: Night hike/nature walk
Jul 12, 2010 at 10:09 a.m.
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thank you bullysarebest, i didnt get a chance to go check it out , but i will make my way down there and take a look. we spent many hours hanging out at rotamer as kids . this place is also great for class reunions ive been to a couple there.
Jul 11, 2010 at 7 p.m.
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belman--
We are sorry to hear you did not get the experience you expected at Camp Rotamer. As mentioned by someone else, Camp Rotamer is not a hotel. Nor is it a private campground with modern log cabins. Staying at this sort of camp is a rustic outdoor experience. The camp is cleaned regularly. However, since it is a rustic outdoor camping facility, we cannot chase out all the wildlife that wanders into the rustic cabins. Please keep this in mind if you choose to stay at Camp Rotamer. You are also welcome to pitch a tent on the grounds if the cabins are not your thing. However, as with any rustic outdoor experience, you will find bugs, spiders and centipedes invading there as well....and they too leave droppings.
So please, keep this in mind if you choose to stay at Camp Rotamer. Keeping your expectations realistic is important for a good outdoor experience.
Additionally, there are several volunteers over the past few years who have worked hard to update the camp and make it what it is. None of their time is reimbursed with any monetary value. Their pure love for this facility has kept it alive. I appreciate their efforts because I can tell you that it has taken literally hundreds of volunteer man-hours to make the place as beautiful as it is. It is here for those who wish to enjoy its beauty.
Jul 11, 2010 at 6:47 p.m.
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It was nice to see so many people come out to Camp Rotamer's Open House event this past Saturday. The day was a success--and it was such a fun day! Thanks to all who volunteered or who contributed to the day.
Jul 8, 2010 at 10:15 p.m.
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belman--it isn't a motel or a hotel. It is a campground--out in the woods! If you are expecting white glove clean--then maybe camping isn't your thing!
Jul 8, 2010 at 10:12 p.m.
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etown--contact Ed James. There are different rates for weekdays vs weekends. We went during the week and it was very very reasonable!!
Jul 8, 2010 at 10:11 p.m.
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My family just rented the camp in June. It was wonderful and clean. As for the mouse droppings in a cabin, yes it should be cleaned but please remember you are at a campground--there are animals, etc. I can say we saw nothing that wasn't clean when we were there!! Having the whole campground to ourselves was heaven!!!
Jul 7, 2010 at 11:49 p.m.
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etown
Please check to see if they ever cleaned it up. It is not fit for renting. They need to change who cleans and have someone who cna do the job.
Jul 7, 2010 at 7:03 p.m.
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Rotamer, Rotamer, Rotamer our camp,
We will be loyal to you.
Jul 7, 2010 at 1:14 p.m.
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does anyone know the fees for renting this?
Jul 7, 2010 at 12:40 p.m.
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The other property owner had every right tell others to leave. I know people who live next to camps and they had issues with people coming on to their property, vandalizing their buildings and drinking. This owner was just protecting his land- it is miserable to have to clean up after vandalism.
On another note- I am very glad that this place is back. I remember going there as a child and I look forward to when my kids could someday have that memory too. With as much as janesville is changing it is great to have some things stay.
Jul 7, 2010 at 12:10 p.m.
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tjrockcounty, see theres the problem with people today , a guy yells at them for trepassing on his PROPERTY, and they think they deserve and apology. maybe the guy was tired of people not being respectful of his property .
Jul 7, 2010 at 11:16 a.m.
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TJRoCKCoUNTY - I bet you were the guy - thanks for coming forward - I will accept that as an apology - lol -
Jul 7, 2010 at 10:09 a.m.
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I hope that this camp has been cleaned. I looked to rent a cabin and it had mice dropping all over it. It is foul. It should have some type of check by the city or county. You would close down a motel that nasty.
Jul 7, 2010 at 10 a.m.
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Yada - Let it go....
Jul 7, 2010 at 6:49 a.m.
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I remember the summer camp and also remember some guy that had a storage facility / garage just a little ways down from main entrance. We thought we were on Camp Rotamer property and he was yelling at us for being on his land. Always wondered over the years why he would yell at us for walking by because there were no fences that we saw. We were just walking trails and going to the pond.
Jul 7, 2010 at 12:25 a.m.
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I am 45, I recall fondly spending a week here at summer camp circa 1976. Kudos to Ed and gang for bringing back a Janesville gem.
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