Remembering a Founder, Jim Brennan
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The Friends of Camp Batawagama community mourns the passing of Jim Brennan, one of the founders of our organization and a forever supporter of Camp Batawagama. Jim and his wife Margee were instrumental in establishing the Friends of Camp Batawagama in 1996 and, over the past three decades, devoted extraordinary time, energy, leadership, and generosity to supporting the camp, its campers and its mission. Their dedication helped build the strong foundation that continues to sustain Camp Batawagama today.
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Spring 2026 Update
On a recent visit to Camp Batawagama with a few lifelong camp friends, I paused to take in how much has been accomplished. From Friends Hall to improvements in camper facilities, it’s clear that Friends of Camp Batawagama continues to make a lasting impact on the programs and environment that make this place so special.
The FOCB Board remains committed to supporting camp through both financial contributions and hands-on volunteer efforts. Our board itself is evolving - bringing together multiple generations united by a shared love for Batawagama. This past fall, we partnered with Jessica Jones of Marquette for a strategic planning session. Together, we identified three key priorities for the years ahead: strengthening our board, growing our fundraising efforts, and expanding how we share the stories and spirit of camp.
This summer, you’ll see board members on-site selling merchandise while also organizing our next fundraiser behind the scenes. While we are not planning a spaghetti dinner in 2026, we hope to bring this tradition back in future summers. We’ve also explored the idea of an adult overnight camp - something we’d love to make happen, though it remains a logistical challenge for now.
As I continue my first year as FOCB Board President, I’m deeply grateful to everyone who has helped build and sustain this organization. Your support ensures that future generations will experience the same sense of community and connection that makes Camp Batawagama so meaningful.
Thank you for being part of this ongoing story.
Andrew LaCombe
FOCB Board President
The FOCB Board remains committed to supporting camp through both financial contributions and hands-on volunteer efforts. Our board itself is evolving - bringing together multiple generations united by a shared love for Batawagama. This past fall, we partnered with Jessica Jones of Marquette for a strategic planning session. Together, we identified three key priorities for the years ahead: strengthening our board, growing our fundraising efforts, and expanding how we share the stories and spirit of camp.
This summer, you’ll see board members on-site selling merchandise while also organizing our next fundraiser behind the scenes. While we are not planning a spaghetti dinner in 2026, we hope to bring this tradition back in future summers. We’ve also explored the idea of an adult overnight camp - something we’d love to make happen, though it remains a logistical challenge for now.
As I continue my first year as FOCB Board President, I’m deeply grateful to everyone who has helped build and sustain this organization. Your support ensures that future generations will experience the same sense of community and connection that makes Camp Batawagama so meaningful.
Thank you for being part of this ongoing story.
Andrew LaCombe
FOCB Board President
Remembering a Dear Friend, Bob Salonen
The Friends of Camp Batawagama and Iron County community are remembering a dedicated volunteer. Bob Salonen was the FOCB treasurer for many years and helped run our golf outing fundraiser. He recently retired from the FOCB board and continued to support every event the Friends sponsored, including our spaghetti dinner and dances. This is a picture of Bob and his wife Betsy from our 2024 dance.
Bob will be dearly missed at Camp Batawagama and across our county. Thank you for supporting the magic of camp.
The Friends of Camp Batawagama and Iron County community are remembering a dedicated volunteer. Bob Salonen was the FOCB treasurer for many years and helped run our golf outing fundraiser. He recently retired from the FOCB board and continued to support every event the Friends sponsored, including our spaghetti dinner and dances. This is a picture of Bob and his wife Betsy from our 2024 dance.
Bob will be dearly missed at Camp Batawagama and across our county. Thank you for supporting the magic of camp.
Thank you, Friends! With your support, we were able to help Camp purchase six new sets of oars and oarlocks for our Camp rowboats. We also helped Camp purchase a new 9 horse Mercury outboard motor for our Camp rescue boat. Camp added a new activity this summer and we helped them purchase two outdoor pickleball nets and paddles. Camp informed us that pickleball was very popular with campers and staff!
Letter from the Director
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Back to the Business of Camping
We have made improvements to our 2023 Camp enrollment procedures. This year parents can go to our website: campbatawagama.com to register and pay for their campers online or they can print out the registration form, fill it out and mail it back to camp. We were able to make the registration process more user-friendly and convenient for our campers' parents and grandparents. Thank you Citizens of Iron County We would like to thank the Residents of Iron County for their vote on November 8, 2022 to renew the four-year 1/2 mill for the operational expenses of the Iron County Youth Camp. Your confidence in Batawagama’s long standing values and programs is very gratifying. We will continue to operate and maintain Camp to the highest standards possible, with our focus always on our campers, while providing a safe and creative camping experience for everyone. Thank you Friends of Camp Batawagama Thank you to all the Friends of Camp Batawagama, who have been raising funds for the new Boys' Bathroom for the past two years. Your commitment to the completion of the new Bathroom project and so many other projects at Camp is what helps to make Batawagama an outstanding experience for all of those who attend. It was a great summer at Batawagama! We were fortunate to have many former Staff members returning and we were excited that we could bring back Senior Days and six weeks of Youth Camp. Brian Schulze, Director |
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