"You must be the change you want to see in the world." - Gandhi
What do you like to do for fun? Maybe you like to swim, ride your bike, play sports or just spend time with your friends. When you’re at Camp Kupugani at Camp White Eagle, you can do all of that and more! We offer a huge variety of land, water and adventure activities for you to choose from while at camp.
Our daily schedule combines scheduled group activities and choice periods. Following lunch, campers choose and sign up for afternoon activities, and we re-evaluate our group schedules continually to ensure that all of our campers are focusing on the activities they enjoy most. Campers also participate in evening activities as a community, strengthening the bond and friendships between fellow campers and with staff as a whole.
Our camp is ACA-accredited; as such, safety is key at all times. In accordance with ACA standards, some activities at camp may have limited space. When campers sign up for their activities, they are asked to list alternate activities, in case their original choice is full. We make every effort to ensure that all campers who wish to participate in an activity get to try that activity at least once. Campers are also required to wear necessary safety equipment for the activities they choose – such as harnesses, life jackets and helmets. In our commitment to safety, the camp provides all safety equipment needed.
We also provide all necessary equipment for each activity. However, if you have a favorite fishing pole or other activity item that you want to bring to camp, please feel free to do so!
Before campers come to camp, we encourage them to think about what activities they want to do. Take
a look below at a small sample of the activities that we offer at camp.
Rock Climbing
Rock climbing is a challenging, heart pumping, and extremely rewarding activity. We offer the Midwest’s
premiere natural rock climbing walls with 85-foot and 60-foot walls, each of natural limestone rock
face. From beginners to experts, campers enjoy the challenge and self-esteem building experience that
comes with conquering the walls. Whether 
you have climbed a dozen times before or are putting on the
harness for the first time, our experienced instructors will talk you through every step with extreme
safety in mind.
Swimming
Swimming is always a fun activity on a warm summer day. Our beautiful 30- by 60-foot fully-staffed swimming pool, located in the heart of camp, is the venue for swimming instruction from our certified lifeguards, fun pool games, and diving from our one-meter board.
River Walks
A river walk is the perfect activity for cooling off on a warm summer day. During a river walk, campers
dressed in life jackets, shorts, t-shirts, and shoes walk the length of the river observing and interacting
with the beings that consider the river their home. Campers celebrate the end of a river walk by floating
down the river, taking a trip under our very own waterfall, or doing crazy jumps off the dam into our
15-foot deep lake.
Crate Stacking
Crate stacking is an extremely fun, rewarding activity, which tests campers’ balance and coordination,
while also requiring teamwork. The object of the activity is to construct a tower of crates while balancing
and climbing. Campers enjoy the challenge and self-esteem building experience that comes with trying
to climb as high as possible. Our experienced instructors talk you through every step with extreme
safety in mind.
Hiking
Camp White Eagle covers almost 120 acres of beautiful forests and land, which contain numerous trails and deer paths that make for a great variety of hikes. Choices can range from a leisurely hike through the fields and meadows of camp, to a challenge hike.
Challenge Hikes
During a challenge hike, campers learn the importance of teamwork and personal motivation, as
instructors lead them on a demanding hike through bushes, down embankments, through rivers, and through
mud-covered islands. At the instructor’s discretion, some 
participants may have the test of
being blindfolded or physically challenged while other team members safely and carefully guide them
through the hike.
Night Hike
Have you ever truly had to use your night vision before? Well, at camp you can. On a night hike, camp staff leads you on a beautiful, leisurely hike with only the moon and your night vision leading you through the path. At the end of the path, each camper can lie down on the grassy flats and gaze at the stars blanketing the night sky, listen to the crickets and frogs serenade you, and witness a surrounding firefly display.
Mud Volleyball
Our one-of-a-kind mud volleyball court could serve as an area for a serious game of competitive volleyball … but
most of the time, it provides the venue for sticky, muddy, messy fun! Choose this activity and get
ready to get dirty!
Sand Volleyball
Our beach volleyball court allows volleyball lovers to play a rousing game of 2 on 2 up through full 6 on 6 games. As with all of our sports activities, we emphasize sportsmanship, effort, maintaining a positive attitude, developing skills and teamwork, and learning the rules of the game.
Arts and Crafts
Within our many different types of craft activities, you can let your creative juices flow or find them for the first time. From candle making to drawing, painting, beading, tie dying, plaster casting or lanyards, there are many craft options available. Be prepared! Campers will have many projects to bring home at the end of camp!
Canoeing
Whether you’re canoeing in camp up the Leaf River for an hour, or canoeing down the Apple River on a 3-day canoe trip, there’s something about the peacefulness of the trees, the smell of the fresh air, and the slight sound of a paddle dipping into the water that makes for a wonderful summer day activity. Our canoeing program focuses on teaching campers the fundamentals. We have high quality, 17-foot aluminum canoes for use on trips and instruction. Whether you’re experienced or a rookie, you will learn as much as you want to about canoeing. While at camp, instruction is focused on teaching safety, strokes, steering and portaging, all in preparation for potential off-camp canoe trips. Campers are also able to canoe for a mile without leaving camp!
Biking
Using 18-speed GT hybrid mountain bikes, our biking program is top notch! There are miles of trails for serious trail blazing and skill development. As Camp White Eagle is located in the rolling hills of northwest Illinois, campers can bike amidst the beautiful scenery with an experienced staff member. Keeping with our dedication to safety in all aspects of camp, everyone must wear a bike helmet; campers are provided with helmets, bikes, and water bottles and follow camp and state riding regulations.
Ecology and Nature
Nestled in the woods, Camp White Eagle provides a perfect habitat for many animals and plants, allowing
campers to observe and appreciate the behavior of the natural world that inhabits our 120-acre facility.
Whether you’re walking along one of camp’s many trails, or just sitting down by the lake,
beautiful natural sights and sounds will surround you. In our nature activity, our instructors teach
participants about that beauty by observing it, listening to it, and experiencing it. Campers learn
to identify trees and plants, do bird watching and animal tracking (such as deer, foxes, porcupines,
skunks, rabbits and chipmunks), and learn about water biology (go snorkeling to find fish, underwater
plants, and turtles). Campers also learn about recycling, tree planting, animal care and gardening.
Activities such as scavenger hunts for objects in nature, sensory hikes, casting animal tracks with
plaster, creating terrariums, and many more, allow campers to learn while having fun.
Outdoor living
One of the oldest camping activities is developing the skills to live and survive outdoors. To a certain degree, all of our campers participate in a wilderness program—learning to live comfortably and safely in our beautiful camp environment. For those campers who are interested in furthering their outdoor skills, we offer instruction covering: compass orienteering, outdoor cooking skills, wilderness safety, shelter construction, camping, and fire building. Campers can also have a chance to use these skills in an overnight campout.
Solo
“I never knew I could hear myself think” is one camper’s summary of her experience after spending a night alone out under the stars and moon with just intimate thoughts, a sleeping bag, and a tarp to keep the dew off. Even while the camper enjoys the solitude of the solo camping experience, attentive counselors are nearby to assure that the experience is safely supervised.
Primitive
There is nothing like sleeping directly under the stars. On one night during a session, campers can go on what we call a Primitive Campout. After the evening activity, participants return to their cabins, dress to sleep outside, and then bring only their sleeping bags to the rec shelter. Camp staff briefs the group on their plan and answers any questions the campers may have. The group then hikes out to the Primitive site where campers lie down around a crackling fire and enjoy the stars, a few laughs, and a wonderful night’s sleep in the fresh air.
Campfire Programs
Campfires. There’s something hypnotizing about the crackle and colors of each flame. And it’s even more magical when the fire is surrounding by campers singing, sharing their camp experiences, and listening to stories around the campfire.
Recreation
Ready for a game of soccer, touch football, or a cool and refreshing game of water softball? During our recreation activity, campers can compete in their favorite sport or learn new games like Aussie rugby, Frisbee Golf, or a variety of other games involving strategy and lots of fun. We emphasize sportsmanship, effort, maintaining a positive attitude, developing skills and teamwork, and learning the rules of the game.
Archery
High-quality traditional recurve bows are available for campers to test their skill at our different ranges. From the 5-yard range up to the 50-yard range, campers learn safety rules and regulations, parts of the bow and arrow, correct stance, breathing, aiming, holding, drawing and releasing. Campers can have friendly competitions, create and use smaller targets, and receive detailed instruction from experienced staff.
Fishing
Bring your own fishing pole or use one of our bamboo fishing poles to take advantage of the great fishing that you can find down by our dam.
Riflery
As with all of our activities, safety is priority number one. Targets are placed on carriers, which
are pulled in and out to assure that no camper or staff member ever crosses the firing line. Campers
learn safety rules, parts of the rifle, rifle care, shooting techniques and stances. The instructors
put up large targets to practice aiming and shooting. As participants master the larger targets, they
can shoot all sorts of creative targets like water balloons, 
quarter-sized bull’s-eyes, and even
individual M&M’s off of the target board.
Early Bird Activities
Get up with the sun and enjoy a swim in the pool, a hike around camp, or a canoe trip up the mist-covered Leaf River. During an Early Bird Activity, early risers and high-energy campers enjoy the chance to experience an activity in the unique time of early dawn.