WACONIA XC SUMMER RUN CAMP
Tuesday, July 29th to Thursday, July 31st, 2025
Camp Basics
What?
Waconia Summer Run Camp is an experiment (one year trial) for the 2025 Waconia XC program. As a staff, we are constantly looking to improve the XC experience for our student athletes and as we look at other successful organizations around the state, many offer a summer distance camp. This is an “over-night” experience for our more advanced (Varsity/Top JV) runners to see if a team camp atmosphere can help build community and push our athletes to higher levels of performance in preparation for our fall competitive season. Note: as a trial we are starting small (max of 22 participants) and based on “how things go”, we will reevaluate how many athletes and how to accommodate larger numbers of runners
Who?
Summer Run camp is open to ALL incoming 9th to 12th grade athletes who are striving to complete at the upper levels of our team. This camp is for student athletes who have “put in the miles” and are ready to WORK HARD…meaning all attending athletes must be able to complete a 10 mile run, shooting for 300+ summer miles and should have already logged AT LEAST 180 miles of these training miles prior to our date of departure. (Total June & July Miles & this may include the end of Track Season)
*incoming 7th & 8th graders can attend camp by invite only and need to follow the same above training criteria
Where?
Who knows where this experiment will go…BUT, year one we are heading to Whitewater State Park in southeastern Minnesota. Whitewater State Park is situated along the banks of the Whitewater river and is officially part of the Driftless region of Minnesota. “Driftless”!?! Yes, driftless, which basically means the glaciers during the last ice age didn’t scrape the land flat…hmmmm? WHICH MEANS…Hope our runners like hills!! Well, actually steep cliffs dominate the ridges surrounding camp, and this very vertical topography will give our team QUITE the landscape to explore by foot. This is a beautiful location to spend a few summer days running around the woods and hanging out with running friends. CLICK HERE to learn more about Whitewater State Park. (FYI - Waconia to Whitewater State Park = 120 miles 2hrs 10 minutes via car) Note: another reason to have camp here is based on access to water, modern showers/bathrooms
Registration for Camp?
We will send out registration materials for camp on Sunday, June 29th…a simple registration form will be available to athlete families to fill out and will include a variety of questions regarding summer training/miles/general fitness/goals for summer/season...the focus of this experience will be for athletes who have “put in the work”! Please keep an eye on SportsYou and on Distance Facebook for updates. Space will be limited this year due to the fact that the staff wants to create a unique/rewarding experience for our athletes. The staff feels that starting small is the best way to ensure that this experience is DONE RIGHT…it will be open to 22 athletes and priority will be given to the athletes who have done the work and have proven themselves.
Chaperones/Parent Volunteers!?!
YES, we will need a small crew of parents to help with basic food prep and general camp support. Parents/Chaperones will have a separate camp/sleeping area within the regular campground at the park. Most of the “chaperone” duties will be done by the head coaches…meaning parents/students will have time “to themselves”, so if a kid says “mom I don’t want you to chaperone”…there will be some opportunity for some “healthy” separation! HAHA (but seriously this will be a kid focus camp to promote team unity and bonding) Please reach out to Coach Bullis or Gilbert if interested in joining the Chap Team! (hope to not only start a summer training tradition, but also a tradition of ROCK STAR parents to be a part of this experience)
Camp Itinerary (DRAFT)
Day One - Tuesday, July 29th
1pm Depart Waconia (Carpool & Meet at WHS)
4pm Arrive at Camp/Set Up Tents & Get Settled
5pm Practice Session #1
6pm Dinner/Shower/Swim
7:30 Group Hiking/Team Scavenger Hunt Challenge
9:30 Campfire/Snack & Sing-Along led by Coach Bullis
11pm Lights Out in Tents for Night
Day Two - Wednesday, July 30th
8am Wake-Up/Breakfast
9am - 11am Practice Session #2
11am - 12:30pm Free Time/Shower/Swim
12:30pm - Lunch
1pm - 3pm Group Activity/Challenge
2pm to 5pm Free Time (Explore/Beach/Shower/Chill)
5pm Dinner
6 - 8pm Practice Session #3
8pm - 9:30pm Group Activity/Challenge
9:30 Campfire & Scary Stories by Coach Hess
11pm Lights Out in Tents for Night
Day Three - Thursday, July 31st
8:30am Wake-Up/Breakfast
9:30am - 11:30am Group Long Run
Noon - Lunch
12:30 - 2pm Free Time
2:30 - Shakedown/Recovery Run/Walk (20min)
3:15 - Clean/Take Down Camp/Pack
4pm - Depart for Home
6:30pm - Arrive back at WHS
Packing List
- 2 pairs of Running Shoes
- 1 pair sandals/slides
- 5 pr Running Sox
- 3 non running t-shirts
- 1 pair non running camp shorts
- 5 running outfits (tops and bottoms required)
- Sleeping Bag, Sleep Pad & Pillow
- Teddybear or Security Blanket (mainly for Bullis)
- 2 large bathing/beach towels
- basic personal toiletries
- Raincoat (be prepared to be outside for duration of camp)
- 2 sweatshirts/light jackets (light insulating layer)
- 2 sweatpants/long pants (light insulating layer)
- Sunscreen/Hat/Sunglasses
- 2 Swimsuits (Hey Hess…No Speedos!!)
- tent (need a tent partner/s) *only one tent per athlete pair or small group
- at least 2 refillable water bottles
- flashlight/Headlamp
- Bug Repellent (FYI - Whitewater is known to be Mosquito Free…due to moving water)
- small camp chair/hammock
Additional Details…
1) ALL Staff/Chaperones/Athletes will “car pool” to/from Camp (no busing)
2) Approximate Cost - $75 to 125 per athlete (depending on camp activities/events)
3) We will be seeking out a team of Parent/Guardian Chaperones/Cook Staff to be with group for duration of camp
4) camp will be open to all Genders on our team (obviously tent/sleeping will be separated)
5) Athletes are expected to complete ALL Practice sessions
6) Cost Includes ALL Food, Camping Fees and Activities
