We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs.
The picture you have in your mind of the ideal “summer camp” experience is what Camp Wandawega lives every day. For campers of any age, Elkhorn Wisconsin’s Wandawega is the place to escape into nature, art, and good company and truly shed the stress of the city (any city). Now, The Land Of Nod and Camp Wandawega have teamed together to create a line of products that allows you to bring the joyful feeling and cool aesthetic of camp into your home–forever. Domino chatted with Wandawega’s Tereasa Surratt to find out more about how this covetable line came to be.
HOW DID THIS COLLABORATION COME ABOUT? WAS IT SOMETHING YOU ALWAYS HAD IN MIND OR WAS IT THROUGH WANDAWEGA?
I’ve always been obsessed with The Land Of Nod, and had hosted them for a creative retreat once before. Then one day, Michelle Kohanzo (their creative visionary) threw the idea out there for a collaboration, and the brainstorming began. It was so easy. They are an absolute dream to collaborate with. They have an amazing team of designers and a global network of crafters and makers that I didn’t know existed until we started to dig into the process. It was magic.
WANDAWEGA ITSELF LOOKS LIKE SOMETHING WE’D SEEN IN A MOVIE. WHAT’S THE BEST REACTION ANYONE HAS EVER HAD UPON ARRIVAL?
Most Flattering:
We’ve had more than one person offer to move in full time to be a groundskeeper.
Most Creepster:
There was once a person who asked if they could have their ashes scattered here.
Most Heart Warming:
There have been 4 marriage proposals, over 20 weddings (a couple of them same-sex), a baptism, confirmation, and at least one conception of birth (that we know of).
LOOKING THROUGH THESE PRODUCTS MAKES US WANT TO BE KIDS AGAIN. DID YOU CONSULT ANY ‘EXPERT’ SOURCES FOR THIS COLLECTION?
We have a 4 year old. She was really the boss of the household and had some strong opinions. But honestly, the credit really does go to The Land Of Nod. They came to camp and we did a full immersion of the rooms, grounds, decor, and details from floor to ceiling. What they created was an authentic and inspired interpretation of what we have here at camp. Which is a culmination of over 90 years of history–a story told through layers of artifacts and lake life for so many generations.
WHAT IS YOUR PERSONAL FAVORITE ITEM FROM THIS COLLECTION?
THE TREEHOUSE.
It’s a to-scale replica of the real thing. All the way down to the furniture and woodland creatures cast of characters who live in side. It blows my mind.
THE FRANKIE PILLOW.
Our mascot has been immoralized in a pillow. It’s almost big enough to spoon. And he’s got his own (real) bandana with his name embroidered on it.
WHAT IS ONE THING YOU WISH EVERYONE KNEW ABOUT CAMPWANDAWEGA?
That we have a not-for-profit – partially because we’re on the national historic registry and want to remain dedicated to the preservation of the place, and partially because one third of our activities and events are donated to charities in support of the arts.
WHAT IS THE BEST PART OF YOUR JOB?
Meeting fellow creatives. We love, love, love to host creative retreats at camp–we’ve met some of the most amazing folks in culinary, art, and music. It has organically become an artistic haven of sorts–quite by accident in the beginning–but now we curate the experience to cater to the arts.