Camp Dogwood

I’m writing this review with the caveat that I went several years ago to Camp Dogwood with my Labrador, and so I know things have probably changed (I know the location has changed for sure). I went during a winter session (which I am unsure they still hold) at the camp in Ingleside, IL.
There were some positives to the camp — I think my dog had a pretty decent time and we did get to try a variety of activities so that I could get an idea of what my dog would & wouldn’t like. We got some fun pictures and it was a nice bonding time.
The negatives: I wasn’t pleased with accommodations. I guess I didn’t realize exactly how «rustic» the camp would be and I thought it was fairly expensive for the lodging we got — we did at least get to stay in the actual lodge with heat since it was the dead of winter. The «mattress» on the bed was approximately 2 inches thick and the bathroom was shared dorm-​style with all the campers — it was kinda gross IMO and wherever there was metal (a small kitchen area with a fridge and then the bathroom) smelled horribly due to the metal rusting/​corroding. It was literally making me nauseous to go in the bathroom because of all the metal.
Some of the other campers were friendly and I had some nice conversations… but there was definitely a «clique-​y» vibe and pretty much all of the people already knew each other and were not very welcoming… my dog is super sweet & friendly and I think that was my only saving grace… people commented on how nice my dog was and I think were a little friendlier to me because of that.
I distinctly remember one very unfriendly woman with a Golden Retriever who yelled at me for getting too close to her dog — I guess her dog was aggressive with other dogs. I was merely walking by her with my dog on leash and certainly did not intrude on her space or her dog’s. My own Lab completely ignored hers. Which leads me to question why, if your dog is so aggressive with other dogs that you feel the need to yell at someone who gets within 5 feet of you — would you even bring your dog to a place like this? I remember another woman whose dog spent about 90% of the entire camp time in her lodge room because the dog was aggressive with other dogs. JUST WHY?
Some of the people were a bit crazy IMO — like a man whose dog CLEARLY was too old and in pain to be at this type of active environment and he would not listen to the camp vet until she pitched a fit and absolutely refused to allow him to let his dog run the lure course. It’s my feeling that the camp directors/​owners need to be more firm about not allowing people to bring dog-​aggressive or very old/​sick dogs to camp.
I’m not sure how camp is currently and if maybe it has grown large enough to kind of cancel out that clique-​ish tendency… or if accommodations are any better. Because if not, I’d just pitch a tent at that point or only go on a day pass.

Oh Camp Dogwood. What a wonderful idea… a place that you can go with your dog/​dogs and bond. A place where there are structured events on teaching your dog, or even yourself, new things. A place where you can find out talents your dog may have had that you never knew because he/​she would have no way to try out these activities. You get to meet new people, talk about your dogs, brag about your accomplishments at camp with others. You can bunk in cabins or tents with your dogs and bond. You can eat s’mores by the campfire with your dogs. You can watch your dogs play in the sand and the beach. You can make doggie treats. You can take the canine good citizen test. You can talk to the vet. You can help support rescues with a bake sale. Which is all a great idea and could be fun…
But then there is the staff. I don’t know. Maybe no one ever told them how to run a business… like saying HI to the people that are spending hard earned dollars to come to this camp. Like being NICE to the people that are spending hard earned dollars here. The whole time we were there, one of the directors said not ONE word to us. Not one… not HI, not HOW’S IT GOING, not ARE YOU HAVING A GOOD TIME?, HOW ARE YOUR DOGS. Nope, nothing. The camp photographer? Huffy during our photo shoot. I believe I counted three huge sighs during it. She also never said anything to us, until she knew we had signed up. Then she was a bit nicer. The camp vet? She was ok. Only said anything to us because we happened to be sitting by her… then after I had her look at my dog for something minor… I heard a snippy comment she had said to someone passing by. A friend of mine had also gone. She had also stated to my that she felt like one of the camp directors did not like her and that she had made a rude comment about her (my friend) to someone that my friend had overheard.
Luckily they are moving next year to Wisconsin Dells, because the food at this camp was horrible. I won’t be attending anymore though, unless a new director takes over and some helpful nice staff is hired.
It can be a fun place but the «take home» we got was, that unless you are friends with the directors and staff or are in the «clique», too bad, you suck. Some campers were very friendly, but it seemed to be the new campers that were, the «old» campers were not very friendly and I wasn’t the only one to have said this… so no, it’s not just me.
Now I know why Camp Dogwood numbers have been dwindling over the years. Directors… you might want to look into the attitudes.
My dogs had fun though… everyone was nice to them. They are the best! The lure course was fun and my pup loved running it and we are even looking into putting one in our yard for him. Our dog-​reactive dog learned how not to be so crazy when other dogs are around, so for them it was helpful. They even passed their canine good citizen test (the trainers running that were from the Dog Obedience Group in Chicago and THEY were wonderful and nice)

My dog loves Camp Dogwood. I love my dog.
Though the address on Unilocal says Camp Dogwood is in Chicago… it isn’t. It’s held at Camp Henry Horner in Ingleside, IL… which is a lovely youth camp near Round Lake. Over the long weekend… you can try out almost every dog sport and activity you can imagine… lure coursing… flyball…frisbee…trick training… agility…rally obediance… canine freestyle (dancing)…tracking…dock diving… and if you have a herding dog… herding. You can also take seminars in arts and crafts… dog massage… nutrition…and grooming.
Really…it’s a bargain compared to driving you and your pooch around to fifty gazillion dog activities and classes. You can try a little of everything… and see what your dog likes. If you’ve ever thought…“I wonder if my dog would like that…” no need to wonder. You’ll get a chance to try it all.
And as for the actual camping… there are air conditioned accommodations… non climate-​controlled cabins… and the option to pitch your tent out in the open… which is what I usually do… being a bit more «campy» than most. (And sliding rates depending on accommodation.) And even if you’re going by yourself… don’t worry… you’ll have something instantly in common with everyone else there. You’re crazy enough to spend a weekend treating your dog to dog heaven on earth.
And if you have fond memories of youth camp… or scouting as a child… the whole thing is like a trip on the nostalgia express… only with more dog hair.
My dog is a big fan of lure coursing… so for him… it’s «Lure Coursing Camp.» If I let him… he’d run his pads off. One of the great things at Camp Dogwood are the photos… they have professional staff photographers who follow the activity schedule… and you have the option to purchase the photos they take right at camp. (For a small and completely reasonable fee.) How wonderful not to have to worry about a camera all weekend!

I am crazy about Camp Dogwood, almost as much as I am crazy about dogs. It is a ton of fun to go spend a long weekend with your pooch where the bulk of the activities are designed around THEM and around getting you and your pooch to participate together. In the ~half dozen times I’ve gone over the last few years, my dog and I have learned what a natural he is at Flyball, how much fun (and how silly) it is to play in beach relays, including dressing him in human clothes, and practicing the skills we’ve learned in things we study at home, like agility, recall, etc. Camp attracts a great group of dog lovers who just relax and enjoy a chance to get out of the rat race. Don’t hesitate to go if you are thinking about it. If you’re not sure, well, try it with a day pass the first time. It’s a smaller commitment, but you’ll be sold like I was.