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About Varsity Day Camp
Founders
Irv and Martha Wisniewski
... It all began when 'the lights went out' in Salina, Kansas!
After the war, Mr. Whiz remained in the Air Corps, knowing he wouldn't be starting school for a while. He had always thought he would go to Notre Dame and when he visited he was told, "We want you, see you in the fall." On his way home he stopped at the University of Michigan to visit Bob Harrison who told him, "school starts next week" They went over to the field house and spoke with Wally Webber. Mr. Whiz was told to bring his high school transcript back... which he did the next day! He met Coach Fritz Crisler and Bennie Oosterbaan, enrolled at Michigan, and started college the next week!
Now --- while still in the Air Corp --- he was sent to Salina, Kansas, where at a small college was Mrs. Whiz. She was also the stage manager for Marymount's production of the 'Rivals'. The airmen routinely went over to college dances and to be stagehands.
So, one night at rehearsal, the lights went out.... and when the power came back on they all decided to go to the A&G Restaurant to hang out! ...Mr. Whiz met Mrs. Whiz that night and when he walked her home the second time, he told her..."I'm going to marry you"...
...and with a lot of in between events ... Mrs. Whiz graduated and came to U of M for her dietetic internship,
Mr. Whiz began a highly successful academic/athletic career at Michigan that included playing on the1947, '48, '49 Big Ten Football Championship Teams, a Rose Bowl ... a 49 - 0 win over Southern California, a National Championship. he also played on the 1947-48 (Big Ten) Western Conference Championship Team and they went to the NCAA tournament in Madison Square Garden only to be beaten by Holy Cross in the semi-finals.
... this all brings us to the Tuesday after the 1949 Ohio State Game ... when, according to our dad (*Mr. Whiz ) " football was over ...basketball hadn't started ... we had some free time" "November 22, 1949".
They got married at St. Mary's Church in Ann Arbor, had a reception at the Sigma Chi House and a dinner at the Michigan Union!
In the summer of 1950, graduated, expecting their first child and waiting to hear about jobs, Mr. Whiz, ...with a few friends, with Mrs. Whiz preparing lunches, with a group of nine boys and a couple of station wagons ... began Varsity Day Camp.
Jobs came...Head Coach at Hillsdale College, Offensive Line Coach, Offensive Coordinator, Head Basketball Coach and Head Golf Coach at the University of Delaware .. lots of wins, a National Football Champonship, record setting Basketball teams and ... every Memorial Day weekend we would make the trip back to Michigan ...back to Varsity Day Camp.
Having just finished our 68th season, Varsity Day Camp will continue, based on their founding principles, values and goals:
Be kind, generous and fair, treat others as you would be treated, make choices, try new things, make new friends, learn new skills, appreciate the lake and nature ...and as Mr. Whiz says, "HAVE FUN."
70 years, 8 children, 17 grandchildren, and 3 great granddaughters, countless campers and memories later, Mr. and Mrs. Whiz will live in our hearts forever.💙
Camp Director
of Daily Operations
Mary Wisniewski, M.S., LAT,
ATC
Mary, third from the top of the Whiz kids, is the director of Varsity. Having spent every summer of her life at camp, she knows camp...every inch of the property, every recipe, every activity... and probably every joke ever told at our after lunch rest time!
In her 'real job', Mary is the Head Athletic Trainer and an Associate Professor at the University of Chicago. She has held that position since August of 1988. In those 31 years and in the preceding 10 since graduating from University of Delaware,where she played 4 years of Volleyball and 3 years of basketball, Mary earned her master's in Physical Education from EMU. She has earned numerous awards and honors including USVBA All American Honorable Mention, team captain and being invited to be on the USA National Olympic Volleyball Training Squad.
Mary has been an Assistant Athletic Trainer, instructor and coach at Eastern Michigan and New Mexico State University. She is a lecturer and a consultant & mentor for the University of Chicago First Responders Corp.
Mary is an American Red Cross Instructor of Emergency Medical Response, Water Safety, Lifeguard and Waterfront LG, CPR/FA/AED. All of our staff are taught and certified by Mary.
Mary loves camp...she thoroughly enjoys the change from urban to lakeside and says it is the best R&R! Her favorite thing is seeing everyone ... staff, parents and the children ... relaxed, participating and having fun. The most rewarding part of camp for Mary is teaching children to be safe ...but still have great fun.
Camp Owners
The 7 Wisniewski siblings: Anne, Mary, Pat, Mike, John, Jane, and Clare.
Following our parents' passing, the 7 of us have decided to continue Varsity, keeping with the tradtion and vision our parents had.
Anne Brattan is the eldest of the siblings, retired, and living in Florida..
Mary Wisniewski the next youngest of the siblings, lives in Chicago.
Pat Wisniewski is a retired nurse, handyman, and arborist, living in Newark, Delaware.
Michael Wisniewski has taught Math for 38 years, has 5 children and lives in Newark, Delaware.
John Wisniewski the youngest brother of the siblings, lives in Florida.
Jane Selner has served as Coordinator of Parish Ministries at St. Rose of Lima Parish in North Wales, PA since 2010. She provides organizational and administrative leadership for parish ministries and guides development of new ministries and initiatives that further the mission of St. Rose Parish. Her work is focused in the areas of Evangelization, Adult Faith Formation, Social Justice, Community Building and Parish Service. She also coordinates parish communications, welcoming and hospitality. She is a member of the Pastoral Council and was president of the Stewardship Committee from 2003 to 2008. Jane also serves as a speaker for the ChristLife Lay Apostolate at diocesan training conferences across the country. Born and raised in Newark, Delaware, she received a B.S. in Engineering Applied Geophysics from Michigan Technological University. Prior to working at St. Rose, Jane held managerial positions in the insurance and child care industries and ran a small catering business. An avid tennis player who loves to travel, Jane and her husband, Craig, have been married and active members of St. Rose Parish since 1990.
Clare Farrall is a nurse. University of Delaware graduate. Lives in Lewes, Delaware with her family.
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2021 Season is PausedIf you would like to apply to work at Varsity this summer: Our application and forms with directions can be found HERE. |
Varsity Day Camp Staff
Our carefully selected staff is comprised of former campers, college students, teachers, and professionals who are trained to be outstanding camp role models.
All of our staff are trained and certified in:
- First Aid
- CPR/AED
- Lifeguarding
Staff is selected on the basis of qualifications that include love of children, ability in camp activities and ability and experience working with children.