Waterskiing was introduced to the Kawanhee program in 1957, but initially as a free time activity. Eventually, waterskiing would become an activity boys would take lessons in and learn skills in. Waterskiing before 1957 had shown up sporadically, but never as a full-fledged activity, but Kawanhee did often boast about its powerful speed boats! Waterskiing was officially considered for an activity when a ski boat, a 15 foot Larson speedboat with a 35-horsepower Johnson outboard motor to be exact, was purchased for the camp. In 1958, waterskiing was officially a part of the daily schedule and by 1959 Kawanhee had joined the National Water Skiing Association.

Kawanhee’s original waterskiing dock was in the Skunk Ridge area, a dock that was also used for fishing, but now the waterskiing doc is closer to the senior side of camp.