Margaret Dahlem stopped on the lodge lawn in 1989, soon after we bought the property. Her trip down memory lane, as a first-time camper in 1925, included the awards when she camped. Her friend Harriet Crumb, who wrote a letter to me soon after, mentioned the same award.
There were competitions between the huts, including a parade of decorated row boats. The winner was awarded the “Bracken Fern Award”. There was also a “Spirit of Maqua” competition, based on the girl who most typified the ideal Maqua camper, with friendly voting that took place to choose one.
The awards were important to many little girls who excelled in a sport or activity that they had never tried before. Many of them saved their awards, ribbons and certificates from camp, as proof positive of their achievements.
Mary Lou Winn camped in 1946 and 1947 and remembered all the awards were presented on parents’ night at the end of camp. For her, it always seemed that the older campers seemed to get more than their share, but looking back her memory might have been tinged with envy.
“We had a three-day canoe trip, which was wonderful. I just remember how exciting it was to do this canoeing and camping. There were girls who were bickering on that trip—just amongst themselves. It was hard for the counselors. The girls were difficult and I always felt my role in life was to keep peace. I was shocked and amazed when I got an award for the “Most Cooperative On The Canoe Trip”, said Ann Ward (1958-61). ““They had never given that award before. I guess I was just a peacemaker. I was never the type that gossiped.”
Summer camp was even more important for sisters Barb and Connie Cruey the year they were eleven and fourteen. Their mother passed away suddenly in May and their maternal grandmother moved in with them.
“I think I enjoyed that summer the most ever,” said Barb (1956). “Being at camp helped me tremendously after my Mom’s death. I was so busy that camp took me away from the pain. It was also the summer that I was named the Honor Camper. The counselors thought I was the deserving camper. I remember I cried because I never felt like they had been vocal about me being special. That was so special to me, to know that I was respected and they could see I got along with others. I loved camp and never had problems with people or complained. I just wanted everyone to be happy. That honor was so important to me. I called my Dad to see if I could stay another two weeks and of course he said yes and he wrote letters back in response to my simple letters.”
“Camp was a positive experience for me every year I went. I think the second or third time I camped, I received a Leadership award. It surprised me because I felt since I was shy, I didn’t know I was a leader. But that award may have contributed to my confidence. I ended up as a social worker,” said Jane McKinley (1956-59).
In 1969, the activity report listed CAA (Campers Archery Association) and NRA (National Rifle Association) awards with specific goals that were handed out at the end of each two-week session, but Maqua also gave ribbons for those who “fell short of achieving an award and were extra hard workers, cooperated and were an asset to the class”. Ribbons were also given out, sparingly, so as not to diminish the symbol for ther sports.
“I can still remember the smoke in my eyes and that last night ceremony where everyone got their award ribbons. By the time I was in Cabin C, I had the most ribbons. Everyone got a green one that said Maqua, but my awards for swimming and riflery were pinned on the bottom. I loved the ribbons. When I was young, I could not figure out why all these kids were crying by the fire and by the last year, I was BAWLING,” said Cara Prieskorn (1966-71).
Sue Purdue (1964-68) and Beth Taylor (1966) shared the similar desires to win awards and ribbons. Beth loved the swimming and overnight camping activities, but what she wanted was the coveted white ribbons awarded on the last night of the campfire. She watched every summer as girls received awards for best canoeist, or best in arts and crafts and finally one summer she received two! A happy camper!
Sue Purdue loved all the activities, even though she excelled in tennis. She learned to sail at camp and eventually taught sailing, but she said, “I wanted all the awards as a camper and can remember wanting to be called up to win each and every one.”
And then there were some, like Ann Meisel (1962-66), who was painfully shy and forced to go to camp to deal with people and loved it. “The saddest thing for me was that I never got any ribbons. I used to pray ME! ME! ME!”
Did you win awards or ribbons at camp?
