Camp Maqua developed some amazing leaders, not only on the camp grounds but later in life. Women in leadership roles influenced young girls at camp, whether they were aware or not. The young girls looked up to the counselors, who were in college attaining degrees in fields that women of the past dare not dream about as a career.
Cheryl Short was twelve years old in 1964 and the second oldest in a family of seven in Bay City when she first attended Camp Maqua. A self-described driven and in charge person, Cheryl said she was always the giver and not the taker. “I was a nurturer. A lot of the values and qualities that were instilled in us at camp, I already had. I was not shy either. It was one week out of one year in my life. I already knew who I was as a child. I just enjoyed that time just being a kid, being free to be me for a whole week with no dishes, no chores, and no responsibilities.”
“When I became a Mom, we worked to get our kids into the special camps they wanted to attend, so they could share those values. It was one part of my life I wanted my son and daughter to share,” said Cheryl. “ I was President of the “Special Days” Cancer Camp and now sit on the board. I have been involved for many years. Those times reminded me of my camp experience and it was fun to see kids who had cancer having fun because I don’t remember ever really being a kid.”
Cheryl’s position is one with large responsibilities now—President of McLaren Bay Special Care, with a great many initials behind her name!
In 1967 Lin Harris had just graduated from college and sent out twelve postcards looking for jobs. Eleven of them replied. With credentials in water safety instruction, she was just what Dorthe Balaskas needed for Camp Maqua, plus Dorthe was curious who would apply for a job by postcard.
Her Mom died when she was fourteen in 1957, and she had attended Indian Beach Camp in Grand Traverse Bay. It changed her life and she said her heart was there. That camp allowed her to see strong women in leadership positions running the camp. Even as a swimming instructor at the “Y” in Flint, she realized that women were not given the same opportunities, despite the fact that she felt like she was doing something positive teaching women a skill.
“Up until then, girls were just teachers or airline stewardesses or nurses. Women were not given the opportunity. I did not have many women role models until then. I realized I could do anything I wanted to.”
She and a friend took 14 girls on a primitive trip to Manitou Island. Jennifer McLogan and Laurie Cullen were two of the girls from Maqua that were on that trip. Lin was amazed later to find out many of the girls on that trip became doctors.
Lin taught physical education in high school, mainly swimming. “Maqua meant the whole world to some people and provided opportunities they may not have had. It also filled in empty spaces for staff and campers alike.”
Karen Selby’s friend Rene Baker was the daughter of her father’s law partner in Bay City and had camped at Maqua for a few years. Rene’s Mom had invited Karen and her Mom, who had been on the board, to attend the camp rally or jamboree at the “Y” when she was about twelve or thirteen in the early seventies. “I was interested since Rene was my older and more mischievous friend, so I thought it would be fun.”
Karen then returned as a counselor and spent the last three years (1976-1978) as an arts counselor with some huge changes taking place at the camp. Unbeknownst to her, she spent the last year of her camping days in a camp that would close that last summer, as she donned her pale blue shirt to distinguish herself from the campers.
“As a human being, going to camp began to teach me the value of service and the understanding that I had many opportunities and how many I had been given. Those were invaluable things. It also taught me to be self-assured and confident in my competence. It taught me to be willing to walk out on a limb and to have faith in what I was doing—that failure was alright and that I was not made by my failures. It was up to me to decide what to do with my failures. Part of being able to go so far in my profession (Ph.D. Professor at U of D Mercy in research, literacy, and education) was pushing the envelope. I didn’t wait to be given permission to succeed and that if I failed, I was not my failure.”
“My teaching style was cemented as a camp staffer. I am still today who I was when I arrived at camp. I have trust and faith in my students and their ability to bring their brilliance to the table. I recognize it in others and myself.”
