The first mention of campcraft was in the “Loon” 1949, from a paragraph by Kay Cochran. They learned to make boiling kettles from no.10 cans, and stoves to fry their hamburgers. Nature lore and campcraft were combined that summer with Marian Musolf in charge.
In the early sixties’, Bonnie Baker guided her campers to plan and prepare for a campout and how to use a knife. Part of their class project was to fix up Explorer’s Hill, make “doughboys” (fried dumplings) and play “Hare and the Hound”.
Other years projects, with Mary Henne (1961), included the knotting and lashing of primitive tables and washstands, trail signs with sticks and stones, and how to assemble bedrolls.
Campcraft was run by Bonnie MacDonald in 1967, and Dorthe Balaskas wrote that she had worked at a camp before, therefore she made a confident counselor and knew her specific area well. She had good ideas, despite inadequate equipment. She took on extra projects, such as the camp entrance sign and a cabin assignment in the last session.Other years projects included the knotting and lashing of primitive tables and washstands, trail signs with sticks and stones, and how to do bedrolls.
“She made good use of the tents and primitive areas and tried to have campcraft something more than Lemme sticks. She is most interested in seeing a primitive unit tried again at Maqua and I personally feel she would avoid some of the pitfalls we fell into the three summers we had a primitive unit,’ wrote Dorthe. There was a new shed, “which was a welcomed addition”, but new peg boards needed to be added to organize the equipment.
Cara Prieskorn remembered making the Lemme sticks during her time at camp (1966-71). “You would find the straightest stick and peel down the bark until it was smooth. We hit each other on the elbows and threw them, but I think they were actually for some of the unofficial hand clapping games. I thought it was more like advanced patty-cake.”
Anne Obey was the campcraft director in 1969. Her report from that summer detailed her lesson plans for ropecraft, firebuilding, with an emphasis on toolcraft. As a young cabin counselor, Anne recalled sitting on the lodge porch to teach the young campers how to handle a hatchet to chop down trees, whittle with jack knives and other nature experiences. “We winged it,” laughed Anne. “I had learned just being a camper, but we could pitch a rudimentary pup tent, read a compass and start a fire.”
Anne impressed Dorthe with the mature manner in which she handled her responsibilities. Aside from packing campcraft, Anne assisted in the campcraft classes, worked in Primitive and took over a cabin as a sub when needed. “I could not have asked for anyone who gave willingly and actually showed loyalty and love for Maqua and it’s campers as Anne,” wrote Dorthe.
She was an alumni and Dorthe found her to be a joy and an asset to the staff. She had cabin two the second session, which was the younger girls. Her patience, understanding and responsibility were great for the younger campers, and she was always a reliable person for Dorthe to call on. “Anne’s loyalty to Maqua was very apparent and greatly appreciated,” wrote Dorthe.
According to her report, during the pre-camp inventory, the staff threw out rusty equipment and made repairs to existing items. The small brown hut, (which remains on the lodge property today), housed the tools, popcorn poppers, fry pans, griddles, and kettles. (If you look to the ceiling of that hut, some of the pots and pans remain as a reminder of those camping days.)
The first lesson, which all campers attended the first week of the first session, was a fire, outdoor safety and conservation unit. Following the lesson, the girls could practice their new skills by lashing, making a Tiki figure or Lemme sticks. Since the cardinal rule of the woods was to never cut a birch tree, the girls used soft poplar wood, which was in abundance! She even listed areas for fallen trees behind the Infirmary, past the tennis courts, by the workshop and behind the craft hut.
In 1971 campcraft was handled by three staffers, which included director Barbara Haggart. “We did a lot of campsite clearing with the campers– showing them how to build campfire pits, lash tables and the proper use of knives and axes,” she detailed in her report. These activities were especially exciting to the returning older campers, who needed the stimulation of different activities to maintain their interest.
What do you recall of your campcraft lessons and classes? Did you utilize any of the skills in your life?