The financial piece of the camp puzzle was always a challenge. Donations helped to stock the camp store, keep up maintenance on various buildings and aid the camperships, but fees were raised incrementally each year. Many references were made in the camp committee minutes of board members donating, even as they sat on fundraising committees.
In 1932 the financial situation was discussed at the camp committee meeting and members were asked to do what they could do towards “wiping out the deficit for the 1932 season” by raising monies.
In 1933 a suggestion was made to save money but having neighboring camps purchase supplies together. Some leaner years, letters were sent by the committee to local businesses to cover the expenses on major projects as a donation.
In 1936 the financial report stated the income was $5,793.30 and the expenses were $5,181.61, which did not leave a huge amount to carry over into the next camp season. The minutes stated, “no actual profit was made on camp last year, so we have no balance to start the coming camp period.”
On March 31, 1937, “Mrs. H.B. Smith gave the camp $100 to reduce the principle on the camp note. $40.90 was raised with $5 more promised, which would purchase the deep sink, double boilers, butter cutter, can opener, carving knife and two wire whisks”, the minutes read. It wasn’t just new roofs and increased salaries that were needed!
The tires of our Suburban crunched on the ice and snow as we headed down the trail in northern Michigan on a cold winter day in 1987. Lined with snow-laden trees; the pines, oaks, birch and aspen seem to envelop us as we rounded a bend past an old corral.