Camp Influences

Taps and Reveille

Published on by Kathy Baker

 

It was always an honor to be chosen to participate in the flag ceremonies at camp. The tradition of Reveille with the flag-raising, and Taps blown at flag lowering at the end of the night, were tradtions that remained in the memories of the women who participated.“I still remember what an honor and big deal it was to get chosen to raise or lower the flag,” said Jeri Smith (1965)– still puzzled by the selection process.

In the fifties, Janet Dixon recalled; “Each day began with a bugle playing Reveille and the lonesome sound of Taps at lights out.” For Dawn Sohigian (1966-74) it added to the wonderful structure that comprised the days at camp. Others, like Pamela Hartz (1966-75) loved waking up to the sound of the bugle blasting through the camp and the routines and structure that served as her anchor.

“There was a seating area where we would wait for the big bell to ring. We had to be there for flag raising,” said Beverly Schlatter (1944-49). “It was traditional—rain or shine. It was deemed to be quite important and attendance was required.” There were rules that were remembered surrounding the ceremony involving the flag—no bare feet, and coming and going by the bell in the sixties for Mary Obey.

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Close To Nature, Close To God

Published on by Kathy Baker

For many women, their experiences at the YWCA camp and Chapel Hill left lasting influences. Young girls, like Susan Ruterbusch (1947-52) and Debbie Tweedie (1965-72) felt the gorgeous views contributed to their feelings that they had never been closer to God as young girls.

“I loved running down the trails and walking up Chapel Hill in our whites,” said Katie Harris (1951-52). “I can remember thinking about God in the middle of nature and I think that was the most lasting memory–the nature and feeling very comfortable in that setting.”

For Ellen Hydorn (1954+), the services had a lifelong effect on her. “It was the first time I realized you could have a spiritual experience without the four walls of a church. So many sensual memories are tied to spirituality—and that was Chapel Hill—sights, sounds and smells and just the physical feeling of space.”

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The Spiritual View

Published on by Kathy Baker

The services, whether you believed or did not believe, were spiritual in nature because of their natural surroundings. Many of the girls had clear memories of the spot on the hill with the beautiful trees and view of the lake, and just as many reasons why they loved it.

As a present-day photographer, Anne Shutt (1961-66) had memories of dressing in whites to go to the services and the beauty of Chapel Hill. “It would photograph beautifully. Those were the years that I decided I wanted to be a photographer. I knew what I wanted to do at age ten. I was so into Camp Maqua and it was so beautiful.”

Linda Greenwald (1948-58) loved the scenery and sitting in the fresh air, as did Holly Foss (1966-72) who admired the views, but Valerie Monto (1964-68) not only enjoyed the view of the lake, but the boys from the camp across the lake patrolling by as they sat in their service!

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“Primyland”

Published on by Kathy Baker

The girls who braved the elements and had the courage to camp in Primitive remembered their adventures with fondness. Lori Fobear(1975-76) recalled the one great trip into the woods when they spent the night on cots under a big tent.“I know it rained like crazy and the next morning we tried to cook eggs in paper bags in some way, which did not work out,” she laughed.

Sally Allen (1968-73) camped in Primitive under director Sue Patenge, who had a way with kids and made everyone feel comfortable. “We slept on the ground and pitched a tent. I remember we had chicken to cook in a cast iron skillet and it rained and we couldn’t cook it through, so we were hungry, but it adds to the memories. I think one of the Pennington girls pinched apart the chicken and it was still bleeding, so we ate chocolate and marshmallows on graham crackers for dinner or maybe banana boats.”

“Primyland” was the title to the “Loon” July 1975 article about the primitive campsite. (M.Foss, A.Falvey, M. Moore, J. Bernard, B. Hickner, S. Vater, S. Shepard, P. Shepard, S. West and A. Johns were on this adventure.)

They had a taste of “stalking the good life” and eating –especially peanut butter and jelly—were big favorites. They had good intentions of getting an early night before their big backpacking trip, but instead stayed up till 1:00 trying to remember Beth Hickner’s favorite song. The trip to Alcona Dam Pond brought new and interesting people into their life, as well as new skills at backpacking. “Expressions like “Mind if I have a bowl” and “M-OK” remind us of the days at Primyland,” ended the article.

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Passing On The Songs—

Published on by Kathy Baker

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The legacy of camp songs continued to be passed down through the generations as campers and staff sang the camp songs to husbands, friends, children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, patients in their practices or students in their classrooms.

The songs and singing were a standout to Audrey Graff (1948), who taught all three of her children the camp songs and they sang them on car trips. “There was a nice feeling of sitting at those big tables after a meal singing rounds. Or the circle we formed at the end of the day, squeezing hands while we sang “Day Is Done”. I also loved being in my cabin hearing the Loon songs and “Taps” at reveille.”

‘It ws a great time day in and day out,” said Sarah Smith, whose camping years spanned 1968 through 1975. “When I left, I wanted to go back. My husband hears me mention Camp Maqua and when I sing the “Welcome To Camp Maqua” song, he and I both know that the song is hardwired into my brain and he understands. He camped at Bronx House for fifteen years and was a counselor and had all his firsts at camp.”

Nancy Weber (1962) knew all the camp songs from her sister before she ever arrived! “I have a degree in teaching and counseling and I am now a public speaker, but I sang songs to my kids when I was teaching that made me a hit. “Ga-goon went the little green frog one day-ga-goon went the little green frog,” sang Mary, who loved the folk songs from the Peter, Paul and Mary, John Denver era. “Different songs for different eras…all those experiences and relationships influenced my career.”

Shirley Colbert (1941) still sings the camp songs to her grandchildren. “One of the best things I ever decided to do was to go back to college and get my teaching certification in reading after raising my three kids,” said Shirley, who already had her degree in journalism from MSU and worked with Scouts and taught in Florida.

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Camp Songs Influenced Me—

Published on by Kathy Baker

553128_3521087476507_547449468_n“It is an amazing thing to look back and have those memories of those relationships, the counselors, the campers, the music—-as you can see from the online songbook that is now being retyped, singing was the thread,” said Pamela Hartz. “In the early years, there was a Christian message to many of the songs, but I recall one called “Watermelon Man”, which I am sure is a pretty prejudiced song. The songs at Maqua shifted naturally with the transitional changing values of society at that time. When I heard those camp songs in later life, the folk music like Peter, Paul and Mary, it was very central to my core. I taught my nephews those songs!”

“My taste in poetry and music was so influenced by my time at camp,” said Betsy Falvey (1968-75). “I still have my dog-eared books of e.e. cummings and “The Little Prince”. The music of Judy Collins was popular and the Moody Blues, but I could hardly stand to hear the song “Tuesday Afternoon” after helping Judy Engibous with her synchronized swimming students at the waterfront, hearing that song play over and over and over again.”

‘I loved singing and still do,” admitted Cindy Knapp. “There are so many of them I still remember and sang with my children and have always sung with my students.   One summer when I was back in Michigan, the family was roasting marshmallows over the fire.  My cousin Jane Woodworth was there too and I started singing some of the old songs.  It was like we were back there again, though I remembered more than Jane. We laughed a lot!”

Linda Greenwald (1948-49) taught music in college and still plays in an orchestra today. “I loved the group singing. We sang before meals, after meals, at bed, in line and at Chapel Hill.” Singing harmony and rounds was bonding time for Tally Cone in the sixties’, who said she would come home from camp singing all those songs in the car. “I probably drove my parents nuts,” she laughed.

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