Counselor’s Retreat

Published on January 9, 2017February 21, 2017 by Kathy Baker

For the staff, the days were long and responsibilities were huge. They were in charge of many campers at one time and at the end of sessions, most would say they were truly tired. In the early years a tent sat behind the lodge for smokers, but later one of the cabins was designated for revival. There were days off and escapes to the Laundromat in Hale (laughed Zoe McGrath 1967), but the retreat was THE place to go.

“Camper’s Vision and Opinion of the “Staff Shack” was the 1965 headline of the “Loon”. A survey was conducted to see why many of the campers had something against the retreat. (The final conclusion was the retreat had formed lazy counselors out of nice girls, according to the survey!)

“We would look better in it than those counselors. It’s so dirty, they probably have rats. They’re always telling us to be quiet, how can we? They’re setting the example from the retreat. The retreat is just a place of gossip. While we make her bed and pick up her stuff, she sits, eats the candy out of the candy machine and listens to music on the hi-fi”

Counselors Left Their Mark

Published on January 4, 2017February 21, 2017 by Kathy Baker

“The year was 1947 and we were all in a tent down the hill to the right of the lodge. We should have been known as the dirty shoes and socks gang. There was a counselor that said her name was Julianna Knockalulu Desdemona Pocohantas Bubble Gum Duck Face Ford. Some important things you just never forget”, laughed Mary Hewes.

There were stand-outs as role models or counselors remembered because of their kindnesses, talents, or traditions within their cabins. For Sally Allen (1968-73) the memory of a family of sisters who taught sailing (with long gorgeous hair) was a combination of envy and respect.

For one young camper in the sixties, (who was very bright, but not as social as some of the counselors), one counselor intimidated her and another personified the ideal Maqua girl. Her name was Diane Dudley, nicknamed “Dodo”, who began as a camper and then became an aide, and was loved by everyone.

Susan Alcorn, who camped in the fifties, believed “riding instructors were goddesses and counselors just a step below”, as did Barb Rehmus (1965-76) about Judy Moore.“Her back went out and she couldn’t get out of bed. She was so well loved and we all thought she was invincible! We couldn’t believe she was all stooped over, so we brought her food. Some people have magnetism and charisma and even then, she had it.”

Counselors’ Responsibilities

Published on January 2, 2017February 21, 2017 by Kathy Baker

The earliest mention of counselors in the camp committee minutes was in May of 1933. It read; “Relationship of leader and camper was discussed, working through a self-governing camp council. The idea of having one girl in each hut responsible for her hut was also discussed: the counselor to be nearby, but not in the hut. This developed leadership among the girls. Acquaint each counselor with the others skill and so relate to each other. Use of natural resources in camp, stressed cooperation with staff necessary to put ideas over.”

The camp committee minutes from 1936 stressed the need for a trained counselor for their overnight hikes, the selection of a riding instructor that would fit more readily into the camp activities and perhaps even a junior and senior camp. Sometimes finding the right counselor involved leadership training weekends or specific training for the activity. (Riflery, archery, horseback riding and nursing.)

It is unclear whether counselors in the beginning years actually lived away from the girl’s cabins, but most of the girls interviewed spoke of them present on a cot in each cabin.

The general duties in 1971, as put forth by the YWCA, included living with and having charge for their group, assisting the other counselors and operating within the realm of their specific duties according to the department they were hired to supervise or assist.

Camp training, health exams, and specific attendance at camp activities were mandatory, as was joining the YWCA as a member. The contracts also included the amount of time off during the day and week.

A credo in the seventies was included on the contract. “The center of Camp Maqua is our camper. She is the reason for our camp. All camp life revolves around her. Our duties are to know her, to help her learn to do things for herself, and to help her do things with others. It is for these purposes that we are selected to serve at Camp Maqua. Be a good example to campers at all times!”

My (Gang) Went There !#4

Published on December 28, 2016February 21, 2017 by Kathy Baker

Nancy Michelson was one of four sisters who attended in the sixties and seventies. Close in age, they were known at “The Michelson Girls”. Their mother was not only behind the sisters going to camp, she was the ringleader of the many girls from Flint who attended in the late forties.

Ellen Hydorn was part of the “Fifth Street Gang”, which consisted of five girls who lived on the same street. Four went to camp together in 1954, when they were eleven years old. The other girl had a mother and two daughters who attended.

Friends Lori Rosenbaum, Karen Magidshohn and Pamela Hartz were known as “The Three Musketeers”. “I was the youngest in that group of Jewish girls, but we never felt prejudice. I always felt incredibly safe,” said Pamela.

Kim Wynne-Parry was eight in 1963 when her Mom and Shelley Wright’s Mom decided they should go off to camp together. Kim continued until the end of middle school, but Shelley continued on as a counselor. “I was always with Shelley when I went to camp, but she was the more athletic one and made friends more easily.”

Melissa Plambeck (1968-78) met a girl by the name of Julie Bernard at camp and they stayed in touch long enough for Julie to stand up in her wedding. Carol Wahl met Pam Moore in 1974 in her first year at camp. They ended up as college room-mates and was also in Carol’s wedding.

My (Friend) Went There! #3

Published on December 26, 2016February 21, 2017 by Kathy Baker

Laurie Cullen attended in the late sixties at a time when camp registrations were overflowing. She was ten and had camped at another camp from age eight to ten.

“I met a little girl by the name of Jennifer. It was such an unusual name back then. I was so homesick and her Mom found me crying at the top of a hill and asked if I was okay. I went back and we became pen pals as little girls, but lost track. But, at age ten at Maqua, we found ourselves in the same cabin! We were friends well into college. Jennifer McLogan is now an anchorwoman in New York.”

Jennifer was one of seven in her family, all who loved summer camp. The two years at camp where she met Laurie were pivotal in their relationship.

“One of the girls at Camp Tyrone loved horses and had talked to me about Camp Maqua. Her name was Laurie Cullen. I remember my Mom telling me to be nice to her because she was the odd man out in our cabin, but we became friends. Despite the fact that it was more money, I decided to go to Maqua the next year. “Cullen” and I were thirteen when we were at Maqua, counselors until eighteen and continued to be friends all the way through Western Michigan University. We were asked if we would like to be kitchen aides at sixteen and the older counselors adopted us, and of course, we loved it,” said Jennifer. “It was the greatest summer. I remember we both moved up as junior counselors the next summer and we had such a wonderful friendship—a deep love and respect for each other.”

My (Sister) Went There! #2

Published on December 25, 2016February 21, 2017 by Kathy Baker

“I was the youngest of the three sisters, and although I don’t remember ever being at camp with them, I do remember them going to camp. It was a natural thing for me to go there,” said Barb Krohn, who knew many of the Saginaw girls who attended from 1970-72. “I was excited, because I knew what I was going to, after dropping off and picking up sisters year after year with my parents.”

Karen Short’s sister was at camp in the forties at the same time, but she could never spot her. “Everyone was busy in their own age group. You even sat at your dining table with the girls in your group,” said Karen of her time at camp that seemed to vanish quickly. “It was not like the children of today. I think we were easily amused.”

Doris Engibous was twelve years old when she packed off to camp for the first time in 1966, and despite the fact her older sister Elaine and younger sister Judy had attended, “Neither of them became as obsessed as I did,” she said. (Her friend Beth Holder went one year, but never returned.)

Doris camped for four years, but missed one when her family was transferred to Switzerland with Dow Chemical in 1971. It was the only summer she missed, which would have been the summer she would have been a kitchen aide. She was a counselor for two years between her junior and senior year and admitted, “I could never get enough of it.”

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