Primitive Camping

Published on February 12, 2018January 30, 2018 by Kathy Baker

The precursor to primitive camping at Maqua may well have been in the early twenties’ when Meg Dahlem talked of their trips overnight by truck to the AuSable. They would sleep on the ground on a hill with no sleeping bags, but probably makeshift bedrolls. The appeal for outdoor camping of this sort waxed and waned over the years.

It was decided by the camp committee to establish three new postions as junior counselors in October 1963, with a new primitive site to be established, complete with all the necessary equipment and a salary for the counselor.

On November 14,1964, a list of suggestions was made to the camp committee. “Primitive Camping-Miss Balaskas will again attempt primitive camping with restrictions upon the primitive camp leader,” the notes read.

“I recall a survival night where we ate only what we found in the woods,” said Shelley Harris (1965-75). “I can still hear Dorthe reminding us that there were hot dogs in the kitchen if we came back hungry. She was nervous, but we ate dandelion soup and Queen Anne’s Lace root, which were nothing but wild carrots, and we didn’t die.”

The last couple years Karen Magidsohn (1965+) camped in Primitive. “If I remember correctly, it was past the riding stables There was a platform with a big green tent. It was our cabin and we cooked all our own meals and stayed out there the whole time. We had a pit toilet, built our own campfires and it was pure camping,” said Maggie, who to this day camps every summer somewhere in the U.S.

Jeanne Kiltie (1966-71) also loved the primitive camping past the tennis courts, where they slept in tents and ate their breakfast and lunches, but dinners back at the lodge. “We ate Queen Anne’s Lace roots and strange soups made from greens, but I have to say what I learned there I have used all my life.”

Campcraft

Published on February 7, 2018February 7, 2018 by Kathy Baker

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.

What Is “IT”?

Published on January 31, 2018January 31, 2018 by Kathy Baker

“After a lot of patient waiting and guessing we found out what “IT” was”, wrote the author of the “What Is It?” column in a copy of the “Loon” from 1952. “A real western day. We were all called down to the waterfront by a fire drill. Nan came riding down on her horse to tell us about it. It started off with a chuck wagon dinner. It ended with a wonderful counselors’ show and a hoedown for all. We all agreed that “IT” turned out swell.”

Tales of spaghetti in bags that felt like worms from blindfolded campers and popping balloons tied around ankles of fellow cabin mates brought laughter. Square dancing with a director as the caller, or talent shows entertained happy faces in the evenings.”Roasting” counselors, learning Morse Code, tossing the frisbee, or washing the camp truck also entertained the girls.

“The counselors and the kids always got along fantastic together”, said Rhonda Thayer, business manager from 1974-77. “During meals there was always some entertainment. Mine was using that paddle with the ball on the string and I could do that blindfolded. The girls would count to 1,000 and I would still be bouncing that ball without missing. One counselor could tell stories and she would mime opening a jar of peanut butter and pretend like she was eating it and eventually it appeared she could not talk with all the peanut butter in her mouth. One girl sang “Camelot” really well, and there was one black counselor who would faint and we couldn’t wake her, so we would leave her. We would tease her about being so dark that we couldn’t see her bruises. What talent we all had!”

Cabin Days and Themed Events

Published on January 29, 2018January 26, 2018 by Kathy Baker

The daily activity schedules were usually confined to Mondays through Fridays, allowing the weekends for schedules planned by campers and counselors. It is unclear when this format began, but it was a great way to expose campers to as many activities as possible. The first week was all the different activities (in the sixties’), and the second week campers chose which activity they wanted and would sign up in advance.

On Saturdays, campers had “Cabin Day” where staff and campers carried out the plans that their cabins had pre-planned on Wednesay. Some cabins took alpine hikes, had cookouts in Primitive, picked strawberries or made dinner in Hale Park. Some elected to sleep in, skip breakfast, go to Lumberman’s Monument or take an overnight canoe trip.

The evening programs were always popular and a paragraph from the “Loon” in 1966 read: “The 4^th dawned dark and dreary this year. Classes went on as usual. For the evening meal, we dressed up in patriotic costumes and had a picnic on the volleyball court. We ate tasty hot dogs, smothered with mustard, ketchup and dill pickles. Costumes were judged in categories of the prettiest, funniest and most original.”

There was Gypsy Night, Christmas in July, Western Day, camp fairs, and Circus Nights with counselors as ringmasters for the circus acts. “I remember someone making a wanted poster during the western event, and she was wanted for taking a bath,” laughed fifties’ camper Janet Dixon, who felt like those events encouraged the girls to be very creative.

Games and Activities In The Rain–

Published on January 24, 2018January 23, 2018 by Kathy Baker

For the most part, it seemed that there was always someone singing or playing the piano in the lodge. Sometimes, aside from the pre-planned programs, the weather would force a change in plans for camp activities, whether it was games or overnights. It was never boring, by any stretch of the imagination.

“Lodge Transformed as “Unfair” Weather Pushes Maqua Fair Indoors” was the heading of an article on July 13, 1965 in the “Loon”. The weather was unpredictable, but caused no worries for the girls who set up water fights, a spook house, a jail with slaves, dice throw, ball throw, peanut roll, sponge throw, golf, a piñata and a fortune teller.

“The whole camp would sometimes be in the lodge or outside playing capture the flag, running races, or having a big sing-a-long, depending on the weather,” said Judith Moore (1970-71). “Some nights we would take the girls out and sleep out under the stars. I can remember two little hot bodies sliding into my bag one night. It was just too open for some of them. Some nights I would stay up with the counselors and we would build a fire and stay up till one or two in the morning, just talking,” said Judy.

Sue Robson remembered one night all the girls camped under the stars in the field. (She laughed as she recalled one of the counselors had a son named Hans, but she nicknamed him “Horkie”.)

Skits and More Skits!

Published on January 22, 2018January 11, 2018 by Kathy Baker

Barb Haggart and Sue Wiegand created many program skits. “You could say I was the creator and she acted upon it, but she was a funny girl,” said Sue (1966-67). “She could make a fool of me and herself. We were like Laurel and Hardy—a good team. She was the assistant director at the time. I was a terrible singer and my fear was that “Beanie” would make me sing the “Froggie” song, but I learned that it was okay to do stupid things and I learned to laugh at myself. She loved to laugh!”

Lines were remembered by Laurie Cone (1962-68)—“What kind of pepper does youz want? TOILET PEPPER!” and pillow case people in a talent show or skit was a memory for Jennifer Fenton from the seventies’. Cindy Eigner (1967-68) had a memory of her in a skit in the lodge playing a dead bull on the ground with her feet in the air.

“There was one skit where girls came in and would be asked,”Where did you get your pants?” and the other girl answered “J.C.Penny” and then the same was asked of the girl about her shirt and another girl about the shoes and the answer was always the same. J.C. Penny” laughed Debbie Tweedie (1965-72). “All of a sudden a girl appeared in nothing but her underwear and all the girls asked, “Who are you?”, to which she answered, “J.C. Penny”.

Girls of Camp Maqua

My Book ~ Your Story

1970’s