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.”

One of the steps on Susan Bradford’s (1965) journey was Chapel Hill, but even more so was her evening relationships and reflective time alone. “It was my time and my get along with God. We need retreats and silent time and those times at camp appealed to me.”

Susan’s best friend in life was Catholic and dragged her to retreats and conferences, despite the fact she was Presbyterian. She heard priests emphasize quiet time. She later embraced Catholicism as her religion, in main part, due to the contemplativeness of the liturgy, which had its beginnings at camp.

Carol Requadt (1945) loved the nature walks in the woods and the outdoor church. “It didn’t seem like church at the time and I wasn’t in touch with how great it really was, but I used to sit in my church and fantasize about being back out at Chapel Hill.”

Stephanie Patterson (1961-65) was very influenced by the Christian values of the YWCA camp, especially Chapel Hill, which she remembered fondly. Still very active in her church community, and she has served as a missionary in eight African countries.

Singing songs as she overlooked the lake, Tracy Topping agreed that Chapel Hill was still the closest place she felt to God. For Jane Linder (1956), Chapel Hill was like “sitting in God’s Garden”.

Presbyterian Minette Jacques (1955+) loved the services and the beauty with the cool benches, closer to God and nature, and “felt sorry for those poor Catholic girls who had to pile in the truck and go to mass in town”, missing the services on the hill.

At times, inclement weather forced the services inside to the lodge. In 1947, a small paragraph in the “Loon” described the not-so-spiritual experience of one young camper.

“Chapel was in the lodge today. It was raining. As we filed in, we removed our dripping coats and rushed to our seats. The seat was just dandy, to say nothing of the knot-hole I was sitting on. Each time I would lean forward, the bench would squeak. Everyone thought I had the worst voice! Could be! The limit came when were singing “I Would Stand Up And Laugh And Love And Live!” Then the bench collapsed. We weren’t standing, we were sitting!”

What were your feelings about sitting in nature for your services? Did you have lasting spiritual influences from the services?