What is it about peeing and stories about peeing that can bring girls to hysterics? One of the funniest things Sandy Indianer (1967) learned at camp that stayed with her forever was to learn to pee outside in the woods. She was not alone, as many campers felt like that was an important fear to surmount—peeing outside.
“My cousine Ann reminded me the other day that we would stick our butts out the cabin window and “wee-wee”,” said Helen Johnson (1968-64). “Now, let me explain. I did and still do today wet my pants when I laugh. So, I am SURE it was out of necessity—maybe. My Mom used to gauge how good of a time I had at camp by the amount of times I wet my pants. My good friends knew about my tiny bladder, but others could sometimes be mean.”
Pat O’Tool (1944-52) could still recall the canoe trip with Pat Parsons from Grayling. “We took a photo of her peeing, and from then on we called her P.P. Parsons,” said Pat, who still has the photo.
“My biggest memory is of three red-headed sisters with the last name of Cherry. They were all a few years apart, maybe eleven to fourteen, and they were always running back and forth from their cabins to the bathroom naked,” laughed Liz Anderson (1973-74).
The lake held many opportunities for funny incidents. Lori Fobear (1975-76) recalled the rule if you left your towel or belongings at the beach during her sessions, you had to get up and sing a song in front of everybody. “Well, I left my towel and I had to sing, and I was shy, but I needed my towel,” she said.
“Swimming was always fun for the girls,” said Rhonda Thayer (1974-77),” and I don’t remember any swim accidents. One time I was at the lake and the counselors were there with the girls and the kayaks. I had a watch on and one of them asked to borrow my watch to time the girls. So, my watch was off and all of a sudden five or six girls lifted me up and dunked me. They didn’t know that fat floats. I was chubby even then and I could lay on my back like a raft and fall asleep in the water.”
Kathy Carney (1970-71) remembered the ‘camperships”, where kids who were minorities or from the inner city would receive free summer camp. “I remember one African-American girl who walked down to the lake, looked around and exclaimed,”This is the biggest pool I have ever seen! Where is the plug for that pool and how bg is it?” For us and for her, it was a wonderful exposure to a place we had not seen before.”
In 1967 Lin Harris went up to camp to visit Beanie, and said she had a hard time leaving. They had to make macaroni salad for dinner for 120 girls and she filled a pan with noodles. Her friend Diane asked if they would expand and Lin said no, but soon the noodles started bubbling over onto the kitchen floor and even out the kitchen door!
The confession of the milk cartons from Diane Dudley, who camped 1957-63, was priceless. “You know, down that path by cabin four, you might find some milk cartons buried. When we finished off a carton, we said “dead cow” and we would sneak away after breakfast and hold a little service and bury it. There have to be about twenty milk cartons buried there!”
What funny stories do you remember from your days at camp?