What young girl does not like “happy mail” arriving in their mailbox? As a child, receiving anything in the mail was pure excitement, whether it was a letter from your grandparents, a postcard from a friend’s vacation, or a piece of mail announcing the next sessions for camp!

Two avenues of publicity were the main reason for excitement about a summer experience at Camp Maqua—the day camps or camp rallies and the brochures that arrived in the mailboxes each winter.

“I lived for camp”, said Jan Schreiber, who began in 1962 and camped until 1970. “In January when the Camp Maqua brochure would arrive, I would get so excited. December was always depressing, just waiting for it and then it would be so amazing because more mail would come in February. It organized my year, just receiving the camp mail.”

In the fifties a promotional schedule included a post card in October, news solicitation for the “Loon” camp newspaper, a booklet and summer registration form in December,( as well as a Christmas card), a copy of the “Loon” in January, reunion notice in March, reminder, medical cards, housing questionnaires and insurance forms in May and individual birthday cards during the year.

The publicity committee of the YWCA camp committee spent hours over photography, body copy and channels for dissemination of their folders, postcards or brochures. They contained happy photos of girls engaged in the activities, general information, separate lists of items to bring to camp and items available at the camp store, fees and rates and a form to send to apply for the four different sessions.

In 1934 one thousand copies were designed for $20 and were larger. They could be mailed without an envelope, saving on postage. In 1936, the minutes noted a savings was made when the committee decided to print 2,000 for the same price. Many of these brochures and folders are carefully preserved in the archives.

Photographers were hired to take new photos as the brochures became outdated. Some were made into slides, which were then used for presentations at schools and events.

Beth Phillips (1974) recalled the day the YWCA arrived with a slide presentation at her school. “I could remember because I had already been there and there was a photo of girls by a stack of wood. I had come up on the photographer just as he was shooting the photo, so I just missed being in the photo”.

Former campers also received the brochures and were canvassed to call the YWCA and volunteer their services, offer ideas for promotion of the camp ideals and solicit new girls to attend a session.

Ads were placed in papers in the tri-city and Detroit areas, but the society section within the Bay City Times was the favorite place for free advertising. Often a double page spread, with numerous photos and accompanying stories profiling girls and the activities, was all the enticement needed to draw more campers.

Marge Hasty (1946) remembered when the Bay City Times showed up at camp. “They chose me to stand on the diving board for their photo. One of the girls told me it was my black bathing suit”.

Brooke Sauve (1949) was not a happy camper about the Bay City Times choice of subjects. “Those of us from Linwood were not included, only the girls from Bay City. Linwood people took the Times and we were part of Bay County, so you can see why we felt left out.”

“Camp Rally set for May 6”, said the minutes from 1933,” to be carried out like a day at camp, with awards for posters, songs and stunts.” Subsequent years also featured mothers, fathers or families at rallies, but for the most part the day camps and rallies gathered around one hundred girls of camp age at the YWCA. Counselors and directors were often present to assist in the fun and games. Camp tees and souvenirs were sold and prizes for different games were donated by local businesses.

“I remember the camp rallies that were held downtown in the old “Y” and we would bring a friend who might be interested. Those rallies fired us all up to go back to camp in the summer,” said Mary Obey (1957-66). Her sister Anne Obey, who was a “Live Y-er” always wished the day camp had been able to visit the camp ahead of time.

How many of you anticipated the arrival of the camp mail, whether it was a copy of the “Loon”, a postcard, a Christmas card, a brochure or the camp rally announcement?