Two very thoughtful and well-written letters were also included in the files at the Great Lakes Bay Region YWCA. One was from Judy Moore, written on letterhead from the Women’s Athletics Program at the University of Waterloo (Canada) and dated January 24, 1972. It was addressed to Marjory Eakley, who was director of the YWCA at that time, and expressed apologies for not being able to attend the camp meeting.
“There is no way I can express my indebtedness for so many experiences,” she wrote. “My childhood was refreshed and strengthened through the eyes of the excited girls and willing staff members. The aura of a camp setting shall remain just as the brightness and warmth of the sun over many of my fondest memories.”
Her letter continued with suggestions to “better enrich the experiences for those to come.” Having worked with Mert and Ollie on repairs to the physical parts of the camp, she felt there were some immediate improvements that should be made. She referenced the re-wiring of the total camp, cabins and lodge, (which she considered “obsolete and sub-minimal to the regulations of the law”). It was especially noticeable after the harsh storm that summer with dead trees threatening the camp. She considered two of the cabins to have weak foundations, and believed Dutton and the boathouse to have “outlived their time”, especially since the top of the old boathouse was used as a cabin. She suggested it not be in use as a cabin. With the budget demands in mind, she suggested a three to eight year projection of repairs and replacements to unsafe buildings.
Despite the best efforts of Mert and Ollie, she felt the safety of the campers was a concern. She outlined projects for their consideration, which included a “facelift” of the programs, since many of the returning campers need to have different and additional challenging experiences. With that in mind, the primitive camping was an option– if it was more challenging. Better food suppliers needed to be found, as the local grocers were happy with the business, but “at top prices”.
Some of the staff had suggested more inner city and welfare kids could be “culturally enriched” by the camping experience. She alluded to the drop in enrollment and suggested increased publicity, possibly with Camp Mahn-go-tah-see, so families could drop their sons and daughters off in the same area.
“Everyone praises the happy atmosphere of the camp, so I think that recruitment and public awareness would increase the enrollment, thereby decreasing some of the incurred debts”, she wrote.
She also felt there was a gap in communication between the camp committee and the staff at camp, and thought more careful screening of staff was necessary, with more incentives. “In order to attract good leaders and the experiences of past staff members, salary considerations must be reviewed. Any organization is only as strong as its leaders,” she continued. Her letter was written out of a “deep concern for camp and young girls, and wrote that she felt very strongly about the problems facing the camp, despite not having the answers.
Were any of the other counselors or campers aware of the deterioration of some of the buildings?