Some years were better than others for staff, and the sports section at Camp Maqua was not immune to the ups and downs of hiring qualified counselors for tennis, archery and riflery.
In one of the directors reports in the sixties’, Dorthe Balaskas wrote that sports was a let down, as she felt they had so much to offer. “I felt the staff did not open enough of the activities to the campers and limited what they could do,” she said, reflecting on the free choice scheduling and lack of enthusiasm. But, the following report indicated sports went much better and the staff was capable and worked better together, attempting to interest campers on a wider level.
Barbara Haggart was the sports director in 1967 and Dorthe felt her to be an asset, as a song leader, driver, and proficient with camp skills and planning programs. She was popular with girls of all ages. “I feel she would make a marvelous program director, and have been pleased with her ability to handle the campers in a group, which I must mention, is not an easy thing to do,” said Dorthe of the loyal social butterfly known as “Beanie” who had excellent ratings.
“The first year I had junior high kids and I loved those kids,” said Sharon Williams (1971). “I was student teaching in junior high and in the beginning I wanted to kill them,” she laughed,” but the second hear the “Y” sent me to riflery instruction and I had never handled a gun before, except with my Dad when we would shoot deer on the farm. The gun knocked me down! I took my riflery instruction in Port Huron with both boys and girls and I have to say I was the best in my class! I was always naturally athletic.”
Sharon was the sports director for her second year and coordinated the programs for archery, riflery and tennis. She remembered teaching good kids, but with strict riflery rules. “Ready on the left, ready on the right, fire, lay your guns down and go see the target. One day a bumblebee flew in front of one of the girls and scared her and she ran in front of everyone. She was lucky nothing happened to her.”
In 1959, Linda Greenwald taught archery as a counselor, after learning at Stephen’s College. Susie Utter taught as a C.I.T. (1954-56) and was certified as a camper. “I passed on what I knew to the kids. I can still see that day I set up the target and the kids were supposed to lay down their bows and arrows. One did not and put an arrow into my knuckle while I was at the target!”
Sports director Chris Lambert was in charge of riflery, archery, tennis and game classes as a third year staff member under Barbara Haggart in 1971. “Chops” was described as delightful and dependable, and always willing to do her share and more. According to “Beanie”, her enthusiasm transferred to the students, who went home with badges and awards.
“Chris has a real feeling for camp and the people here and it is because of this feeling that she gave so much of herself this summer,” wrote “Beanie” with great appreciation for Chris, who stressed safety first and added extra activities to keep her girls interested. Tennis and ping-pong tournaments, as well as an archery tournament with another girls’ camp nearyby added that little extra. (Camp Maqua won 929-556!)
As a staffer in sports, did you enjoy that area and did you continue with these skills into your adult years?