There were many life-shaping stories from the girls of Camp Maqua, from learning manners, to working as a team, to earning their first paycheck or developing confidence. Others were influenced to go to single-sex colleges based on the close friendships made while at camp. Amy Johns’ (shown above at a Maqua reunion), (1967-78) constant family […]
Barb Rehmus
Snakes, Raids and Miseries—
“Cabin B was my favorite as a camper. “Dizzy” was my counselor. I have to say I was a practical joker and could be sarcastic at times, but she loved my personality. There was one who did not like me, but “Dizzy’ laughed at everything I did,” said Susan Kiltie. (1967+) “Dorthe was not […]
Smoking–
Helen Hasty recalled the clouds of smoke that billowed around the big tent behind the lodge in the early forties. (“Smoke virtually rolled out of the couselors’ smoking tent!”) Some years smoking was no big deal and other years, the directors warned the counselors about smoking on the premises. Lucille Greenwald (1947-50) had the […]
Cookie, Cookie!
Alice Sageman “just loves Maqua and has the patience of Job”, wrote Dorthe Balaskas in her 1967 report on the cook. (No temper, just calm and never wasteful in consideration of the high cost of the food.) Lin Harris (1967) had a memory of a cook named Alice, cigarette hanging from her mouth, with her […]
Tripping Down The River
“One of our canoe trips from Mio to Grayling was spent in a tornado warning,” said Susie Utter, who was a CIT in the fifties. “We went to the banks of the river where it was lower and more protected, and it poured. We looked and saw whatever was holding all the Kotex pads had […]
Beware and Be Aware!
The elements, the wildlife, other campers on the river and unforeseen circumstances forced campers and counselors to remain on guard at all times. But, adventures were adventures, and unexpected incidents occurred, which were handled as they arose. Some were fun, some were funny and some were dangerous, but all were memorable. “My most vivid memory […]