Close To Nature, Close To God

For many women, their experiences at the YWCA camp and Chapel Hill left lasting influences. Young girls, like Susan Ruterbusch (1947-52) and Debbie Tweedie (1965-72) felt the gorgeous views contributed to their feelings that they had never been closer to God as young girls. “I loved running down the trails and walking up Chapel Hill […]

Skinny Dipping!

“Having a boys’ camp across the lake did not stop the tradition of bathing in the lake in the forties’ and fifties’. Mary Jo Stegall camped in1933-41 and did just that. (I imagine the campers had been participating in this ritual when the camp was built in the twenties’ and kept it up until showers […]

My (Gang) Went There !#4

Nancy Michelson was one of four sisters who attended in the sixties and seventies. Close in age, they were known at “The Michelson Girls”. Their mother was not only behind the sisters going to camp, she was the ringleader of the many girls from Flint who attended in the late forties. Ellen Hydorn was part […]

Traditions On The Way–

 When Beth Phillip’s parents drove her to camp in their pick-up truck (1972-78), there was a certain point where she would get so excited, because she felt like she was almost there. As they neared US 23 there was a pink tent and that was the landmark she waited to see! “My Mom and Grandma […]

Nurses, Doctors and Patients-#1

Off to camp went the girls, with their injection records up to date, physicals performed and armed with whatever medications they may need for their stay. Although the staff always included medical personnel, there was no way a summer camping session could maintain a clean slate of minor medical maladies, and sometimes even some major […]

Where The Girls Are–

Girls who came from homes as an only child, homes with all boys or even a house filled with children—the reasons were varied as to why campers loved being with all girls for an extended period of time. Elaine Levinsohn spent three wonderful summers from 1927-1930 and loved being away from home. She had one […]