The camp store, or trading post, was one of the highlights of the camping experience. Little girls looked forward to the time of day when they could line up to purchase items from the store with the feeling of independence. It was an event that most of the girls did not do in their daily lives.
“There was a little store, like a little shack, with a window that lifted up, and inside were candy bars, shampoo and items for sale,” said Caryl Sue Abendroth (1953-54). “You were given a certain amount of allowance to shop at the store by your parents. (If you didn’t know anyone, that was the place to meet new girls and have conversation.) I remember the sweatshirts with Camp Maqua on them and how comforting they were on a cold morning. It was so cozy to pull on a sweatshirt and it was such a luxury!”
A green and white camp tee shirt was the purchase Pat Rehmus (1962-65) bought and a brown Maqua tee shirt was recalled by Kim Hartwig in 1976. Cara Prieskorn used her money to buy a terry cloth tee shirt during her time at camp (1966-71). “My account would run out of money and I would worry about what my parents would say to me and if they would be mad when they picked me up because my money was all gone,” said Cara, who admitted they never got mad.
“Did Matthew tell you about the candy bars?”, asked Rebecca Prieskorn (1976). “After we ate, we could go to the camp store and buy candy bars and other things. Our parents would put money into an account and you would either pay more at the end of camp or get money back. I got money back! Matt was in front of me in line and I heard him ask for three or four candy bars and they told him he could only have two at a time, so he yelled FORGET IT THEN!”
“I thought it was such a fun place, but my favorite was the camp store, where I bought my snacks,” said Randi Wynne-Parry (1969-73). “I lived for that. My Dad always had to pay extra when he came to pick us up. I think I still have my sweatshirt, a little green drawstring bag and some of my camp letters.” (Randi’s sister Kim thought it was a treat, but it was also a good way to teach her about spending, even though she agreed with her sister that they were always overdrawn, and admitted she continues to be overdrawn to this day.)
Julie Hutchins camped in the sixties with her cousin and recalled that the store trip was usually after the rest hours. “I can remember the one hour rest period and we had to be quiet or the counselor would start the hour all over again, but after the rest period we could go to the camp store and get our Mary Jane bars and the paper with the dots of candy on them and we would sneak them back into our hut.”
Debbie Hawkins (1960+) loved how her parent put credit in her account—just enough for treats every day and a $5 emergency fund that she was not to touch unless she needed to replace broken nose plugs or other necessities. “It was a comfort to know the money was there, but I knew my limit was one treat.”
The women could still recall their favorite purchases of candy–cherry Lifesavers for Cynthia Gregory (1960-65) because there were so many in the pack and she could make them last or share them; Hershey bars for Mary Beth Morton (1974-75), who relished the coolness factor of independence at the store; and Bit O’ Honey for Carla Wilhelm (1945-49).
“I also recall that I was introduced to “Wint-O-Green” gum at camp. I had only tasted peppermint gum. Our parents would deposit a certain amount of money into an account and every day we would line up at the camp store to buy our candy, stamps, etc. Sometimes we didn’t really need a thing, but we liked just standing in that line to talk to our friends,” admitted Sue Augustyniak (1962-68).
What do you remember about your purchases at the camp store?