There were the introverts, the extroverts, those with friends, those who knew no-one, those who did not fit in and those who made themselves at home year after year at a camp that felt like their second home. The staff always tried their best to make the girls feel comfortable, understanding that homesickness and loneliness were a reality for many of the new girls. Event the older giris sometimes struggled, either as a camper or a staff member, to fit in.
“When a new batch of kids came in on Sunday night, I always wanted to put a name to a face, so by Monday morning I would have their names memorized, “said Nancy Sautter (1968-70). “I would walk around during dinner doing this. Of course, some years it was easier because they might return from the previous year. I remembered the confident girls, Jennifer McLogan, B.J. Henderson, Megan Topping and Jan Schreiber. They were all good kids. Jennifer, who always had an air of confidence, later became a broadcaster on t.v.”
Anne Obey was only ten when her parents shipped her off to camp. “I thought my parents had sent me off to a penitentiary. I then begged to go back every year after that,” laughed the girl who ended up as a counselor for five of her ten years at camp from 1960-70. Her strong personality did not keep her from forming friendships, and she was never homesick, admitting it was 100% easier to attend college with the independence she learned at camp.
Anne was featured in an article in the Bay City Times in 1968, and it was understandable that she would be singled out, as she was a stand-out as a counselor. “The vivacious leader, who thinks every child should be exposed to camp life says, “The kids really get a great deal out of it. It’s surprising how much youngsters change in just two weeks. Perhaps the most important thing is that they learn to be with seven other girls in their cabin.”
“Maybe due to the fact we didn’t have a large extended family, camp was that much more important to me, “said Betsy Falvey (1968-75). “It was my first experience with this large family of women. I didn’t care for high school or junior high. I was socially miserable from September to May. I never felt appreciated because I was straight, smart and conservative in most things. I was not wildly popular and I just never felt a part of school. I felt far more accepted at camp. It wasn’t about the makeup or the boys. I was smart and sarcastic, but my friends at school were not wildly popular either. If the popular girls went to camp, it was usually just one summer.”
“I never got picked to be anything, but when fourteen or fifteen girls applied for the kitchen aide job and I got picked, it was a big deal to me! It was the first time I had ever “won” anything. I was popular for grades and was teacher’s pet, but this was ME they picked! I think I figured my pay for the summer worked out to be seven cents an hour, but that was $100 to wash dishes for the summer,” she laughed. “Each year when I returned to the campus, I was dying to see who was coming back. So many of them did return and for so many of their summers.”
For Sue Purdue “(Super-doo” 1964-68), who was a raging extrovert, the social network was all important. “I was a camper first and was wildly social and gregarious. I camped under Dorthe and was in Senior Village and loved all the counselors who were my peers when I became a full counselor at the age of seventeen. I had written to Dorthe to consider me for a position as a kitchen aide. Big self-esteem thing being a kitchen aide,” she laughed, describing the three girls who worked together that summer.
One of nature director Audrey Delcourt’s (1968-69) fond memories included a surprise visit from her brother, who was three years younger, and had hitchhiked up to see her. Dorthe saw him come in, wondered who he was, but served him lunch and Audrey thought the cordiality of her director was wonderful. He was in between jobs and just thought he would take that opportunity to see Camp Maqua. Other great memories included her time off when she was able to leave or stay, enjoy the friendships she had made and sometimes go out with other girls from other cabins on their overnights.
Transitioning from camper to counselor was not always easy. Sue Schiller had camped in the late forties, but came back in 1960 as the waterfront director. She had memories of being reprimanded for hanging around the younger kids too much. “I didn’t like thinking I was one of the big girls who was too old to be with the younger kids,” she admitted.
Kim Moore (1967-68 and 1972) had a different view. “I thought I was so cool. In between the sessions that summer, I remember sitting around a bar or a restaurant and somebody gave us an alcoholic beverage”, she said giggling,”and I looked over at Beanie and she was scowling, but I was feeling old and cool and having a blast. I also remember we wore a lot of Dr. Scholl’s sandals and bandanas in my hair that summer. It was fun to feel part of the “cool group” because I was on staff. We could have a flex schedule and hang out in our cabin next to the lodge when we were on break and listen to Carole King and Judy Collins. I thought I was HOT STUFF!”
How did you transition to counselor from camper and how did you make your campers feel more comfortable?