1970’s

Let’s Do Laundry!

Published on by Kathy Baker

529939_2138063989388_1399350471_nA lined page from a notebook in the archives dated 8/6/43 was titled “Sent to Greenwalds Laundry”. It included items used in the lodge, such as curtains, dresser scarves, bedspreads, blankets and rugs. A second page itemizing the linens in the hostess room closet listed bath towels, sheets, pillowcases, washcloths, kitchen towels and pads. Someone had to wash and dry these necessary linens, in light of the fact that early on a wringer washer may have been on hand, but nothing large enough to handle the larger items. Linda Greenwald, (1946-52) recalled a brand new wringer washer that was located near the camp store when she attended her sessions.

Molly Olson, who camped in the late forties, was the first one to mention laundry boxes. When her clothes got dirty, there were laundry boxes to send home your soiled clothes through the mail! Heavy, with lengthwise straps across the 20×20 rectangular box, the straps would hook around the box securely and the girls would address the box.

In the sixties, camp committee minutes stated each member took home a camp blanket to wash and dry to save on laundry costs, but notes also indicated that 20th Century Cleaners would launder the blankets for a small fee. In 1963, a woman was hired for .10 a sheet, .05 a pillowcase and .10 a towel set!

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Stay-overs

Published on by Kathy Baker

There were always a few days between sessions where the girls who attended more than one session “stayed over” and staff had time off. It was a good time to catch up on laundry, drive into Tawas, walk into town, or visit a friend’s nearby cabin.

Only twelve campers stayed over between the sessions and Alice Bishop noted that checkout was very orderly in 1961. Some stayed for the afternoon program, others went to the movies with counselors and a few went out with their parents for the evening.

There was a program set according to Dorthe Balaskas’ 1966 director’s report, which indicated eight or nine staff stayed to help, while others took twenty-four hours off. If they slept at camp, the usual rules applied for time in, boats and waterfront. The staff would have to be back by Sunday at noon for a staff meeting.

Barb Krohn (1970-72) stayed a whole month in her fourth year and slept in the lodge between sessions. “There were not too many of us who stayed, but we would go into town. One of the best parts about going every summer was seeing the same girls.”’

Meg Dahlem, who talked to me about her stay in 1925, thought it was a great treat to be able to walk into Hale for an ice cream during her free time. It was a tradition that continued as long as the camp operated. Penny Mitchell loved the same walks into Hale in the fifties, as did Jennifer Fenton for her favorite bubblegum flavor in the seventies!

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Seventies Staffing #3

Published on by Kathy Baker

A letter in the files, dated July 27, 1972, from Ann Carney, addressed to Ginny Van Haaren, was accompanied by her contract. She apologized for the delay, but expressed concern for the salary scale at all levels and asked for an evaluation, since she believed it to be low. With the understanding that the YWCA worked with a small budget, she asked that the committee consider the responsibility the staff encountered with the campers and programs.

“The type of program we are attempting to run, and the caliber of people we are trying to invite” placed great demands on the staff. She felt she had worked closely with the staff and also felt many were taken advantage of, considering many were educators and knowledgeable in the positions for which they were hired. She asked the committee to re-evaluate the pay scale, investigate what other camps paid their staff, and how best to invite qualified, competent and committed people– while still staying within budget and perhaps utilizing students who could gain credit in their fields.

“I have seen great changes, especially in philosophy made in the four summers I’ve spent here,” wrote Ann. “You, the committee, saw and heard at the pre-camp meeting a display of the trend towards a more instructional philosophy now being utilized here. Prior to the summer of 1970, the philosophy that prevailed seemed to be much more of “offer campers an experience and let them learn what they might”. That was the trend of the time and a good philosophy for the time. However, now as time changes trends, the general educational trend of teaching and learning specific skills within different areas of school, a camp or any learning climate, has developed and so we have changed. This change has come because the leaders, activity directors here are, for the most part, knowledgeable educators or students of education. This change is a sign of the times and a compliment to camp. The people here are well-versed in the educational trend of today and tomorrow. They are not caught up in the role of the past.”

Her letter continued with the request that the board move in the direction with those suggestions, bearing in mind that the decision making would have to take into account a tight budget, intelligent decision making and thoughtful long range planning. She felt the camp had come to a turning point and desired the utilization of Maqua and it’s potential and spirit, so that it would not have to be closed as other camps had. Ann ended with these words; “I want to express to you that this letter is written not in bitterness, but in awareness—of the value of camp, of the needs I see here, and out of a very deep and genuine concern for a place that has made me and many people begin to realize their potential as human beings.”

Both letters from these caring women gave credence to their leadership and loyalty to Camp Maqua, with fears that the camp would be in jeopardy if the committee did not make changes. What did you believe needed changing when you were on staff?

Seventies Staffing #2

Published on by Kathy Baker


Two very thoughtful and well-written letters were also included in the files at the Great Lakes Bay Region YWCA. One was from Judy Moore, written on letterhead from the Women’s Athletics Program at the University of Waterloo (Canada) and dated January 24, 1972. It was addressed to Marjory Eakley, who was director of the YWCA at that time, and expressed apologies for not being able to attend the camp meeting.

“There is no way I can express my indebtedness for so many experiences,” she wrote. “My childhood was refreshed and strengthened through the eyes of the excited girls and willing staff members. The aura of a camp setting shall remain just as the brightness and warmth of the sun over many of my fondest memories.”

Her letter continued with suggestions to “better enrich the experiences for those to come.” Having worked with Mert and Ollie on repairs to the physical parts of the camp, she felt there were some immediate improvements that should be made. She referenced the  re-wiring of the total camp, cabins and lodge, (which she considered “obsolete and sub-minimal to the regulations of the law”). It was especially noticeable after the harsh storm that summer with dead trees threatening the camp. She considered two of the cabins to have weak foundations, and believed Dutton and the boathouse to have “outlived their time”, especially since the top of the old boathouse was used as a cabin. She suggested it not be in use as a cabin. With the budget demands in mind, she suggested a three to eight year projection of repairs and replacements to unsafe buildings.

Despite the best efforts of Mert and Ollie, she felt the safety of the campers was a concern. She outlined projects for their consideration, which included a “facelift” of the programs, since many of the returning campers need to have different and additional challenging experiences. With that in mind, the primitive camping was an option– if it was more challenging. Better food suppliers needed to be found, as the local grocers were happy with the business, but “at top prices”.

Some of the staff had suggested more inner city and welfare kids could be “culturally enriched” by the camping experience. She alluded to the drop in enrollment and suggested increased publicity, possibly with Camp Mahn-go-tah-see, so families could drop their sons and daughters off in the same area.

“Everyone praises the happy atmosphere of the camp, so I think that recruitment and public awareness would increase the enrollment, thereby decreasing some of the incurred debts”, she wrote.

She also felt there was a gap in communication between the camp committee and the staff at camp, and thought more careful screening of staff was necessary, with more incentives. “In order to attract good leaders and the experiences of past staff members, salary considerations must be reviewed. Any organization is only as strong as its leaders,” she continued. Her letter was written out of a “deep concern for camp and young girls, and wrote that she felt very strongly about the problems facing the camp, despite not having the answers.

Were any of the other counselors or campers aware of the deterioration of some of the buildings?

 

Seventies Staffing and Issues #1

Published on by Kathy Baker

The first two years of seventies’ directorship belonged to Barbara Haggart, also known as “Beanie”, whose directors reports were less detailed than her predecessor, but did not diminish her leadership qualities or her staff’s love for her as she ran the camp with educational experience and her previous years as an assistant under Dorthe Balaskas.

Judy Moore’s stay at Maqua was only two years—1970 and 1971, as an assistant director to Barb Haggart, “catching, fielding, and doing whatever had to be done for Beanie.” She played sports at Western Michigan University with Sue Wiegand, Nancy Sautter and Barb and was recruited from the physical education pool. That first summer was a summer she knew she didn’t have to make much money, since she had just been hired on as a physical education teacher in Sarnia, Ontario for a real job in the fall.

“I was an enthusiastic, energetic and triple type A person. I loved giving the counselors a break at night, since they were tired from their long days with the campers. I didn’t interact with the kids on a daily basis, but I impacted the activity level by acting as the program director that laid out the nightly activities and pocketed the daily schedule,” said Judy. “I became the person who immersed herself, mostly in the trenches with the counselors.”

“What a playground it was for me to practice my leadership skills. I attribute my introduction to my career to the leadership and savvy experiences I gained at Maqua,” said Judy. “It turned out being at camp was everything it could be for me. It was rich, meaningful fun.” “The director had to manage the people on a very low budget. Beanie was not a real detail person with reports, but she did all the hiring and she hired energetic girls, with personalities that had flair and sometimes evenan edge. She understood kids. The counselors she hired were there, for the most part, to make each day a good day for the camper and to put joy in their day.”

For Barbara Haggart, 1971 was, in her words from her director’s report, a tremendous one.” I think this particular staff had something special about them. It seemed to be just the right combination of people. They were hard workers and always accomplished what they started out to do. They were very aware of the camper’s personal needs and saw to them. The campers responded to the staff with great enthusiasm and I believe that each child thoroughly enjoyed their stay at camp,” wrote Beanie.

She said two of the periods were low in attendance, but seemed to run smoothly in spite of the gap with no big problems. Some new activities were added to the already full program and she tried to keep the evening programs interesting for every age level. She felt her activity directors were very responsible and “enhanced the program with their outstanding skills and interesting activities”, including the new counselors who became “masters” by the end of the summer. “It was a great summer—one that I will never forget,” she ended.

What do you remember about the year 1971 at camp?

 

Directors #10

Published on by Kathy Baker

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In 1977, Camp Maqua  was still operating as the co-ed Camp Maquois,and Ken Dike assumed the position as camp director. He had been the program director at Camp Iroquois on Sand Lake under director David Bast, and was only twenty-two years old, but had a great resume.

He had already accumulated seven years in camping and four years in directorships at Camp Nelson and Camp Oakes in California on the waterfront and in programming. He had always worked in co-ed camps until his position at Camp Iroquois on Sand Lake.

“The initial offer was for only six months with the possibility of a full time job after that,” said Ken. “I was offered the full time position with the YMCA during the off-season and the camp in the summer. That offer was made because of the initial success of the summer of making a profit of $1,500. It was my choice not to accept it and go back to grad school.”

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