Counselors Share Their Stories #3

Published on January 18, 2017February 21, 2017 by Kathy Baker

As the oldest Michelson daughter, Sue camped for nine years at Maqua and developed her love of the water at the Flint YWCA. Beginning in 1963, her last job was as waterfront director in 1973, having only missed one summer when she travelled to Europe. She had worked all the way through college and loved the waterfront. “I trained, set the schedules, checked equipment, put the docks, canoes and rowboats in the water and taught beginners all the way up to senior lifesaving.”

Kathy Carney was known for her enthusiasm and lively spirit, according to her director in 1971, and seemed to be happiest with her cabin groups. Shelley Wright made a great transition from camper to junior counselor, and possessed an insight to her camper’s problems that made her very popular. Sharon Williams, although a first year staffer, adjusted to camp life and fit right in.

Kathy felt the first summer she counseled in 1970, the counselors were very close. “There was just something about that place. The counselors were some of the funniest people I ever met. When we had time off, one set of parents would drive to pick us up and take us all to their summer homes. One weekend it was to B.J. Henderson’s place in Harbor Springs, where we swam at ten at night. Once it was to Marty’s place in Saginaw. My little world grew that summer. Here I was —a little Catholic girl and I got to go to Jan Schreiber’s sixteenth birthday party or her Bat Mitzvah. On our time off we had little adventures.”

Jan was known as a sensitive and understanding person who worked well with her cabin, working in arts and crafts. “She had a tight cabin with unity and a positive feeling” and was part of the group that Kathy described—B.J. Henderson, “who found counseling her greatest satisfaction” as she taught at the waterfront. Debi Gottlieb was praised for her pleasant personality,”with a smile on her face and a twinkle in her eye—she’s the type of person you need to keep everything going.”

Counselors Share Their Stories #2

Published on January 18, 2017February 21, 2017 by Kathy Baker

The boathouse was the place Barb Rehmus loved as a cabin counselor in the seventies. “ I still have memories of the little girls I had. One Dad said he would give me $5 for every pound (she) gained that summer. I knew she would never gain any weight with all the activities and running around and I didn’t want his money. Another girl was acting out for attention and used cuss words, so another girl did the same thing and wondered why she got in trouble and not the other girl,” she laughed. “The involvement was fun and I always had the younger ones.”

“In the evenings, all the counselors would hang out and sometimes we would sit by the campfire. We all knew pretty quickly if someone came into the camp that wasn’t supposed to be there. We would come from all directions and amass pretty quickly to take care of the problem. We chased off a few, but they weren’t there to attack. As a counselor,” said Nancy Sautter (1968-70), “it was nice that it was all girls and we didn’t have to worry about all those after hours activities.”

Karen Selby, early seventies camper turned counselor, loved the campfires. “There were logs we sat on that were tiered into the hillside by the lake and I loved the skits that accompanied the songs. The fire bowl was by the lake and the cabin beyond the fire bowl was number eight and I was a camper there for two years and the last summer as a counselor, I lived there all by myself. I ran the arts program. I guess there were not enough campers to fill it. I was great for me running that program. I don’t know about them,” she laughed.

Judy Moore, as an assistant director 1970-71, lived in the lodge in the third bedroom. “We would rotate cabins. Some of the counselors who were not in charge of a cabin would be up there and there would be three or four of us up talking about our day, leadership role and people,” she said, as she described several of her competent counselors who did their jobs, but had fun.

Anne Moore lived in Dutton at the age of seventeen between her junior and senior years and was a water safety instructor in the sixties. “It was a great summer of fun. I slept on the screened porch all by myself on a roll away be and since I wasn’t sharing it, I loved it.”

“I liked the younger ones and we were always paired with girls that had a significant age difference, so there would be credibility,” said Priscilla Johns (1968). “I loved the responsibility and authority. I babysat all the time growing up, so this was not new to me.”

What age cabin was your favorite and why?

Counselors Share Their Stories #1

Published on January 16, 2017February 21, 2017 by Kathy Baker

“I was at Western Michigan University, packing to go home after my sophomore year, with no plan for a job for that summer,” said Ann Carney (1968-72).” Brooke, (a fellow classmate that I did not know), said she was going to camp as a horseback riding instructor. I had just finished my certification as a water safety instructor. She told me the camp was looking for a W.S.I., and handed me a crumpled a piece of paper with a number of the director, Dorthe Balaskas, and threw it at me. I had no money, but knew I was going to be a resident advisor for the dorm the following year. I taught at the “Y” in Kalamazoo for extra money and knew what it was like to swim competitively. “

“I called Dorthe, who told me to come to her class in East Dearborn, which was close to my home. She was very direct. I met with her at the end of the school day and I think now it was a small test. She was teaching special education to some of the most severely handicapped and disabled children I had ever seen and I think she wanted to see how I would respond. I engaged with her and the children. She basically told me camp starts on June first and you should be there. It was total happenstance! We lived in Dearborn and my father worked for Ford. She was a very real person and understood who each one was as a person. She saw the person, not just the helmets, braces and prostheses.”

Meg Dahlem (1924) loved the ballroom dancing with campers and counselors in the evening, recalling that most of them were college girls or teachers. Martha Carpenter, who taught in the arts and crafts cabin and was a resident of Bay City, and was a student at Skidmore of New York. “Counselors stayed in “Dutton” and when they got tired of cooking, they would hike to Long Lake for pancakes,” she said.

Foreign Counselors

Published on January 11, 2017February 21, 2017 by Kathy Baker

A young Japanese girl was to be considered as a camp counselor in 1933, according to the minutes and ledgers of the camp committee. There were no notes as to whether this was the first foreign girl, but it was not the last.

March 16, 1934, the minutes stated “After a discussion as to whether to ask a foreign counselor to camp this year or not, it was decided to write to the National Committee to see if one could be procured. The report will come in the next meeting. A person from Norway or Sweden was the preference this year.”

Again in notes from the 1935 meeting, Miss Lorna Fang was not only to serve as the camp doctor, but the foreign counselor—“as her life experience in China will help promote a better understanding of the girls in other lands.”

Thirties camper Edna Young was eleven years old and in hut four at the bottom of the hill on the main path when she had her first experience with a foreign counselor by the name of Setsu Matsunubo, who was from Japan and a student at U of M.

“She wore a housedress all the time. I don’t think she owned anything else! She stood in the middle of the hut when the girls would not settle down, telling us to be quiet, and she spoke very good English.”

Counselors Left Their Mark

Published on January 4, 2017February 21, 2017 by Kathy Baker

“The year was 1947 and we were all in a tent down the hill to the right of the lodge. We should have been known as the dirty shoes and socks gang. There was a counselor that said her name was Julianna Knockalulu Desdemona Pocohantas Bubble Gum Duck Face Ford. Some important things you just never forget”, laughed Mary Hewes.

There were stand-outs as role models or counselors remembered because of their kindnesses, talents, or traditions within their cabins. For Sally Allen (1968-73) the memory of a family of sisters who taught sailing (with long gorgeous hair) was a combination of envy and respect.

For one young camper in the sixties, (who was very bright, but not as social as some of the counselors), one counselor intimidated her and another personified the ideal Maqua girl. Her name was Diane Dudley, nicknamed “Dodo”, who began as a camper and then became an aide, and was loved by everyone.

Susan Alcorn, who camped in the fifties, believed “riding instructors were goddesses and counselors just a step below”, as did Barb Rehmus (1965-76) about Judy Moore.“Her back went out and she couldn’t get out of bed. She was so well loved and we all thought she was invincible! We couldn’t believe she was all stooped over, so we brought her food. Some people have magnetism and charisma and even then, she had it.”

Counselors’ Responsibilities

Published on January 2, 2017February 21, 2017 by Kathy Baker

The earliest mention of counselors in the camp committee minutes was in May of 1933. It read; “Relationship of leader and camper was discussed, working through a self-governing camp council. The idea of having one girl in each hut responsible for her hut was also discussed: the counselor to be nearby, but not in the hut. This developed leadership among the girls. Acquaint each counselor with the others skill and so relate to each other. Use of natural resources in camp, stressed cooperation with staff necessary to put ideas over.”

The camp committee minutes from 1936 stressed the need for a trained counselor for their overnight hikes, the selection of a riding instructor that would fit more readily into the camp activities and perhaps even a junior and senior camp. Sometimes finding the right counselor involved leadership training weekends or specific training for the activity. (Riflery, archery, horseback riding and nursing.)

It is unclear whether counselors in the beginning years actually lived away from the girl’s cabins, but most of the girls interviewed spoke of them present on a cot in each cabin.

The general duties in 1971, as put forth by the YWCA, included living with and having charge for their group, assisting the other counselors and operating within the realm of their specific duties according to the department they were hired to supervise or assist.

Camp training, health exams, and specific attendance at camp activities were mandatory, as was joining the YWCA as a member. The contracts also included the amount of time off during the day and week.

A credo in the seventies was included on the contract. “The center of Camp Maqua is our camper. She is the reason for our camp. All camp life revolves around her. Our duties are to know her, to help her learn to do things for herself, and to help her do things with others. It is for these purposes that we are selected to serve at Camp Maqua. Be a good example to campers at all times!”

Girls of Camp Maqua

My Book ~ Your Story

1970’s