For the most part, it seemed that there was always someone singing or playing the piano in the lodge. Sometimes, aside from the pre-planned programs, the weather would force a change in plans for camp activities, whether it was games or overnights. It was never boring, by any stretch of the imagination.
“Lodge Transformed as “Unfair” Weather Pushes Maqua Fair Indoors” was the heading of an article on July 13, 1965 in the “Loon”. The weather was unpredictable, but caused no worries for the girls who set up water fights, a spook house, a jail with slaves, dice throw, ball throw, peanut roll, sponge throw, golf, a piñata and a fortune teller.
“The whole camp would sometimes be in the lodge or outside playing capture the flag, running races, or having a big sing-a-long, depending on the weather,” said Judith Moore (1970-71). “Some nights we would take the girls out and sleep out under the stars. I can remember two little hot bodies sliding into my bag one night. It was just too open for some of them. Some nights I would stay up with the counselors and we would build a fire and stay up till one or two in the morning, just talking,” said Judy.
Sue Robson remembered one night all the girls camped under the stars in the field. (She laughed as she recalled one of the counselors had a son named Hans, but she nicknamed him “Horkie”.)
“Overnights” by Jeff Funk in a late seventies’ copy of the “Loon” bemoaned the fact the overnight had been rained out for the fourth time that summer. “Third period was the only time it didn’t rain on overnight and that was because it was an all girls session,” he wrote. “Quetico hut walked from South Branch to the Lumberman’s for their overnight; Seminole went to Lumberman’s as well; Cherokee went with Shoshone to Primitive in the meadow, Kickapoo slept under the stars on the tennis court and Cheyenne went to Raggers Point.”
“When it would rain at Maqua, we would have some one hundred thirty people in the lodge and somehow everything would get organized,” said Ann Carney. “ Eva was the Program Director and she would organize the team events. Then there was Christmas in July, where we would cut down a tree and bring it into the lodge and decorate it. We would all have a Secret Santa and write or make nice things for that person,” said Ann. “It was always something very thoughtful—a sweet note, thinking of who that person was like, or you would save money and buy something at the camp store or even make something.”
August 10, 1974 was the fourth session at Camp Maqua. Plans for the Hawaiian Luau were foiled by the weather. No out door cook-out, or boat decorating, but instead the groups were divided into six for indoor relays and tables were decorated. The tables were judged on originality, beauty and overall best. There were princesses selected from each cabin, and the Queen was Wendy Shepard and all of the royalty were chosen on their ability to do the hula. “It was a hard decision to make, but Wendy Shepard finally won out in the end. Her hips moved very swiftly,” the article stated.
The article entitled “Evening at the Theatre” took place on August 8, 1974 after dinner at the “Maqua Restaurant”, where a deluxe chicken dinner was served. The entertainment consisted of the “Can-Can Canners”, who were brought back up by popular demand for an encore. A rest took place after dinner, followed by three short skits, a presentation of an excerpt from “The Apple Tree”, and a songfest with staff and guitars.
If the weather cancelled your plans, what do you recall of your substitute activities? Did you feel like the rain spoiled many of the plans?