One of the activity centers that no one ever wanted to have an incident was the waterfront. The waterfront staff were all certified in water safety, Red Cross training and lifesaving. But, there were other causes for concern that did not always entail water.
On the first day of camp in 1961, Margie Barbier fell on some stones and broke her arm, so off to Dr. Payea’s in East Tawas she went, which ironically was her home. Her mother seemed satisfied with her care, but since Margie could not ride or swim, she was forced to stay home with fees refunded.
The business manager, Rhonda Thayer (1974-77), played softball and was in the outfield running backwards when she broke her hand and fingers. With a splinted hand, she had a tough time doing the books with her hand in a claw shape.
Amy Johns admitted she had such a crush on Mel Hurst, a counselor from Hawaii, who was there the last two years of camp. “He made homemade skim boards out of plywood and sanded each one down. He taught the kids how to skim, but took one fall and cut his foot on a rock under the water. I remember the blood squirting in the air. Maybe it was an artery. We put compression on it and off he went to get stitched up at the hospital.”
Camper Debra Osher (1963) went for one week her first time and can still remember whittling a little stick with a little army knife. “I carved my finger instead. No stitches, but it was a long walk up the hill to have someone help me.”
Carrie Norris (1972-73) spent time in the Infirmary for a dose of poison ivy and Dawn Sohigian was also terribly allergic to poison ivy and underwent a series of shots before she went off to camp in 1966, which paralyzed her leg and caused it to swell.
The last year of her time at camp, (1974-75), Dawn was so ill that she spent a great deal of time in the Infirmary. “I even had my own bed in there, “she said of the illness that landed her in the hospital. She recalled director Sue Patenge driving her to the hospital and she ended up with a lasered tumor. (Ironically, her father owned imaging centers.)
In 1976 the “Loon” article addressed the health issue at camp. “Parents—We had a case of chicken pox break out on Thursday, July 8, 1976. If your child has not had them, the incubation period is 14-19 days.” Lori Fobear (1975-76) said that event stood out in her mind because of the many girls who had to return home.
And then there were the girls who just liked hanging out in the Infirmary. Lindy White’s friend was diabetic, so she would get up with her in the morning with her friend to get tested and receive her injections in the early seventies. Kim Moore (1967-70) had strep throat while she was there, but admitted she liked visiting her friends in there, despite the quietness and the antiseptic smell. “I think they were just homesick,” she said.
Andrea Gale hung out at the Infirmary waiting for a nurse (1970-74) when she didn’t feel well. “I was hungry and nauseous. I remember we ate some dog bones or crackers there and thought they were pretty good,” she said. “I probably had some heat exhaustion or was having a hard time participating in something.”
Liz Poirer (1973-74) felt like she handled camp a little better the second year, but she had eaten something bad or had the stomach fly and said, “I just wanted Mom. You know how it is when you are eleven and you are sick. And I was the youngest of three in a divorced family and not very secure. I was probably too young and immature to go away.”
Were any of you sent home with chicken pox, measles or mumps?