I Was Talked Into Camp—

Published on by Kathy Baker Category: 1940's, 1950's, 1960's, 1970's, Blog, Off to Camp Maqua

The list of mothers who sent their daughters to camp would be endless and incomplete, but for most of the daughters who believed the magic of their mother’s stories of their Maqua camp experiences, they were not disappointed by their summers. Well, let’s just add, most of them were not disappointed. There were a few who had stories of their dreaded days away from home.

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Sisters, friends and cousins were very influential in convincing and influencing, as seen by the rosters of relatives who attended year after year. Sisters from the Cone, Sherman Augustyniak, Carney, Kessler, and Wilkinson families were prime examples.

“I was twelve and my sister was a year younger than me, but everyone thought we were twins. It was fine that she went at the same time as I did, because we were in different cabins. We enjoyed going even though we had just been on vacation, mainly because it was the first time, aside from overnights at girlfriend’s houses, where we were away from our Mom. She was divorced and worked nights, and I knew camp fees had to be a lot for her, but honestly I think she was glad to get rid of us for a few weeks so she could get her work done,” admitted Deb Wilkinson with a laugh.

Sue and Chris Augustyniak camped in the sixties and were enticed to attend by separate girlfriends, who did not want to go alone, but ended up hanging out in each other’s cabins.

Judy (1946) was the middle child of the three Kessler girls, who included Mickie and Bonnie, and although their camping years overlapped and clothes were passed down, they were never at camp at the same time. Judy Sherman (1946) was a young six or seven, and was allowed to go because her sister was there.

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I Can’t Wait To Go!

Published on by Kathy Baker Category: 1930's, 1940's, 1950's, 1960's, 1970's, Blog, Off to Camp Maqua

10580522_10204600154392458_1994451140_nNot every young camper who packed off to camp loved the idea of time away from their parents, sharing a room with sometimes seven strangers and spiders, or eating food that was not cooked by Mom, but for the majority of girls those summers were the days that memories were made of.

Cara Prieskorn’s accounts of her years at Camp Maqua from 1966-71 (as a ten year old and oldest of five) included the fact she was so happy to get away from home. “I was around city kids for the first time”, said Cara, who was from the small town of Cass City. “I went the first time I could go and I had no idea what I was getting into. I used to go to the Maqua Jamborees at the “Y” and hated it, since I didn’t know anyone. They would sing, introduce the counselors who showed up and sometimes divide the girls up by age. Later when I knew more girls, it wasn’t so bad.”

Marsha Immerman was one of the little Bay City girls that attended “Stay-At-Home” camp and also hated it. “It was inside, it was boring and I had to go home at the end of each day”, she said. She had heard about Maqua and was excited by the idea of going away from home, but did not realize until much later in life how different home and camp life were until she experienced her years there from 1947-53.

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Camp Maps—

Published on by Kathy Baker Category: 1940's, 1960's, 1970's, Blog, Buildings and Property

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The 10×14 ft. muslin map, created by horseback riding instructors Mary Lou Goggin and Kay Connor in 1961, still graces the lodge wall to this day. Mary Lou has few memories of actually making this map and Kay has not been found to question her on her memories, but it hangs from the ceiling on the west side of the lodge. At some point in history, it was attached to the open beamed rafters of the lodge overlooking the dining and fireplace areas.

According to a copy of a 1947 “Loon” another map existed. The Junior Counselor trainees of 1946 dedicated a cloth map on July 30, 1947. The creators of this map included Joan Grushow, Rose Ann Mannix, Kay Brownyer, Nancy Suliburk, Mary Jane Nicols, Gretchen Lodewyck, Phyllis Kelso, Gerry Folkert, Julie Ford and Laya Hennes. (Laya and Gerry were interviewed but have no recall of this map.)

When fifty of the first hundred girls interviewed for that book gathered for a mini reunion at the lodge in 2013, copies of the 1961 map were posted for each camper to pencil in where they remembered buildings stood in their childhood memories.

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Kathy’s Musings: The New Boat House

Published on by Kathy Baker Category: Blog, Buildings and Property, Camp Envy

new boathouseWe have a new boathouse! Well, it’s not really new—but it looks new to the Maqua Association, who finally renovated the original building with new siding, a staircase to reach the upper level and the door that was originally in the infirmary. (Ah, the coveted upper bunk!)

The names still remain on the walls for posterity and hopefully will be there for many years to come for those who choose to sleep there. The buddy board has been relocated from the west side of the exterior to the interior to preserve it.

The interior has not changed much with the paddle holders,and bulletin boards depicting raft areas and boat placement. The Maqua Association members are happy to see the building standing straighter and prouder than it has in years. Even the pull-out windows work!

 

Here Comes The Happy Mail!

Published on by Kathy Baker Category: 1930's, 1940's, 1950's, 1960's, 1970's, Blog, Off to Camp Maqua

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What young girl does not like “happy mail” arriving in their mailbox? As a child, receiving anything in the mail was pure excitement, whether it was a letter from your grandparents, a postcard from a friend’s vacation, or a piece of mail announcing the next sessions for camp!

Two avenues of publicity were the main reason for excitement about a summer experience at Camp Maqua—the day camps or camp rallies and the brochures that arrived in the mailboxes each winter.

“I lived for camp”, said Jan Schreiber, who began in 1962 and camped until 1970. “In January when the Camp Maqua brochure would arrive, I would get so excited. December was always depressing, just waiting for it and then it would be so amazing because more mail would come in February. It organized my year, just receiving the camp mail.”

In the fifties a promotional schedule included a post card in October, news solicitation for the “Loon” camp newspaper, a booklet and summer registration form in December,( as well as a Christmas card), a copy of the “Loon” in January, reunion notice in March, reminder, medical cards, housing questionnaires and insurance forms in May and individual birthday cards during the year.

The publicity committee of the YWCA camp committee spent hours over photography, body copy and channels for dissemination of their folders, postcards or brochures. They contained happy photos of girls engaged in the activities, general information, separate lists of items to bring to camp and items available at the camp store, fees and rates and a form to send to apply for the four different sessions.

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