“After a lot of patient waiting and guessing we found out what “IT” was”, wrote the author of the “What Is It?” column in a copy of the “Loon” from 1952. “A real western day. We were all called down to the waterfront by a fire drill. Nan came riding down on her horse to tell us about it. It started off with a chuck wagon dinner. It ended with a wonderful counselors’ show and a hoedown for all. We all agreed that “IT” turned out swell.”
Tales of spaghetti in bags that felt like worms from blindfolded campers and popping balloons tied around ankles of fellow cabin mates brought laughter. Square dancing with a director as the caller, or talent shows entertained happy faces in the evenings.”Roasting” counselors, learning Morse Code, tossing the frisbee, or washing the camp truck also entertained the girls.
“The counselors and the kids always got along fantastic together”, said Rhonda Thayer, business manager from 1974-77. “During meals there was always some entertainment. Mine was using that paddle with the ball on the string and I could do that blindfolded. The girls would count to 1,000 and I would still be bouncing that ball without missing. One counselor could tell stories and she would mime opening a jar of peanut butter and pretend like she was eating it and eventually it appeared she could not talk with all the peanut butter in her mouth. One girl sang “Camelot” really well, and there was one black counselor who would faint and we couldn’t wake her, so we would leave her. We would tease her about being so dark that we couldn’t see her bruises. What talent we all had!”In the seventies’, there was even a “Miss Ugly Contest”! Each cabin chose a camper to represent them, made her as ugly as possible and gave her an awful talent to perform. According to the “Loon” July 12, 1975, Beth Hickner (Ethel) won with her beautification of Janet Neering.
Capture the flag was always a popular activity, especially when the entire camp was involved. July 4, 1975 found the red flag in “Junior’s” car and the blue flag on the back of the Dorthe’s Island sign by Dutton.
Pammie Hartz won the best costume and Sarah and Spaz (Cindy Knapp) won the dancing contest at the Sock Hop the same month. On the last day of the sessions there was an Indian Olympics with Navahoes, Apaches, Sioux, Cherokee and Potawatamees vying against each other. In the evening each tribe burnt two staff at the stake.
Amy Falvey wrote an article in the “Loon” August 9, 1975, which summed up the evening programs for the fourth session. “This session Jr. and Spaz beat Carol and Rose (Flossy Mae) to the Ole water trick. On the following night, there was a counselor hunt and prizes went to the cabins with the most slips, but Carol Wahl and company were never found and only cabin B found the staff hiding on the roof. Tuesday was a song festival, which meant each cabin was responsible for teaching or reading a song. On Wednesday instead of the planned Special Interst, the heat sent all to the water for a free swim, so Special Interest was the following evening with cooking, embroidery and dance. Friday was cabin night, with cookouts and swimming with the camper’s own cabin. Saturday was a “hit” with talent show, and Sunday was Hawaiian Day, with contests for table decorations and the Queens and Princesses. Reigning Queen from the younger division was Wendy Shepard and Sheryl Biesman was Princess. In the older division Kari Beattie was Queen and Flossy Beson was Princess. Monday was song night on the waterfront.”
Did you ever perform in one of the talent shows? If so, what was your talent?