Dear Parents,
Its been three consecutive weeks of fantastic weather and
were just basking in the sunlight. A couple of boys came up to
me yesterday, and one moaned, H., It just doesnt seems
possible that three weeks have gone by for us, and the other boy
said, Ive been here seven weeks and it seems like seven
days. These are the kind of comments that I like to hear, and
it means that the boys are having fun at camp. Its been a very
busy week again with our Advanced Scuba Class having a fantastic
three day trip at Devils lake near Madison, Wisconsin. The boys
came back begging for another trip, and we have one set up today for
the beginning scuba class. We sent over 45 boys to the Porcupine
Mountains near Lake Superior, and the head tripper calls me each
evening, and he has told me that the boys are having a wonderful
trip. We have split up the Porcupine trip into four separate areas.
One group is backpacking with all their equipment on their back. A
second group is composed of members of the photography class, and
they are taking pictures of the entire area and will print the
pictures when they come back to camp. A third group is from the
Nature Appreciation class, and they are studying the trees, the
birds,the mountains and the terrain of the area they are camping on,
and the fourth group is climbing the mountains, and just swimming and
learning everything they can about this beautiful area. This winter,
both my wife Sharon, myself, and the rest of the family are going to
go skiing at the Porcupine Mountains, and Ill tell you all
about it when its over.
It has been a great Parents Weekend, and I know that the 40
Parents who came up to camp had a marvelous time--- the weather as I
previously mentioned was ideal--hot sun, slight breeze, and I
strutted around like a peacock acting as if this weather was the way
it always was up here. I might add that it really has been this way
all summer except for a couple of cool days and nights. A group of
fathers played the owns in a game of volleyball and it was a riot.
The fathers were really good but somewhat out of shape and it looked
like a bunch of Hippos trying to chase a herd of antelopes. In fact,
one father, John Fried, would constantly shout to his own after each
point, Whats the score, Ed?, and I could see Ed
getting madder and madder. Mike Levitts Dad kept telling each
of the boys how to play, as he stood opposite them on the volleyball
court. He kept telling the guys that he had done a lot of coaching
during his colorful career, and by the time he got done with the
coaching, the boys were totally confused. I kept yelling
encouragement to our campers and staff members by yelling out to
them, You guys really stink!!! I finally had to call a
time out and bring in five pitchers of water filled with ice. I even
had to provide paper cups for each of the players. Congratulations to
the fathers, as they won, but I would suggest that they give up the
game---they cant meet hospital expenses.
You know, Ive been here 15 years and I first found out what a
GRUNDY was last summer. If a guy squawks too much he may be grabbed
by the shorts and hung up on a hook to cool off. I have constantly
cautioned the staff to knock it off as it can cause a lot of hard
feelings. Anyways, young Danny Mahmias of Indianapolis came to see
his brothers, and his lifelong dream has been to spend a night in one
of my cabins and to convince his dad that hell be ready for
camp next year. (Hell almost be 8 yrs. old by then) I let him
stay in the cabin that night with his brother, but I worried about
how hed make out--- anyway in the morning I rushed over to the
cabin to find him, but he was gone--- I looked all around and there
he was hooked up on the wall--the victim of a giant grundy.
(Actually---Im only kidding, but the campers kept telling him
to watch out for Grundy time, and he was looking forward to getting
hooked up on the wall.
Last Tuesday night was campfire night and we had a beautiful program
with stories, singing and marshmallows. Some of our boys had their
counselors trying out for the Minocquabat ski team, and they went to
see him do his act. On Wednesday we had our 2nd cruiser day of the
session and it was a dandy. We finished the evening with a special
hamburger fry. Thursday was regular schedule, and at night we had a
social with Camp Chippewa for Girls. The younger boys had a great
time, and the older girls loved our sound system for music in the
lodge--- The only disappointment about the older girls is that I
think they liked our trampolines better then they did our boys.
During the day we announced our Pow Wow Chiefs, and the Big Medicine
Men, and since then the leaders involved have been setting up their
tribes for our Pow Wow Day which will be held on Tuesday. August
12th, for the entire day--- its a fantastic day and the whole
camp is split into four tribes with each camper putting on war Paint,
and then starting off with Indian Leg Wrestling, and throughout the
day we have Indian Type events such as wood chopping, fire building,
bareback riding, and many different and exciting events. Well
finish up the evening with a special steak fry for the boys, and
Ill tell you more about the outcome in my last newsletter.
Friday was the departure day for the Porcupine Mountain trip and we
had an all camp cleanup for the visiting weekend group, and this
included scrubbing up our own campers. Ill bet each of you
thinks that camp always looks neat---Well, it almost does.
On Friday evening at our program---(we held it at our forest campfire
area in which we sit around the campfire and its a little bit
more intimate for the groups rather than the barbecue area where
everyone is sitting on one side)--- I asked Stu Turnansky to say a
few words. If you remember, Stu is now a Doctor, and was with me for
over twelve years as a camper, kind of a foster son, or you name it.
His words were very eloquent, and I guess he summed up the special
feeling of all the campers, staff members and everyone associated
with Timberlane, and when he got done, I had a lump in my throat.
With all the aggravation that so often goes into a job of this
nature, its moments like this when you hear the love and
respect given by the people who have worked and learned under you
that one realizes that its worth all the heartache and work
that goes into the job. Speaking of Stu, I cant convince him
that hes as tough and in as good shape as I am. He decided to
take on any campers in the Track and Field program in a big running
event. I told him that now that he was a practicing Doctor and worth
a lot of money, he should stay away from running on an open
field---but NO--- Dr. Turnansky raced Jeff Mossler, and it was a
close race for a while but with about 100 yards to go, Stu pulled up
short and started skipping instead of running and sure enough--- he
had pulled hamstring muscle. Here Ive been bragging about
having a Doctor at our camp, but as I looked at him hobbling on the
athletics field, I find that I really have inherited a decrepit old
man who cant even straighten up when he walks and should really
use a cane. I greet him with the standard statement, hows
it going Dr. Stu? and he bravely chirps in a pain wracked
voice, Just Great, H., and then pleads Do you know
where I can get two aspirins, H.???
We sent our 2nd edition of the Timberlife Magazine and I hope that
you have received it by the time you get this newsletter. Please let
me know if you dont get one, and again, I am absolutely amazed
at the versatility and creativity exhibited by all the boys and staff
members associated with the publication of Timberlife, and special
thanks again go to to Fred Bierman of St. Louis, who has made the
entire news magazine possible. The cost of this 14 page magazine with
600 copies printed amounted to only 60 dollars and thats a real
bargain. On Saturday afternoon those boys in riflery who stayed at
camp and whos parents werent here, had an
opportunity to go to the Minocqua Rifle Club and shoot shotgun shells
at clay pigeons. They loved it and plan to do it again next year.
Special thanks to our Riflery Counselor, Scott Geffen for a job well
done. The Timberbat waterski team was one of the 8 teams that
competed on Friday at the Kawaga open invitational ski meet and took
second place losing only to the host team...This was great for the
boys and next year they hope to take all the marbles. The Timberbat
waterski team put on another great show on Saturday afternoon, and
they were just outstanding again.
This morning is a lazy breakfast, and we need it---following this we
will go into 3rd and 4th periods followed by a big Southern Fried
Chicken meal. Our Porcupine trip will be back by then. Meanwhile, our
younger scuba divers will be spending the next two days at Crystal
Lake for a two day overnight scuba trip. Tonight, well be
having a return match against Anastasia. Following the
lunch meal, well be having a return match against Camp
Algonquin for our Junior and Intermediate all star softball teams and
then our Seniors will play them next Thursday in softball and
basketball. Monday is regular schedule, Tuesday is Pow Wow Day, and
Wednesday is Cruiser Day. Thursday is Track and Field day and our
boys will be running in 9 different events in each of three divisions
with ribbons available to the winners. Thursday evening will be our
last blue and white series of games, and Friday will be our last full
day of camp. The boys will be packing for the trip home, and
well still get all our activities in during the day.l That
night is a very special evening program, and well be having
songs, stories, a big key log ceremony, and finally well wrap
the whole thing up with each boy lighting a candle that is set on a
paper plate, and theyll walk with it down to the swim area,
make a wish, and finally put it in the lake and watch it sail out
over Lake Towanda. Its always a stirring moment, and I know
that the boys have special feelings about this moment. Well
also be presenting our Camper of the Year Award, and well let
you know about it in our next newsletter.
Your boys will be returning home on SATURDAY, AUGUST 16th---Please
put this date down on your calender. It is not Sunday as some people
think, but Saturday, August 16th. We are sending you an itinerary
sheet that lists the time of arrivals in your airport or the buss
arrival of some of the boys. Please make it a point to see that you
are at the airport to meet your son. Well try to get all the
luggage aboard the plane and will send out the footlocker almost a
day in advance to insure its arrival home on time. The air
lines are getting tighter on weight of baggage that can be loaded
aboard a plane, so well try to get some of the luggage out on
earlier flights.
Again, to all of you, this had been a fantastic year thus far--- the
weather had made it easier for us, but the staff has held up well---
I have a system of fines for those staff members who miss our
1:00A.M. curfew during the week, and all money collected goes for a
big steak fry for the staff---itll be this Thursday evening,
and weve got 72 T-bone steaks for the whole staff.
Unfortunately, its going to cost me over $120 out of my own
pocket because I didnt get much in fine money.
Thank goodness.
Bye Bye--
HH