Dear Parents,
Busy, Busy, Busy---The days are flying by and it seems like only
yesterday that your boys arrived at camp. We have truly settled down
in terms of becoming solid cabin units, and I no longer hear the word
I when the kids speak, but rather the word we
and their cabinmates are now a very important part of your sons camp
experience. Our tripping program has picked up tremendously and this
week we went down the Lac Du Flambeau Rapids and the boys had a
fantastic trip. Only one canoe overturned, and the only problem
beyond this mishap was that it poured at night and kept the boys
under their tents earlier than they had planned. We also sent out a
three-day canoe trip to the Sylvania Forest and the boys came back
raving about the whole trip, and we plan to take a number of others
to this beautiful area. The boys saw a bear at night and it was a
good thing thing that they had put their food high up off the ground
so that the bear couldnt eat it. We also sent out a two-day
trip down the Manitowish Chain of Lakes, and the boys had superb
weather and a grand time. Starting today, well be sending out a
series of cabin overnight trips, and I know that this will be a lot
of fun for all the boys involved.
The past week our weather was very tricky--it would be sunny for a
while, and then rain a little. Fortunately most of the rain fell at
night, but our ground is so sandy that it drains in just a couple of
minutes and we are able to get right out on our athletic fields. On
Monday I held a Truth or Consequences series of events,
and the boys just loved it. Some of the boys and counselors got their
faces covered with soot, and others were asked to blow out a candle
when their eyes were blindfolded--at last moment, the candle was
substituted with a plate filed with flour (unknown to the
contestants) and when they tried to blow out the candle, lo and
behold, they got their pusses soused with flour. The whole evening
was a delight...On Tuesday it was our traditional campfire night, and
the boys are getting so good at singing songs--we also had lots of
guitar music, and a spicy story called, The Monkeys
Paw, and then we wrapped it up with a marshmallow roast. On
Wednesday we had our first Cruiser Day, and the boys visited many
many different areas of the countryside, it was a beautiful day
weather-wise with sunny skies and a slight breeze to cool us off.
Many of the boys visited one of the finest wildlife game refuge areas
called Pecks Wildlife, and then they went to Crystal Lake and
played in the sun and swam in the clearest lake in Wisconsin. At
night we had a hamburger and cheeseburger feast and then many of the
boys had a chance to visit the Minocqua-Bat Waterski Team in action.
We were all so tired that we slept 45 minutes later the next morning.
On Thursday evening we had a fantastic film called Brians
Song, (About Gale Sayers and Brian Piccolo) and wrapped up the
program with a feast of salted peanuts in the shell and Cokes. The
boys are required to throw the peanut shells on the floor and it ends
up being a riot. Friday, we had our Blue and White competition and
the Blues still seem to be dominating the events. They lead
32-18.
Again on Saturday we had two activities in the morning and in the
afternoon we changed the pace of our programming. We offered a
waterski clinic, ran a doubles tennis tournament, had a a rifle
contest, an archery meet, offered boating, canoeing, limited sailing
and had swimming available all afternoon. Our sailing members
competed in the Kewagsagah Sailing Regatta and placed 9th out of 20
teams. Not too much wind but lots of fun. All groups got back to camp
early enough from the canoe and sailing trips in order for all of us
to get ready for our first camp social with Chippewa Ranch Camp of
Eagle River. Our electronic experts had been busy as bees the past
few days and they set up a 24 speaker sound system that had three pro
amps, a real driving force behind it, and it was installed in the
lodge so that when they played a record there was a throbbing
pulsating sound that almost knocked out your ear drums. They also
installed colored lights, complete with a lighting board, that
regulated the lights; and even put in a strobe light that when turned
on and synchronated with a blue or purple light, made the dancers
look like they were animated creatures from Mars. Part of our camp
traveled to their camp and the rest stayed behind, and the socials
were some of the best dances weve ever had. Lots of guys are
now in love, and the mails are getting heavy---fortunately, we let
the boys have the true address of Camp Chippewa. The boys now want me
to set up this fantastic speaker system out on our tennis courts
(weather permitting) during our next social; and when we get together
with Camp Agawak well try to have an outdoor social.
Sunday was our famed Lazy Breakfast, and the counselors surprised me
with a gigantic omelet replete with onions, cheese, tomatoes,
mushrooms, all kinds of goodies, and when I computed the bill, I
think I ate a $30 omelet. Oh well, its only money??? There was
an auction recently, and I picked up two little boats for our sailing
program, and may also get a special log for our boys to roll on in
the water. Ill let you know if I win in the bidding. I also got
some beautiful yellow chairs for our lodge that dont break too
easily. On Sunday afternoon our Timberbats had a long practice, the
scuba men went on a three hour dive, we had three All Star softball
games against Camp Algonquin and a basketball game. We won the three
baseball games but lost the basketball game, and the boys thoroughly
enjoyed the day. At night we had a picnic outdoor dinner with hot
dogs and wrapped it up with lots of brownies. I might add that the
lunch meal was Southern Fried Chicken and all you could eat. At night
we had a double-header with a large general swim (the weather had
turned very hot) and wrapped it up with a big campfire and a Key Log
Ceremony in which the boys have a chance to give thanks to anyone who
has helped them out during the past week. We have almost 20 former
staff members visiting camp (this is a tradition over the 4th of July
weekend) and Bob Pearlstein played his banjo for us, and we did a lot
of singing, and the whole program was just a beautiful one. Today
were starting out on our cabin overnights, and well also
be on our full activity schedule. At night we will be having a
triple-header---first its the Counselor Hunt, all the staff
(except me) will be hiding all over the camp, and the boys have to
try and find them and its set up on a Blue and White basis.
Then well have a special swim because it will be a hot night
again. Then, well sit outside in the twilight and watch a giant
outdoor movie, called The Absent-Minded Professor,
its a Walt Disney production. Well be serving popcorn and
Cokes and I know that the boys will love the program. Well
sleep a little bit later in the morning and then well be on our
way again in our regular-type program.
One morning it rained a little, ad one of our youngest campers, Andy
Schiller comes sidling up to me and announces, H., I touched
the trampolines and theyre not too wet to jump on. I
looked around and lurking in the background was his older brother
Robbie. I quickly got the drift--Robbie wanted to jump on the tramps
after the rain, so he got out his little mouthpiece to see if he
could win me over. Speak for yourself Robbie Schiller, I
blared out. No trampolines--its toooooooo wet.....Yesterday
morning I went to the area where coffee is available for older staff.
Up pops camper Reed Sexter of Louisville, and hes about 4 feet
tall. Hey H, he announces, how about me getting
some of that coffee. But, Reed, I say,
youre only 10 years-old. Dont you know that the
reason youre kind of short now may be from the coffee stunting
your growth? He looked at me kind of puzzled and said,
You really think so, H. I assured him that I was only
kidding, but he looked so cute standing there in the line waiting for
coffee.
Tomorrow well be signing up for new activity schedule, and
well also have our staff together to start choosing captains
for our upcoming U.N. Day program coming up a week from Tuesday.
(more on that in my next newsletter) We have our 2nd Cruiser Day on
Wednesday and another cookout at night. More cabins will be going on
overnight trips and on Thursday well be getting more and more
into U.N. preparation and will be sending another group down the
Flambeau Rapids. On Friday well be getting ready for our
Parents Weekend...Parents and any other members of your families are
invited to come to camp on Friday, July 8th at 7:00 P.M. (no earlier)
and spend time with your son seeing our camp and meeting his
cabinmates and staff members. The next day you are invited back to
camp at 10:00 A.M. and will have an opportunity to see your son in
three activities. You will then be my guest for lunch, and in the
afternoon our Timberbats will be putting on their fine ski show.
Well also give you a chance to see some of our other boys in
action, and then you will be allowed to take your son out for dinner.
Then the visiting weekend will be over, and please dont plan to
visit camp on Sunday, --well be in regular program. For those
of you who wont be visiting, dont worry---in the past few
years we find that many parents dont come to visit because of
the long distance involved. We are offering a gigantic Porcupine
Mountains trip--and it will be broken up into three sections.
Theyll be a young group, an older group, and a backpack section
going along. Itll be about 40 boys and theyll be gone for
three days (Friday through Sunday). If youre planning to visit
your son, dont try to surprise him or he may be away on the
Porkie trip if he doesnt know youre coming to visit him.
Let us know your plans.
Today, well be sending out a staff letter to you about your
sons activities and his progress at camp. We hope that it fills
you in on how your son is progressing at camp. Once again, send no
tips if you want to thank your sons counselors, but rather a
nice note might be appreciated. The same thing for those parents
coming to visit camp. Again, as I mentioned in my last note, I must
hear from you shortly if you want your son to stay on at camp. Only a
couple of spots are still open, and if you want your son to stay on
at camp--let me know as soon as possible. If an opening is still
there, wed love to have your boy at camp for a longer period of
time. Im looking out of my window, and as I gaze at the lake I
feel so serene. This is such a beautiful area, and I recall how, over
17 years ago, I drove into this camp site, and took one look at the
lake, the grounds and couple of cabins that were here, and I said,
This is where Im going to start Timberlane. I guess
I was a pioneer, and I am so wrapped up in this place. As you know,
we built a home near the end of the Senior Village, we carved out a
spot in the wooded area overlooking the lake; and each morning I look
out on the porch and see the sunrise, and the lake glistening, and I
say to myself there are no problems big enough to overshadow this
feeling of delight and contentment. I guess each of us needs this
type of outlet. For those boys going home, instructions for the trip
home will be sent to you at the beginning of next week, and the date
of departure is Sunday, July 17th. Again, this has been a delightful
week and the boys are loving every minute of their camp stay. I hope
the newsletter has been informative to you. This has been a fun
letter to write, even with the bad typing.
Regards,
HH