Dear Parents,
On Thursday morning we began getting ready for the parents
visiting weekend. All reports indicated that it would be a big
one--parents were coming from far and wide, and I wanted the camp to
be clean and ready...I called in my high command and I issued the
following order --Get this camp cleaned up spotlessly--so
we called the P.A.s, C.I.T.s, Jr. and Senior Counselors
together and put out the word---Get this camp cleaned up
spotlessly, so they called their campers together and put out the
following word. Get this camp cleaned up spotlessly, and
when the campers looked around to have someone else do it, they
realized that they were It. We began our paper pickups,
garbage runs, double inspections, rushed some dirty laundry to our
laundry lady, and had every department make sure that their area was
spotless. On Friday we ran three inspections, had a giant scrub down
at the beach, and served special good food during the last two days,
and when the parents came into camp we were ready for them!!!
Gosh, how beautiful it looks! they exclaimed as they
began to look camp over---Aaaah, this is the way it always
looks. I responded, and yet I really was pleased with the
maximum effort of the whole camp. We were also aided by one of the
most beautiful weekends that weve ever had for a visiting
weekend. Lots of sun, blue sky with a few clouds, and a breeze most
of the time.
On Friday evening, after the parents had a chance to visit camp, we
had a campfire program in which we did lots of singing, and had some
of our campers give a few words of wisdom. Then some of our musicians
played a few numbers and we joined in singing on some of them. Tony
Searles, one of our counselors from London, England game a short talk
about what Timberlane means to him. I followed this up by saying a
few words and presenting the Andy Brickman Memorial Award for both of
last years Campers of the Year to Bob Komisar and Billy
Fried. We then held to a moving Key Log ceremony and finally we sang
Taps and said goodnight to the parents. The next morning
at 10:00 A.M. the parents had a chance to go through three activities
with their boys. Many of the boys whose parents did not come to visit
camp had left on Friday morning for a giant three-day Porcupine
Mountains trip and when they arrived at their sites, part of the
group separated to go on a backpack hike while the rest settled into
their campsite. They will visit Lake Superior, and swim in it, and
follow nature trails; and it is one of the most beautiful areas in
the U.S.A. I am so happy that the weather is perfect for this type of
trip. Other boys that elected to stay at camp also had a series of
activities to take on Saturday morning at camp. We then served lunch
to everybody outdoors, and I can only say that our cook, Dorothy
Herlitz, and her kitchen staff outdid themselves with a beautiful
setting of all types of food It was so beautifully done that I took
movies of the whole thing. Our cook is something special, and during
meals she walks around to see if your sons are eating, and if they
dont seem to be eating the food, shell even make
something for them that they like. Ive seen her take some of
our littler younger campers outside of the lodge, and sit them on the
fence, smooth their hair, and find out what they like to eat. She is
a warm and wonderful person and has become a dear friend to all of
us. After lunch, we gave everyone a chance to rest and then our famed
Timberbat Waterski Team put on a wonderful show. When they were done,
the parents were allowed to take their boys and friends out to
dinner. Believe it or not, they took so many boys along with them,
that our cook had prepared 8 sheets of fantastic pizza for our
dinner, and there were only 42 people left in camp. In fact some of
those boys who stayed in camp elected to do so even though they were
invited out, because they wanted to eat some of Dorothys pizza.
At 8:30 P.M. most of the boys were back, and soon we were back on
regular canteen. The four moms from Louisville, KY. (Mzzzs) Fox,
Geer, Koby, and Schuster ended up taking out a total group of 27
people, and the cost of the meal will set them all back so far that
their husbands are going to be eating corn poke and grits for the
next week. The parents were so tired after running around all day
trying out some of the activities, jumping on our tramps, trying to
play tennis, and other things, that many wanted to sleep at camp. But
most of my campers were raring to go, and after the parents left the
guys were jumping on the tramps and just starting to move out and do
things. One mishap--some parents visiting their sons cabin thought
that perhaps a chipmunk had died under the cabin--funny smell--they
began to check out the place, and they found a sleeping bag that got
wet on an overnight trip and it had started to smell up the
place--they also found a mop in the cabin that was slightly smelly,
and all these items ended up on a large pine tree---yet when we found
the culprit who owned the sleeping bag, he was so clean and s
scrubbed that he looked like the typical type of camper you see on
the Camping Magazine pages that advertise camps for your
boys??????
Last Monday, the 4th of July, we had a super program set for the
boys, and we ran our full set of activities during the day. At about
3:00P.M, the sky began to get very dark, and all of a sudden it began
to rain. It was a funny rain, and pelted us for about one and
one-half hours. We didnt think too much of it, but we had to
shift our evening program, and couldnt run all the things we
planned. We shifted to the movie showing of a Walt Disney Film,
The Absent-Minded Professor, and it was great and we also
served shelled peanuts and Cokes. As I went to my home and turned on
the TV, I began to hear reports about a series of tornadoes in
Phillips, Rhinelander, and areas only 14 miles away. They were hit
very hard and many beautiful trees were uprooted with lots of wind
damage, but we had nothing except for some rain. Many parents called
me to find out if we were alive and well, so again I repeat we
werent affected by the storm. On Tuesday morning, we sent out a
trip to the Flambeau flowage but the roads wee impassable and we
turned back. We started out our cabin overnights and during the next
three days we got out 7 cabins on overnights and they had real
opportunities to share and do things together on the trips. Wednesday
was our 2nd Cruiser Day and again the counselors did a super job--one
group visited a radio station and was interviewed, and many of the
boys got on the air to say a few words about themselves and
Timberlane. On Thursday morning we started our 3rd section of
activities, and at night we held a counselor hunt, and wrapped it all
up with a giant general swim.
Were all very tired right now, and weve got a fun filled
week ahead. Its Lazy Breakfast time again, and Im looking
forward to my $30 egg omelets for me and my family???????? Well
run 3rd and 4th periods in the morning, and then well relax a
little bit. Our Porcupine Mountain trip will return for lunch then
its Southern Fried Chicken time. This afternoon well
again hold a series of clinics, and two have a series of three
All-Star softball games, two tennis matches, and a baseball game.
Some of our skiers are going to get a chance to see the Badger Open
Ski meet in Woodruff today. At night well have another movie,
and then well shuffle the boys off to bed. Were also in
the midst of U.N. (United Nations) Day preparations. This is a
fantastic program, and we start off by having the staff select 12
boys who will serve as U.N. leaders. They each have one Senior
advisor and the first thing theyll do is to get together and
form four teams, choose names of nations, and are then given the
names and ages of every boy in camp, plus a staff list. Each leader
handles either the Junior, Intermediate or Senior group of boys, and
studies his list to see how he would pick the boys. The teams are
called together and we start our pickings by the luck of the draw for
our 1st and 2nd pick in each division. The boys choose their teams,
and we immediately ditto off the rosters. The boys and staff in camp
are notified of what team they are on, and then the leaders are given
an events sheet which lists the multitude of events that are going to
be offered this coming Tuesday. Each boy is eventually placed in
three events during the day, plus they compete in a marathon race,
and a giant Tug Of War at the end of the day. The excitement will
start rising today as we get more and more into U.N. Day
preparations. The event goes off on Tuesday, July 12th and the
computer says that right now the favorite is Columbia, the winner of
the past two years, with the same leader, Ricky Kagen; and the reason
they are favored is SAVVY. Well see! say the other
leaders, with grins on their kissers.
Monday will be Blue and White Night. The Blues are still winning, but
the Whites have plans to overtake them this week. Wednesday is our
third Cruiser Day, and at night Camp Agawak For Girls is having a
home-on-home social with us and we are going to try to hold it
outdoors as I previously mentioned. The electronics boys are licking
their lips in anticipation of the sound system that theyll be
providing, and Im trying to wipe the perspiration from my brow,
as I wonder. How much is this thing going to cost me? A
word of warning--never start up with electronic geniuses---they can
scare you to death with their monstrous plans, and Im afraid
that someday when a kid presses a light switch in his cabin, he could
electrocute himself because of the intricate plans conjured by my
geniuses???? Last year I told you about the boy who wired up his food
locker so no one would steal any candy. He did such a good job, that
the whole thing went capooey and to top it off, he forgot his padlock
combination, and we ended up sawing off the lock so that he could get
into his footlocker. Hes back again this year, and hes
solved the whole thing. He has no candy to lock up, and no lock for
the foot locker.
Thursday night well be playing Infiltration, its a great
game, and well also have some canoe trips out. Our Canadian
boys are getting ready for their big trip next Monday, and
theyll be doing some tripping also. On Friday, our Timberbats
travel to the most prestigious resort in the Midwest. Froelichs
Lodge--over 400 guests, and theyll be playing to the biggest
audience of their careers. They are nervous but ready. On Saturday,
well be finishing activities for some of our boys, packing them
up, and giving out some awards. Theyll be returning home Sunday
, July 17th. You will each receive a letter, if your boy is coming
home, with the time of his arrival ,so dont worry about it.
Remember, its Sunday, July 17th. Meanwhile, the rest of our
boys will be very busy continuing with their activities and we have
many trips planned for them. When the new boys come in on Sunday,
well test them and show them the activities and have an
all-camp signup for new activities; by Monday morning well be
on our way in new activities. No one thinks it can be done, but
well do it nevertheless. By Tuesday, well take pictures
again, and were back in full action. Our Canadian Canoe Trip
takes off early Monday morning, so theyll be well-occupied over
the weekend getting ready for the their trip.
We hope that youve received a letter form your sons
counselor, and I hope that they filled you in on what your son is
doing at camp and perhaps a few words about him. Our staff has held
up beautifully and were a solid moving team right now. The boys
are close to one another, and the same can be said about the campers.
They love their camp and they have learned to love one
another---thats what its all about, and I know that they
will really begin to understand this once they are at home. I have
loved this season so far, and know that the countless hours I spend
planning, fussing and worrying are worth the total effort when I see
how much everyone is really gaining from camp. I hope you've enjoyed
this newsletter, its been a fun one to write.
Regards,
H.H.