1963 - 1966

Places: 1963 and 1964 at Wilderness State Park, Mackinaw City, MI
1965 and 1966 at Island Lake, Brighton, MI
1966--60 campers, 28 pre-campers and 28 adults.

Director: David Charles

Wilderness State Park was a long drive. Ruth and David Charles always had a station wagon full of kids and a truck full of supplies and kids luggage for the long treks to camp. Coming home was always the worst for Ruth as she had to keep awake with all the kids sleeping around her. David remembers trying to keep awake coming home after staying for the ranger to inspect camp.

Wilderness was a beautiful park and we swam in Lake Michigan--very cold water. We could see the Mackinaw Bridge from the swimming area.

The move to Island Lake at Brighton was such a relief because the parents had to bring the kids--only 60 miles. There were hills and it was a beautiful rustic camp.

Crafts: Tile trivets, phone minder, bill fold, tile serving tray. David Charles and Roger Trueman brought thousands of small ceramic tiles to camp and everyone spent so much time sifting through them for the perfect pattern. One of our most memorable craft projects. Roger and Dewey Chapman did crafts these years.

Remember...

  • Touring Fort Michilimackinac with the campers.
  • The beautiful rustic fireplace at Wilderness.
  • All the adults sleeping in one cabin, Ruth's hose hanging in Willi Blum's face, Myrtle sleeping on a top bunk, Geneva seeing a mouse on her bunk when she awoke and the screammmmmm!
  • Ruth and Geneva going out in to the dark alone to chase Tina Roe and Lenny Weedon down.
  • Terrie Lane beating all the big guys at tether ball. She and Jane Johnson were champs!
  • John Chapman and his cohorts (all about 10 years old) playing ball and giving Teddy Schock a home run just because he needed one. (They had to overthrow every base.)
  • Ruth Charles and Geneva Begeman playing Duck Duck Goose with the smaller campers.
  • Ruth Charles beating out the songs on the old camp pianos and Judy and Geneva Begeman leading the music.
  • Thelma Chapman in charge of campfire and Judy Chuhran the nurse.
  • Tom Phillips and the BB rifles!!

Quotes

  • Dewey Chapman "I remember the nightmare it was to get the kids to lace the billfolds together."
  • Lynn Charles Vaughn "I remember Judy Begeman leading 'My Desire' and 'I Surrender All' at campfire and Elder's charts and demonstrations."
The Gospel On Your Hand
The Gospel On Your Hand