1975 - 1979

Places: Cedar Lake Outdoor Center
1977--86 campers 1978--92 campers
1979--90 campers

Director: Don Begeman

We moved to Cedar Lake Outdoor Center in order to have room for more campers. While there, many drove to a camp ground and stayed in campers so we could accommodate the large number of kids that came. It was a beautiful setting with enormous cedar trees. The bad thing about this camp was the distance between the cabins--the boys had to walk at least 1/4 mile and there were deer flies that attacked them. We had this camp all to ourselves, though, as it was in an isolated area. The lake was right on the campground. We had to have a firewatch all night each night. This situation was unique to this camp. That meant someone had to be up at all times. Dick Lane became quite a force in camp as he assisted Don, the Elder etc. in devotions, vespers. We still miss him in these areas.

Nature: Was run by Hob Chapman with an assist from Rob Vaughn. (Hob died in April of 1978.) Eventually Rob had to totally take over the nature class and was famous for his candy bar questions. (The kids loved that!) Karen Dorsey was nursing staff first time in 1977. Jeff Trueman was present in 1977 before his first stint in Italy as a missionary.

Crafts: Macramé hanging planters with Sally Johnson and Violet Chapman in charge. Art classes with Hob Chapman & Ken Johnson. A small step stool by Kathleen Johnson. Lynn Vaughn and Dewey Chapman made salt dough projects.

Remember...

  • The Grandma's (Begeman, Chapman and Hamilton) brigade, peeling, scrubbing and washing pans.
  • Grandma Hamilton working in crafts.
  • Dick leading out at vesper's service--interviews with Naomi (Kay) and Ruth (Kathy).
  • Calisthenics with Kevin Lane, Brian Begeman and Steve Chapman.
  • In 1977 Steve Chapman, Jeff Begeman and Calvin Lapp totally taking over K.P. as Ruth stayed home with the new Vaughn twins.
  • Eddie Thurston playing the piano from the back of the truck when we were packing up.
  • The Bush kids leaving mid-week when their father died of a heart attack at 43.
  • Echoes giving an outdoor concert for Vespers.
  • The boys running through the woods with towels on their heads.
  • Counselors ordering in from McDonald's and getting caught.
  • Monty Python skits.
  • The pre-campers outside by the kitchen rolling out play dough with flour all over. (Some of those--Jamie & Erin Fedor, Josh & Jake Gearhart, Emily & Brad Smith, David & Doug Vaughn, Kane Begeman & Brad Charles.)
  • The Magic show for vespers with ropes, rings and a box of swords.
  • Kathy Smeltzer remembers staff talk sessions around the big pine tree with Dick Lane.
  • Daran Chapman's birthday each year at camp and the cake Thelma brought to celebrate.

Quotes from 1975

  • Tammi Radu: "Camp is my favorite time of year."
  • Chris Atkinson: "I come to camp because of the special love between the people here."
  • Calvin Lapp: "I come to learn about God and his teachings. (Cal died in 1989 of leukemia)."
  • Bobby Jones: "Really fun all around."