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| Camp Girl: The SJG, age eight |
Maybe you know this. Maybe you don't. Either way, you're going to know it now. The SJG was a camp girl. I went to sleep away camp. I hiked. I made lanyards. I jumped on trampolines. I rode horses. I knew from archery. I sang Kumbaya. Every summer, starting at the age of eight. Five years in a row. I went to Camp Akela in Big Bear, a place run by Jews pretending to be Indians. The "chief" of the camp was named Iron Bow. The counselors had names like Feather and Arrow. They made us yell "Ho!" a lot. To this day, hubby begs me not to sing camp songs, but I do, anyway. In this way, I'm annoying. But I can't help it. The camp songs of my youth reside on a cellular level, and come out, involuntarily. The other day, we went down the block to Gelson's, a two-minute car ride, if that, and I was back in the camp bus, singing, "We're here because we're here because we're here because we're here, we're here because we're here because we're here because we're here." I know. It's a dumb song, maybe the dumbest song ever, but I love it. Once a camp girl, always a camp girl. Now and then, I get nostalgic about my camp days. I think about the time a wild horse ran off with me -- Ba-bye, SJG! Nice knowing ya! -- and I was hanging by the stirrups -- not the gynecological kind, silly -- and a very handsome camp counselor jumped off his horse, jumped right over the horse's head, I swear, and rescued me. Who says I haven't lived on the edge! Of course, there were ups and downs. Camp wasn't all fun and games. At the tender age of 10, I discovered the real reason my parents couldn't wait to put me and my brother John on that bus to Big Bear. Not for the fresh air. Not for the bonding, the bunk beds, the bug repellent. The real reason? They couldn't wait to get rid of us. One summer, they were so elated by our absence, they threw a party to celebrate! Here's what it said on the invitation. Two words: "THEY'RE GONE!" Oh, the inhumanity! Not to mention, the years of therapy that followed. Did my parents throw a party when we returned from our month away in Big Bear? Did they hang signs that said, "Welcome Back, Kids! We Missed You!"? No, they didn't. No parties, no signs, no hoopla. They were too busy thinking about next summer. "Hey, guys, you had such a great time at camp, maybe next year, you'll stay two months." And guess what? We did.
Being shipped off to camp with you every summer are some of the happiest moments of our childhood.
ReplyDeleteTwo words .. "Color War!"
We had fun. And they had fun while we were away.
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ReplyDeleteI so remember that girl in the picture! Loved her then, love her still. And, if that party invite is true, oh my god-- best invitation ever! (Tell me you saved the shirt)
ReplyDeleteThank you, Mick! And yes, it's true!!! I heard about it MY ENTIRE CHILDHOOD!!! As for the shirt, it probably came from Pixie Town and I probably left it at camp by accident. Never seen it since.
ReplyDeleteCarol: You knew me as Willow in 1969--I taught crafts and was the song leader. I have a photo of you with Audrey, who I believe is at your right above, along with Marsha, Patty, Chris and Ellen. Don't feel bad. I had to console one of the other girls whose parents dumped her at Akela every summer and didn't even bother to visit! Was the cute counselor who saved you Reins? The gymnastics counselor, Tuck, wrote me recently--he is up in Oregon. Thanks for the memories! You were a doll!
ReplyDeleteI remember Tuck! How about Artsy, she was my counselor!
DeleteMerry Felton
Hi Carol-
ReplyDeleteI was feeling nostalgic and googled Camp Akela - found your post! It's been so long that I thought I had imagined my summers with Iron Bow and the gang, but you've affirmed my happy years - especially in the Witch's Den. I was there in the mid-60's, how about you?
Merry Felton in those years.....
Thanks for the memories!
I too was feeling nostalgic. I was at Akela from '61 thru '68 as camper and roustabout and have a ton of fond memories of everything from leaving from Farmer's Market to finding gold painted rocks on 49'ers day to the noise in the dinning hall to avoiding itchy nettles. I have been looking for Tuck, I remember Willow, mycounselor was usually Buckshot and I lived in the tent next to the bell (ooh, painful) during my roustabout years. Swam a lot and played a lot of baseball. Name was Rich but almost everyone called me Babe.
ReplyDeleteWould like to reconnect with anyone who had this great experience.
I was a counselor for two consecutive summers-'65-66'--lifeguard and tennis coach. First summer had 8-year-olds boys; 2nd summer, 9-year-olds first 4-week session--6-year-olds 2nd session. My name was "Grip". The leaders of the camp were Bill Greene and Jack something-can't remember. They were wonderful summers for me-great memories1 Does anyone remember me?
DeleteHis name was Jack Marks. I was at Akela from 1955 through 1960. Hi, SJG/Carol!
DeleteI just read your “Camp Girl” blog dated July 21, 2012. I enjoyed, read that as loved, every word. Here’s my story, and why I love both your wonderful writing style as well as the subject of your post: Camp Akela.
I’m spending a few days right now in Big Bear with the same gal I went to Grant High School with, Robin Steinhardt. My name is Rick Stambul. While up here in Big Bear I discovered the old Camp (Akela) on Fox Farm Road. My parents first dumped me at Camp Akela in 1955 at the ripe old age of 8. I spent 2 months at Camp Akela in 1955, and the same every year after that (with one exception) through the summer of 1960. Actually, the “chief” of the camp then was Bill Green, a high school teacher at Beverly Hills High School...we called him “Uncle Bill.” His wife’s name was Duchess, and she didn’t say much. Iron Bow was Uncle Bill’s right hand man and ran the camp, day to day. In the ‘50’s the counselor’s were men like Bullet, Flip (Iron Bow’s brother or relative), Glaze, and so on. The old buildings where Bill and Duchess lived atop the mess hall where we ate our meals, are still standing, and in use. The road up to the Boy’s cabins is rundown, overgrown, but right there. The grounds are locked but you can see in a bit if you pull up the short driveway. What a ride down memory lane. I could imagine the Olympic size swimming pool; baseball field; archery targets; dark rooms; horse stalls for riding; rifle range; all of it. And then when I got back to our cabin in Big Bear, I googled Camp Akela, and found your wonderful blog about MY camp. Wow!
I have many of the memories you recall so vividly, and relate with such elegance. What wonderful childhood memories. And here’s my favorite Camp Akela story from those years (No, not the panty raids; Sunday morning spiritual service in the woods; camp fire with stories told late a night; skim milk (the bain of my young existence); the penny arcade we went to once a week in Big Bear; etc.
It was Uncle Bill who taught us what was important in life, and what was not. Uncle Bill taught by example. When he felt he was in the right, he was fearless. My back story: He is one of the reasons I served in Mississippi in 1964 in what is now called, Freedom Summer, helping to register Black voters, setting up Freedom Schools, and serving as a foot soldier in the Civil Rights movement. It started early in 1955 when our entire world was so different. Woolworth’s on Van Nuys Blvd. (near the Rivoli theater) refused to serve Black people at their lunch counter.
In January of 1955 Bill was approached by a high school principal asking that his 3 children (Claudia Cummings (about 13); Craig Cummings (about 8 or 9); and their younger sister whose name I can’t recall right now, be allowed to attend camp. Why was this so special? Because Uncle Bill said, “Yes!” Why was this decision daring; ethically right; and a life lesson everyone should remember? Because Claudia, Craig, their entire family were African-Americans (Negroes back then). Bill ran the very real risk that his new camp wouldn’t have anyone return the next year. The U.S. Supreme Court landmark desegregation case, Brown v. Board of Education, was barely 1 year old. Craig became my best friend that summer. We were inseparable. I’ve tried to find him over the years without success. That’s what I remember most about Bill Green and Camp Akela.
Thank you!
Rick
Rich- would that be Babe Rueben(s)? Dan Hess here. If it is indeed you, I have a picture of the two of us standing on the back steps of the dining hall. You've been on my list of "I wonder what happened to......" along with Emmitt Hawkins, Ricky Wexler, Mike Weisman, and Carol Hinden to name a few. I hope you set this up to get notified; be fun to trade some old stories.
DeleteHi Rich, You said you are looking for Tuck. This is Tuck, counselor from 1968-1971. Four of the greatest summers of my life.
DeleteRick Stambul, thanks for sharing your stories about Camp Akela and especially about Uncle Bill's courage in moral issues! He was a great man. I was uplifted to read your stories about him.
DeleteOh my...google "Camp Akela" and all sort of memories come back. I was there '65 through '69. 10 through14 age. Jacki. I remember Buckshot, Tuck and some others Artsy? Flick?
ReplyDeleteHi-First time I've ever googled Camp Akela and this came up. I was a counselor summers of '65 and '66--swimming and tennis. Had 9-year-old boys first summer; 6 and 8-year-olds 2nd summer. My camp name was "Grip"--do you remember me? I'm turning 70 this summer--time's gone by so fast!
DeleteThis is Tuck. Yep, I remember Artsy and Buckshot. They were there my first summer, 1968.
DeleteCarol- my name is Dan Hess and I was at Camp Akela from 65 to 67, my last year was as a roustabout. I don't recall you but I'm pretty sure I remember your brother John. Please send my best to him and if he doesn't remember me, tell him I was the guy who helped him score on an "in the park home run" during one of our baseball games.
ReplyDeleteI'll add one bit to the history being collected here. After Camp Akela as we knew it went out of existence, Iron Bow/Jack Marks and his wife operated a horse riding camp up in Northern California; I believe it was in Sonoma County.
I find myself singing this from time to time; "Make new friends, but keep the old. One is silver and the other gold." Camp Akela has a special place in my memories.
I am totally excited to find this page/blog. I went to C.A. in the late 60s for two consecutive years. My father's girlfriend told him about the camp and she wanted to send me sisters and me away for the summers so she could spend time with my father alone. I actually loved being at Camp Akela. I remember Mr Marks coming to my home one evening and explaining what the camp was about and I was sold on the horses. I was shy and an introvert so I think many wont remember me. Star was my counselor one year. I remember Uncle Bill, Flip, Star, Tuck and I can't recall the other names. The nurse was also so sweet to me. There was a camp store, the canteen, to buy, candy, toiletries, stationary etc.... The activities were horse back riding, archery, rifelry, swimming, gymnastics/trampoline, art and craft. I also remember the dances and the mess hall. I was too shy to dance. I used to eat peanut butter and pickle sandwiches. Some of the songs I remember are Donna Donna Donna, Mrs Oleary, There's a whole in my bucket. I know there is a lot more that I can't recall right off the bat. If anyone is interested in contacting me please do. I would like have my memory jarred and reunite with those I went to camp with.
ReplyDeleteJeanRothstein1958@gmail.com
DeleteThere's a Facebook page for Camp Akela with a lot of photos and some stories. I visited the site several times recently. A terrific inspiration for memories, and some sadness at seeing the ruin it has become. Not even a sign that the beautiful swimming pool was ever there. Sigh.
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