The Great Green Machine
By Pati Egan
The Kelly-Green unit of Garnier was not one of the four original units but it was a huge hit when it was built in the early 1960s. Garnier has changed locations three times – originally it was tucked among rock formations in a beautiful green valley that was beyond Lalemant’s original location but followed a canyon close to Brébeuf. When Lake Echon was created in 1967 Garnier was one of the units that had to be moved. Garnier’s cabins were then located on the shoreline of Lake Echon close to where the cabins stand now.
I found this old blog written by Lucia (Juenger) Hodges about how she became Unit Leader of Garnier in 1964.
“In 1964, I had counted the days until Ondessonk’s “Girl’s Season” began during the second half of the summer. Boy campers came for the first six weeks. I was rehired for summer number two as stable crew, my dream job. My main reason for coming to Camp in the first place was that Camp had a herd! I went to work at Stable “B,” the original barn that was at Brebeuf Flats.
It was to be an absolutely glorious six weeks in the barn! “Cocky” said so. Several of my Notre Dame classmates were hired for staff as well. K. K. Fischer was elated to be assigned Unit Leader for the two-week unit of Garnier.
The middle of week one, the rumors started. The unit of Garnier, populated almost entirely with girls from Reitz Memorial High in Evansville, Ind., was garnering lots of negative attention. Reportedly, girls were skinny dipping in Ozark Creek (before Lake Echon), swinging on and destroying cabin doors (cabins had them in 1964), coming late or skipping activities, and in general, creating chaos. The staff felt sorry for poor K.K.
Then, one dark night it happened. Capture the Flag in the pasture was a usual event for two-weekers. The pasture has gullies and divots. K.K. broke an ankle. I knew better than to accuse K.K. of doing it on purpose, although others would speculate. The following morning, as I blissfully saddled horses, I was called to the office to learn that I would be taking over as Garnier Unit Leader. (Pause here to imagine several choice words of dismay.) Three campers, not from Evansville, came to me in a panic to distance themselves from the notorious bunch. I called a Unit meeting!
After a rousing, but stern “pep” talk (wish I’d saved a copy), Garnier became a Unit of winners! Wearing their matching gym suits often won inspection. We came in first place in Tug, Field Day, AND Water Carnival. With the majority of our campers being members of the Reitz choir, our campfire skit (songs written by camper Peg Hausmann) sung in three-part harmony still makes me want to hear it again. It won FIRST also. The fact that one of the judges was my Notre Dame drama teacher didn’t hurt. I think it might be significant to note that SEVERAL of these Garnier girls became staff. What I initially thought would be one of my worst experiences at Ondessonk, turned out to be one of my most cherished.”
Garnier was always a popular choice for campers. It changed locations three times: its original location was in a beautiful canyon that is in Lake Echon today. The cabins then were moved to the shore of Lake Echon – very close to where the tree house cabins were built.
All of that moving around took a toll on the original cabins. Some of the cabins were vulnerable to high water if Echon overflowed.
A new idea and a brilliant design
What is so special about Garnier? It was the first unit where the cabins were inspired by a trip to Disney World! The inspiration for the three-sided, peaked roofs with connecting catwalks design that are featured in most of today’s tree house units was a rather tame Disneyland ride, still in existence today, called “The Enchanted Tiki Room.”
If you use your imagination, you can see the inspiration for this design!
Gene Canavan, the original builder and designer, stated that Garnier was the first unit to try this design. Gene states in the 50th Anniversary Book that “The idea was crazy, but leaves didn’t stay on the roofs, water drained, and the ground wasn’t trampled because kids stayed on the catwalks.” The unit was a huge success! Garnier has had some changes throughout the years – originally there were ladders instead of stairways. I’m sure that getting your luggage up the ladders was an adventure.
Garnier has always been Kelly Green and has always had a bobcat as it’s spirit animal. It can now add the title of “First Polynesian Designed Unit.”
Click Here to learn more about Camp Ondessonk’s unique cabins.
