The Boys of Summer
By Pati Egan
I was recently at the Camp Gala and spent some time with some Boys Staff from the late 60’s to early 70’s. These guys have been friends for 50 or more years! That’s Camp magic – they still get together, work on volunteer projects at Camp together, and play hard together. This post is a tribute to enduring friendship, fellowship, and Camp Spirit.
This photo was most likely taken in the fall. Dave Jansen is at the old stables. He and some friends were most likely helping with a Moccasin Gap ride. This group still volunteers for Stable Round-Up in the fall and spring.
These boys appear to be wearing neckerchiefs instead of unit shirts. This photo must be from the very early 1960s.
The Cabin in the back is a Staff Cabin. One is still left—Lakeside by Lalemant. Nothing builds a strong bond faster than living with three or four other staff members for six weeks.
Inspection is one of Camp’s oldest traditions. I’m not sure why the Unit is sitting down in this photo. It may be because some campers were “unaccounted for” or missing. No one was ever genuinely missing, usually taking their time arriving for inspection.
Notice in the photo that no one has on life jackets. It wasn’t until the early 80s that all Campers wore life jackets. I was the Program Director when we started this practice. We had an entertaining program put on by the state. Campers could take a short boating safety class. The Rangers brought a little electric boat, and the campers had to maneuver through an obstacle course. I remember they received a Safe Boater Certificate for completion. The Ranger informed us that we needed life jackets for all small crafts. They just had to be in the boat. I bought them but detested wearing a wet life jacket as a kid. I made the rule that life jackets must be worn during boating activities. Forty years later, the rule still stands.
These Boys of Summer certainly knew how to do this! From building tree houses with the Primitive Campers in Teondechoren to getting the whole Unit to cross over to Breadloaf Rock. Work hard, play hard!
Forty years from now, some Staff of today will be sitting around the campfire at Camp and reminiscing about the crazy times they had at Ondessonk. They will marvel at how the bond they created all those years ago is as strong as in 2025. Heepwah to the Boys Of Summer!
Thanks to Gary Szymula and Dave Jansen for the photos and the fellowship we shared at the Gala.
Don Henley- The Boys of Summer
Nobody-on-the-road
nobody-on-the-beach-
i-feel-it-in-the-air-
the-summers-out-
of-reach…
Click here to learn more about Camp Ondessonk’s Mission & History.
