THE SUSQUEHANNA

LOOKOUT

Again, our hearty welcome to these boys and the 1966 season at Susquehanna.

Mr. Charles Flood, Dramatics Counselor gave an opening prayer, and this was followed by a fine meal, London Broil and the usual trimmings.

Mr. Schroder read off a list of notes and messages received from those unable to attend including messages from Mr. and Mrs. Bob Waters, Mr. Tony Seward, Albert and Clarke Walker, Bob Filskov, Jeff Altman, Bruce, Richard and Steve Tucker, Barry Weissglass, Dave Kille, Mr. Paul Davis and other.

Following these announcements, Mr. Schroder spoke briefly on the 1965 season and the fun ahead, already being planned for the 1966 season, Time flew right along and so the awards were then presented from the speakers table.

First Place Award - Junior Camp - Mark Bergman of Washington, D.C.
First Place Award - Intermediate Camp - John Todhunter. John being unable to attend due to distance, received his award by mail in Barnesboro, Penna.
First Place Award - Senior Camp - Chris McMurray, West Caldwell, New Jersey

Then Amongst the annual awards: the Warbasse trophy - Jimmy Igner, Fort Lee, New Jersey. Larisch Trophy - Bruce Tucker, Short Hills, New Jersey. Parkinson Trophy - Ned Halle, Baltimore, Maryland. Coppola Brothers Trophy - Bill Kahn, Nutley, New Jersey. Deakin Swimming Trophy - Mark Bergman, Washington, D.C. Finkler Memorial Award - John Edwards, Williamsport, Penna. Since the annual awards are due to be returned to camp as a permanent schedule, and thus are only in the boys possession a short time, small medals, indicating the award were given to the honored campers.

The award envelopes were distributed by the Head Counselors and their representatives to those boys in their groups. The awards for those boys who were unable to attend were placed in the mail. Mention was also made of the inscribed plate for the Oscar Awards. The Oscars had been distributed at the camp banquet at the end of the season and the plates were enclosed with the envelopes.

A brief intermission allowed time to set up projectors and soon everyone was enjoying the sights of the 1965 season captured on film by Mr. & Mrs. Schroder and others. Highlighting the films were outstanding shots of the senior's canoe trip in the Adirondacks, and also the Post Season trip in late August.

Before closing out this report of the camp reunion, we want to mention an outstanding fact, and extend our congratulations to Chris McMurray - recipient of the Best Camper Award. He now has a pair of identical trophies.

And now it is 2 years later and I am 2 years older. And Susquehanna is more than someplace in Pennsylvania. It is a part of my life which will never leave me. I am very changed by my 2 seasons at camp. I am different for this experience and feel that I have truly found my vocation in teaching, solely through the wonderful experiences I have had at camp.

But Susquehanna is not just a place or something we do during the summer. It is a way of life. It represents much in this modern world. It is a place where dedicated people are striving towards purposes often forgotten in this world. Our programme of 'character development through recreation' implies so very much. It implies the difference between materialism and a sense of purpose. It implies the difference between selfishness and selflessness. It implies so much that cannot be put into words. There are people whom I have met at Susquehanna who will remain with me the rest of my life. For we are all a part of one another. We are living our lives in the present, looking to the future and we are inexorably linked to the past. Susquehanna is the common ground though which we are able to learn to love and understand. It is the place where we can take the time to listen to another's joys and sorrows; to their hopes and aspirations; to the loves and hates. In short, it is the common ground where we may learn to understand and live life. And life is a complex time and thing. But mostly, it is a series of encounter with others.

There are few places in this world where we can always go and find a friend. Each summer some do not return, and some new people come to take their places. But everyone who has ever been to this camp has left a part of himself there, and has taken a part of Susquehanna with him for the rest of his life. Susquehanna is not a collection of buildings and land and things. It is people. It is the warmth of a remembered moment. It is a little smile that happens when you think of a person or incident or day. And it is relived over an over again. Susquehanna is happening all year around in every corner of the world. We are a large family that can never be separated by the miles or time or death. There will always be a Peter Stein at Susquehanna and a Clarence Smith and many others. They will always be there for their memories are not gone. They live on in the minds of those who knew them and even in those who did not. A John Larisch is just as alive to me, as he was for those who actually knew and loved him.

But Susquehanna is by no means the past. It is the present and the future. For we, ever day, cannot complete a series of thoughts without thinking of someone or something ore we cannot even look at the Star-Spangled Banner without thinking of the one with the green and gold flag hanging beside it.

So, Susquehanna has come to mean much to all of us who know her. She has made an effect on each of us. And, - maybe - this effect might bring a laugh or a tear, but it will affect us. I can think of a boy getting up at a Sunday Service and saying what he learned at camp that summer, was that there were people who cared for him and that he would make a great effort to give them reason to care and believe in him. And I can remember crying for the first time in too many years. And I was not alone in that. So here is my contract for 1966, all signed, sealed and delivered. And I pray that it will not be the last one I send. We have a calling in this life to "serve the body and soul of youth" and I hope that I shall be able to do this for many years to come.

I thank the staff at Susquehanna, I thank Mr. Schroder under whose very good leadership I hope to serve for many years to come; and I thank the United States of America where freedom is allowed to express itself and make Susquehanna, and so much more, possible.

Charles T. A. Flood
Windsor, Ontario, Canada

Despite unseasonable warm weather, there was a little snow on the campsite, but tobogganing was limited to the snow area in the lower pasture. Several good hockey games were enjoyed on the lake which was covered with ice, at least before even warmer weather came along in the week, and turned the ice to slush.

The group used the facilities of the Craft Lodge and prepared some of their own meals in camp. Visitors to camp during this time included Don Alsted, who drove up in his new car, a Porsche; and Mr. Ed Hull, home from school in Texas for the holidays with his family. It was good to see everybody.

Mr. Mike Knapp, Boating Counselor for the 1964-65 seasons, now a member of the U.S. Navy, hopes to visit camp in July when enroute to attend Aviation Electronics Technician School in Nashville, Tenn.

Here at camp, beaver are working along the shores of the lake and some trees have been chewed down by them. At the Dining Hall, a Ruffled Grouse decided to take up residence inside, flying through one of the screens, and underneath the building, a porcupine is about to set up housekeeping. But not if Bob Pease can help it and can get him out. On the Riding Field, a herd of 5 deer are making the circle that is usually reserved for riding classes. Must be spring that is stirring the animals up but then Mr. Schroder brought out some of the port furniture for the "A" building porch, so we are convinced it must be spring.

Mr. Jack O'Connell, 1961-65 seasons, and attending Seton Hall University, recently visited camp with Scotty Miller (1958-65) Jack was sporting an attractive cast on his right ankle which he had broken while playing basketball - but now mending nicely, and was not too bothersome to allow him to drive a new mustang car.

It is with genuine regret that we report the passing of Samuel Decker of Washington, D.C. We deeply sympathize with John, David and Robert on their loss of their father, and do want to extend our sincere condolences.

Paul and Steve Zeger of Englewood, N.J. (1965 Season) are moving to Portland, Oregon this summer where their folks are operating a canning factory. Best of luck boys in the new home.

If you happen to have an odd get-well card around, send it on to Mr. George Murphy, Head Waterfront Director 1964-65 seasons. Mr. Murphy injured a leg refereeing a game at his school and we understand is now hobbling around on crutches. He'll be glad to hear from you, and perhaps this will help to relieve some of the discomfort.

Subscribers to the "Chronicle of the Horse" a magazine devoted to horse enthusiasts, would have noticed a lengthy article which was written by Frank Leow (former Head Riding Instructor here at camp, and now a full fledged research veterinarian in North Carolina). This was the same article which appeared last spring in the American Camping Assoc. publication, "Camping Magazine". Frank has promised to buy a pizza in memory of his friends at camp, from the payment he received from this article.

The old oak tree pictured on page one was found in our picture file and we just could not help but transpose this to decorate this issue of the "Lookout". And at the same time, register our protest that summer is so long in coming. When that particular stencil was prepared, some three weeks of continuous cloudy, rainy or snowy weather had been experienced. We hope you like it, and that summer will take the rather broad hint and arrive real soon with good camping weather.

Yes sir, girls are coming to Camp Susquehanna - middle of May to be exact. What is happening is that a special group from Harpur College and Broom Tech College in Binghamton, New York, - the Methodist Youth Group, will come for the weekend as a retreat program. This will be their second appearance at Camp in the off-season, and it is a real pleasure to welcome them.

Mr. Schroder has asked us to mention current enrollments. Readers will easily recognize the large number of new campers who have already enrolled for the 1967 season. Some places are being tentatively held for former campers, who have advised of their returning. If you have not yet enrolled, it would be good to do this real soon and insure a place. You may have a friend, too, who may be interested in coming, and if you do, just return the card that is enclosed and information will be forwarded.

It is with a measure of pride, based on the past three years' experience, that we introduce Mr. Othmar Kaufmann of Geneva Switzerland, as Camp Susquehanna's representative of this service for this summer. Mr. Kaufman is a graduate of the University of Geneva, and has had vast experience as a leader in the Geneva Boy Scout Organization, and in countries of the Middle East. His skills in Riflery and Sailing, as well as on overnight trips will benefit many here at camp this year. We are very pleased to extend this welcome to Mr. Kaufmann, and are reserving a seat at the next campfire when he will relate his experience.

Mt. John Kocsis - Garden City, Michigan, currently a student at Henry Ford College in Dearborn, Michigan where he is pursuing a teaching course, with emphasis on the study of geography. Mr. Kocsis has had extensive camping experiences in Michigan and in the Rocky Mountains.

Mr. Harry Miller - Hazelton, Pennsylvania currently attending Oakland Academy at New Windsor, New York. Mr. Miller has had a number of years of camping experiences in the Pocono's.

Discipline is the least satisfactory aspect of school life here but in other respects I am finding the school really interesting and stimulation - the problems of teaching a third foreign language in a second, have intrigued me so much that I applied and have accepted to read for a Ph.D. in linguistics, which will involve research into contact situations where the two cultures meet, and to consequent linguistic ferment and the methods of teaching language in such a situation. This will be a 3-year undertaking, starting at York University in England, next October, with some other multi-lingual country to do the necessary field work.

I have also been kept fairly well occupied managing the music at the school. At the conclusion of last term, we had what the Headmaster called "A Festival of Lessons and Carols" modeled very closely upon the famous King's College Cambridge example. After the more or less major crises that attend this kind of undertaking, we eventually had 300 students singing the hymns and carols, in four parts harmony or variations there-on. This term we are planning a more ambitious art and culture exhibition, which will involve the art and craft work the students' do as part of the week's curriculum, native dancing and drumming, and song recital.

Jeffrey Cox

Editor's Note: Mr. Cox, a native of England was counselor of Int. #3 in 1964 season, and did much to sponsor camper interest in the sports Rugby and Cricket. The VSO is England's own Peace Corps, and means Volunteer Services Overseas.