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LOOKOUT
| July 7, 1968 | Camp Susquehanna, New Milford, Pennsylvania, 18834 |
Mr. Harry Newman, Intermediate Head Counselor, and well known wit and dance instructor, was the Master of Ceremonies for the occasion. With bull-horn in hand, to make sure everyone heard him in camp and environs, Harry introduced each firework as it went off. After everyone had assembled at the baseball diamond, campers went out on the infield with their counselor, one unit at a time, and set off their fireworks. Most of the fireworks were of the cherry bomb type, (the type that go boom!) However, there were some Roman candles, flares, aerial bombs, and about a 1/2 dozen sky rockets. There were also some nice "helicopters" as well as some spectacular fountains. The Fourth of July is always an exciting day, and our fireworks display was a good way to end the evening.
Larry Mond
The cliffs of Wyalusing Rocks are formed from shale cut by the Susquehanna River, and provide a lookout point more than 1100 feet high. Fossils are often found in sedimentary rock and the Seniors were alerted to the possibility of discovering traces of tiny animals and plants. Mike Weed was luckiest, finding a nearly perfectly fossilized leaf.
Camper Tom Hooper found an arrowhead which was thought by some members of the group to be a relic of the Ichigumi civilization.
The Seniors made record time in climbing down and back in one hour and fifteen minutes. Counselor Bill DuCharme's time was about ten to fifteen minutes behind that of the group, but he finished in fine form.
After the hike, campers and counselors alike joined in a dip in the cool waters of nearby Leisure Lakes and enjoyed a succulent repast of Chiens Chauds (a la Susquehanna) broiled to a burn on the outdoor grill by Ensign Charles Krupnick.
Campers participating in the venture were Bob Durland, Tom Grimac, Tom Hooper, Rolf Olsen, Mike Weed, and Billy West. Bill DuCharme, Charlie Krupnick and Jack Narvel led the group.
Complaining and hissing, the Juniors trudged onto the Junior Clearing and took their places. The game dragged on, kept going only by the hope of winning the mysterious prize.
After 4 innings, the game was called and the winning team officially recognized. The winners were called off into the lavatory and the losers lined up, with their backs to the lavatory in the Junior Clearing. Head Counselor John Kocsis, took the losers into his confidence.
"Listen", he said, "whether you won or lost I was going to give you the prize. Just be quiet about it."
Bret Wallach turned red with mischievous delight. Chip Acierno and Teddy McShane exchanged smiles and rubbed their hands together.
"The other guys are getting handfuls of candy," John continued. "Just be quiet . and do what I tell you. They are going to come up behind you and give you one candy bar. What I want you to do is turn around when they come and take all of their candy and run."
Roger Ricklin began to giggle with excitement. Ross McDonald jumped up and down and clapped his hands. The losing team heard the winners coming up quietly behind them. The losers smiled vindictively. John raised his hand and said, "One, two - three...turn."
The losers turned and were greeted with pails of water in the face from the winners. The Junior Camp suddenly erupted into a massive water fight that was the hit of the early season.
Jeffrey Marcus tried desperately to carry a huge pail of water to dump on his counselor, but kept tripping on his way from the faucet, and spilling the water on himself. Mike Bolhofer stopped the fight momentarily, by accidentally turning the main water valve, shutting off all access. The water fight continued for another ten minutes and was ended voluntarily by twenty one exhausted and drenched Juniors and - not to mention the staff as well.
John Kocsis
The blacksmith is scheduled to shoe them, and they will then take their place in the active Susquehanna herd, joining our thoroughbred "Tribal Prince" and a jumper named "Traveler" and a palomino called "McGregor" - all of which have been new purchases this season, and which already are well liked by campers and the riding staff.
In their first week, the campers took pictures with pinhole cameras made from old shoeboxes, and with varying degrees of success. They also learned the rudiments of developing film, and making finished prints from their negatives.
An exhibit of some of the suggestions made by the boys, who were given a negative and asked to see just how many different pictures could be mad from it, is currently posted on the Bulletin Board at the side of the Program Office.
Campers participating in the photography activity are: John Eisenberg, Jon Marcus, and Robbie Stevens.
Jack Narvel
Saturday, July 6th:
Variety show at stage
Sunday, July 7th:
Seniors and C.T.'s overnight horseback trip
Monday, July 8th:
Juniors - Intermediates baseball game
Tuesday, July 9th:
Baseball game with visiting team from Camp Susquehannock
Wednesday, July 10th:
Intermediates - evening ride
Thursday, July 11th:
Juniors - Haunted House trip
Friday, July 12th:
Campfire
Saturday, July 13th:
Stage show
Special Mention:
Sunday, July 14th: Horsemen to take trip to Gladstone, New Jersey to watch the try-outs for the U.S. Olympic Team (USET)
Friday, Saturday and Sunday, July 19, 20, and 21st, Three day trips for all campers, canoe trip, horseback trip and foot hikes.
The Tribe is responsible for all the Intermediate campfires, and will be leading the project of getting the Intermediate Council Ring back in shape. They will be helping with the cooking on the Intermediate three-day hike, and doing a number of Intermediate Camp projects. In return, the boys are given a number of special privileges and treats, such as occasional trips into town for treats.
We would like to wish all members of the Intermediate Tribe the best of luck this season.
First, as usual, a public apology for misspelled names, and sundry other unintentional errors in past issues - and forgiveness for those that will occur in future issues. We just don't claim to be perfect or superior - just normal.
We've had some interesting mail lately - which we want to share with you, and some old-time campers and staff have visited, including Mike Knapp, Don Snyder, Alan Tripp, Roger Carpenter, Erik Miller, Rick Bell, Joe Fili, and Gary Pardun - Good to see you all. Then just recently, Ernie Marquart, the former Trip Counselor and more affectionately known as 'Cousin Ern' wrote from Rome and a portion of this letter is printed in this issue of the Lookout.
We have had some new additions in the camp office - such as 4 baby rabbits, who were left orphans when the hay was mowed. They are being bottle fed by our Gal Friday, Marilyn Lichtenstein, and various helpful campers and staff. Unfortunately, 2 have failed to survive, but the remaining two seem as though they will make the grade - and offers are being made for future permanent homes.
We'd like to share our experience of yesterday, when Harry Newman, a phone in each hand, made the arrangements with the director of the girls' camp, Camp Bryn Mawr and with Mr. Schroder, for a dance here at Susquehanna for Monday, July 15th. We, and other spectators in the office at the time of the call were left hysterical - and can't remember the exact words, but funny - funny - funny. This call was preceded by a two minute chat which Harry had with the long distance operator - during which he checked on the weather in Scranton, her health, and the current news headlines - not that this was anything special - he does that on all calls, but certainly does break up the monotony of one's day - Harry being just a garrulous person.
We'd also like to welcome some new arrivals Brian McIntyre, returning for his second summer, and arriving in the Junior Camp on Saturday, July 6th. Also, David and Enrique Nevett of Caracas, Venezuela, and scheduled to arrive in the Intermediate Camp on Sunday, July 7th. David and Enrique are coming for their first season.
Well, there is much more we could say, and undoubtedly much that we should say, but there will be other times for that. It is difficult to realize that the days have sped by so fast that already the first week of camp has passed - one fourth of the First Half - so, enjoy the rest of the season everybody, I'm going to do so.
The Editor
Intermediates #4 and #8 went on a hike to New Milford, and when they returned to camp, they cooked out in back of Intermediate #8. Everyone enjoyed the hike, as they had a chance to stop at some of the New Milford stores, and to walk around the town.
Intermediate Units #3 and #7 went on a hike, and returned to camp and to the waterfront, where they camped out for the night. At the waterfront, they caught some fish and had first hand experience of cooking and eating their lucky catches.
He has been associated with camp so much, he stopped counting the seasons, He is now a student at North American College in the Vatican, studying for the priesthood. It is obvious, even in Rome, he has not lost his interest in youth.
That night we were awakened by someone throwing rocks at the roof of the barn. We all got into the back of the camp truck, except for Tony Cavallo who got on the roof, and T.C. Todhunter, who got on the side, and then fell off on a bank.
We found that the invaders were Paul Davis, so we took his car keys and hid the car. Somehow he found the car which was in a hay field, and got it out.
The next morning we had an egg battle then returned to camp after a tiring night.
I guess you season is just about to start and I feel like mine is over. We just finished our exams after about two months of preparation during which time we hardly did anything else. Even with all this, I just got by. The quantity and depth of material which they expect you to know is phenomenal.
Yesterday we moved into our villa at Castel Gondalfo which is much cooler than the city. We also have a swimming pool here, some tennis courts and a beautiful view of the countryside. Three or four days of this and I'll be climbing the walls, so I'm going to Perugia which is also in the mountains to study Italian for the month of July. After that, a friend and I will rent a small Fiat and tour through northern Italy and perhaps also take in Salzburg, Austria, as well as seeing Venice, the Dolomites, Pisa and many other small towns and back places. After the travels, I'm returning here to the villa to take part in an ecumenical program with some Protestant theologians who are coming to stay at the villa and who will do some traveling and study of Christian archeology. That should all prove interesting.
To say that I will miss camp is an understatement. In fact, I think the hardest thing for me to take while I have been here is the fullness of the separation I felt from my friends, so many of whom are camp associates. But in addition, I think I will miss the sounds and the smells and the sights as well as the people and the work, and I am amazed myself how much Susquehanna has become a part of my life. At any rate, I look forward to the day when I can at least visit and see you all again - season 1971.
In April I took a trip with Troop 235, Rome, Italy, of the Boys Scouts of America. These kids were really typical except for their wide travels and varied backgrounds, with their parents in either the military, foreign service, or connected with the FAO of the United Nations. Actually, it was great to hear American teenage slang again and listen to jokes told by American kids as only they can tell them. It was also great to eat American style foods again, such as hamburgers, fried eggs and pancakes - no matter how they were cooked. We were camped about 15 kilometers north of Rome in a strictly farming area, over the hills and a the dirt roads. The quality of land was poor and is used only for grazing. There are only a few things here to remind one that he was in Italy and not in the U.S. One of these was the lizards. They are 6 to 8 inches long, and are all over. They would correspond to our red newts in Pennsylvania, or the chipmunks at camp. As you walk through a filed, they just run out of your way and they run very fast. They get into the tents and everywhere.
Last Tuesday, I bought a pair of outside roller skates and did some skating on our old seldom used basketball court, which is just ideal for that purpose. So far only one other student has joined me. The kids at the hospital sort of get a kick out of the fat little man skating around in the court which is just next door to them. One visitor at the hospital (about 8 years old) asked me what grade I was in. I said primo anno, and I thought he would die. I guess I said I was in first grade.
In addition to all this, we got the chance to try some new restaurants in Rome, visit the Villa Borghese, sort of like Central Park, and just relax and take it easy.
I'd like to write to each of my friends at camp, but I just don't have the time, and hope that this will let them know I think of them. Pleas do say hello for me in the meanwhile. Best wishes to you all, and God Bless.
Ernie Marquart