The 1972 Season - Looking Backward
This has to be called "The Season Of" - it was the season of rain - more
than any other season in our memory. It was the season of the horse
van, making it possible to enter horse shows. It was the season of the
tractors and hay baler, so now we can get our own hay rather than depend
on others to do it for us. It was the season of new rifles, which ended
up under flood waters in Wilkes-Barre, holding up the riflery program
while we located other new ones. It was the season of the circus tent
dining hall in Equinita which finally got up at the end of the first
half, but which we couldn't get finished. It was the season when every
first half camper received the Webfoot Award. It was the season of the
lake road that disappeared, only to reappear having been washed down
onto our beach. It was the season of the brand new herd of horses, and
our surprises getting to know them. It was the season of the fully-co-ed
Horsemen group, and of the horseman apprentices. It was the season of
Equinita II and a small group of girls who pioneered that new segment of
the camps. It was the season of - Tingley Lake, Fernheim, The Country
Store, Elk Mountain, Halloween in August, Buttermilk Falls, The "Forth"
of July, the Gymkhana, the Bittersweet Horse show, the raccoons, the
English Channel Swim, the dances, the Horsemen trip to Cornell, Indian
Creek, supper rides, home made bread, the Olympics, hay rides, and many
more things.
Mostly, though, it was a season of great campers and great counselors.
Never before has a camp community accomplished so much against such odds
with the weather. Hurricane Agnes did not affect us directly, but she
certainly slowed us up with all her rain. Campers and Counselors went
right ahead with everything, though, and we all had a great time. It
hardly seems possible that it is over, but the nights are now cold, and
some of the early maple trees are starting to change their color to red
and yellow. All of the tents are down, the shutters closed, and Camps
Susquehanna and Equinita are about to hibernate for the winter. When we
walk out into the clearings at night now, it doesn't feel like a camp.
We feel as though we are in the middle of a woods all alone. The vibrant
heartbeat of the camp is missing. When we walk back into the 'A'
building, though, it is a different story. There are the piles of 'Lost
& Found' and the left behind. There, too, are the piles of things to
be put away or repaired. Finally, there are the piles of our own things
to be packed and moved to our winter quarters. The season ends, but the
work goes on.
LOOKING AHEAD - The next big event is the reunion at the National Horse
Show in New York City Nov. 11th. Details will be along later when we
find out about prices and other important matters.
It was a great season. We're looking forward to seeing you during the
winter and here at camp next summer. In the meantime, have a great time
in school, and stay in touch.
Sincerely
Ken & Joy
Swimming Awards
The waterfront was busy during the 1972 season, with many campers
passing their tests for swimming ratings. Those campers who passed their
tests are:
BEGINNER - Laura Osborne, Carla Weisberg, Allison Kruger
ADVANCED BEGINNER - Eduardo Avalos, Todd Schroder, Jill Kurtz, Robbie
Devor, Vicki Vogel, Teddy Hartree, Rana Glickman, and Karen Goldstein
INTERMEDIATE - Tracy and Carla Sepe, Karen-Jeane Rosenberg, Pam Susson,
Teddy Forbath, Charlotte Swanson, Scott Orr, Michele Kemmerer, Fred
Dameron, Adrienne Bortree, and Deidre Torr
SWIMMER - Chris Schmutz, Edana Heller, Jose Luis Saiz, Joanne Tarricone,
Karen Blinder, Jim Schmutz, Erik Olsen, Jan Fellenbaum, John Kurtz,
Marc Wolf, Amy Katz, Sharon Hughes, Beth Robbins, Stephanie Zelden, Lisa
Schlossman, Pedro Sordo, and Jose Compos
JUNIOR LIFE SAVING - Shari Cohen, Henry Levine, Lynn Goldstein, Brenda
Hughes, Ruth Pickel, Margo Owett, Lisa Hoffman, Joanne Tarricone,
Stephanie Zelden, Jan Fellenbaum, Julie Brooks, Amy Maguire, Beth
Brooks, Julie Smith, Lisa Rogers, and Amy Ziegler
ADVANCED SWIMMER - Ignacio Avalos, Mitch Wasterlain, Adam Owett, Adam
Bailey, Eric Michelson, Jose Carrera, Eduardo Berrondo, Julio Carrera,
Fernando Uribe, Jenny Kurtz, Holly Schroder, and Andrew Julien
SWIMMING TROPHIES for the 1972 season were awarded to Karen Goldstein and Teddy Forbath.
Softball Game
Just after the regular softball season ended, the Susquehanna team
challenged the male staff to a game. For awhile, it looked as if the
team might win. But then, as Randy Everett joined the staff, the tide
began to turn. The team emerged as losers, while the staff again was
victorious, 7-6. The staff hereby challenges the team to a rematch, next
summer!
Horseshow
On Saturday August 12, the final two events of the Parent's Weekend
Horseshow were held, with both camps in attendance. The winners are:
Class 12 - Beginners Over Fences
First - Lisa Rogers
Second - Steve Bruckman
Third - Ellen Freed
Fourth - James Schmutz
Class 15 - Open Over Fences
First - Ross MacDonald
Second - Mark Schlossman
Third - Brad Michelson
Fourth - Debbie D'Acunto
Congratulations to the winners!
Skink Hunt
On Sunday the 13th, the Lower Camp (minus horsemen Scott Orr, Jeff
Marcus, and Mark Rogers) went off into the night on a skink hunt.
Jim Weeks and Rick Davis told the assembled campers about the skink, an
elusive lizard. Then, armed with laundry bags and noise makers, the
campers set off to a rock quarry to practice for the big hunt. Robbie
Devor, Greg Vogel, Andy Ziegler, and David Shevett eagerly volunteered
to be the "catchers", waiting at the end of the field for the skinks,
while everyone else made noise and scared the skinks downfield.
Timmy Joyce had one in his bag, but it slipped out and escaped. Todd
Schroder grabbed a skink but it somehow managed to wriggle free. Joe
Kaszeta, while not seeing any, almost saw one of the dark lizards.
Nobody caught one, but it was fun.
Awards - 1972
While the 1972 season may have been a wet, there was no sign of any lack
of enthusiasm on the part of the campers. The awards handed out at the
Annual Banquet are proof of the active season. Along with trophies and
medals listed below, many campers won Susquehanna "S"'s and Equinita
"E"'s. Congratulations are due for all, with special recognition for the
trophy and medal winners.
RIDING AWARDS
Horseman Awards
Ross MacDonald - Riding Excellence
Brenda Hughes - Most Improved Horseman
Nancy Morgan - Care and Interest Award
Holly Schroder - Horseman Award
Harold Vogel - Medal
Ed Adler - Medal
Non-Horsemen Awards
Greg Vogel - Most Improved Boy
Joanne Tarricone - Most Improved Girl
JOURNALISM AWARDS (Medals)
Vicki Vogel - Willingness to contribute to the paper
Darlene Gaydes - Artwork
Fred Dameron - Enthusiastic work
TENNIS AWARDS
Jim Schmutz - Medal for Most Improved
Lisa Hoffman - Medal for Most Improved
Mark Schlossman - Medal (Tournament Runner-Up)
Bret Wallach - Table Tennis Medal
Mark Schlossman - Table Tennis Medal
Eduardo Berrondo - Tennis Trophy
PHOTO MEDALS
Aaron Julien - Great Improvement
Todd Schroder - Great Improvement
Eric Michelson - General Excellence
DRAMATICS AWARDS
Lory Stapsy - Medal
Robert Dobbs - Medal
Jeffrey Marcus - Medal
Andrew Julien - Trophy
Jennifer Kurtz - Trophy
AIR RIFLERY AWARDS
John Kurtz - Medal for Excellence
Greg Vogel - Trophy for Excellence
ATHLETIC AWARDS
Tony Pleskow - Athletics Award
Brad Michelson - Baseball Medal
Miguel Avalos - Soccer Medal
ARCHERY AWARD
Henry Levine - Trophy
ARTS AND CRAFTS AWARD
Joanne Tarricone - Medal
The Sigafoose Memorial Award
In the rush and hubub of the Banquet, one of the more honored awards was
forgotten. The award, The Sigafoose Memorial (named after Guantanimo
Sigafoose, a mythical camper), is yearly awarded to a deserving member
of the staff, who somehow manages to earn it.
This year the award was both earned and given on the last day of camp,
less than three hours after the buses left for New York. Randy Everett,
while moving the waterfront equipment to the stage, managed to back the
Jolly Green over a canoe, completely crushing it.
After careful consideration, it was decided that Randy deserved the
award for his cautious use of camp equipment. Congratulations!
Baking-at-Equinita
Baking was the word last Thurs., August 17, at Camp Equinita. And eating
ran a close second, as Kathy Anderson and Carol Parr conducted the
first reflector oven class in Equinita's history.
Beginning early in the morning and continuing throughout the day, the
classes baked a total of twelve dozen chocolate chip cookies in the
lodge. Many campers came back two or three times to sample the tasty
morsels.
The oven itself was homemade. Kathy lashed four sticks to the corners of
a small grill, and then wrapped aluminum foil around three sides and
the bottom and top. She then placed the oven in front of the fire, where
the heat could reflect back into the oven.
Many campers just stopped in a few minutes to watch it work. A lot more
gathered wood to fuel the fire and bake the cookies, "almost like Mother
used to make".
Halloween
Wednesday, August 16 was Halloween, at least according to Equinita's
calendar. Everyone was invited to a party in the Lodge, where there was a
costume contest. Pretzel Rosenberg won the prize for most original. She
wore her clothing upside down and appeared to be walking on her hands.
Julie Smith was judged Most Frightening and Karen Blinder's costume of a
1920's schoolboy won her the prize of Most Well Done. The fourth
category of Funniest went to Carole Katz, who dressed, then undressed,
as a stripper.
There was also peach bobbing as well as refreshments. Equinita II
disguised the craft lodge as a haunted house, and judging by the screams
heard all over the clearing, it was rather scary!
Hayride
Just after dinner on Thursday, August 17th, all of the non horseman
campers went for a hayride, followed later by the horsemen. With Eddie
driving the tractor, the hay wagon rolled down Old Harmony, and into the
field by Barn #2, where Randy Everett threw hay onto everyone. Then as
Joanne Tarricone led everyone in singing, the ride continued before
turning around.
Coming back Andrew "Mushroom" Julien led the singing, making fun of many
staff members and some of his fellow campers, who showed their
appreciation by throwing hay.
The horsemen had to take a somewhat shorter ride because of darkness, but all enjoyed the evening tremendously.
Staff Show
After the horse show on Sat. Aug. 12th, the staff of both camps combined
their talents and gave an entertaining performance at the stage.
The highlight of the evening was the "Lower Larry Boys", as they gave
their own rendition of "Salty Dog Blues" and "Y'all Come". The "Boys"
featured Andy Bershad on the pot, Jim Davis on the pitcher, Brent Myers
on the tin pan, and Jim Weeks on the fiddle.
Dave Rosen and Steve Blauner sang an amusing song about the staff and
directors. Marilyn Robie as Nugget, Susan Perry as Elsworth, and Pat
Gallagher as Ajax acted out a typical day in the camp office, as far as
the dogs are concerned.
Solo performances were given by Ron Becker and Scott Nemtzow. The show
ended quietly as Dave Rynick and Marilyn Robie sang several songs with
guitar accompaniment.
