Dropping my son Anthony off for first session was like going back in time for me…..driving the back roads to camp (and narrowly avoiding certain death on some of the turns), unloading the footlocker (the same one I took to Camp Chanco for 8 years), finding out which campsite Anthony was in, meeting the counselors….  continue reading »

Well, Chuck Alley, Jenny Schroeder Alfano, and I spent last Thursday-Saturday at Chanco with all of our children for part of Work Week, and there are a few things I think people ought to know about Camp Chanco... Did you know that there is no indoor plumbing in the living quarters at that place??  continue reading »

Camp Chanco certainly is amalgamation of people, moments and an unusual Spirit that penetrates the 5 senses even after we have left it.

Whether it has been years or even decades (yes decades - it is nearly 40 years old) I cannot recall how often but there are those moments in our corners of the world where we taste - Bug juice - we smell -OFF repellent - we see - the moon tucked up high as if it is guarding over the James.

Which leads me to think of the physical character of the land and those nooks that were carved out of the Woods over the years. I am certain that the current location has matured and aged and worn itself into a fine specimen but I cannot express how vivid the original site still is to me this day.

I am almost convinced that if I should return in my dreams to that site I could navigate through it - blindfolded. With the replaying of memories the footsteps are retraced like a pencil tracing on waxpaper.

The Midnight Trail  continue reading »