Old Camp, New Camp, Red Camp, Blue Camp  continue reading »

Old Camp, New Camp, Red Camp, Blue Camp

            It has been four weeks since I traveled by train from Rensselaer County (Troy), New York to Newport News, Virginia on my way to Chanco.  I have had a lot of time to reflect on what that trip meant and how the experience was.  It was great to see old friends and to make some new ones.  My facebook “friends” list has increased considerably.

            On the return trip, I was teary-eyed and sad, but elated all the same.  I took some notes, determined to write some sort of wrap-up piece for the website.  Now, after a month, I still want to write it, so, here goes:

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September 22 and 23rd were busy days at Chanco on the James! The first Annual Alumni “Smoke Signal Sleepover” Reunion was a huge success with every Chalet and Conference Room reserved. We had a wait list for this event and even had folks sleeping in the infirmary beds! Alumni came from as far as Connecticut and Florida to reunite at Chanco for this fun-filled event. The Alumni and their families enjoyed a slide show of photos from the 1970’s to the summer of 2007; heard from Talley Sale Banazek, Development Coordinator about the status of Chanco currently and the marketing, volunteer and financial needs of the Camp; witnessed an Indian Night led by Charlie Hughes with Eucharist officiated by the Rev. David Davenport; heard live music by a male/female acoustic duo; and experienced Eucharist on the Bluff Sunday morning led by the Rev. Stan Sawyer. The food was deliciously prepared and served by the new company overseeing the Chanco kitchen, FCG, LLC.  continue reading »

Married!

My pre occupation (wedding preps)  in the months leading up to April 14th have kept me from penning stories and recollections but a reunion of sorts took place by  the River in the Deep South in yet another tiny hamlet. 

Now my occupation is marriage - the adventure begins...

Many thanks to the boys who attended.
Robert B. Simmons, Aaron H. Graeser, Christoper E. Sawyer, Michael B. Peter.  continue reading »

I am not sure what year this happened, but Anthony Cox and I were staff brats for many years at Senior High. We stayed in the old "Hilton" and pretty much did what ever we wanted.

One year we participated in the talent show and we did the skit acting like 4 year olds. We tried to joke Bill and all of the staff as much as we could. We got a lot of laughs and the next year we felt like we needed to do something again in the talent show. However, we were older and thought we would do a sit down type of talk with the confrees.

It was a disaster.

As we sat there bombing someone yelled show me some skin. I thought, that's my cue. So I proceeded to stand up, turn around and moon the entire camp. Next thing I know I was being carried out of the dinning hall with my dad putting his head in his hand.  continue reading »