If you have read through all these posts you know I was a councelor there in 1970. We did a lot of wet hikes but the horses and Batsto all happened after John Sherry took over in '71. I was in the cub village, Cabin 13. I check in here occaisionally and will somehow post some of my pictures. Won't ever be on facebook though. I have a group shot of just the cub village that will probably be easy to post here. It's about one third the size of the regular camp group shots. John McCarty
Campers at Columbus?
- Thread starter Sean Barry
- Start date
My mother Mary was the RN, my uncle Pat Dolan was the Camp Director, his wife Katie and my mom were the cooks, my brother Paul was in another cabin, my 6 year old brother and my 13 year old sister--who stayed with my mom in Father Woo's cabin (don't know where they put Father Woo, maybe with Pat the Swim Director?), and my cousin Erin Dolan was there for the duration of the summer of '70 as well. My dad came down to see us on weekends from Hbg PA.
My uncle Pat is a pretty amazing man and could always get things done, even if it meant asking his sister and his wife to come to Bamber Lake for the season to work as cooks--and an RN--to keep the camp open, otherwise all the kids would have to go home. At first I wasn't thrilled about going for two weeks but in the end I was very happy to have spent the season at Camp Columbus. We had a great time. Got in trouble for hitch hiking, the bunch of us, coming back from a long hike (to the dam?). We were lagging behind everyone, dusty, hot, dehydrated, so we stuck our thumbs out and a pick up truck picked us up. We all waved at the group that was in front of us as we went by them but when we got back we were reprimanded somehow, but it was all fun. Uncle Pat had to fire the original cooks the first week because they were drunk on the job. The original nurse had some sickness or pregnancy issues and had to leave. Bummer for my mom, she thought she was going to have a two-week summer break from me and my brother. Mark
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That is a great photo! I wish I had the land and a lake to run a camp. I'd make them check their cell phones and portable music and portable video games at the door. Did I miss any electronic devices of immorality? I'm an old fogey now.
Yeah, that might have been one of the weeks towards the end of the season, not as many campers probably, only the tried and true of us, which was even better for, shorter lines at the cantine (italian lemon ice always), less stress for the counselors, etc. Can you name any of the people in the photo?
I can't imagine my daughter being at Camp Columbus for two weeks, I dunno. But for me and my brother it was pretty cool to get the hell outta dodge for a while. Mark
I was never there. The people who were don't seem to post much if not at all. BTW, thanks again for that photo.
Guy
My brother and I spent 2 weeks at camp in 53 and 54. In 54 I went to camp with my arm in a cast. I had to see the nurse every morning and couldn't do any activities . During that time we lived in Fairview and spending 2 weeks in the woods was great. I put up such a fuss that they did let me go in the water. One day myself and another camper wandered off in the woods and came upon an outside gym, I was told by someone that the Camden Catholic High School football team used the camp for training. I don't know how true, but thats what I was told.
Jim
Jim
Ok Mark Walsh, wherever you are (Harrisburg as I recall) Yes I and Don Marren were your councelors. I have the picture you posted. Gerard is on the bottom row at the far left end. Carl Celantano is the singer. I am in the top row 11 from the right. Don is right behind me. This was before your Mom and Aunt took over in the kitchen because the chef is sitting on the bench behind you to the left. Reading your posts it seems your uncle is still with us. My regards to him, your Aunt and Mom. I actually worked with a friend of his for many years, Bill Neal.(last name may be spelled wrong) I am a retired teacher with a son, daughter, granddaughter and wonderful wife. I will check back in to see your response and post a few more memories. John
I was a Counselor at Camp Columbus during the summer of 1970. It was a lot of fun with activities on Bamber Lake. We played a lot of basketball against other camps as Counselors and we had a decent team. Cabins were a step above camping and the locals used to try and scare the campers. My Brother Brian and I would enjoy fishing Bamber Lake on our infrequent days off and would venture in to Seaside Heights on the weekends.