Friday, September 7, 2007
Indian Reservation
I have debated for most of two days whether or not to post this video. I don't have the means to post songs by themselves, so I have to rely on YouTube.
My purpose was to bring back memories of the Indian Pageants that I attended. These were always my sessions of choice. I have been disappointed lately with the misplaced hyper- sensitivity that we have been subjected to regarding Native Americans and their traditions. I in no way want to discuss politics here. But it makes me wonder if we would be able to even think about having an Indian Pageant the way we used to.
The way I remember them, we were always taught to be respectful of the customs that we were re enacting. I doubt they would be percieved that way today.
There were several other songs that we used. Does anyone remember what they were?
Have a great weekend.
Bob
Thursday, September 6, 2007
Let your opinion be heard
During my discussion with Beth, she had suggested the idea of having a Fort Scott Family Reunion for any camper or staff member that would like to come. So I am putting it up for a vote. If we get enough votes that would indicate a sufficient level of interest, I will go ahead and post other polls to narrow down preferences for a get together.
A letter from Beth
Hi Bob - I hope this finds you well.
I have some more of those sights, sounds, smells that never seem to leave my memory...
*Do you remember how, early in the mornings, we'd trudge through the wet, dewy grass and head to Flag? Many times, there'd still be fog wafting through the hills...
*How good did The Pool (s) feel on those sweltering summer days? Although I have a distinct remembrance of Miss Zoellner and Miss Wolf scurrying our Midget and Junior behinds into the pool in the COOL of the mornings, too. That water could be brutal at an early hour.
*I used to love the little "theatre" - the concrete stage that was tucked into the woods in the Girls' camp...we had loads of fun acting out scenes and being, at times, completely nonsensical. And its quaint setting always had me quite convinced that tiny little magical fairies would soon appear...So much for the mind of a child!
*Didn't we have dances at the Boys' playhouse, too? It always smelled like a locker room in there to me...but we didn't care!
*And in Girls' Senior Cabin, there was a constant stream of AquaNet hairspray coming from some corner. We were constantly "doing" our hair - even daring to put on a little lip gloss - knowing we'd be with the Senior Boys later...
And of course, we'd chat forever about the past, current, and future Fort Scott romances - campers and counselors alike!
These may stir some memories in others, so feel free to post - any of them familiar to you?
Thanks,
Beth (Brinker) Landfried, FSC 1971-1980
I have some more of those sights, sounds, smells that never seem to leave my memory...
*Do you remember how, early in the mornings, we'd trudge through the wet, dewy grass and head to Flag? Many times, there'd still be fog wafting through the hills...
*How good did The Pool (s) feel on those sweltering summer days? Although I have a distinct remembrance of Miss Zoellner and Miss Wolf scurrying our Midget and Junior behinds into the pool in the COOL of the mornings, too. That water could be brutal at an early hour.
*I used to love the little "theatre" - the concrete stage that was tucked into the woods in the Girls' camp...we had loads of fun acting out scenes and being, at times, completely nonsensical. And its quaint setting always had me quite convinced that tiny little magical fairies would soon appear...So much for the mind of a child!
*Didn't we have dances at the Boys' playhouse, too? It always smelled like a locker room in there to me...but we didn't care!
*And in Girls' Senior Cabin, there was a constant stream of AquaNet hairspray coming from some corner. We were constantly "doing" our hair - even daring to put on a little lip gloss - knowing we'd be with the Senior Boys later...
And of course, we'd chat forever about the past, current, and future Fort Scott romances - campers and counselors alike!
These may stir some memories in others, so feel free to post - any of them familiar to you?
Thanks,
Beth (Brinker) Landfried, FSC 1971-1980
Wednesday, September 5, 2007
Tuesday, September 4, 2007
Field of Dreams
Beth's comments for whatever reason made me think of this part of Field of Dreams. I had always said that if I were ever to hit the Lotto, I would reconsruct camp. Imagine with me that you had one more chance to walk through camp as it was, on the last day that it was open. Campers were gone and we had cleaned up. It was ready for another group of kids. Indulge me with this for a minute....
Bob, people will come Bob. They'll come to New Baltimore for reasons they can't even fathom. They'll turn up your driveway not knowing for sure why they're doing it. They'll arrive at your door as innocent as children, longing for the past. Of course, we won't mind if you look around, you'll say. They'll pass the time without even thinking about it: for it is time they have and peace they lack.
And they'll walk out to the cabins; sit in shirtsleeves on a perfect afternoon. They'll find they have reserved seats somewhere in one of the messhalls, where they sat when they were children and sang camp songs. And they'll watch the campfires and it'll be as if they dipped themselves in magic waters. The memories will be so thick they'll have to brush them away from their faces. People will come Bob. The one constant through all the years, Bob, has been Fort Scott. America has rolled by like an army of steamrollers. It has been erased like a blackboard, rebuilt and erased again. But Fort Scott has marked the time. This camp, these people: it's a part of our past, Bob. It reminds of us of all that once was good and it could be again. Oh... people will come Bob. People will most definitely come.
This is one of my fondest dreams.
Bob
Bob, people will come Bob. They'll come to New Baltimore for reasons they can't even fathom. They'll turn up your driveway not knowing for sure why they're doing it. They'll arrive at your door as innocent as children, longing for the past. Of course, we won't mind if you look around, you'll say. They'll pass the time without even thinking about it: for it is time they have and peace they lack.
And they'll walk out to the cabins; sit in shirtsleeves on a perfect afternoon. They'll find they have reserved seats somewhere in one of the messhalls, where they sat when they were children and sang camp songs. And they'll watch the campfires and it'll be as if they dipped themselves in magic waters. The memories will be so thick they'll have to brush them away from their faces. People will come Bob. The one constant through all the years, Bob, has been Fort Scott. America has rolled by like an army of steamrollers. It has been erased like a blackboard, rebuilt and erased again. But Fort Scott has marked the time. This camp, these people: it's a part of our past, Bob. It reminds of us of all that once was good and it could be again. Oh... people will come Bob. People will most definitely come.
This is one of my fondest dreams.
Bob
Monday, September 3, 2007
Fine dining
When I think back about the amount of time that I spent at Fort Scott, and the amount of that time that was spent dining, I am kind of suprised that I don't have more stories to tell. When you figure that out of each day we would spend almost three hours in the mess hall, surely there were some shenanigans that went on. Perhaps writing this will jog my memory.
Anyway, there are actually five meals at Fort Scott that stand out in my memory. Two of them deserve their own post which I will do in a bit. The five, in no particular order were:
1. The clam bake that George Wozniak threw on the deck of the boys pool
2. The pasta Prima vera dinner, also sponsored by George Wozniak
3. The best Senior Camp Out ever.
4. The riding department night out at Grand Finale
5. The all staff outing at B&B riverboats
Numbers 4 and 5 deserve their own posts, so I will leave them for later.
I remember the clam bake vividly. I can't recall why, but camp was empty, except for staff, in the middle of the summer. George had set up several grills to boil clams and corn fresh from the Fort Scott fields. Most of the staff was there aound the pool. It was one of those cool nights after a hot day where the steam was rising off the pool, and the lights were reflected on the pine trees near the path. In my whole life, I don't ever remember eating so much corn and clams. the company was good, the food excellent, and the setting was wonderful. Thank you George.
I didn't know George all that well, but it is obvious that he was an avid cook. The pasta dinner was held in the boys mess hall. I can't remeber if there were campers involved, but I remember that this also was fabulous. Since some people didnt care for Pasta Primavera, there was a lot left over. I remember we made very short work of the leftovers. I think another reason why this stands out in my mind, is that this was the same summer that our esteemed head cook allowed the hot dogs to scorch one day, and the camp had to bring in McDonalds in order to get every one fed.
The best Senior Camp Out ever stands out in my mind because not only was the food plentiful, but I think it was the only time that I was able to camp out with my two best friends. We also had an outstanding cabin that period with one of the best all around campers I ever had, Sam Hammock. Sam has a real zest and energy. He made sure that not only he had fun, but everyone around him had a good time too. I will always wonder how he is and where life has led him.
Anyway, as was the procedure when I was at camp, you had to turn in your food request a couple of days in advance. I always asked for extras because everyone who has raised a teenage boy knows they just can't get enough to eat. The kitchen always modified my order, so it would average out in the long run.
When I went down to pick up the food for the campout, I noticed that there were extra boxes of food with our name on it. When I asked the kitchen staff about it, they told me that a family outing had ordered the food, and then canceled. We were the next group out, so it was ours. Jackpot! There were double everything, and even stuff that we could not normally get. I decided to make it a nice suprise and not allow the boys to look in the boxes until we were out at the campsite, and set up. We had chosen Aqualung (or Rivendell) as we called it that was at the top of the hill beyond Squeakers Creak. By the time we got out there, got our tents set, and the fires going everyone was starved. When we opened the boxes, you would have thought that we had just offered free beer at a fraternity party. I think it was the only campfire ever where we had to bring food back.
Anyway, there are actually five meals at Fort Scott that stand out in my memory. Two of them deserve their own post which I will do in a bit. The five, in no particular order were:
1. The clam bake that George Wozniak threw on the deck of the boys pool
2. The pasta Prima vera dinner, also sponsored by George Wozniak
3. The best Senior Camp Out ever.
4. The riding department night out at Grand Finale
5. The all staff outing at B&B riverboats
Numbers 4 and 5 deserve their own posts, so I will leave them for later.
I remember the clam bake vividly. I can't recall why, but camp was empty, except for staff, in the middle of the summer. George had set up several grills to boil clams and corn fresh from the Fort Scott fields. Most of the staff was there aound the pool. It was one of those cool nights after a hot day where the steam was rising off the pool, and the lights were reflected on the pine trees near the path. In my whole life, I don't ever remember eating so much corn and clams. the company was good, the food excellent, and the setting was wonderful. Thank you George.
I didn't know George all that well, but it is obvious that he was an avid cook. The pasta dinner was held in the boys mess hall. I can't remeber if there were campers involved, but I remember that this also was fabulous. Since some people didnt care for Pasta Primavera, there was a lot left over. I remember we made very short work of the leftovers. I think another reason why this stands out in my mind, is that this was the same summer that our esteemed head cook allowed the hot dogs to scorch one day, and the camp had to bring in McDonalds in order to get every one fed.
The best Senior Camp Out ever stands out in my mind because not only was the food plentiful, but I think it was the only time that I was able to camp out with my two best friends. We also had an outstanding cabin that period with one of the best all around campers I ever had, Sam Hammock. Sam has a real zest and energy. He made sure that not only he had fun, but everyone around him had a good time too. I will always wonder how he is and where life has led him.
Anyway, as was the procedure when I was at camp, you had to turn in your food request a couple of days in advance. I always asked for extras because everyone who has raised a teenage boy knows they just can't get enough to eat. The kitchen always modified my order, so it would average out in the long run.
When I went down to pick up the food for the campout, I noticed that there were extra boxes of food with our name on it. When I asked the kitchen staff about it, they told me that a family outing had ordered the food, and then canceled. We were the next group out, so it was ours. Jackpot! There were double everything, and even stuff that we could not normally get. I decided to make it a nice suprise and not allow the boys to look in the boxes until we were out at the campsite, and set up. We had chosen Aqualung (or Rivendell) as we called it that was at the top of the hill beyond Squeakers Creak. By the time we got out there, got our tents set, and the fires going everyone was starved. When we opened the boxes, you would have thought that we had just offered free beer at a fraternity party. I think it was the only campfire ever where we had to bring food back.
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