JUANITA BARRENA – 1957

In 1957, during a particularly stressful time for my family, I was “sent” to Trail Blazer Camps by a social worker who thought I would benefit from being away from the situation. I was nine years old, and had never been out of the City. And, yes, that is me in the photo in the upper left hand corner, which appeared on the cover of the 1958-59 TBC Annual Report. And, what an exciting adventure it was. Not only did I get to sleep in my very own bed in a canvas shelter (farm sled) in the forest, but I got to see and learn about all kinds of plants and animals (hmm, like, not all mammals are rats, and not all insects are roaches). And, more importantly, I got to live with a group of seven other girls my age and two or three caring adult counselors. As a kid, I loved everything about Camp, even cleaning the latrine. It was MY Camp, my very own home in the woods, and it was FUN (all caps)! Needless to say, I returned as a camper for many summers into the early 1960’s.

Little did I know that my Camp experiences were having such a great impact on my development. Certainly, in retrospect, I can point to some things that were noteworthy. So, like how splitting my first log and lighting a one-match fire made me feel proud and confident in my abilities and willing to take on new challenges; how having a task to perform each day for the group and having a say in making decisions about what the group’s program and menus would be made me feel important and valued; how learning a common table etiquette, Camp songs and other “routines” at Camp made me feel safe and created a sense of belonging to the entire Camp community; and, certainly, how living in and learning about the magical land of Mashipacong inspired a sense of wonder and my life-long interest in the natural world. And, of course, there was the individual attention I received from my counselors (some who have maintained contact with me to the present time). Counselors who not only cultivated my interests and developed new ones, but who also set limits and applied appropriate discipline when my ‘enthusiasm” got a little out of control. So, like, I had quite a few “time outs” during my day, which was probably more effective in redirecting my behavior than a smack across the head or a wooden spoon across the rear. But, it was not until I became a counselor, myself, that I fully understood the transformative impact that Trail Blazers had on me as a child and that it had on campers under my care.

I returned as a counselor in 1966 and served in that role into the early seventies, then continued as a staff trainer for most of the 1980’s and early 90’s, and have continued to maintain connection with Trail Blazers to the present. And, I think it important to emphasize that Trail Blazers’ impact on my life was not limited to my time as camper. As a young adult, my goals were poorly defined and my leadership skills were far from fully developed. And, each year as a counselor was a growing experience for me. Although I spent many years in college and graduate school to acquire the subject knowledge and credentials to become a college professor of Biology, my philosophy of education, how I conducted my classes, how I interacted with students and colleagues, and the successful programs I developed to improve the success of students from disadvantaged groups, can be directly attributed to my training and experience as a counselor at Trail Blazers and the mentorship of Lois Goodrich, Trail Blazers’ legendary Executive Director, who over her 50 year tenure inspired thousands to embrace her values and make a positive difference in our world. And, although there were certainly other factors that enabled my success in life (so like I was a pretty smart kid and my Mother was the wisest, most selfless and resourceful person I have ever known), I doubt that this kid from Brooklyn would have become not just the first in her family to graduate from high school, but also have gone on to earn a Ph.D. in Zoology and a productive and rewarding career as a University faculty member in sunny California.

GLORIA GREENBAUM – 1941-1944

My first year at what was Life Camps was in the early 1940’s when I was a child of about 11. It was the first time I chopped wood, searched for tinder, made a fire over which I, along with my camp mates, cooked simple meals. We hiked, sang songs, visited the burros, and enjoyed the bountiful natural life around us. I had always loved swimming and was taught greater swimming skills in the refreshing Lake Mashipacong. At night, we slept out under the stars- an entire blanket of brilliance which I can still envision. TBC instilled in me a great love and appreciation for the natural world and its natural inhabitants. At 87 years I was still finding deep joy in the world around me, the birds, the trees, the sky, and the fresh air. I will always remember Lois Goodrich and Betty Faust, exemplars of womanhood, of true, genuine people. I am ever grateful for what Trail Blazer Camps gave me which I truly believe could not be found elsewhere.

MARTHA GRACE PRICE LAWRENCE -1954-1961

I attended Trail Blazers Camps during July and August from 1954 through 1961, except for summer 1956 (when I worked as a waitress to earn money for college.)

When I was growing up, my two older brothers were very active in the Boy Scouts and my father was a volunteer Scout Master. I greatly envied their hiking and camping adventures. Thus when I was given the opportunity ( through Hilde Wohl Adler) to attend TBC, I was thrilled. In July and August 1954, I was a camper in Timber Ridge. Camp was all that I could have wished for and much more. Not only did I enjoy the outdoor living and educational experiences but also the warm comradeship of my fellow campers. In 1955, I returned to TBC as a camper-leader in Homestead in July and Awanasa in August. In 1957, I returned as a counselor for five years until I married: 1957 in Pioneers; 1958 and 1959 in Unami then as Counselor-at-Large, in 1960 and 1961, residing in Unami.

No one experience in my seven summers at TBC stands above all the other very happy memories. What I most treasure are the friendships that I made. The TBC ethos of respect for and enjoyment of the varieties of people and the variety of the natural world, under the leadership of Lois Goodrich and her staff, especially Betty Faust and Nita Baumgardner, inspired me and was the reason for my return as camper and counselor. Now, past eighty years of age, I still enjoy hiking, kayaking in the mountains and traveling, exploring with family and friends.

PAULINE ROBERTSON-JEUDY -1956-1959

When I reflect back to the time when I attended Trail Blazer Camp, I find that I am filled with a passion to want to get back to nature and to be in tune with it once again. To move in an environment where I can live in harmony with trees and animals, and be able to avail myself of invigorating sunlight, fresh, clean air and pristine spring waters, is a dream that I have decided to pursue for myself. This is all due to my joyful memories of the years I attended Trail Blazer Camp. I am grateful and honored to have had that opportunity.

HILDE WOHL-ADLER – 1950-1959

I was a counselor at Trail Blazer Camps through most of the fifties. And because I lived in New York City at the time, I was heavily involved with Lois, Betty, Jo Cormack, Mary Dell Morrison, and others, in the effort to preserve the camps (financially) when Life Magazine decided they could no longer support them. We spent every weekend, in Lois and Betty’s little apartment on Christopher Street, scheming about ways to keep the camps financially solvent. When the name had to be changed, it was this group that came up with “why don’t we name the camp after one of the small camps?” Hence Trailblazer Camps. The effort bonded us all for life.

I started as a counselor in Brae Tarn (with Mary Dell Morrison and Betty Faust) for two years and then was moved to Timber (over the years with Naomi Diederich (who had a most amazing voice!), Jean Lewis, Lesley Tarleton, and Jo Cormack. During two summers I directed the waterfront and lived in Timber.

I had been involved in scouting for a lot of my life, and somehow, just after college graduation, stumbled into this job at Life Camps. I had no idea what I was getting into, how much it would influence me, how much I would love it, and what deep lasting friendships would come out of it.

A few specific memories (in no particular order and of no particular importance): Lois, appearing at Timber, in yellow raincoat and hat, in the middle of a major hurricane, “to make sure we were OK!”; singing endlessly in the dining hall; how to pass a cup (I still do that!); aims, objectives, and reports; Cap’n Bill Vinal’s 5 am bird walks; balancing around the bog in our underwear; Betty and Candy; “Where my Caravan has Rested”; checking for headlice (this skill was extremely useful when we had had an outbreak of head lice in my kids’ elementary school several years later); freezing in the showers; ignoring the dieticians and having nothing but ice-cream for supper; banging on the triangle; “Life has Loveliness to Sell”; “All the Flowers of Love and Memory.”

I got married after that and moved to Madison Wisconsin and never went back to camp to work. I visited camp with my family, and went to Lois’s big retirement party and then, sadly, to her funeral. My children grew up with the Trail Blazer songs. Luckily, Naomi Diederich (of the wonderful voice) lived in Madison. The lessons learned and the friends were (are) forever.

-Hilde Wohl Adler