Camp Nawakwa - Yearbook (Biglerville, PA)

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16 C am 12 N awakwa 4 . r Q . 2 lr . . I 'G D F! H, :ref 91 2tPQ THE FISCHER FAMILY AND NAWAKWA I Q3 . It is one thing to dream a dream. It is another thing to so project that wr: Lv vision that others may be able to share the enthusiasm with the one who X' T first beheld it. In a certain sense that is exactly what happened at the M. Hadwin Fischer fireside. Time and time again his devoted mate and God- T' K, 'given companion and their Christian nurtured children heard the Nawak- ' Wan founder describe the embryonic camp-in-the-Woods. It was easy for them for they were and still are soul of his soul, heart of his heart ...M i and mind of his mindf' 1 ,H Small Wonder, then, that they should have positions of trust and re- gi sq sponsibility when Navvakvva became an actuality-a row of cabins under 'M bending birch and pine branchesg a pool beneath the blueg a place called - , Upper Temple with heaven for a canopy. N avvakvva--that treasured silence . il' and unspeakable joy in all those who come and later depart taking with 1 5' them a certain something that they can never lose. Bob was at the piano, Keith and Marion were at the pool and all three , were in the craft room. Mrs. Fischer was as much at ease in the classroom , 1-T ,I as at a desk Writing paper after paper of helpful publicity. They-the Family-were at home in all of Navvakwa. They gave of their time, tithe, . and talent 5 and We are forever the better because of them. lVhile there is . E, no questioning the great truth that Nawakvva is his lengthened shadoxv. ,Wu 'W We gladly pay tribute to those of his own circle who play their part well, sustained by his positive spirit still sharing with us in some degree the c 'gl 'x in . . f-.4 . . . it continued growth of this mount of christian fellowship umler the present day leaclership. . , gi ,mi .Nm N.

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l , , - - . Xl xl mc lllXUU.lllUll, the clloir lllltlel' lfx .Cllr tlnctlmn ol Xliss lllclxlll llielricln sa: Q ' a txul Un, tl liing l'ilk'l'llQll.H illllL'Sk' NUUU! your-s most tiedilalily sang in ad- llni.-n sexeml Lllllllk'lllS and lcd in the singing ol those old l.lllllk'l'illl hymns that lmxt- been an inspiration and Il challenge tlnongli the ages. Key. .lohn ll. l-ioerster of Stoystown, past president of the .Xlninni .-Xssociation and associate director of lnterinediale and Senior lloys Uznnps, spoke lnnnoronsly of the iniproycnients that have been added over Ll period of years, and of the proposed iinproycinents to come. lle gave a much tlescryed and fitting tribute to the present director. Pastor llerlqlieiiner. So often we glorify the past without giving due credit to present accoinplislnnent. Chaplain Marshall Bl'CllllCI1lZ1l'l,'LlllitCCl States Navy, former director of the camp and much loved by all, was present for the occasion and offered prayer. Dr. Harvey D. Hoover of the Gettys- burg Seminary Faculty, who has served the camp for twenty years as a member of the Board of Directors, gave the ad- dress of the afternoon. After expressing an appreciation for Dr. Fischer's handi- work. he impressed his hearers with the fact that God is in the midst of this camp. He drew an analogy by describing an- other camp: that of the children of Israel I5 with Moses as their leader. It was to Moses that God had made his impressive command that still rings true today. The Lord thy God walketh in the midst of thy camp . . . therefore shall thy camp be holy. VVith arresting phraseology he showed the emptiness of life Without God and how the inadequate is made adequate with Him. As in Holy Writ it happened over and over again, so today with God the least in My Father's house may accomplish great things. Rev. Ralph C. Sloop of New Cumber- land gave the benedietion. All present felt it had been an occasion of high mo- ment and that Camp Nawakwa had indeed passed a milestone and was marching for- ward with high hopes. Choiv'-Twentieth Anniversary

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5 . X rd' fwi .cilf Wi 725 ini' 'N T' 4 .,g' ,ga . va. 'f . ,V '. af-nf If' 'Y Y 9 I' r l t'tll'f'UUIt' NAWAKWA AND HOW IT CAME TO BE 1 Vision lfarly in his ministry, Dr. Fisher be- came -greatly concerned about the general inclhcicncy and lack of adequate training of church school teachers and workers. Too few of them, sincere and consecrated though many were, could measure up to the standards required by the public schools. ln 1922, Dr. Fischer became one of the founders of liancsatake, the leadership training camp of thc Pennsylvania Sab- bath School Association, and served on its faculty in each camp during the 1922- .26 seasons. So many of the camper stu- dents attending this fine interdenomina- tional camp were Lutherans that Dr. Fischer. then active member of the U.L.C. Parish and Church School Board, began strongly to urge that body to meet the decided need for a Lutheran camp of re- ligious education. In fact, he may be said to have acted as the proverbial thorn in the flesh of that august body. Possibly to get rid of his insistent urgings and think- ing that the fatal day might be some years distant Dr. Fischer was appointed chair- man of a committee to locate a site suitable for a Lutheran camp. Other mem- bers of the committee were: Alvin Nissly of Hanover, Dr. A. Monroe Hall of Wil- liamsport. Dr. D. Burt Smith of Phila- delphia and -M. E. Knouse of Arendtsville. ln the late summer of 1927 after a meet- ing of the Adams County Conference of the XYest Pennsylvania Synod of the United Lutheran Church a group of men and women of the Conference interested in promoting religious education were conducted by motorcade to a wooded tract of what is known locally as the First Range of the South Mountain. It was a beautiful spot on the lower hillside, well-watered by numerous springs, with a stately growth of lovely pines and deciduous trees, not only fairuto look upon then, but fair with the possibilities of development. The grounds near the springs had been a favorite place for picnic out- ings. Can't you see a big row of camper- cabins here on the left, he exulted, and a large assembly hall with classrooms here in the center? I'm sure you can visualize a row of faculty cabins here to the right, he con- tinued, and a large mess hall down there anrl a pool over yonder, and- well, words could not seem to keep pace with his vision! Dr. Fisclzevf 17ZL'CZS1L1'f1'Lg line for pool Soberly, Dr. Fischer's young son in re- calling the trip remarked, We all looked, but Daddy was the only one who saw! But the crowd was impressed and the leader's faith was contagious. For this was to be a venture of faith in the firm belief that This is the- Lord's work and He will help us see it through. l7entm'e In Faith We have stated that this was a venture in faith and never was faith more truly rewarded. At one of the dinnenmeetings of the Gettysburg Rotary Club, of which Dr. Fischer was a member, a young bond salesman arose and made an eloquent and impassioned plea. He had heard that there was a possibility of the proposed Lutheran Training Camp being located in the county and he declared that Adams County had no business to allow the camp to be lo- cated elsewhere. He suggested the ap- pointment of a committee of citizens, mem- bers of the club, to raise the funds neces- sary to purchase the desired tract, about one hundred acres including two acres on the very top of the ridge which were de- sired for the far vision and on which was located the Upper Temple so be- loved by all Nawakwans. The president of the Rotary Club ap- pointed the committee recommended. The