Camp Nawakwa - Yearbook (Biglerville, PA)

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18 funds, about ilS5,000, were speedily raised with contributions coming from many members of many denominations and from all walks of life. It was turned over to and most gratefully received by the di- rector on behalf of the Board of the Lu- theran Leadership Training Camp for Re- ligious Education. In return for the generosity of Gettysburg and Adams County citizens the Camp Board voted to receive camper-students of any church affiliation in the county into any of the age-group camps to which they might belong. It should be added that some farm- ers owning several or more acres of the camp tract contributed their holdings gra- tis which was equally appreciated. The camp has always enjoyed the friendship and hearty cooperation of its neighbors. Funds also were needed for the cabins, the larger buildings, the pool, the play- grounds, housing the water supply, the cement underground reservoir and water and sewage systems, electric power brought by lines run from Arendtsville, roads, a camp truck, etc., etc. Needed also were equipment for the cabins, fiush toilets, refrigeration, and complete cook- ing and baking and serving equipment for the kitchen and mess hall and a hundred and one other things. Where was the money for all these things to come from? Again the faith and the earnest promo- tional activity of the Camp Board were rewarded. The First National Bank of Gettysburg graciously granted them the loan of 317,500 The West Pennsylvania Synod, always a firm believer in and sup- porter of this educational project contrib- uted 32,000 each year. The Susquehanna, East Pennsylvania, Allegheny, and Mary- land Synods contributed lesser amounts, every dollar of which was used to liquidate the debt. Churches and individuals and groups contributed the cost of various specials-a camper-, Red Cross-, or a faculty-cabin, a fireplace, books for the li- brary or other equipment. Many men gave generously of their time and energy-the always loyal and helpful Camp Board, the Advisory Committee consulting each year on how to improve the camp's four-fold program, Dr. Fischer's confrercs of the seminary, Mervin Black, the head car- penter, Harry C. Raffensperger, the artist mason, Rev. Willis Ford, Miss fl.aVcne Grove, Robert Young. One could mention scores whose equally valuable material, moral and spiritual help made Nawakwa possible, made The l7I'l'll1l'L come true. The thousands ol campers from juniors to adults who have at Nawalcwa received Cafnp N azealewa inspiration and help for abundant living and enlarged service, whether in their own small churches or the remote corners of the earth, and who continue daily to follow in the steps of the Master are the continuing realization of The Drcfam. Faculty row-frst year Life Of A K.P. In The Early Days REV. JOHN BISHOP Several inches of snow had fallen dur- ing the night and wiped out all traces of roads and trails. We set out for the South Mountains, nevertheless, and had our first glimpse of Camp Nawakwa with the beauty of winter. Another visit in the spring revealed more clearly the layout of the camp. The swimming pool was still very much in the rough, merely a non- descript hole in the mud. Dr. M. Hadwin Fischer staked out the corners and leveled the lines so that the workmen could begin construction immediately. It was hard to imagine, though, that by June that moun- tain of mud would become a magnificent. modern swimming pool. Two weeks before the opening date we moved in, four of us, three seminarians and an instructor from the former Get- tysburg Academy. Otihcially we were K.P.s, but that was a slight misnomer. After making up our bunks in the K.P. cabin, we got into our dungarees and went to work, digging ditches. raking stones, felling trees, opening shutters. placing screens, and in general eating ravenously of the home-cooked meals at the farm house near the camp. For the first time in our lives we tasted fried peaches, stuffed with brown sugar and fried in butter. That really is a delicacy. One ol the boys confided that at first he was stymied by country cooking, but after the first' day of ditch digging on the ath- letic field he kept pace with the rest of us at the table. f . all if A .-,:. av' 4 J . SHS 1-i ',,.f -ar' a of ' I M04 3,10 'Lot W' 1 fl ,ul 0 it ,fluff 3 U fa ,ncbi tl .QB X 'WW1' tiki 'mcg '-Q .Ira it fir---hi. ,Dsl ie W 'N gui. ' Q 'Nun ..f s W is ., ll -.- 'Q ri. -, l fi i su.. :lQ Q it ...V t s ., is 'Ns ,N N l in 2 wi tg 'l M.,'s . ,K . N. 'U Q' 'Sv x' -.. l N

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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

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N. S lit'x!'d:'slxlA' v. 'K I 1 -tg 5 . N if 's 5--. I9 5' T :vt na' . 1.-.5 QV' if 'VC M. 'ff' -4-1 Q . b , A--W' 1 J' r' 54 K ,Hi 5,1 A.. W4 'U ,E Gp I' 1, , ir ,af f p ! 5. 'I' . ,s-,Y 1'il't'HI llitltltfa' 'lin lx'1'l4'l14'H. f We continued our woodmen's chores even alter the caunping season opened. Often we czune in from the woods or the field just in time to get into our whites and set the tables lor the next meal. The rustic fence around the water wheel was erected by two of the seminarians during that first season. Believe it or not, it is still standing. Frequently we had to move into cabins over in the camp when the director was short counselors for the boys camps. Dedication day Dr. Fischer presented us to the audience as the first K.P. force of the Lutlieran Leadership Training Camp. XYhat an eyeful we must have been with our freshly pressed white ducks and Sunday shirts! The first Great Chief of Nawakwa was very particular about the appearance of his crew. He provided us with the most efiicient lzand-powered washer on the market. For one thing, the hot suds brought welcomed relief to cal- loused hands. The only friction was a diversity of opinion about the proper tem- perature of the second rinse water. I don't remember who won, the advocates of hot water, or those of cold. K.P. night was a high spot among the campers in those early years at Nawakwa. During the Senior groups the fellows took over a night and entertained the entire camp. Their favorite stunt was a pirate raid. At the close of one of the evening meals. while Dr. Fischer was making his announcements. the boys masqueraded as pirates. Then brandishing butcher knives borrowed from the kitchen, they clam- bered over the mess hall partition and took the camp captive. Orders were given for everybody to re- port to the assembly hall at a given time prepared fo hike. The whole camp was escorted through a wooded path to an abandoned log house in an open field about a mile from camp. VVhen the campers were seated on the slope in front of the house, the K.P.s started the show. No camper ever forgot that experience. It was a real treat after a long day of work and study. One evening a certain K.P. con- cluded his act by dashing around the rear of the seated campers. With his ethereal- like masquerade fioating through the breezes in the bright moonlight, he made quite a spectacle. Registration days were interesting. As a rule we served as a sort of semi-official welcoming committee, carrying luggage and directing campers to their cabins. I missed that experience when later I in- herited the truck driving job. Also tl1e up Vw 19 lun of waiting on tables in the mess hall! Qi' course, every job has its advantages. I enjoyed the trips into town. Campers often looked with envy upon the .li.P.'s, and wished they could get a Job at Nawakwa all summer. The boys were always asking us to let them help. Witliciut belittling our high privilege as K.P.'s, we confess there were times we wanted to get away from it all. Dr. Fischer gave us permission to use the camp truck one night a week to go to Gettysburg. Mess hall duty was always a pleasant chore. I think I had the most fun of my life waiting on tables at Nawakwa, espe- cially during the boys camps. They always ate so heartily and were so enthusiastic about it.--Gallons of apple butter at a meal. It kept one K.P. busy turning the bread slicer. And when Big Bertha, loaded with dessert, was pushed into the dining room, the roof was raised. Water- melon was always kept a secret until the last moment. Big Bertha is still in serv- ice. W'e named her quite affectionately, though a bit surreptitiously, after one of the ladies in the kitchen. Just last week I toured the kitchen and serving room for old time's sake g-and there she was, now plainly marked, Big Bertha. Closing time at the end of the season was an event too. Perhaps we seemed eager for it. After three months of living like birds in the wilderness, we were ready to return to school. Yetlthere was something about closing camp. Every- thing was quiet. The campers were gone. Nawakwa was not the same. So we could not get the place closed up fast enough. Although only one of us returned for the second season, I am sure we closed the camp at the end of the first summer with a tinge of reluctance. Down there where men sense their deepest thoughts, we knew we were parting from some- thing that could not be duplicated else- where in our experience. I First K.P. bridge