Camp Layout The layout of ONT was so great. There was the upper flagpole area going up the hill which housed the office, nature cabin, Peekamoose, Kickapoo, Winnebago, Papago, the water fountain and of course the flagpole. Then there was Nacoma, Chinook, Onondaga, Tuscarora winding thru the center. Around the flagpole was the Chippewa's and the lounge. Going down the hill was the lodge, lower latrine, dining hall and Wichita. Going further in was the Shawnees, latrine, laundry room, pioneer cabin, showerhouse. Going down the hill from the dining hall was the Kadings house, windmill, bridge, waterfront, boathouse. All along the lake were campsites. Then there was the council fire ring. I could walk around ONT in the dark, even now, I'm sure with my eyes closed and still know where I was going. All those years walking around the Catskill Mountains in the dark of night at ages 11 to 17, not afraid of anything! It was familiarity, the warmth, the love that we all had for each other and ONT! If I can honestly think of my life, I can't think of any place that made such an impact on me than ONT. Over the years, when I dream, I dream of ONT and they are all good dreams. It was a place that was magical! It was my Oz, my paradise, my Neverland, my Eden. I think to me, it will always be the place in my heart that comes closest to PARADISE! Through the years raising two children, I so often talked to them about ONT and sang countless hours of camp songs to them. No matter how much I tried to explain, it is so far beyond explanation for someone to visualize it. I have tried to explain to people thru the years about the closing council fire cememony and I always came up with the same quizzical look of doubt on peoples' faces. My new baby grandaughter at 6 weeks old is already hearing camp songs. Every time I hold her I sing camp songs to her and she will be the next one that I will keep in awe with the stories about the love of my life - ONT! Cabins I loved the cabins at ONT. My first year as a camper I did not know what to expect to live in but the cabins were so beautiful. They were like log cabins with windows and wood floors. They were the nicest cabins in any of the camps. Most camps had rustic stuff or tents. Each cabin had two bunkbeds and 4 cots for the campers. In the center divider was the counselor's cot and the senior camper cot separated by a bureau. Along the wall of the door were 4 closets and sets of low cubbies for each camper. The cubies were low and the uppers were widow seats. Each cabin had a porch. I can remember all the quiet times writing letters on those porches. At night since there was no electricity, we used to light the kerosene lamps so we would have enought light for the campers to get themselves ready for bed. Every morning, we would wake up with black under our noses from breathing in the fumes from the lamps! If you walked into the cabins after cabin inspection every day, they were so immaculate and just so homey with all the beds made and the floors clean and everythig picked up. The cabins had great names too - Peekamoose, Kickapoo, Winnebago and Papago going up the hill from the flagpole by the upper latrine. Then there was Nacoma, Chinook, Onondaga, Tuscarora winding in thru the middle and the middle latrine. There was Chippewa A and B ( which became Cherokee in 1966. Then there was Wichita and Shawnee A and B ( which became Tonashee in 1966 ) in the lower latrine area. When I first started camp in 1960, there were the 2 tents, Amadahee which we did away with in 1961. Pioneer Cabin The pioneer cabin was situated in the lower end next to the shower house which was at the very end of the camp layout to the side of Tonashee. This was a small almost railroad-kitchen-like storage room for all the camping equipment. On the top shelf along the walls were all the sleeping bags stored in the almost attic space. There were so many of them. After an overnight they were aired out or sometimes washed down and then rolled up and strapped for the next user. When we were going on overnights, we had to use a ladder to get them down for our campers. There were two counters running lengthwise along each wall. Stored on the walls were all the backpacks, toastite cookers, tin cans for beverages, utensils, tarps, matches, kerosene lamps, dishes and serving utensils along with paper napkins, paper towels, paper plates and hot and cold cups. Pots and fry pans were also kept here. There was always leftover canned or bulk non-perishable food here also from when counselors had leftovers from their trips. There would also be bags of marshmallows or boxes of graham crackers. In a perfect world the leftover food was to be brought up to the kitchen but somehow in haste leftovers were here. And I am sure this was one of the reasons why Tonashee always had mice. Occasionally you could always find canned food here also. I can still smell the distinct smell of the pioneer cabin. It had a combinationi of an earthy, mildewy, fiery smell that was so distinct. Not being a campy type person I can honestly say I avoided this place as best as I could unless I had to.

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