Totem Poles One year of my senior camper years, our massive contribution to ONT was the totem poles we made which stood at the entrance to the council fire ring. This was a project which took us all summer and every spare moment we had. The two large pices of wood were cut down to size and put in the woods where we worked between Peekamoose and Kickapoo. I can remember the design being penciled on each of the poles and then the hardest part, chiseling the design into the wood which took forever. If I close my eyes I can still see the poles laying on the ground and all the sawdust all ove rthe place and us! We spent many long hours there. I can remember Claire Willoughby, Pam Scola, Terri Ratel, Nancy Thompson, Terri Paris, Janice Tresca, Roberta Mattimro, Caroline Freno, Sue Salmon, Mousey, Lucky Conaty, Jennifer ?, and all the banter back and forth. My hands had blisters! We then got down to the painting in all the beautiful bright colors. And then finally, they were shellacked and then brought over to the council rink for the formal dedication. To this day, I love totem poles and have a Hawaiian sort of one that my son brought me home from his honeymoon sitting on the manel of my fireplace in the living room. Activities There were many activities at ONT............ Nature was held at the Nature Cabin. Pioneering was held down at the Pioneering Unit. Archery was held down at the targets near Wichita. Fishing was always held around the lake. Drama was held in one of the lounges. Indian Dancing was held outside near the flagpole or outside Chippewa. Folk Dancing was held near the flagpole or outside Chippewa. Arts and Crafts was held in the windmill. Hiking was held anywhere along the borders of ONT. Baseball was held in the field behind he dining hall. Rowboating and canoeing were held on the lake. Swimming was held on the lake as well as synchronized swimming. Gardening was held along the property, outside the lodge and down at the Kadings house. It always included a taste of Mrs. Kadings rhubarb jello! Music was held in the dining hall. Woodworking was held at the flagpole. There was always a a buzz of activities all over camp! Carnival Every trip we had a carnival. It was a whole day just planned around a carnival theme. The carnival started after cabin cleanup and each counselor was in charge of setting up her booth. The different stations were set up all over the perimeter of camp. As counselors we used to work on this at nights after the kids were in bed at the lodge. Carnival music was played all day over the loud speaker and it was almost a free day. We had a picnic lunch behind the dining hall and it always consisted of watermelon and lemonade. I remember the bean toss, water balloon toss, etc. I remember one year giving out a prize of flowers. I had my campers take a tissue and fold it into a flower and secure it with a bobby pin and tough it up with lipstick to add color and then spraying it with perfume. I always did the same prize. I thought it was cute. Rainy Days I remember hating rainy days. We were always soggy and wet. No one had umbrellas! We always did rainy day programs in Chippewa Lounge or Shawnee Loung, the windmill, the boathouse or the dining hall. We always did some arts and crafts projects, some of us just read, or we played games. On some of those days we would light the fire in the lounges and everything seemed so WET and musty! I remember lining up in the basement of the dining hall and putting all our rain stuff on the hooks. When the meal was ready we would all ascend into the dining hall. It was different. It remained a memory though! Gypsy Day I HATED them. I hate camping and getting my hands dirty and I prayed it would rain for every one scheduled. I can remember pairing up with another cabin or 2 and heading out after breakfast. Those large straw backpacks that were loaded with food. And walking in the hot sun to different campsites. The campers would always straggle and then we had to set everything up and get lunch ready. After lunch we either would take walks or just sit around and talk and watch the campers. By then it was dinner and we had to get the fire ready for dinner. I can remember the smells of the food, rum tum diddy, slum gullion, peach toastites ( my favorite ), smores, grilled cheese sandwiches, beef and macaroni, toasted marshmallow, chicken noodle soup, hotdogs. I can remember the large tin jugs with the chained pop off tops being full of punch. The best though was when we got back to camp. I loved camp and I hated every minute I was away from it.

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