Our capital campaign for the Centennial Lodge was officially announced at the recent reunions in Massachusetts and New Jersey.

For those who have lived camp, you are aware that we are desperately in need of additional program space. To meet this need, we are hoping to build the Centennial Lodge in time for our 2013 season... and our 100th anniversary celebration!

To be located between the infirmary and the chalet with spectacular views of the lakes and mountains, this exciting new addition will provide much needed indoor space for rainy day program and more. At present, we have only two areas for use during rainy days: the barn and the library/rec-room. The lodge will allow us to provide indoor recreation for each unit. We are also short on dedicated program areas for fly tying and weight-lifting.

The Centennial Lodge will have a large open space on its main floor with a field stone fireplace on one end of the room and a stage on the other. The downstairs will house fly tying, a weight room and additional space for storage or future program needs. Fly tying now competes with arts & crafts and the weights interfere with the use of the barn.

Functionally, the Centennial Lodge will provide significant benefit to camp and we are sure that it will get extensive use. It is also critical to continue to invest in camp to remain competitive. We hope that you will support us in this very important undertaking.

- Nat Crane

Things are looking good for the upcoming season. At this point in time, enrollment is tracking ahead of the past two years. We had an amazing season last summer with a great group of staff, engaged campers and unbelievable weather. With a slight rebound in consumer confidence, we should be in really good shape in 2011. However, it remains critical that we all spread the good word about this amazing place. Strong enrollment equals a strong camp.

One of the byproducts of a recession is the challenge for younger guys to find summer jobs. As a result, we benefit. For the third year in a row, over 90% of our staff will be made up of folks who have been with us before. The staff this year is particularly strong with most having been campers here in the past.

Louis, Goose and I have been in regular contact throughout the off season as we prepare for the summer. We are all looking forward to the excitement and energy. It’s hard to believe that our first seasonal staff arrivals will be here May 1. Soon, we will be able to get back outside finishing up projects from last fall (arena soccer, tennis backboard, power line relocation, painting courts and more) and getting camp ready. All are welcome to join us for Service Weekend on May 7.

The alumni reunions in March were a great success as we begin building momentum for our 100th anniversary celebration in 2013. As a result, we are going to do them again next March. I often think that younger guys think that reunions are for older generations. Not so. These reunions are for everyone. There is nothing more common and powerful than the memories we all share of our time at WLC.

I look forward to seeing everyone in the coming months, whether at Service Weekend, during camp, for Braves Weekend, Family Camp or future camp gatherings.

- Nat Crane

 

Several dozen of the WLC faithful just couldn’t wait until 2013 to start celebrating the Centennial. Current campers, parents and trustees joined campers from as far back as 1940 for an extended three hour lunch to reconnect with old camp friends and make some new ones. There were two sessions: at the Concord Inn in Concord, MA (March 20th) and at the Forest Field Club in Bloomfield, NJ (March 27th). Continuously playing camp photos and videos from last summer were on big screens to help set the summertime mood. Have a look at the event photos.

Lucy Hancock’s Centennial Celebration Committee was polling the crowd for ideas for the WLC centennial celebration scheduled for Labor Day weekend in 2013 on the Knoll. If you weren’t there to make your suggestions in person, you can still register your suggestions for the celebration by completing the survey. Better yet, why not set your inner party planner free by joining Lucy’s planning crew. You can reach her at lucynhancock@gmail.com.

A current camper, possibly not fully appreciating the subtleties of fund-raising or rendering software, was heard to ask “Is that the new farmhouse?” after noticing the large, full-color rendering of the new Centennial Lodge and thinking it to be a photograph.

Neil Hulbert had positioned himself just in front of the rendering as he gave the status of the capital campaign. The camper’s mistake was understandable. The rendering was so realistic, complete with dappled shade on the side of the building, that you could almost feel the cool summer breeze in the shade of the porch.

If “Centennial Lodge” sounds too impersonal or corporate to you, Neil would love to begin using your choice of memorial name instead. Make an offer and get your chosen name above the door. Write your proposed name for the lodge on the back of a $100,000 cashier’s check and send it to Neil, c/o William Lawrence Camp, Center Tuftonboro, NH. Neil will select the winner by random drawing from all the $100,000 entries.

And of course, what camp gathering would be complete without telling some new stories – marriage proposals and weddings on the Knoll – and retelling stories from the old days – the importance of sunblock and other life lessons learned at camp. The beauty of many of these old war horses is that they’re meant to enlarge in the retelling. If you’re not getting your fill of current camp stories directly from your own household this year, why not drop in at the Knoll this year to have a look around and make some of your own. Haven’t been to the knoll in a while? You’ll find enough new things to keep you interested, but the same feel you remember. Consider some opportunities this season: Service Weekend (May 7th), Braves Weekend (August 6th – 7th), Family Camp (August 16th – 21st). If you can’t wait ‘til 2013, then don’t wait ‘til 2013.

- Bob Gallagher

George W. Butterworth, III is a trustee of William Lawrence Camp and has served in that role for about 22 years. His commitment and fondness of the camp runs deep and started when he first attended as a camper in 1951. In one of his first assignments as a trustee, George led a committee to find a new camp director – and he hired Nat Crane! There are thirteen Trustees in total per the By Laws.

When George was 12, his mother selected William Lawrence, and Fleur de Lis for his older sister. George grew up in Framingham, MA. His family owned and ran an orchid business. He attended camp for the entire summer as most boys did back then. Edwin Pratt was the camp director during George's entire tenure. George was a camper for 4 years, junior counselor for 2 years, a senior counselor for 1 year – and he attended for 1 year after college. His first cabin was Sunapee, but through the years he stayed in Winnipesaukee, Moosilauk, Chocorua and Cardigan. George's favorite activities and memories of camp were the trips – which usually were major mountain climbs. One particular highlight was ascending Mt. Washington. WLC really introduced George to the outdoors and camping, he never had experienced that before. In 1986 during a sabbatical from work, George hiked the entire Appalachian Trail from Georgia to Maine – a 146 day trek – an adventure he never would have pursued without his WLC experience.

In 1953, George was inducted into the Braves Honor Society – having passed the required 16 tests -- the final one being the lone 24 hour vigil, where he was not permitted to speak. It was a true exercise in introspection. He vividly recalls the huge blisters on his hands from chopping so much wood – and finally realized that no matter how much wood he had chopped – the other Braves always said, "more"! George was also on the rifelry team and the baseball team.

George was honored with 2 other camp awards, "Best Camper", and the Bent medal in 1952. Mr. Bent awarded this medal to the best "straight shooter and square shooter".

As a junior counselor George worked as a kitchen boy. In later years George took on the role of truck driver for the camp – and head of the kitchen and dining hall (but not the cook.) He remembers the 3 wonderful cooks back then: Mattie Baptiste, Hilda Jackson and Maude Sameda. He also remembers Edwin Pratt flipping pancakes over the rafters in the dining hall and catching them on a plate!

In 1960, George graduated from Harvard. He then entered the Army as a second Lieutenant. And in 1965 he graduated from Yale Law School. George established his career at Goodwin Procter in Boston. Today, it’s the largest law firm in New England. George was made a partner in 1973 and distinguished himself as an estate and probate attorney during his long career. George has two sons - Nicholas lives in New York City and Michael lives in Venice Beach, CA. George retired last year. His retirement has allowed him to enjoy his true interests.

- Liz Larson

As many of you know, I am a theater teacher for a high school in Wolfeboro. Every year we participate in a theater festival. It’s a state-wide competition where one school is eventually selected as the “state championships.” We’ve never won first place. However, every year I try to hatch a new and even more diabolical idea for a show that will win us the coveted trophy.

However, something happened this year. In dreaming up what we thought would be a festival winner, we made the decision to do a play based on real people in the real town of Candor, NY. Then, as things progressed, we were invited to take the show to them to perform. (Candor was eight hours away in upstate New York.) In order to do this we had to fund raise thousands - just to take the show to a place the students had never been, to perform it for people they have never met.

Suddenly, first place was starting to take second place to doing something nice for a whole lot of people. Then the final decision: As we looked at our calendar, the students we found that we had to choose between performing the show at the “championships”, or for the people of Candor, NY. We could not do both. I asked them, “Which do you want to do?” Without even a split second’s hesitation, they all chose to ditch the championships and perform it for the town.

Sportsmanship. It’s the fourth in the list of William Lawrence Camp ideals. We get hung up on forming a team that can win, that we often forget that the logical conclusion of team is not victory, but family; that the main component of team is not winning, but people. One can argue that this team departed from the traditional model of playing to win, to playing with heart, and playing with soul.

We leave in seven days for Candor, NY and I swear to you I have never been so anxious, so nervous, or so elated for a performance in my whole life.

See you in June.

- Scott "Goose" Giessler

Has anyone heard from ‘Special K?’ Remember how Kay would wave her hand and say, ‘Hakuna Matata?’

As the lyrics from The Lion King movie reminds us, ‘it is a wonderful phrase...ain’t no passing craze...it means no worries for the rest of your days.’ And it certainly was our ‘problem-free philosophy’ during the mid 90’s when Kay Hart was Program Director at WLC.

Hakuna Matata! What a wonderful phrase

Hakuna Matata! Ain’t no passing craze.

It means no worries for the rest of your days

It’s our problem-free philosophy

Hakuna Matata!

Music by Elton John, lyrics by Tim Rice From the Disney Movie, ‘The Lion King’

Thanks to the dedication of people like Kay Hart, William Lawrence Camp is not a passing craze. Labor Day weekend 2013 we will be celebrating our 100th birthday! That means for over 10 decades, campers and counselors have been ‘memory making’ (another ‘Special K’ phrase.)...What are some of the phrases, songs, people and activities you remember from your time at camp? Do you have any memorabilia?

The amazing thing about WLC is that it’s one of the few places on this planet where one can be worry free, which is quite an accomplishment today! Come and see for yourself. Mark your calendars for our centennial celebration August 31st-September 2nd, 2013. Invite your family and friends, old cabins mates and counselors. And in the meantime, please let camp know what you have been doing for the rest of your days...

‘Hakuna Matata,’

- Gail Avery

 

Ryan Baker Dunn

Ryan is from Gloucester, MA and first came to camp in 2003 as a junior. He will graduate from St. Johns Prep this year and will be a freshman at the University of Vermont next fall. Ryan is returning to camp this summer for his 9th season. He is quite a sailor and will play a major role teaching sailing and other boating activities.

 

 

Kevin O’Neill

Kevin is from West Hartford, CT and first came to camp in 2006. He is finishing up his junior year at Loomis Chafee. Kevin’s strengths include swimming and lacrosse. He will be back to help teach these activities this summer, his sixth season at William Lawrence Camp.

 

Jonathan Ceru

Jon is from Wellesley, MA and this will be his eighth season at camp. Jon is a senior at Wellesley High School and is off to College in the fall. Swimming and volleyball are amongst many of the activities in which Jon excels. He will be back for the summer of 2011. His father is currently a member of the camp’s Board of Trustees.

 

Chris Keough

Chris is from Quincy, MA and joined us as a seven-week camper in 2009 as a 15 year old senior. He spent his only year as a camper out on many of our out-camping trips. Chris will graduate from Camden Military Academy in South Carolina this year and will be a freshman at Mass Maritime in the fall. Chris will be back this summer where he will be helping out in riflery, archery and outdoor living skills.

- Nat Crane

 

Submit your updates to knoll@wlcamp.org.

Matthew White, a former staff member from the mid 1980’s writes: “Married just over a year ago. Living in Berkeley California and working as a Psychiatrist seeing patients and doing research at Stanford. — Fond memories of those long ago summers.”

Clark Patteson, a former camper from 1964-1967 writes: “Having lived in California for 30 years, I miss New England and my family back there. Especially during the holidays. Much happiness to all in the New Year.”

Susan Moor, mother of camper, Ben Moor, who attended WLC in the 1990’s writes: “Ben got married to Rula Alzadon in Woodstock, VT on June 26, 2010. They reside in New York City.”

Eric Miller, father of Brendan and Gregg Miller, both Alumni from 2003-2008 writes: “Brendan is a junior at the University of Virginia studying biochemistry. Gregg is a junior at Exeter High School and is on the varsity swim team and applying to college.”

David Kress, parent of Alum Kevin Kress writes: "Kevin traveled to Chile in January on a NOLS expedition in Patagonia. He was on the expedition for three months, has recently returned and will be back on the knoll this summer."

Brendan and Carol Killeen, parents of Alum, Patrick Killeen, write: “Pat is now a senior at the University of North Carolina Wilmington.”

Bob Gallagher, father of alum and former staff member, Paul Gallagher, writes: "After graduating from Middlebury College in May 2010, Paul is teaching physics and coaching JV basketball at Wooster School, an independent day school, in Danbury, Connecticut."

The Kean family writes: “Alum Alexander Kean recently graduated from the University of Miami majoring in broadcast journalism and worked last summer in North Carolina as broadcast ad media relations manager for a baseball team."

The parents of camper, Owen Kramer, write: “Owen played Daddy Warbucks in the Winchester, MA production of 'Annie.' You should have seen him singing and dancing his heart out!”

Former camper and staff member, Geoff Peyton, writes: "Geoff Peyton graduated Cum Laude from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio in May 2010 and now lives in Boston, where he is a robotics engineer with Boston Dynamics. In his free time he volunteers as a member of Engineers Without Borders. He recently became a member of the WLC Alumni relations committee and is excited for the 100th reunion in two years!"

Marcel Trik, a counselor from Denmark who was with us in the mid 90s, was recently was on a business trip to San Francisco. He got together with Phil ‘Leppy’ Page, who was here in the late 80s and early 90s.

Our Operations Manager, Jim Bullitt, (affectionately known at camp as “The Mentalist”) was just elected to the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society at Lakes Region Community College. Jim will be graduating from the Teacher Preparation program college next month after which he plans finish his bachelors degree in secondary education at Plymouth State University. His goal is to become a math and science teacher.

Former staff member and camper, Joe Gore, is thrilled to announce that he and girlfriend are expecting their first child, a son in August.

- Norma Gore