Strong enrollment, a great staff and perfect weather made for a fun and happy 99th season for our campers. While offering the campers the experience of a lifetime, much was accomplished in all aspects of camp.

Last year, your annual fund donations were used for a variety of enhancements to the facility. We are excited to have the new, dedicated arena soccer area. We played host (as the only camp to have such a facility) to our annual arena soccer tournament: the arenasoccerthon! We also put up a tennis backboard, painted the ‘new’ basketball court, began the dining hall facelift and re-routed the power lines coming into camp.

With the re-routing of the power lines, the amazing view from our perch atop the Knoll is bursting forth. Commencing soon will be significant clearing to further open the view to Lake Winnipesaukee and the White Mountains as well as the Ossipee Mountain Range.

With the savvy talent we had amongst our staff this past summer, we have created all new promotional material including a new DVD, brochure and website. If you know someone that may be interested in camp, please let us know and we’ll send them the material. We have also beefed up our presence on Facebook so you can follow all the action at camp. Be sure to become a ‘friend’ of Bill Larry.

Through the amazing commitment of many members of the camp family, we continue to plan for the camp’s 100th anniversary celebration. We hope you plan to join us at camp from August 31 through September 2, 2013 for the festivities. We are also raising funds to build the new Centennial Lodge. Please support us in this important effort.

With fall upon us and the camp shuttered for the season, it is time to prepare for 2012. I am anticipating another excellent season in 2012. Already, many staff had indicated that they will be returning. And campers will soon be notified of the early registration discount available in December. I expect a lot of enthusiasm.

Please be sure to light your candle on Christmas eve and join us at the annual reunion in Newton, MA on January 6.

- Nat

Permalink

Mini-reunions aren’t just for Americans! Here is a report from Kate Pietrzykowska in England:

Does anyone remember Ryan ‘I know how to drill’ Hewitt? Of course you do....This year Ryan and Nicola plus their two children Kade and Zahra were based at Nicola’s Mum and Dad during 4 summer months. Yes, that’s right, not in New Zealand but south of England. What a brilliant opportunity to meet up. Back in August then, Tom ‘Rah’ Oxtoby and Kate Unpronounceable battled through congested highways, broken down car, car rescue and finally the car scrapage to make their way down south to visit. It was great to see both Ryan and Nicola in good spirits and their kids playing around. Within an eye blink afternoon turned into the evening and evening turned into the late night so Tom and Kate crashed on the living room floor and only said goodbye the following morning. Hopefully it will be less than 5 years till the next meeting. Good times!

Wedding News!

See the full gallery on Posterous

On August 28th, 2011, it was Cammy McClean and Mabel Wong. Brave McLean was joined by Braves Simpson and Oxtoby — taking notes, perhaps?

On October 8th, it was Curtie Jewell and Jennifer Christian. Jon Magri, Damon Neish, Jon Swanson, Drew Duncan, Buddy Chronister, Paul Gallagher, Scott Giessler, Don Dermond and Director Crane cheered them on.

On October 17th, Redge Vaughn followed suit and got married to Michelle Anderson. In that tux, son Nixon looks nearly ready to be a camper!

On Saturday November 5th, the one and only Kyle Henry Page said ‘yes’ to Charmaine. Looking on and sharing Kyle’s joy was another WLC alumni, Craig Watt. Craig and his fiancée Vicki Gould jetted all the way down to New Zealand for the happy occasion and mini WLC reunion none the less. Congratulations to both couples!

While we’re on the subject of Pages, we learned that there will soon be one more! Phil “Leppy” Page and his wife are expecting another child! A little girl is due to join their family in March!

In January 2012, Daniel ‘DJ’ Jordan and his fiancée Natalie say ‘I do’. Did the bride ride down the aisle on the motocross bike? DJ – we are awaiting the details, for now though... massive congrats!

Fast forward to July 2012 and there will be another wedding. This time we are moving to the northern hemisphere to celebrate the nuptials of Kenny Simpson and Sara Forsell – proper WLC couple as they both worked at the camp. Kenny and Sara reside in Sweden but the wedding is to take place in Dunoon in Scotland. What fantastic news and fingers crossed for all the preparations to go beautifully!

Finally, Tom 'Rah' Oxtoby and Kate Pietrzykowska spent their holidays in Australia visiting Tom’s brother. They go off to Mt Arapiles State Park in Victoria and on top of the first rock climb Tom... surprise, surprise ....pops the question! There is even a ring to seal the deal but a special ring – made out of climbing cord. What a man! That means that another occasion for a WLC reunion is now firmly on the horizon.

New Members of the Camp Family!

See the full gallery on Posterous

One of our Australian staff members from the 90s, Andrew Siegele and his wife Sophia, now have a new daughter. Here is little Francesca, hours after coming into the world on November 17th.

Our newest member of the book committee, Greg Noble and his wife Sarah are greatly enjoying the new addition to the family. Pictured above is daughter Abigail.

The Haskins family leads an interesting life. They live during the school year in Hong Kong, and vacation each summer in Campton, New Hampshire. Sons Dallas and Drew (both current campers) were actually born in Hong Kong and attend the American School there. Dallas and Drew hone their WLC skills as members of the Hong Kong Basketball Academy. With no American football available to them, Dallas and Drew also have been building their rugby skills, and each boy was named to the Hong Kong National team for their respective age group last year. Dallas has also excelled in his school work and received the Presidential Academic Excellence Award in May this year, which represents achievements in GPA and Stanford scores over the course of Middle School.

Permalink

Inaugurated last year, a new tradition has been born as alumni Braves assembled for our second annual Alumni Braves Weekend. Braves from the past joined Braves from the present for a fun Council Ring on Saturday evening, August 6.

Alumni Braves included Derick Kopff, Nate Sargent, Dan Seaman, John Swanson, Neil Hulbert, James Goldkamp, Damon Neish, Dan Fitzpatrick, Patrick Rae, Paul Gallagher and Jay Chuck.

Alumni Braves arrived for lunch on Saturday and stayed through Brunch on Sunday. One of their contributions was a review of the boxes of camp memorabilia that have accumulated over the years. We continue to process through the material, which will be very helpful when writing our 100 year history of camp, a project presently underway.

The Braves Council Ring was scheduled for Saturday night along with Lone Vigils. Alumni Braves took part in visiting vigil sites throughout the night. The General Store Run took place Sunday before brunch with several of the alumni Braves taking part. A great time was had by all.

All alumni Braves are encouraged to join us for the weekend of August 4th and 5th in 2012. Come and re-live the powerful memories of camp and reconnect with old friends.

Permalink

It was in 1992, during his 9th year, that he completed his 18 tests and became a Brave, standing alongside Jamey Russell. He recalls that it was pretty exhausting completing the Final 5 while being a staff member at that time, as the Lone Vigil occurred on the evening of Carnival night! He remembers he had a lot of trouble staying awake, but also found it hard to keep his fire lit. Unfortunately, no sooner had he returned to his cabin to get some much needed sleep, then the traditional all-camp Baseball game began. It seemed like, every time he would finally drop into sleep, a foul ball would slam into the side of his cabin!

Scott mistakenly thought he was done with camp after that summer. Having graduated from Ithaca College with a degree in Television and Broadcast, he took an internship for summer of ’93. But, he returned to the Knoll as the waterfront director for his 10th year in 1994, during Nat Crane’s second summer as Director. For the period of 1995 through 2000, Scott took several jobs in the areas of video and speech, eventually ending up in Los Angeles working for an entertainment marketing firm. During this time, he also married his college sweetheart, Phoebe Van Scoy. After being laid off in May of 2001, one day Phoebe said “Call Nat.” Nat had a place for him that very summer. Grateful for the offer, but overwhelmed with thoughts of a sudden move, Scott said he’d have to think about it. It didn’t take him long to say, “That’s it, we’re going.” At that point, other events also fell into place. Kingswood High School needed a theatre teacher for that fall.

That first summer back, Scott was LIT director and Assistant Head Counselor under Dave Hopkinson. When Dave did not return for summer 2003, Goose stepped up to Head Counselor, a position he held in 2004 and 2005, as well. His first son, Tommy, was born in April of 2004. He stayed home with Tommy during the summer of 2006 when second son, Elliott, was born. He was glad to help his family, but missed camp greatly. In 2007 he returned as Assistant Director, where he remains to this day.

While Nat Crane is always at the top of his list, Scott feels he has worked with many extraordinary people at camp, including friends from “way back” such as Jamey Russell, Jon Neske, Garrett Frawley, and Phil Page, who are almost role models. He continues to be awed by many of our Program Directors, such as our illustrious Louis Doig, who can find ways to motivate everyone to move the boat forward each day and have a great time doing it! And he is grateful that so many of the young counselors regard him as a friend and peer.

No one whose life has been touched in some way by Goose could be unaware of his love of and talent for the theatre. Goose is very busy in the off-season, teaching Multimedia classes and Child Care classes at the Region 9 Vocational Center, running the theatre program for Kingswood High School, and being Auditorium Coordinator for the new Kingswood Arts Center. Oldest son Tommy is now 7 and spent his first 2 weeks as a camper this past summer. Son Elliott is now 5 and can’t wait for his turn to come. Phoebe is currently running a daycare at their home and authoring a delightful Facebook BLOG about the joys and trials of training for running events while being pregnant.

Goose continues to maintain that, while he is incredibly honored to be given the Owen Carle award, what he has gotten back from camp is many times greater than what he has given. A foundation in his formative years, a siren call in his periods away, camp centers his life and continues to this day to inspire how he talks to students and solves problems in all areas of his life.

Permalink

I was talking to Anne about this event, and one of the things I told her was that I am not one of the camp’s best employees, I’m just the guy who’s stayed at the party longer than most. Anne asked me if there were any counselors in particular that stood out to me as the best. After thinking about it, I realized that most counselors I have known have been a role model for me, I’ve just never really thought about it.

To be a William Lawrence counselor demands brilliance. That was true in Owen’s time, and it’s still true now. It requires resilience, stamina, creativity, patience and energy. As I get older, I know that this stamina is waning away. Time and time again I get a front row seat to it and I learn. I’m thirty-eight years old and sixteen, seventeen, eighteen-year old counselors continue to teach me with that brilliance.

I don’t stick around camp because I think I’m giving something, I stick around camp because I think I’m getting something. I think about my camp brothers, Garrett, Jamey, Phil, Dave, Jon, and so many others who have taught me humanity, and how a man can be strong, thoughtful and caring, yet at the same time be a man. I look at our staff today, and they carry on and improve that tradition. In other words, parents, know that every summer your children are in very good hands!

- Scott Giessler aka Goose

Permalink

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

Permalink

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

Permalink

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

Permalink

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

Permalink

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

Permalink

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

Permalink

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 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.

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 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

Permalink

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

Permalink

In addition to the satisfaction of an excellent summer camp season, I am extraordinarily excited about the energy surrounding WLC as we prepare to celebrate our 100 years of operation. Committees are in place with participation by trustees, parents and alumni not only to plan our centennial but also to fundamentally strengthen William Lawrence Camp for the future. If you wish to help us in our efforts, please let us know. We welcome you. 

Mark your calendar now for Labor Day Weekend (August 31 through September 2) 2013 and plan to join the festivities.

Nat Crane

Permalink

We’re always working to keep camp in great shape and make necessary improvements. With a short window in the spring, we try to get as much done in the fall as possible. We are hard at work now.

Arena Soccer

A new activity at camp is Arena Soccer. The campers absolutely love it. Since we added arena soccer two years ago, we have been playing it in the new street hockey area (which way back was the old tennis courts). Three years ago, we divided the old tennis courts to make a proper sized street hockey area, leaving part of the old paved surface for general recreation. It is this remaining area that we are converting into a first class, dedicated area for arena soccer.

With its own space, we will avoid scheduling conflicts with street hockey. The area was recently paved and the boards are under construction. The painting of the surface and other finishing touches will happen in the spring.

Dining Hall

See the full gallery on Posterous

Pratt Hall is getting a facelift. The windows have been in disrepair for a while and the stark brown barn board siding has always seemed out of place in our white clapboard standard at camp. We’re tackling one side at a time, starting with the front this year. It’s looking really nice. Wes Twitchell has been doing the carpentry and Jim Bullitt is taking advantage of the mild November weather to get a jump on the painting.

Power Line Relocation

See the full gallery on Posterous

Other Projects

For several years now, the tennis guys have been asking for a backboard on the George and Gail Jessup Tennis Courts. This will be ready for next summer. Additional poles have been installed along the existing fence to support the backboard, which will be built in the spring.

We’re also planning to repaint the ‘new’ basketball court behind the junior wayside as well as install a proper fence to prevent balls from rolling into the woods.

Nat Crane

Permalink

William Lawrence Camp's 100th anniversary is in 2013! The Centennial Celebration is set for Labor Day Weekend  2013 (August 31 - September 2) on the Knoll. Please mark your calendars now and plan ahead so you can attend the big event.

In order to kick off the planning for the Centennial, we are sponsoring two alumni events in the spring of 2011, one in New Jersey and one in Massachusetts. The NJ alumni gathering will take place on Sunday, March 27 from 1:00 to 4:00 pm at the Forest Hill Field Club, 9 Belleville Avenue, in Bloomfield. The cost is $10 per person, and a light lunch will be served. All family members are welcome. For more information, please contact Bill McCabe at williammccabe@hotmail.com or 917-705-5572.

The MA alumni gathering will take place on Sunday, March 20 from 1:00 to 4:00 pm. The event will take place at The Concord Colonial Inn, in Concord, MA. As with the NJ event, the cost will be $10 per person, and a light lunch will be served. All family members are welcome. For more information, please contact Geoff McIntosh at gomcintosh@comcast.net or 617-866-0515.

Stay tuned for event details. Invitations will be sent out in January via US Mail and email, and we will post it on the WLC web site and Facebook page. You can help us find Lost Larry’s now by updating the contact information for Larry’s that may have lost touch with camp.

Members of the Centennial Celebration Committee are: Bruce Barton, Martha Erickson, Bob Golledge, Lucy Hancock, Bill Haycock, Pam Helleren, Bill McCabe, Geoff McIntosh, Peter Pineo, and Chris Rae. If you are interested in joining the committee, please contact Lucy Hancock at lucynhancock@gmail.com or 781-749-6877.

Permalink

Nat_Test_Two.mov Watch on Posterous

Nat Crane

Permalink

The current Board of Trustees from their meeting in the Library at Camp on July 17, 2010. Back row: Dennis J. Ceru, PhD; Neil F. Hulbert, Esq; Paul Bardelli; Richard C. Brown; Frederick Kopff, Esq; W. Alan Harding; Stephen Weeks. Front row: Lucy Hancock; George W. Butterworth, III, Esq; Charles Cleary, Esq; Gail Avery; Gail Jessup. Not pictured: William J. Haycock.

What do Bill Gates and Nat Crane have in common?  Neither of them is a WLC trustee.  Then again, neither was William Lawrence. Nat may well become a trustee before his days with the camp are past.  Owen Carle, a fellow camp director (1969 – 1973) went on to serve as trustee for more than 30 years after completing his years as director.

Near-death Experience

So, apart from the notables who aren’t trustees, who are the WLC trustees, and what do they do?  You could hardly pick a year better than 1972 to illustrate their determined advocacy for the camp.  The camp season just completed was the most sparsely attended in camp history on the Knoll – only 32 campers in the second session – and it seemed as though the declining attendance of the past several years would finally force the camp to close. The director at the time, Owen Carle, suggested at the final banquet that the camp song be sung with added vigor for “perhaps the last time”.  By October, only the final vote of the trustees remained before the camp would be formally closed.  

Just when the camp’s prospects were darkest, a group of trustees, Orrin Wood, Bob Haycock, and Dick Shepardson, stepped in to lead a campaign of the camp faithful: campers, staff, and friends, to save the camp.  These are the kinds of people you want fighting on your side especially when the odds are long.  They were so committed to seeing the camp experience extended to the next generations of campers that they stopped for nothing to ensure it.

Why did they do it and what is it that appeals so broadly and deeply among the camp faithful?  It’s more than a good time in the fresh air on the Knoll.  In the words of Rev. Ernest Dennen, the president of the trustees for the first ten years of the Knoll era, “A season at camp is worth more than a whole year at school.  Every minute of the day at camp is full.  Surrounded by sincere staff, [the boys] have a keen desire to accomplish things … they are taught to do things that they never believed they could possibly do, and so, gain confidence in themselves and ease their relationships with other people.”

Closer to home, in modern times the personal experience of WLC still resonates for trustees, whether as campers, braves, counselors, staff, parents of campers, or possibly all of these.  Whatever their personal or professional background, each remains committed to preserving the WLC experience and its benefits for future generations of boys. 

Decisions, Decisions, Decisions

Not surprisingly, many of the trustees’ decisions involve money in one way or another.  Imagine life on the knoll that first year, 1926, before water and septic.  Now that’s camping.  The water system that the trustees authorized after that first year was still going strong more than 50 years later.  Electricity?  Not before the trustees authorized it.  In 1947.  The 1918 group voted to authorize the director to “buy 30 mattresses for the price not exceeding $5.00 per mattress”.  Rumors that several of these mattresses were still in service persisted well into the 50’s.

Some of the trustees’ most significant decisions are not about money at all. Consider the trustees’ decision that WLC would be a camp for boys.  As originally chartered, the camp was to provide “… a suitable place of rest or recreation …for the use of poor persons, men, women, and children”.  By the time the original Gloucester site was outgrown and the camp relocated to the Knoll, the trustees had made possibly the most far-reaching decision of all, opening WLC as an overnight camp for boys.  As is so often the case with decisions well-made, years later it’s hard to imagine that the decision could possibly have been made any other way.  Closer to our time, the trustees’ unanimous selection of Nat Crane as camp director in 1993 was another of these well-made decisions, now almost impossible to imagine any other way.

With each decision and whatever the change to WLC over the years, the trustees remain committed to ensure that what’s at the core of the WLC experience endures.  The Willingness, Loyalty, Comradeship, and Sportsmanship of WLC all begin with the Dedication of trustees. 

The present Board is a mix of past campers and parents all of whom have been associated with the camp for many years. Per By Laws, there are a total of thirteen Trustees. A President, Treasurer, and Secretary are elected from the group. Trustees serve on a variety of committees as prescribed by the President of the Board. Four Trustee meetings are held annually with election of Trustees taking place at the March meeting. Most Trustees have served on the Board for many years.  Five of the present Trustees are members of the Braves Honor Society.

Bob Gallagher

Permalink

As the Holidays approach many of us are filled with child-like anticipation—for presents under the tree, family returning home, the lighting of Hanukah candles, Santa’s reindeers, football games...Whatever our tradition, this season is bursting with hope of wonderful things to come.

The American Heritage Dictionary describes what goes on inside of us when we anticipate something. Anticipation uses ‘the senses to feel or realize beforehand, to look forward to—often with the implication of foretasting pleasure.’ It also calls forth the following intentions:

• A thought—Whatever we anticipate has to be important enough to even register in our brains.
• A plan—And it is so important that we must mark it as something that will require our attention in the future.
• And an eagerness—that whatever we anticipate will actually happen.  

And I suspect there is also an element of hope.  Otherwise our anticipation turns to worry which deserves a classification of its own.

Since closing ceremony, campers are anticipating lighting their candles on Christmas Eve.   Those who live close to Newton are anticipating a fun night of conversation, pizzas and games at our WLC’s reunion January 7th.  (We are always amazed how far people will travel). And many of us are eagerly awaiting the buds of spring and our anticipation that camp is opening soon.

Happy Holidays.  

We anticipate hearing from you real soon!

Gail Avery

Permalink

It’s the moments.  The moment that you’re with your friends and something really funny happens.  The world stops because everyone is out-of-control laughing.  I mean the kind of laugh that makes it impossible to breathe, and sends you to the ground.  It’s the kind of thing that when you try to repeat the story to someone else, the description doesn’t do it justice, but you’ll remember it for the rest of your life.  Or it will be the perfect moment.  You’re on a hike. It’s the end of the day. You’re physically exhausted. You’re sitting with your friends, overlooking the rest of the world and having a meal that was cooked over a fire.   You can’t schedule these moments, you can’t name them and you can’t put them in a brochure.  But these moments are the REAL reason you go to camp.  You can’t get them with your X-Box, or by texting, or going to the mall, or just by playing a sport.  These are the moments in between that bind all the rest together.  You can’t plan these moments, but you can set yourself up for one by sending yourself to camp.  Yes, 2010 was a great summer at William Lawrence but next year will be even better, because that’s how camp works.  Each summer is better than the last.  We hope you’ll join us!

Scott Giessler

Permalink