My first week at camp part 1

The summer of 1986 was my first year at Camp O. My brother was second year staff and I was going to be a stable C.I.T. I had never been a camper and had only heard of camp because my brother had been a C.I.T. before me and now was a full fledged member of the stable crew. I had always wanted to learn to ride horses, but as a city kid from the south side of St. Louis I had only really been on a horse once on a vacation ride at the Lake of the Ozarks. I was pretty overwhelmed when I first dropped my stuff off at the C.I.T. lodge I felt way out of place. I found out one of the other four C.I.T.s was going to be in the stables too. He had on a lodge sash and had been a camper for many years so I decided I would just follow his lead. That was my first mistake.
The opening campfire was a blur. We had to put on a skit I think but I don't remember what it was. The Equestrian Director told us to meet him at the barn at 6:30 A.M. for feeding.
We were there right on time a little tired and a lot nervous but feeding went fine. We went back to the C.I.T Cabit and I asked the other C.I.T what time breakfast was. He said 8:15 so we thought we had time to get a little more rest. Of course my brother was stable crew so I should have know better and I am sure that the Equestrian Director told us but this early it had slipped my mind that the stable crew breakfast was at 7:00.

We realized our mistake about 8:10 when the E.D. tracked us down at the dining hall and informed we were already late. There would be no breakfast that morning. The E.D. was actually rather calm considering we were late our first day. Of course it would not be long before that would change.

Lodge reunion.

Someone on the message boards has asked how the Camp Lodge reunion went the weekend of Oct. 19th. Unfortunately I was unable to attend also. I would love to hear stories or see pictures anyone may have. I didn't find out about it until the last minute and it was also my daughter's birthday. I am hoping that when my kids are a little older I will be able to make a few Camp events again.
If you have pictures or stories please send to DJC@heepwah.com

Ondessonk campfire stories

I got an email from Jennifer Todd who was a camper in the 80's. She said her parents were campers in the 60's and now her kids are campers. She wanted to know if anyone had posted some of the well-known Ondessonk Campfire stores online anywhere like "Mad Myrtle, what happend to Teon" as examples. The Tekawitha beast also comes to mind. I was by no means an expert storyteller so I am asking if anyone knows where any of these stores may be posted online please let me know. Otherwise if anyone could take the time to write them I would post them here.

I am also repeating my plea for you best Camp Ondessonk pictures. If you have a funny story about Camp you can share that here too. I am planning to post the story of my first week at camp in the next few days.

Old connection Page no longer valid

It has come to my attention that the connection
I linked to in a prior post is no longer valid. I kept all the information an I have been trying to decide whether I should repost that connection information on this site. I have decided that most of those people wanted to have there connection information available on the web so I am going to repost them. If any of them want to be removed from the list I will gladly do so. I will begin posting those peoples connections this week. I hope this is in keeping with their intent and I will not edit it except to fit the database format.

News : Executive director Job Advertised

Follow this link to the posting of the newspaper ad for the executive director job.

Newspaper ad


Also found this add on Careerbuilder

The Camp website is silent on the issue and there employment sections says

Employment Opportunities at Camp Ondessonk

No Positions available at this time.

Ondessonk Fall Festival

Free activities plus food and lodging available for an additional cost

Ondessonk fall festival

50th Anniversary of Lodge

Lodge of Ondessonk link

From the Belleville Messenger. OCt 19 is the lodge's 50th Anniversary.