This is the place where Camp Wakonda Alumni can share information and keep up on upcoming events.
If you attended or worked at Wakonda, we’d like to hear from you! Let us know where you are and what you are doing.
As we plan for the 50th Reunion coming up on July 3-5, 2009, we are looking for contact information of all who still call Wakonda their home away from home. Please e-mail our director, Ben George, at bgeorge@cantoncpc.org with your name, address, phone number, and any other related information.
I went to the camp for several years and worked there for a couple more. I simply couldn’t get enough and would like to be a part of the anniversary. Additionally, I was a member of John Knox PC.
I now live in Phoenix with my wife and two children (ages 2 and 9).
Gosh, I miss Wakonda. In the real world, people look at you funny when you start pounding the table during the chorus of “Me and You and a Dog Named Boo.”
I was a camper and a counselor for several years in the 1980s and made some lifelong friends at camp. I’m grateful to still have people in my life who understand that I’m not talking about a spa treatment when I mention the mud pit.
I now live in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, where I’m an editor for the daily newspaper, the Winston-Salem Journal.
Camp Wakonda! This wonderful place, along with the amazing CUPC Youth Fellowship, was the biggest part of my adolescence. Currently living in the metro D.C. area, I fully intend to bring my two daughters to the 50th anniversary celebration. And to think I remember the 25th as if it was yesterday! I hope plenty of my fellow campers/friends return as well to reminisce
with me!
I attended Camp Wakonda for several summers starting 34 years ago…to the best of my recollection. I sooo loved it and have many, many pleasant memories. I attended as a youth at Calvary Presbyterian Church in Canton, Ohio. I was an active member there for most of my life with the exception of the time I lived in Cleveland. Just this last year I moved to Bexley, Ohio and now attend Brookwood Presbyterian in Columbus, Ohio. I am married to the Senior Pastor there. I would love to attend a reunion at Camp Wakonda!!!
Camp Wakonda – Oh,my goodness. I still remember every corner of every cabin, the lodge, the trails to the lake, even the lake itself. I attended for most of my childhood and served as a counselor as I grew older. I loved it so much that as a child I would start packing in January for our July trip. I have great memories, from the trumpets that woke us to Vespers service and beyond. Capture the flag… canoeing to the spring… camp songs ( I was there when many were folk songs used in the anti-war movement.) Oh – and Michael Row the Boat Ashore – my favorite. I remember sitting on the lodge deck just taking in the beautiful scenery. Campfires. Lanyards. It’s all indelibly printed in my brain, Once in a while my friends and I returned for a visit, but not for a very long time. I think I might drive my family down there for a visit. I was always sad that Calvary (Presbyterian Church in Canton, Ohio) became too small to support the yearly camp migation south by the time my children were of age…
I worked as a counsellor & waterfront director in 1993 when I was on a year out from studying in Australia. I have never been made to feel so welcome & part of a community as I did during that summer there. i have carried the experiences and memories with me and often ‘return’ to that special place that wakonda was, and no doubt still is. the friendships and bond between the counsellors during my time there was incredible and dick barnard invited me on the trip out west afterwards to pine ridge, which was another amazing experience. I have lived in london for the past 8yrs but do hope one day to return to the amazing, spiritual place that is very much still in my heart.
Hi, I spent three very happy summers at Camp Wakonda in the mid-70’s as a Camp America councelor and still miss Camp and the wonderful staff and campers I met. To say that Wakonda was life changing experience is a huge understatement. Through working at Camp and the experience it gave me of America, I eventually started my own business sending Brits to the US for vacations. I have travelled to almost every US state and love the country very much. I am hoping to attend the 2009 reunion and meeting up with my old friends from camp. As a PS, my 18 year old daughter is heading for California this summer as a Camp America councelor teaching horse-riding. I only hope her experience of summer camp is as wonderful as mine was. Thanks to Dick Barnard!!
Hey Mike E! I have been thinking about you, looking at all those pix on the facebook page!
I am living with my folks, originally to get the house together to sell, and then, well to help everyone out. NEVER thought I would come back to Ohio, never, never!
I need your email!
lihertzi@lihertzidesign.com
I quite literally grew up at Camp Wakonda, starting as a camper in 1967. I went to camp a day late in 1969 so I could watch Neil Armstrong land on the moon. From 1975-1978 I spent my whole summers there, first as Waterfront Director and then as a counselor for three years. (I was fortunate to overlap Mike Easton’s tenure–see his entry above.) Barb (Thomas)and I met on the second trip to Taize in 1975. We were both on the Wakonda staff in 1978. We dated for 7 years and have now been married for 26. It was at Wakonda that my music ministry began, scrubbing away on the old songs we all still remember. Now I play guitar for the contemporary worship service at St. Luke’s Episcopal in Minneapolis, Barb’s and my church home since 1983. I’m a pediatric radiologist and Barb is a preschool teacher and sunday school director. We hope to be able to be with you all at the 50th Anniversary Celebration next summer!
Hi all. I first went to Camp Wakonda as a camp counselor in 1995. It was a 21st birthday gift from my parents. They told me to choose a country and I did. I thank God everyday for halping me make that choice.
It was a real difficult time in my life too, the previous year my aunt died of Cancer. We were really close. I loved spending time at the river just crying my heart out to God. I remember sitting in the counselor’s rec room all alone and listening to Sandi Patty’s song, “Was it a morning like this?” In that small room God spoke to my heart and gave me the peace that I needed, to know that everything will be okay.
I was amazed at how nice people were to me. It was a bit intimidating to be in the USA, but all that vanished when I would spend time with so many people. Two of my closest friends at Wakonda that first year was Maggie (Vranek)and Jason Thorne. They are married now.
The one thing that I will always say about Wakonda is that it holds and always will hold a Piece of my heart.
Then I went back to Wakonda in 2000. That was Gods doing entirely. The circumstances were perfect as only God can do it. It was as though God knew why he needed me to be there. This was 6 months after my MOM died of Cancer.
If God loves Wakonda and a piece of my heart is in Wakonda then God loves me ALOT. LOL
Thank you for this website.
Best wishes to the people of Camp Wakonda as the facility celebrates its 50th anniversary. In reviewing the archives of our church retreat center, Windy Ridge, I came across a 1964 prospectus to our congregation for the purchase and development of our facility. It includes a page describing Camp Wakonda’s inception. It would appear that your camp was the inspiration for our retreat center. How cool!
I will send by email a transcript of our prospectus text about Camp Wakonda, which may be of historical interest to you.
In Christ,
Marshall Waddell
Director
Windy Ridge Retreat Center
I can’t express how delighted I am to see this site (thanks for the tip Laurie!)
I spent quite a few happy weeks and many great weekends at Wakonda. I went to Taize retreats from my freshman or sophomore year in high school up until about 1983 or 1984. I was a counselor for the summers of 1981 and 1982. I spent quite a few weeks prior to that in high school working the grounds and maintenance while the Boehms were in residence for groundskeeping and kitchen work. I wasn’t as linked in as many of the Canton/Massillon area were as I lived quite a bit farther away, but the friends I made and things I learned through CUPC and Wakonda fed quite a bit of what I think and feel today about the nature of community and Christianity. I currently work for a “blood banking” organization in the Puget Sound and I see daily the selflessness of people who, whether they realize it or not, are performing a very Christian act.
Many of the friendships formed during my Wakonda days persist to the present day I’m happy to report, thanks mostly to the internet, and the names of many of you who have posted are familiar to me. My last venture to Wakonda was 15 years ago now, for Dick’s retirement party in 1993. I’m long overdue for a trip back home, and would love to make it back for the 50th anniversary! Hopefully I’ll be able to introduce my by-then 11 and 13 year old to a place that I still love so well. I’ll hope it’s not the year of the cicadas!
Shalom to all!
Chad Emerson
Seattle, WA
While my memories don’t go quite as far back as some of the other alumni, they go far back for me (1991-2005). My parents started me at Wakonda as early as they were allowed, am I’m glad that they did. I went to camp every summer for gosh, 13 or 14 years starting in the early 90’s. I had tons of life experiences, made lasting friendships (Bonnie, Jennie, if you ever read this–hi, and I love and miss you guys!), and grew stronger with God. I love Camp so much and wish that this “life in the real world” business would allow me to go back every summer like in the good ‘ole days.
Iam a current of the camp and i am going to alumni
camp 2008 and going green outpost 2008 im also been goning scince the youngest age possible And im olny 12
not long but so long that im coming back to be a consler when i can and hope one day to run the camp
in the summer like ben G. but i will never be as good
Hello to all my fellow Camp Wakonda alumni ! I am looking forward to meeting everyone again in 2009, at the reunion. Our daughter , Christina Boeryd , now 17 , is packing her bags to head to camp from our home in Orange County, California. She’ll serve as a CIT for a few weeks, alongside other children of camp alumni ! Lars, Erik, and I won’t make it to Ohio this summer but we’ll see you next year. Shalom, Carol
Wow! I was so pleased to google and find Wakonda Alumni site.
Camp Wakonda is the most special place for me, full of memories of the long hot summer of 1981 when I was an 18 year old “Camp America” counselor from England. I was welcomed into the Wakonda family with great kindness which I will never forget.
I was thinking of Wakonda earlier today and remembered some of the great times we had, and strangely Chad Emerson’s voice came into my head! Then later I was searching through a wooden chest, locked up for decades…only to find an old address book with many contacts from Wakonda days. Coincidences?
I would love to attend the re-union next July 2009.
Now I’m in London doing anaesthesiology, I haven’t been to Wakonda for years but would like to go back and meet some of you who were so good to me in that so very special place…
happymalc@hotmail.com
Camp Wakonda! Wow the good times I had there.. My journey at Wakonda began when I was 12.. Had never been away from home and hated every second of it. Somehow my mom couldnt wait to send me back the next summer though. Boy am I glad she did. I met so many great people in 98 and went 98 and 99 as a camper and 2 years as a staff assistant for a couple weeks during the following summers. I celebrated my 13th birthday at camp and got kissed by all the guys.. at 13 that was really cool! The best things about Wakonda were hiking to split rock, sleeping on the tennis courts, making lanyards, and the hardest thing of all, sitting around love circle at the end by the campfire. It was never easy to say goodbye to Wakonda for even a month.. Let alone the year… I remember singing the amazing songs of They’ll Know We are Christians, Love, Now Let Us Sing then going back to the cabins for rest hour! Everybodys favorite time of day (Not really). I cant wait to help celebrate the reunion next year! Shalom my friends! Well see you again!
I started in pioneer camp and continued going until my senior year, it was a fun time each summer.
Wow. Reading the posts above brings back so many great memories. I was a camper through the 70’s, on staff many of those years also, then a counselor in 81 and 88. So many good times – it is hard to list them all.
Some key ones though… Potters House, Communion at Sacred Arts and Mini-Taize weekends, leading singing (learning guitar at the same time!), capture the flag, vespers, arguing with Dick (!), and so many more things.
I live in Sagamore Hills, OH and work as a pharmaceutical consultant. I look forward to seeing everyone at the 50th next year.
In the meantime, we started a new Camp Wakonda – Sherrodsville, OH group on Facebook. Feel free to join that group to post pics from your time at Wakonda and share stories.
John
Our Camp Wakonda Facebook group is growing! We have members from several different eras, and hope to have even more! We have a great selection of old pics, and have reconnected many old friends.
If you’re not sure about using Facebook, send me an email and I’ll walk you through the process.
I cannot believe it’s been so long. I was a camper in Junior High and Senior High back in the 80’s and absolutely loved every minute! Poison ivy, getting caught at Vesper Point after hours, canoeing over to spider poop bay, the endless flag football, not to mention the meals good old Dick Barnard! We live in Dublin, Ohio (‘burb of Columbus) and I hope bring my wife and daughter down to see where I spent my youth. It was certainly a central part of my faith and made me realize that church and God were bigger than just a sanctuary.
I went to Camp Wakonda in the summer of 1982 or 1983. It was one of the best weeks of my life. I did not attend church but a school friend of mine Susan Stolicny invited me to go. I was able to go because that particular year the Pastor allowed low-income families to pay what they could. My mom paid a very small amount and I attended. Not ever having attended church regularly I didn’t know what to expect. The prayers were great, the songs even better and the people the best! I loved that week of my life. The food was excellent, the games were fun and the counselors special! I wasn’t able to attend Church Camp again, but that week was enough to make an impression on myself. I’d love to know if the Camp Wakonda Alumni or the church itself takes donations specifically for sending children to camp that can’t afford it. I would love to give. Sometimes, we need to preach to the community and not the choir!!!
Thanks Camp Wakonda!
I cant believe I stumbled upon this website. I too have fond memories of camp back inthe 80s—seems so long ago! I remember being there with Jennie and also Brian Krills–we all went to school together. Would love to know how you guys are doing. Anyway—thanks wakonda for a fun look back when things were so much easier.
I submitted a comment earlier this week, however I am not quite sure if transmission was successful. Please advise.
Greetings to all Alumni,
I am, without a doubt, an “old timer”! I attended Camp Wakonda before the lodge was built and all of our delicious meals were prepared by Mrs. Cochran and served in a tent! I not only attended as a camper for a number of years, I was also the “sanitation engineer” for several seasons under the lovable guidance of the incomparable Rev. Orville Briner (affectionaly called the “Governor”. My mentor and friend, the very dedicated Dick Barnard (“king of the puns”) was very instrumental in helping me during difficult adolescent years. Camp was only an extension of my association with Dick. Nine years of thursday evening fellowship formed a very close bond due to his ministry to youth, his leadership, encouragement and love of life.
I could go on and on about the wonderful experiences and extaordinary people from Camp Wakonda who embraced me and joyously affected my life, but I will save some of that for the reunion.
Hope to see you there.
Love ya,
Mel Douglas Cherry
Just watching Ghost Busters. I remember leaving camp to go to the theater to scream when Dan Akroid said ‘roasting marshmellows at Camp Wakonda’ It made me think to google. I can’t believe I haven’t thought of it before. I have so many memories. I was a camper from 78-86 and was waterfront in 86. I had alot of crushes there
I just took my son to church camp here outside of Portland Oregon and it brought up a lot of wonderful memories. I haven’t been able to eat Twix bars since the year that Dick Barnard brought cases of them to camp
I wish I had known about the reunion. I would have loved to come! All the best. If any of you remember me, I can be reached at lauraahall@comcast.net.
Laura