Summer camps in the Lakes region

camp guy · 08-17-2013, 03:59 PM

I hope this is the appropriate place to bring up this topic.

Still today, and even more in the past, summer camps (boys or girls, and in some cases mixed) were very popular in this region. These camps ranged from private, independent businesses to agency camps, school camps, church camps, and other types of sponsorship.

My family owned and operated Camp Wyanoke for Boys in Winter Harbor between 1909 and 1975. During that time we associated with other camps in the area through sports, shared use of property for camping, and, in the case of girl's camps an occassional social evening.

Many of these camps are no longer operating, but quite a few are still active. So, the basic topic of discussion is whether or not you are in the lakes region now because you were in the lakes region then as a camper at one of these camps.

My personal guess is yes.

Bear Island South · 08-17-2013, 09:28 PM

We sent our son and daughter to the Y camps on Bear Island, they each spent ten years as campers and counselors.
After a couple of years of droppng them off and picking them up we decided to buy a boat, a 24' cruiser, we then spent our summers sleeping on the boat a Shep Browns. After a few years of that it was time to look for a place, low and behold we end up on Bear not far from Camp Lawrence.
This is now our 7th summer at our Lake House - Life is Good!

Just Sold · 08-18-2013, 06:11 AM

My dad was a camp councilor at Camp Lawrence in the late 1920's early 1930's. Camp Lawrence has been around since 1906.

DBreskin · 08-18-2013, 07:02 AM

I spent my childhood summers at Camp Robin Hood in Freedom, on Ossipee's Broad Bay. Except for a few years in my 20s, I've been back for one or two weeks every summer. The past 15 or so years have been on Winnipesaukee.

Summering in NH has been a family tradition since my Grandfather and his brothers founded Camp Robin Hood in 1927. The camp is still in operation under different ownership.

skprbob · 08-18-2013, 10:13 AM

Thanks for this thread, Campguy!

I was a camper and counsellor for 14 summers at the former Camp Idlewild on Cow Island, 1962 through its closing season in 1975. I went on to a career teaching science in the prep school world, but kept coming back to the Lake every summer. I worked various summer jobs on the Lake - was a Marine Patrol officer lots of those years, eventually landing with Winni Flagship, now full time.

The camp/lake experience was clearly a major influence in my life - still is. The current popularity of social media has helped gather a number of Idlewild alumni and has resulted in a summer reunion of sorts the last two summers. It's great to find out that there's a tremendous amount of loyalty to the camp after all these years - how many of us truly value the experience we had as youngsters.

Hope to hear a lot more from other former campers and staff.

bclaker · 08-18-2013, 01:39 PM

My granddaughter has been going to Camp Cody on Ossippee Lake for a month, the last half dozen years. This year she was a Junior councilor.

https://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/summercamps/photos

Reminds me of Trailblazers Camp in Atkinson, that I used to go to as a kid, but much larger.

SunsetPointWentworth · 08-18-2013, 08:21 PM

Why have summer camps been disappearing over the past 40 years? Is it the price of lakefront property?

secondcurve · 08-19-2013, 05:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SunsetPointWentworth

Why have summer camps been disappearing over the past 40 years? Is it the price of lakefront property?

That is correct. I think many of them are non-profits so they don't pay taxes which allows them to remain viable.

Pricestavern · 08-19-2013, 09:48 PM

My uncle had a place on Cow Island looking across Orchard Cove at Idlewild. My family spent two weeks every summer at his cabin. The best part was when my family had to head back to New York, I was dropped off at Camp Belknap for another two (and one time, four) glorious weeks! I spent 5 summers at Belknap and the memories are as clear as yesterday. Between Cow Island and Camp Belknap, you know I just HAD to get my own place in paradise!

Pursue and Persist, my friends. Pursue and Persist

ApS · 06-07-2014, 06:11 PM

For four years, I was a "happy-camper" at Camp Wyanoke in Wolfeboro—Kinfolk went to the "Sister Camp" Camp Winnemont in Ossipee.

One Sunday, five of us Wyanokers decided to walk to Wolfeboro Airpark, and posed next to a silver Republic SeaBee amphibian. (Stored there many years).

Little did I know that the trees and property appearing in the background would one day belong to me!

RailroadJoe · 06-07-2014, 06:13 PM

Sometimes dreams come true.

Dad sold the C * C · 06-07-2014, 07:00 PM

Yes they do

jkjoshuatree · 06-07-2014, 07:43 PM

Which one are you in the picture?

Quote:

Originally Posted by ApS

For four years, I was a "happy-camper" at Camp Wyanoke in Wolfeboro—Kinfolk went to the "Sister Camp" Camp Winnemont in Ossipee.

One Sunday, five of us Wyanokers decided to walk to Wolfeboro Airpark, and posed next to a silver Republic SeaBee amphibian. (Stored there many years).

Little did I know that the trees and property appearing in the background would one day belong to me!

TiltonBB · 06-08-2014, 06:47 AM

I went to Camp Belknap in the 1960's. I remember admiring the camp powerboat: Nymca? I know I really enjoyed the lake but I remember being very homesick.

From about 1970 on I spent every year boating on the lake and spent every free moment and vacation here. For many years, as I rode around in the boat, I always wondered how you could get to a point where you could own a home on the lake and was envious of those who could. It really seemed out of reach.

I finally got that chance in 2003 and it has been a great experience. Just two nights ago, sitting on the dock (possibly with an adult beverage in hand) I marveled at how lucky I was to have the opportunity to live on the lake and I am still very appreciative of every moment here. In truth, I still can't believe I am here.

About 5 years ago 8 family members were visiting (including my brother who went to Camp Belknap) and we took the boat over and tied up there. As we walked through the property and looked into the cabins a lot of memories came back.

The place still smells the same (in a good way!) and it looked as though not much had changed. In this case, it seems that change would not be a good thing. It was a great experience for both my brother and I.

Bear Islander · 06-08-2014, 05:38 PM

I am at the lake due to my father-in-law attending Camp Samoset in the 1930s. He brought my wife to the lake many times when she was young. Samoset is now condos in Gilford.

I met my wife at a summer camp in 1958 at a different NH lake. But when it was time for us to vacation Winni was the choice.

Pine Island Guy · 06-11-2014, 10:29 PM

I was lucky enough to go to Camp Belknap for 2 years ('64/'65) and then even luckier with a new adventure at Camp Idlewild for 2 years ('67/'68).

My father went to Camp Idlewild in the mid-30's and then was a counselor there for 2 years... he will be 93 on July 7th, and hopefully we will get him out to Pine Island again for the day... last year thanks to SkprBob (also an Idlewild alumni) the Captain of the Sophie C gave him a nice birthday shout-out and got the passengers to wave as they went by!

My two off-spring went to the Y-camps on Bear Island for 3 years in the early '90s.

I loved the lake and my parent's house on the island so much, that when their neighbor's house came up for sale in 1998... I bought it!

Enjoy the summer! -PIG

Coolbreeze · 06-12-2014, 08:25 AM

I went to Belknap in the 80s and the whole experience is considered to be my "happy place". You know, the place you take yourself back to when everything else currently happening sucks!
I hope my kids get the opportunity to try it when they get older. It was a time of my life that was really wonderful. Yes, it keeps me coming back to the lake!
ApS your story of the picture and now owning the land in the back is great, congratulations to you-

winnisummergal · 06-12-2014, 10:46 AM

Camp Bernadette in the late 70's early 80's for me. Great memories.

fatlazyless · 08-19-2013, 05:45 AM

www.winaukee.com is home to many campers in the summer and probably pays some big, whopper-sized property tax to the Town of Moultonborough.

Ironically, www.lwhs.us/menotomy.htm, down the end of Meredith Neck probably pays no property tax to the Town of Meredith because it is owned by the Girl Scouts and is a ghost of its former self what with little to no campers anymore. Yes, it has a large waterfront parcel of land but the camper life and activity is no longer there? If it were not tax exempt, it would probably have had to be sold off maybe ten or so years ago.

What to do.....what to do....have to wonder what's in the future for Camp Monotomy? ......... oh .....where-o-where have all the Girl Scout campers gone......and will they ever return........O.....will they ever return.

If you is a bear or a deer or a fox.....then Camp Monotomy makes a wonderfull home......because it is very heavily wooded and posted for No Hunting......plus it is nice to have a large piece of waterfront land that is very treed and very undeveloped., and very empty. It has lots of potential.......and needs something to return it to a its former camp self?

Bob Behre's mansion on clay point in Alton .... www.campalton.com .... used to be a Camp Alton baseball diamond and outfield and wooded area high up on clay point with a big, huge lake view ......... & did Camp Alton pay property taxes to the Town of Alton........yes, it did!

08-17-2013, 03:59 PM	#1
camp guy Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: formerly Winter Harbor, still Wolfeboro Posts: 1,182 Thanks: 299 Thanked 525 Times in 293 Posts	Summer camps in the Lakes region I hope this is the appropriate place to bring up this topic. Still today, and even more in the past, summer camps (boys or girls, and in some cases mixed) were very popular in this region. These camps ranged from private, independent businesses to agency camps, school camps, church camps, and other types of sponsorship. My family owned and operated Camp Wyanoke for Boys in Winter Harbor between 1909 and 1975. During that time we associated with other camps in the area through sports, shared use of property for camping, and, in the case of girl's camps an occassional social evening. Many of these camps are no longer operating, but quite a few are still active. So, the basic topic of discussion is whether or not you are in the lakes region now because you were in the lakes region then as a camper at one of these camps. My personal guess is yes.

08-18-2013, 06:11 AM	#3
Just Sold Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Suncook, NH, but at The Lake at Heart Posts: 2,615 Thanks: 1,083 Thanked 434 Times in 210 Posts	My dad was a camp councilor at Camp Lawrence in the late 1920's early 1930's. Camp Lawrence has been around since 1906. __________________ Just Sold At the lake the stress of daily life just melts away. Pro Re Nata

08-18-2013, 07:02 AM	#4
DBreskin Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Wolfeboro NH Posts: 283 Thanks: 143 Thanked 121 Times in 76 Posts	Camp Robin Hood in Freedom I spent my childhood summers at Camp Robin Hood in Freedom, on Ossipee's Broad Bay. Except for a few years in my 20s, I've been back for one or two weeks every summer. The past 15 or so years have been on Winnipesaukee. Summering in NH has been a family tradition since my Grandfather and his brothers founded Camp Robin Hood in 1927. The camp is still in operation under different ownership.

08-18-2013, 01:39 PM	#6
bclaker Senior Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Laconia Posts: 479 Thanks: 545 Thanked 147 Times in 66 Posts	Camp Cody My granddaughter has been going to Camp Cody on Ossippee Lake for a month, the last half dozen years. This year she was a Junior councilor. https://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/summercamps/photos Reminds me of Trailblazers Camp in Atkinson, that I used to go to as a kid, but much larger.

08-19-2013, 09:48 PM	#9
Pricestavern Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Valencia, Spain (formerly Rattlesnake Isle) Posts: 389 Thanks: 135 Thanked 142 Times in 82 Posts	Belknap My uncle had a place on Cow Island looking across Orchard Cove at Idlewild. My family spent two weeks every summer at his cabin. The best part was when my family had to head back to New York, I was dropped off at Camp Belknap for another two (and one time, four) glorious weeks! I spent 5 summers at Belknap and the memories are as clear as yesterday. Between Cow Island and Camp Belknap, you know I just HAD to get my own place in paradise! Pursue and Persist, my friends. Pursue and Persist

08-17-2013, 09:28 PM	#2
Bear Island South Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Southboro, MA Posts: 579 Thanks: 75 Thanked 384 Times in 170 Posts	We sent our son and daughter to the Y camps on Bear Island, they each spent ten years as campers and counselors. After a couple of years of droppng them off and picking them up we decided to buy a boat, a 24' cruiser, we then spent our summers sleeping on the boat a Shep Browns. After a few years of that it was time to look for a place, low and behold we end up on Bear not far from Camp Lawrence. This is now our 7th summer at our Lake House - Life is Good!

08-18-2013, 10:13 AM	#5
skprbob Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: 19 Mile Bay Posts: 147 Thanks: 0 Thanked 90 Times in 29 Posts	Thanks for this thread, Campguy! I was a camper and counsellor for 14 summers at the former Camp Idlewild on Cow Island, 1962 through its closing season in 1975. I went on to a career teaching science in the prep school world, but kept coming back to the Lake every summer. I worked various summer jobs on the Lake - was a Marine Patrol officer lots of those years, eventually landing with Winni Flagship, now full time. The camp/lake experience was clearly a major influence in my life - still is. The current popularity of social media has helped gather a number of Idlewild alumni and has resulted in a summer reunion of sorts the last two summers. It's great to find out that there's a tremendous amount of loyalty to the camp after all these years - how many of us truly value the experience we had as youngsters. Hope to hear a lot more from other former campers and staff.

08-18-2013, 08:21 PM	#7
SunsetPointWentworth Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: claremont/wolfeboro Posts: 155 Thanks: 114 Thanked 51 Times in 26 Posts	Why have summer camps been disappearing over the past 40 years? Is it the price of lakefront property?

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SunsetPointWentworth (08-22-2013)

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KPW (08-22-2013)

06-07-2014, 06:11 PM	#10
ApS Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Florida (Sebring & Keys), Wolfeboro Posts: 5,938 Thanks: 2,205 Thanked 776 Times in 553 Posts	Funny How Things Work Out ! For four years, I was a "happy-camper" at Camp Wyanoke in Wolfeboro—Kinfolk went to the "Sister Camp" Camp Winnemont in Ossipee. One Sunday, five of us Wyanokers decided to walk to Wolfeboro Airpark, and posed next to a silver Republic SeaBee amphibian. (Stored there many years). Little did I know that the trees and property appearing in the background would one day belong to me! Attached Images

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Balloonshopgirl (06-08-2014)

06-07-2014, 06:13 PM	#11
RailroadJoe Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 620 Thanks: 259 Thanked 158 Times in 100 Posts	Sometimes dreams come true.

06-07-2014, 07:00 PM	#12
Dad sold the C * C Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Posts: 273 Thanks: 119 Thanked 62 Times in 40 Posts	Yes they do

06-08-2014, 06:47 AM	#14
TiltonBB Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Gilford, NH and Florida Posts: 2,994 Thanks: 696 Thanked 2,196 Times in 931 Posts	Camp Belknap I went to Camp Belknap in the 1960's. I remember admiring the camp powerboat: Nymca? I know I really enjoyed the lake but I remember being very homesick. From about 1970 on I spent every year boating on the lake and spent every free moment and vacation here. For many years, as I rode around in the boat, I always wondered how you could get to a point where you could own a home on the lake and was envious of those who could. It really seemed out of reach. I finally got that chance in 2003 and it has been a great experience. Just two nights ago, sitting on the dock (possibly with an adult beverage in hand) I marveled at how lucky I was to have the opportunity to live on the lake and I am still very appreciative of every moment here. In truth, I still can't believe I am here. About 5 years ago 8 family members were visiting (including my brother who went to Camp Belknap) and we took the boat over and tied up there. As we walked through the property and looked into the cabins a lot of memories came back. The place still smells the same (in a good way!) and it looked as though not much had changed. In this case, it seems that change would not be a good thing. It was a great experience for both my brother and I.

The Following User Says Thank You to TiltonBB For This Useful Post:
jkjoshuatree (06-08-2014)

06-08-2014, 05:38 PM	#15
Bear Islander Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Bear Island Posts: 1,764 Thanks: 32 Thanked 441 Times in 207 Posts	I am at the lake due to my father-in-law attending Camp Samoset in the 1930s. He brought my wife to the lake many times when she was young. Samoset is now condos in Gilford. I met my wife at a summer camp in 1958 at a different NH lake. But when it was time for us to vacation Winni was the choice.

06-11-2014, 10:29 PM	#16
Pine Island Guy Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: pine island of course! Posts: 406 Thanks: 244 Thanked 246 Times in 112 Posts	I was lucky enough to go to Camp Belknap for 2 years ('64/'65) and then even luckier with a new adventure at Camp Idlewild for 2 years ('67/'68). My father went to Camp Idlewild in the mid-30's and then was a counselor there for 2 years... he will be 93 on July 7th, and hopefully we will get him out to Pine Island again for the day... last year thanks to SkprBob (also an Idlewild alumni) the Captain of the Sophie C gave him a nice birthday shout-out and got the passengers to wave as they went by! My two off-spring went to the Y-camps on Bear Island for 3 years in the early '90s. I loved the lake and my parent's house on the island so much, that when their neighbor's house came up for sale in 1998... I bought it! Enjoy the summer! -PIG

06-12-2014, 08:25 AM	#17
Coolbreeze Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 332 Thanks: 0 Thanked 51 Times in 26 Posts	I went to Belknap in the 80s and the whole experience is considered to be my "happy place". You know, the place you take yourself back to when everything else currently happening sucks! I hope my kids get the opportunity to try it when they get older. It was a time of my life that was really wonderful. Yes, it keeps me coming back to the lake! ApS your story of the picture and now owning the land in the back is great, congratulations to you-

06-12-2014, 10:46 AM	#18
winnisummergal Senior Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: North Carolina and Wolfeboro or Alton Posts: 123 Thanks: 188 Thanked 38 Times in 20 Posts	Camp Bernadette in the late 70's early 80's for me. Great memories.

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Bernie Girl (06-13-2014)

08-19-2013, 05:45 AM	#19
fatlazyless Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 8,746 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 300 Thanked 1,007 Times in 735 Posts	....some tax exempt summer camps; yes or no? www.winaukee.com is home to many campers in the summer and probably pays some big, whopper-sized property tax to the Town of Moultonborough. Ironically, www.lwhs.us/menotomy.htm, down the end of Meredith Neck probably pays no property tax to the Town of Meredith because it is owned by the Girl Scouts and is a ghost of its former self what with little to no campers anymore. Yes, it has a large waterfront parcel of land but the camper life and activity is no longer there? If it were not tax exempt, it would probably have had to be sold off maybe ten or so years ago. What to do.....what to do....have to wonder what's in the future for Camp Monotomy? ......... oh .....where-o-where have all the Girl Scout campers gone......and will they ever return........O.....will they ever return. If you is a bear or a deer or a fox.....then Camp Monotomy makes a wonderfull home......because it is very heavily wooded and posted for No Hunting......plus it is nice to have a large piece of waterfront land that is very treed and very undeveloped., and very empty. It has lots of potential.......and needs something to return it to a its former camp self? Bob Behre's mansion on clay point in Alton .... www.campalton.com .... used to be a Camp Alton baseball diamond and outfield and wooded area high up on clay point with a big, huge lake view ......... & did Camp Alton pay property taxes to the Town of Alton........yes, it did! __________________ ... down and out, liv'n that Walmart side of the lake!