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VOLUME 35                    August 7, 1961                        No. 6

MONDAY: The second edition of the Trenton Fails trip went out under cloudy skies with Dick Carlton in charge, assisted by Jock McQuilkin, Warren Hills and Dick Koppisch. the sun appeared later on in the day and gave them a good start on their three days away from camp. The rest of the camp enjoyed an ideal swimming morning with very little wind for sailing. An expedition led by Frank Pine sallied forth in search of the original beginning of the road used by the Continental Army. The authentic start of the road is actually only a short distance from camp, hut is now overgrown with weeds and brush. In the afternoon, we had a double header softball game in which the Warts beat the Aces 5—0 and the Japs overpowered the Rebels 5—0. A short swim after supper cooled everyone off before bedtime.

THE THIRD OF AUGUST: We awoke to a sunny clear camp day. Sailing and Life Saving classes took up portions of the morning along with our regular camp activities. Later in the day, Frank Pine, Tom Gilmore, and David McManus took a lookout trip for an overnight stay. There were twenty campers who undertook the voyage. The day ended with the after—supper game and swim for all who desired it.

WEDNESDAY: A heavy overcast and rainy Day. We were able to bring back the Lookout trip before they were saturated with the heavenly precipitation. It was quite reliably reported on their return, that bobcats were seen and heard throughout the night and early Morning. The N.Y. Conservation magazine wrote in their recent issue that bobcats are appearing  to be rather common to this territory. Fortunately they are quite harmless; and, we have not become concerned about their presence. On the trip down the mountain to camp, Frank Pine discovered many varieties of fungi. He brought back a colorful exhibit of some fifteen types. After rest period, it was obvious that the rain was with us for the afternoon. It gave us a fine opportunity to show some movies of the 59 World Series. The Trenton falls crew returned at about 4:30 p.m. with very little to report other than they all had a most on enjoyable and pleasant time. A few of the hardier campers bad a swim in the rain before supper. The weekly feature film in the evening was entitled, ‘“The Canterville ghost. A delightful picture punctuated with gales of laughter from the audience at varying intervals.

THURSDAY: A bit cloudy in the morning enabling us to send out two museum trips--one to the Hall of Fame and one to the Farmer’s Museum. Once more sailing races were scheduled with Chenango but also once again had to be called off for lack of wind. However, after much discussion and frequent reference to the rule hook, it was final1y decreed that Hyde Bay had won the race lath week with Chenango 6—1 instead of losing by one point as reported. At 5:00 p.m. the Varsity and J.V. baseball teams were transported to a park this side of Cooperstown where they had a picnic supper before continuing to Doubleday Field where the Varsity played an All—Star team
from the Babe Ruth league. The J.V. team went to the L.L field to also play an All-star team from the L.L. Both teams were Victorious over the town teams by scores of 6—3 and 6-2 respectively. Some forty boys were participants in these two endeavors.

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AUGUST 4: An ideal camp day with clear and warm weather. Hunt Hilliard and Charlie Burnham led an Un-the-Lake trip with sixteen campers. Frank Pine, Dick Koppisch, and Harry Parker made a trek up the log road in back of camp in search of more varieties of fungi. Shortly after milk and crackers, the Varsity baseball paid their second visit to Worcester. The visit terminated in a whopping victory of 10—1. The first Nebo trip of the summer was started on its way shortly before suppper with Doug Coupe, Mac Me1lor, and Bob Cunningham leading the group. Nebo is forty acres of mountainside about seven miles from camp. It has the distinction of being about thirty feet lower in altitude than the highest peak in our county. After supper the older boys went in two different directions. Half chose to see “Gone with the Wind” in Cooperstown, and the remainder exercised some more in the neighborhood bowling alley. The day ended for the campers with another almost all—out or all—in, if you will, after—supper Swim.

PLAY DAY: The weather was a repeat of Friday. Many parents joined their boyys here for pleasurable day or two of visiting. After milk and crackers, the annual Nature Hunt began with teams of six members participating. The nine teams quickly dispersed in all directions in search of all forms of the natural world around us. Points of varying values were awarded for specific types of animals. P1ants, fish, leaves, etc. The wind picked up somewhat and the sailors once again took hold. In the evening, Tents #11, 12, 14, and 15 gave us a fine night of entertainment. Tent #14 emerged on top as the best play producers. John Gi1more was judged the best actress and co—best—actors wore tied between Steve Lewis and Clayt Williams. Tent plays this week will be done by tents #16, 17, 18, and M.C. with the help of Bergcstrom, D. and D’Agostino, D. and J., Robinson, and MacNeilly, Rob.

SUNDAY: Warm and humid but no rain. Showers (hot) and trunk ispection went off with no complication. Church service was led by Frank Pine who presented us with with a fine talk on What nature should mean to us, a propos to Nature Hunt weekend. In the afternoon. after rest period, the undefeated baseball team undefeated baseball team challenged a group of councilors including the Director, who was pressed into service on the mound. After the third inning, youth took over, and the Varsity baseba11 forged ahead to win 8—3. The Director remained on the mound one inning too long! After several inclement Sundays, we finally menaced to pull one out of the bag that had no moisture connected with it and had our outdoor supper in pleasant and dry surroundings. this was followed by the group of educational films and thence to bed.

ALUMNI NOTE: We were most pleasantly surprised by a visit from AL Kerr, a former councilor and director of our theater of a few years back. He was accompanied by his wife,. young son and daughter.

CARD: It is most important that you return the enclosed post card in the very near future. The headings on it are self-explanatory—please fill in.

FINAL BARBEQUE: We again repeat our invitation for the barbeque on Thursday, August 24. We reluctantly, must limit it, however, to parents, brothers, sisters and grandparents of campers. We would also like to know the ages of the siblings attending. We anticipate a barbeque for better than 300 persons and all this information is vital to our final plans. We would appreciate your early cooperation. In view of frequent cool nights, we strongly advise bringing warm clothing and coats. The ceremonies will take about two hours and the evening gets chillier as it progresses. A flashlight is also a tremendous help in getting back to your cars.

TRAVEL PLANS: Spaces are provided for you to inform as to how your sons will be going home. We will again make supervised bus arrangements from Cooperstown to N.Y. City--from there to points south by train. We must have your information in order to confirm the bus, which will leave on Friday morning, August 25. Exact times will be in the next Homeletter.

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