For 80 years, Pine Tree Camp has been a place where lifelong friendships are made.
As we reach this major milestone — 80 years of discovering abilities together — we’re celebrating our community all year long with compelling, personal stories about life-changing experiences at Pine Tree Camp.
One of those stories is about Kathy McMahon. Her memories of Pine Tree Camp go all the way back to 1959 when, as a five year old girl, she stepped foot at camp for the very first time. Read her story at this link. Below you will read in her own words what a day in the life of a camper was like.
What spending the summer at Pine Tree Camp was like in the 1960s
Back in Kathy’s day, kids would come to Pine Tree Camp for 8 weeks every summer.
Here’s what a typical day at Pine Tree Camp was like in the 1960s.
Evening events at Pine Tree Camp in the 1960s included:
- Sunday: Vespers were held in the woods
- Monday: Shriner’s Band Night. This happened twice a season…and we got a bottle of soda at the end of the evening.
- Tuesday: Shower Night
- Wednesday: Movie Night
- Thursday: Skit Night
- Friday: Free Night
- Saturday: Cookout and Campfire Night. “Taps” was sung by all.
Special events during the summer included:
- Water Carnival Day (Water Carnival King and Queen were announced and crowned. One summer, I was named Queen!)
- Horseback Rides
- Boat Rides
- Barbecue chicken and a soda for lunch…The soda was a special treat; we only had 3 sodas all summer long
Daily activities included:
- Athletics
- Tether ball
- Baseball
- Walks
- Arts and Crafts
- Nature Studies
- Overnight Area
Kathy’s memory of the overnight area:
We went to the overnight area and we slept in a wooden lean-too in sleeping bags. We put our sleeping bags on the floor of the lean-too. Sometimes it rained during the night and we woke up and our clothes were wet. The counselors cooked in a big fireplace. We went to use the bathroom at the “4 Holer” (a big homemade toilet for 4). That was cool! And then there was the fresh spring water at the overnight area…That water was cold and we had contests to see who could stay in the cold water the longest. We had supper and then a campfire with marshmallows and ghosts stories. We got to go swimming and the next morning go back to Pine Tee Camp.
Kathy’s Special childhood memories at Pine Tree Camp
My first time at Pine Tree Camp, I remember the Office being in the old log cabin with the bark on the vertical logs. The next log cabin was the Physical Therapy cabin.
My first cabin was Cabin 3.
I remember having my hair cut by the counselor because it was curly and I didn’t want it combed.
I remember my counselors bought me a beautiful dress for the dance at the end of the season. I went to the dance with Duke (Earl) Black. We had fun!
I remember a swimming instructor named Buzz who taught me to swim in 1st Pool.
I have cerebral palsy and I spent time in physical therapy with Carl Nelson. He put this really cool heat lamp over my legs and it felt so good. Then leg stretches and leg exercises.
I don’t remember what year it was, but I remember the brace man coming to camp and fitting me to a lower leg brace with a leather buckle just below my knee.
I remember meeting this cool boy named Chuckie. We became friends. I remember Chuckie walking, and then a year or two later he was using crutches, and then wheelchair. He had muscular dystrophy.
My other older friends were: Mary Ellen Sawyer, Theresa Gordon and Polly.
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