Unknown girl at the cabin known as the Stumble Inn
A day in the life of Camp Highland girls
I was pleased to get a message from one of the many Camp Highland girls who attended the camp in the 1950s and 1960s. According to Cindy, here's what it was like:
Although I attended quite a few years after your Aunt Elsie, many of the camp's policies, dress code, and characteristics were the same. Here are a few of the policies and activities that were in place when I attended the camp:
- The physical examination was still required before camp began.
- The camp session lasted two weeks and the only contact with home was via letters and postcards.
- Upon arrival, all comic books were confiscated and held until departure.
- The campers were divided into two groups: McIntosh and McGregor.
- Our clothes, sheets, towels, etc. had to be packed in an Army duffle bag, and the blanket had to be an Army issue, green one—so the cabins would be uniform.
- The camp uniform was a white shirt with a plaid scarf and dark shorts, worn for all night-time activities. The bandana-like scarves were given to us upon arrival, and depending on the color, denoted the "clan" each camper belonged to. The had a very small plaid pattern, yellow for McIntosh, blue for McGregor.
- Bathing caps had to be worn at all times while in the pool.
- The camp had a loud-speaker system and all announcements were made over the system - usually before the mid-day rest period. This was also the "alarm clock" for the camp, blaring Reveille at sun-up and Taps about 9:30.
- Upon arising in the morning, we dressed and went straight to the Dining Hall for breakfast, and to start the day with the Pledge of Allegiance and prayer. After eating, we returned to our cabins and cleaned them, getting them ready for the daily inspection. The award for the cleanest cabin was announced at dinner, as were other awards.
- The large open area is where we gathered nightly for ceremonies, singing, and nightly vespers.
- The five small cabins were screened half-way up on three sides and were for younger girls up to age 11. The second from the left was my first cabin, and its name was "Stumble Inn", because of an uneven rock step at the door. At the lower right of the photo . . . were two quite large, two-story cabins for the older girls. Each of these cabins was actually two, made up of the lower floor, and upper floor. In fact, they were named accordingly. I remember the name of only one of the buildings, which was GloryDown, and GloryUp. The cabin shown is NOT GloryDown.
The picture of the girls in athletic poses in front of one of the cabins was probably taken either right before or right after their presentation as a cabin on one of the last nights of camp. Each cabin worked together (with the help of their counselor) for the entire two weeks on a skit or some other form of entertainment to perform in front of the entire camp. There was even a beauty contest. The girls would walk around the cement area of the pool to show that they had learned to stand, walk, turn, etc.
The younger girls were in wonder of the older girls who participated and we wanted to be just like them. I remember one girl who had long brown hair and always stood with her hand behind her back. I was so awestruck that I walked with my hand behind my back for years! My mother would ask me over and over what I was hiding!
Contact me at:
Last update: April 7, 2014