Date: 06/01/2000 12:35:50 PM
Greetings, All!
As long as we're strolling down 'Memory Lane,' how about all the wonderful times at Camp Celebration -- so many to choose from but who could forget the initiation for first-time campers. My first year the tradition involved powdered donuts dunked in chocolate syrup and then dangled precariously just above the face of the camper. As I recall it took awhile to get the syrup out of my contacts.
It will be great to be together this summer!
God's true blessings to you and yours,
Sue Schroeder Larson
Date: 06/01/2000 8:53:59 PM
Oh Sue!! I had finally forgotten how you guys initiated me as camp counselor by dunking my face into a whipped cream pie and then I had to go around ALL DAY with whipped cream in my hair because we HAD TO have a volleyball tournament and I HAD TO PLAY and the bees kept buzzing all around me all day long until I could get my hair washed that night and NOW THE NIGHTMARES WILL START AGAIN - OH DEAR!! OH DEAR!!!
Love ya!
Cheryl (Larson) Vettel
Date: 06/05/2000 7:53:52 AM
I don't know, that doesn't sound so bad...
I was one of the kids who had peanut butter shampooed into my hair. By the time
I got to the shower in my cabin, there was 4 inches of standing water with peanut
butter floating on top. I used 4 different shampoos, and washed my hair eight or
nine times. I could still smell the peanut butter in my hair, and for the next
two days I looked like a brillcream commercial. The final blow was that Ernie
decided to stop the initiations after my first year (1973)! I still feel
unfulfilled.
Perhaps at the reunion...
See you all there!
John Brawn
Date: 06/05/2000 12:59:45 PM
I remember that!! (Well, just the part about him getting it on his hair, I wasn't
privy (sounds like a Roy Dunn-pun) to the SHOWER part!).
I remember GOBS of peanut butter in John's hair.
I remember Dave Rupel's initiation was whistling while eating crackers, mine might have
been the "sitting on the fake couch, really a blanket" one. I don't really remember -- I guess
I've suffered too many embarassments over my life to remember THAT specific one! HA!
Dave Foyle
Date: 06/05/2000 8:16:45 PM
Hi all
I'm sure glad that by the time I showed up at camp as counselor and nurse that there wasn't an initiation for counselors. Given the upbelievable creativity of YF-ers in general I'm sure it would have been memorable!
Linda Gunby
Date: 06/05/2000 8:18:56 PM
I can't remember if my initiation was the doughnut in the chocolate syrup or if it was the raw egg dropped into my mouth! I think I got both of those done to me!! And don't forget the "bat spin".....
Gayle (Larson) Jackson
Date: 06/06/2000 3:54:47 PM
Dave (and all the rest of the gangers out there!),
You've shared so beautifully the essence of YF. It looked like just a bunch of kids, hanging out together and having fun. But, Ernie created an environment where the world was held at bay while we experienced the love of God. And, "once you've experienced it . . ." Well, you know.
My favorite memories of Camp Celebration:
1. The very first Camp Celebration where we couldn't say goodnight. We'd stand for what seemed like hours, arm-in-arm, in a huge circle, singing. Ernie, how did you ever get us to go to our rooms?
2. Having my dearest friend, Bonnie Higgins, accept Christ in the quiet of our room one night with me and Debbie Williams (and Biddy - remember, Debbie?). I'm truly going to be lost without her at the Reunion. We were inseparable; we were "Nutty Buddies." And, she always remembered every detail about YF. We talked about it often. Its a cherished gift from God knowing firsthand she's with Him and she'll be with us in spirit.
3. Seeing John Hansen (my future husband) grinning and glowing after encountering Jesus Christ. Even if we hadn't gotten married, I'd remember that night.
Love, Judy (Francisco) Hansen
Date: 06/06/2000 7:38:22 PM
Hi Everyone,
My one great memory of Camp Celebration, which I celebrate every year, I,
too, found Christ! August 10, 1970.
My initiation, I had to sit across from another person blindfolded. We
had to feed each other powered chocolate marshmallows. I hate marshmallows.
So I would take them out of my mouth and set them off to the side. Then
Ernie caught me and told me I had to eat them, I forgot what my "punishment"
would be if I didn't. But I refused to eat them. Then one of the counselors came up took the marshmallows and threw them away.
Sandra Daniels
Date: 06/06/2000 7:39:17 PM
I guess it's my turn to stroll down memory lane...
I remember Paul Brant teaching me the art of screen screeching as we made the girls scream in their dorm rooms and we evaded the counselors who were
still trying to get the syrup out of their hair.
I remember being called "the kid" even when I was 17 and joining the Navy.
I remember getting that name when I made my first trip to Disneyland and
played 4 square in the church.
I also remember walking with friends over to Shaw's to have an ice cream on Sunday evenings, talking about life with good friends and strolling
around Valco Village. I also remember thinking that I was really
lucky to have good friends that I would never forget.... I guess I was right about
that one....
Rich Avery
Date: 06/06/2000 8:56:39 PM
My favorite memory is of all of us girls up on the balcony of the dorm and the guys down in front of it on their knees singing "Goodnight Ladies" to us....... and of course we then lobbed water balloons down on them since they couldn't get away very fast! My poor brother Ted made the grave mistake of having me be a camp counselor the year he was director (plus he had just got his tonsils out!! He must have been hard up for counselors I think!) The girls I was in charge of just wanted to go to sleep at night! So of course I had to instruct them of the proper ways to be a Camp Celebration Camper! I can still see poor Ted who could hardly talk standing down below saying "Gayle, please go to bed!! I was probably the only counselor that had to be told that!!
Gayle (Larson) Jackson
Date: 06/07/2000 12:10:03 PM
Hi Everyone,
I too have so many memories from Camp. Like the Human pyramids we did
in competition, who could get the highest and use the most people and then hold the position.
Or when the guys would serenade the girls dorm at night and it seemed the magic would never end.
The night walks and the camp fire and commitments to Christ.
Can wait to see everyone.
Cindy Trotter
Date: 06/07/2000 1:47:14 PM
Yep, Gayle! I'm sure you were the only counselor to be told to go to bed!!! I remember Avenelle and I were usually so exhausted, we couldn't wait for prayers and bedtime - but I also heard that Avenelle's prayers were a little lengthy!! I think that she, bless her heart!!, wanted to bless everybody in the world every night!! What fun though!!
Cheryl (Larson) Vettel
Date: 06/10/2000 1128:44 AM
Hey, I'm searching for people who were counselors and speakers at
Camp Celebration as well as adults who were leaders on our backpack
trips. Remember these names?
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