Ticket

Greetings Saint Peter says to two men in line at the Pearly Gates. Please state your case for admittance. The first man to talk says "I gave $200,000 to the church, prayed an hour each day and read the bible 49 times."  Saint Peter stops smiling and says "I'm sorry this is not your lucky day." 

The second man then says "no need to waste your time Saint as if that dude can't get in I got no chance. I have not been to church or prayed or dropped money in an offering plate since was in kindergarten, plus I know less bible verses than Donald Trump." Saint Peter then smiled, the trumpets blasted a joyful tune and the gate opened, and then he says "you got a ticket cause you worked at Camp Wawbeek" as the astonished man walks on in.

Situated next to the Wisconsin Dells, Wawbeek's 400 plus acres were donated to the Easter Seal Society of Wisconsin in 1938 by the Upham family and that very season 91 campers had a grand time. Since then over 50000 persons with disabilities have taken part in the camp experience, Wawbeek is the industry standard for excellence, providing recreational and social services that truly make a difference for all involved.

I worked there as a counselor and program support person the summers of 1970 and 1971. Prior to that had spent three summer breaks as a dishwasher and then counselor at YMCA Camp Manito wish. Situated in the north woods of Wisconsin Manito-wish's large property takes up most of the south shore of Lake Boulder. My older brothers were there too for some of that time. It was a fantastic experience and where I learned how to wedgi flip a canoe, paddle white water, lead canoe trips, swim better, and not fall off a horse. Plus got to sail and use a diving bell. Camp was great, got to know a lot of people, had a lot of fun. Did not have to think about grades or doing homework or worry about what was going on in the world. It was an escape.

The ping pong draft lottery held December 1, 1969 which pinned my birthdate to the number 6 was a wake up call, however, and it determined what would be doing after student deferment ended. I'd like to say it didn't make me think about mortality but the truth is it did. Some thinking about the impact and time one has to do something meaningful led to deciding to try a different sort of camp the next break.

Early June 1970 found me at Wawbeek's orientation's week. Learned a lot of new stuff like how to transfer people in and out of wheelchairs, provide partial and total care, turn those subject to bed sores during the night, assist with braces, use the swimming pool lift. Much good fun too playing water bb and keep away plus land sports, cookouts and eating bratwurst. Co-workers were great, some of the guys were athletic fraternity brothers from La Crosse and many staff were on track to become medical and/or educational professionals. Boy's Director Ron Falkner started calling me "Missouri" because went to school down there - the nickname stuck.

Orientation though could not get one ready for the impact of the day campers arrived. Back then the first two 12 day sessions were for children, the third for teenagers and the fourth and fifth for adults. At the end of the summer there was a 5 day session for campers who came with family. I got 6 campers, one of whom needed a good deal of partial care. That first night dinner in the mess hall surrounded by over a hundred joyful, boisterous campers was when started to gain an understanding of just what camp meant. For many it was the best two weeks of the year, and for some more than that. My partial care camper that first day was homesick but he got over that pretty fast. Hard to feel sad when so many around or singing their hearts and laughing their teeth out.

There were 3 campground areas away from the main buildings on the acreage each about a 15 minute tractor ride away. Camping and cookouts at those sites were a lot of fun. The kitchen would set us off with fresh hamburgers, bratwurst, and corn on the cob which we would cook. Counselors were free to schedule such as they felt like it and would often join another group when doing so. At teenager session Avery and I had our groups go together to the most primitive site known as Crow. After eating he suggested we hike on over to the modern Iroquois to visit some of the girl campers. Our kids were all for that. So we headed off over a dirt trail with rocks and roots aplenty. Most of the teens could walk fairly well but my camper, Mike, who was good size had duchenne's muscular dystrophy and used a wheelchair. After about 5 minutes of pushing him up the hill we were both thinking what a harebrained idea to do this. It took a lot of our strength to get there and by the time we did it was getting dark so had to turn around and go back. Michael however loved every second we were on the trail. As did all the other campers. That night like most every night when on campouts the group barely slept. Was a treat to be sleeping out by the camp fire that got tended to till dawn, to stare back at bobcats lurking in the woods, to view the milky way ad mist the heavens.

Adult campers had freedom to roam around on their own. Some had their own cars and some brought their own booze too. Schulze's car had a metal plate on the floor which he used to steer with his feet. Cerebral palsy messed with his hands not his mind. He was a mechanical genius. Someone came up with an idea to prank camp directors Guy Wharton and Ed Driscoll. Schulze's car was used and we parked it a bit off one of the backroads in an isolated section of camp. Gary Powers, Helge and Joe directed me to open the passenger door and slump over. After which ketchup was applied to the forehead and arms and the guys pulled nylon stockings over their heads. When Guy and Ed drove nearby on their nightly rounds they stopped their car several meters away. Got out the big beam flashlights and started walking forward very carefully. Vietnam buddies they were not wanting to take any chances especially after seeing red. As they got closer, the guys jumped out of the woods while Ed yelled "what the hell" and everyone  had a good laugh.

Each session had a final night banquet and dance. People dressed up and staff made sure everyone got to dance as much as they want. Hawaiian Breakfast was another tradition, as were pow wows, outings to the Dells stables for horseback rides, and boat trips up the river to view the cliffs up close. Talent show was another big event. If the MC proved to be too over the top obnoxious they got thrown in the pool (like me).

At the end of each session staff got off from when campers left on the Friday till the next group arrived on Sunday. Vendors in the town of Wisconsin Dells provided half price or no price credits for doing stuff like "big slide" or helicopter rides. I rode the chopper to watch a Native American show. Guy and Ed had told me prior to doing so too not get shocked when at the end when they burn a huge American flag. So I was pretty excited as the show wound down but there was no fire just singing of God Bless America. When I got back to camp they all had big laughs. We also would frequent the Trading Post where could get pitchers for cheap and play "wink". More than one staff couple ended up getting married thanks to that game,

Jeffers was an adult wheel chair camper with outlier abilities when it came to figuring numbers. You could give him any date and he would respond immediately with what the day of the week was that year. His condition caused his hands to be held in an odd manner. One day he got cut somehow and we took him to the nearby ER where had to hold him down as he got stitched up. When we put him on the greyhound for his trip home the person that was sitting nearby got up and moved away.  On a different day someone mentioned to Eddie Bobeck, a camper whose hands and feet were different that euthanasia can be a good thing. I heard what was said and chatted with Eddie about it. He responded that's him and I just said over and over no it is not. Those unthoughtful actions/words are I believe part of the reason why camp was so special; camp allowed for an escape from negative attitudes some people have. It provided opportunity to be oneself, to have good fun and to not looked upon with pity or scorn.

A great number of people that went to camp as children and also as adults attribute their time at camp in addition to being loads of fun as having a significant positive impact as they moved along through life

Avery and I ran mini golf course on the hill during adult sessions. It proved to be a big hit and led somehow during the final week to people asking about camping out right next to it. So three nights in a row everyone slept up close to our makeshift fire ring. Those were the best nights.

It has been 54 years now since those summers of 1970 and 1971. I was a pen pal of a few campers like Eddie for many years, and am still in regular contact with over a dozen of fellow staffers. Have spent time with several here in the islands and on the mainland. They remain among my closest friends.

Am forever grateful that had the opportunity to take part in and witness the joyfulness of Wawbeek campers. 

No need ticket for entry in the pearly gates. 

Been there already.

The castle - staff residence

Camp Sign

Koolau summit trail with wawbeeker, physical therapist Steve Avery 

Gretchen and Eddie

Ron with Schulze

mini staff reunion

1970 Staff picture

For many of us staffers camp was a transformative experience. Several committed to continue their journey to serve others. It resulted in my being the first recreation therapeutic intern at the Kansas City Woods VA hospital, an Orthopedic Technician medic, and developer of multi day challenging outdoor adventures for Hawaii's Hoopono youth. Most of the other staff have similar stories as well.