Árdís - 01.01.1949, Page 15

Ársrit Bandalags lúterskra kvenna
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This was one of the few public places I visited, where you
could not see a hot-dog stand or a souvenir shop. These could be
found a half-mile away, in the town of Gettysburg where thousands
of tourists pass through each season to pay their respects to this
sacred memorial park.
From Gettysburg I drove the fifteen miles to Camp Nawakwa
in the camp truck, driven by a very interesting young man, Ira
Wilson, a student from Gettysburg Lutheran Seminary. He told
me he was helping to earn his way through school by working in
the kitchen of this camp for three months each summer. He said
he had begun as one of the ground crew—clearing trees away,
picking up stones, burning deadwood, making roads and paths etc.;
later, washing dishes and floors—and now he had risen to the
exalted position of assistant chef. Later I found he was a very
versatile young man—he was the bugler that wakened the camp
in the early morning and put it to bed at night. He also led the
kitchen choral group in song, heard so often while meals were
being prepared.
This same group, comprising four young men and six girls
(all students) entertained in the dining room during meals, a couple
of times while I was there. They really could harmonize and there
was much laughter and applause over some of their comical song
arrangements.
Camp Nawakwa has functioned as a leadership training camp
for some years. It actually has been in operation for twenty years,
but I was told it took fully 5 years to get into action as a leadership
training camp. I imagine they fumbled about and little by little
found ways and methods from year to year. Always looking for
methods of improvement in every phase of camp administration,
just as other camps have had to do in their beginnings. Their
executive must have realized how much there is to learn and how
that can only be accomplished by experience from year to year.
Nawakwa is an Indian name for “Deep in the woods”. Camp
Nawakwa is indeed deep in the woods of a thickly wooded tract of
land situated on a hillside of what is called South Mountain, in the
State of Pennsylvania. One hundred and fifteen acres of trees of
all kinds, flowers and ferns, mountain springs and brooks and fruit
orchards compose this camp site. Old trees and young saplings are
everywhere and the natural, wild, rustic appearance has been
retained as much as possible. Clearances have been made only