Camp moves into the future while honoring past 75 years

(Above) In its earliest years tents had a hospital cot, orange crate night stand, straw mattresses and grass floors.  Kerosene lamps provided night time path light. -Submitted photosby Marianne Gasaway“Changing, ever growing, yet somehow still the same.”  When Cindy Findley wrote those words to a song 35 years ago it was in honor of Camp Tanglefoot’s 40th anniversary.   “It was an homage to those who had the vision of what was needed and built it for those who would come,” said the camper, turned counselor, turned camp director, and now retired camp director. The sentiment still holds true today, according to Camp Director Julia Mannes.  Mannes is in her 39th year of Scouting and 14th at the helm of the Girl Scout Camp located on Clear Lake’s south shore.  This summer, as the camp celebrates its 75th year, Mannes says it is fun to look back on the past and the traditions that still exist, but she is excited for former staff, friends and the general public to see all that is new. Four-hundred girls attended camp during its first summer.  That number grew to as many as 2,000 in 1990. Today, camp attendance is still rebuilding from the more than 1,000 girls who attended pre-pandemic. The camp was closed in 2020 due to the pandemic and last year numbers were restricted to groups of 12 in an abundance of safety.   This year, Mannes says about 700 will spend anywhere from a few days to weeks experiencing all that camp offers.“We were hearing last year that people were really ready to get back to camp and we are seeing numbers quickly rebound,” said Mannes.  “It’s a very supportive culture at camp and when you get here and experience it you know what it’s all about.”That’s just the thing founders had in mind when they pooled their money, and with a vision supplied by Gertrude Fick, bought nine acres on the south shore of Clear Lake so that their daughters would have a camp to attend. Fick was the camp’s first director and served until retiring in 1984.Before 1946 Clear Lake Girl Scouts camped on Woodford Island.  Regional Girl Scouts camped at Camp Roosevelt in Ventura, which was a Boy Scout Camp.  In 1946, two fathers began looking for land for a permanent Girl Scout camp to ensure their daughters would have outdoor opportunities. An investor group was formed and purchased 9.5 acres of [wlm_nonmember]To read more of this article, please login or sign up for our E-Edition[/wlm_nonmember][wlm_ismember]land. They found a piece of land treasured because of its natural beauty, setting next to the south shore of the lake. When the camp opened in 1947 it was a small cow pasture, with a few simple farm buildings. In 1948, campers chose the name Camp Gaywood.   Tents had a hospital cot, orange crate night stand, straw mattresses and grass floors.  Kerosene lamps provided night time path light.  The hill on the east end of the property, named Rabbit Hill, is mirrored by the hill on the west, called Frontier Hill.  The north boundary is the Tanglefoot Road.  In 1967, the camp purchased the 20 acres on the south boundary, still called “The New Land.” That area includes reconstructed prairie, a wetland area, and restored Council Fire ring on top of the west hill.  Along with Frontier Hill, the other units tucked away in the trees and named by campers in the earliest years are Pooh Corner, Terrace of the Winds, Windy Knoll and Robin’s Roost.Camping remains steeped in tradition, but camp life today also reflects the times.  In 1995, the name was changed to Camp Tanglefoot.  While activities such as canoeing, sailing, games, stargazing, crafts, archery and campfires are still enjoyed, there are also features like a ropes/obstacle course, a rock climbing wall and tree climbing program.  This year there is also a new dock at the waterfront to complement a fleet of boats ranging from a pontoon to kayaks, funoes, corcls (round shaped boats) and paddle boards.“There are still cookouts two times a weeks, a supper and a breakfast, as well as meals in the lodge, complete with table jobs.  We were just talking the other day about the importance of the plate polishers,” Mannes laughed.  For those unfamiliar with camp dining etiquette, there are eight jobs to be completed at each meal.  Two girls will be table setters, others will be put to work after the meal as a silver polisher (wiping food from utensils after eating), plate scraper, plate polisher, sweeper, wiping the table, wiping the chairs.There are also still “Buddy Checks” to be sure everyone is accounted for, the telling of the Legend of the Canoe and wishing boats gently placed on the lake on a camper’s final night.Even after stepping down in 2007, Findley said camp remains a big part of her life and she, like her predecessor Gertrude Fick did, returns to camp throughout the summer to attend each session’s final campfire and tell the canoe story.That love of the camp experience and recognition of its importance is what has helped it thrive for 75-years.A good percentage of those who devote their summer to work as a camp counselor had mothers or sisters, or even fathers or brothers, who were on the camp staff.  Yes,  “kitchen boys,” now referred to as “grounds” or “maintenance,” are also part of the camp family.Mannes estimates that greater than 50 percent of her staff of 38 return to work more than one year.  Several will spend their summers working 18 hour days (on call 24 hours a day) until they “age out” of the job and enter the traditional workforce.“Camp really calls people to feeling a sense of purpose in work.  There’s camaraderie and when you’re doing it with friends, it doesn’t seem like work,” said Mannes.  “A long day with friends is not a long day.”Former campers, staff and the public are all invited to an open house from 2-4 p.m. Saturday, June 25, in celebration of the camp’s 75th anniversary.  Tour the camp, sample camp activities and enjoy refreshments.  The camp is located at 14948 Dogwood Ave., Clear Lake.[/wlm_ismember]