Popovers were served at Sunday breakfast and you were allowed only two. Catholics ate later (after going to mass in town) and got all they could eat!
Uniforms were rented and we wore light blue all week, navy shorts/white shirt Saturday afternoon and all white on Sunday. Shorts had six buttons. Sailor style.
There were two four-week sessions, July and August. Most campers went for both months.
Camp news was sent via Chippy the Chipmunk in the dining hall after dinner on Saturday and awards were presented.
Each week we were allowed to order 25 cents worth of candy from the store in town. It was called "purchase". You wrote your name and order on a small paper bag. You could get 50 mint juleps for a quarter.
We also went to town once a week and could buy a drink and some candy.
Cappy was in charge of all horse related activities.
We rode up and over the hills of Vermont on dining benches lined up on the sides of a truck.
The pond turned blond hair green and was freezing cold.
Junior camp had swings on a bluff overlooking a fantastic view.
Each girl had a checkbook and was allowed $7.50 per month. They made us each buy one tennis ball for eighty cents. Craft and candle supplies were purchased by check.
Hot chocolate was served every morning, in giant metal pitchers.
Every morning cabins were cleaned and inspected and then hair, nails, and uniforms were inspected at flag-raising.
Senior campers were allowed to work as DA's, Dining Assistants. They sat at the head of the table and carried trays of food and dishes from and to the kitchen. Counselors sat at mid-table. The food was fantastic.
We played hand slapping games waiting for the doors to open before meals.
The bugle calls were made with a real bugle.
You could buy ice cream cones in the afternoon.
Watching old Teela-Wooket movies (really old, like from the '20's or 30's) was a favorite rainy day/night activity.
Vespers was held every Sunday night.
Cabins did not have running water. We had a pitcher, bowl, and slop bucket. Sometimes it hailed and we put our basins on our heads.
The toilets were in buildings called the HULA. It was smelly.
In NYC, campers boarded the train at Penn Station at night and slept on the train arriving in Roxbury the next morning. So fun!
You needed to get in the front of the line to get a good horse which was easy most of the time, but people snuck out of their cabins early after rest period and slithered down the hill. There was nothing worse than getting stuck with a bad horse.
The last night of camp in August ended in mass hysterical crying in the dining hall as we waited to go to the train station. No one wanted to leave friends or camp.
______________
53 comments:
this is excellent
i did it too
same camp - or close
camp lenape
camp blue sky
in pennsylvania, i think
or was it the catskills?
great years...
bia
Wow! A lot of memories here. I went to T-W from 1958/9 or so until 1966- including some early weeks for archery and I think one time for riding. Are you in touch with others who went there?
Good times and great reflections...
I went to Teela-Wooket in the late 70s. Captain was still there but very elderly. I still have a book about horsebackriding that he gave as a prize for something and I won it - it's super old, from the turn-of-the-century... Does anyone know if there are any T-W alumni networks out there??
I have so many fond memories of TW. I was there in the early 80s and remember lots of the same things. Tradition!
I went to T-W in the early 70's. I remember some of the same things you mention but most of all, I remember the great time I had. -- Valerie
Cheer Teela-Wooket, Hail her bright name! Far thru the land of girls we'll bear her bright fame forever. Down thru the ages, Renowned shall she be. Fairest camp in the land, ever her name shall stand. Ever the girls sing to thee.
I was a camper in the late 1960s and my Mom was a camper in the late 1930s to the early 1940s.
I loved Teela Wooket I was there in 78 and in 84!
Wow, this brought back memories. I remember the popovers, getting coupons to be supplies/treats in town and vespers. There was a special night where second- and third-generation campers received patches. And yes, the pond turned my blond hair green! Thanks for bringing back memories.
Wow, this brought back memories. I remember the popovers, getting coupons to be supplies/treats in town and vespers. There was a special night where second- and third-generation campers received patches. And yes, the pond turned my blond hair green! Thanks for bringing back memories.
I went to TW in the late 50's.
Had the worst horse in the world.
He'd bite the horse in front which would kick out at him and then he'd rearup and I'd almost fall off.
I remember making a pair of ugly pink candles for my mother and a leather loop belt for my father.
I did enjoy it.
My roommate was Susan Lister from Rhode Island.
Me = Verna Prouty from Scituate, MA
I was at T-W from 1967-1982. Best summers of my life. Have been back to visit in the last few years, the new camp has the old uniforms up in display cases in the Dining Hall.
"Cheer Teela Wooket,Wooket we sing,
Now all together praises we ring
rarara,she's got the pep that gave her the rep that made her the best of all,cheer,cheer!"
I was there in the mid 70s and I remember the bugle calls to wake up,lunch,dinner,and to go to sleep,I remember the Captain, I remember singing "Country Roads" for the owner's wife (wish I could remember her name) because she was form West Virginia.I managed to be a DA,which was ,back then,the only way one could get a glimpse of a boy (the kitchen boys)...what a flirt I was,ha,ha.So many lovely memories...I had this MAJOR crush on John McKay,the rifle teacher...so much so that I would only do riding and rifle (I think he barely knew I was alive but hey,I was one more among a throng of teenage girls who admired him).I got all the medals one could get at that rifle range and went on to join the Spanish pre-olympic team for sharpshooting.I have nostalgia for those Teela-Wooket times and for the best popovers EVER!I would love to get in touch with others who were there around those dates and exchange memories....
Awfully hard to believe...Teela-Wooket...the most wonderful summers of my life. The initiation ceremony ,in the beginning of each summer,was truly inspiring, Katty Woo,the bonfire, and candles across the pool representing the virtues. Alas, Honor Girl at the end of the seasons ...not, but still inspires me today.The Roys, Haydens, Walkers, Eastmans, Cappy Marsman, Sarah, Col. and Madame,etc.2nd gen ,Happy Camper, 50's-60, still riding and driving beloved horses
I was ther ein the 1980's when Bob & Nonie Flemming(?) were running the place. I'd love to see video/movies or any generation at TW. I thought the bathrooms were called the Hula's because of the old Hula shorts (sailor shorts) the girls had to wear. When I was there, the pool was still cold, and would turn blond hair green, the food was still great and I worked as a DA for both the spending $ and the chance to talk to boys (I was a total flirt). I loved the music program and the candle shop. I loved sining after meals from song books. When I was a CIT I was the one to would play the bugle calls in the AM to wake every one up. I got to play music in the AM. I cannot hear certain songs now without thinking of Teela Wooket. Thanks to all, Cheers, Julie Page, MA (still)
Cannot believe I found this about Camp Teela Wooket... was there in the mid sixties (I think 1964-65)still have pictures of the horse I loved so dearly and wanted to purchase named Charlotte... won camp ribbons with her... she did it all herself!! Is there an alum website anywhere for this camp?
And yes... those popovers and the food in general was fabulous.. when I was there, I believe we had the chef from the Ritz Carlton there....
Susan (Dowd) Stone, www.perinatalpro.com
I went to Teela Wooket in '60-'61, Miss Barbie was my counselor one summer. There was one horse, Pat, who always earned a blue ribbon for when you rode him. Annette Parks, daughter of Bert Parks was also there. I believe the Nixon girls too, but not when I was there. My brother attended the boys' camp that was connected business wise to TW.
I am so glad that I found this site!! I was at TW in 57,58 and 60. All of these comments bring back such fantastic memories. I had forgotten the song and am so glad that someone printed it here. The fun started riding the train from DC (I was from Richmond). Is that freezing cold lake gone? The friendships were wonderful, the food delicious ( I had my first s'more and what fantastic ice cream!) I have a beat up blue ribbon for Beginner riding and some moth eaten insignias that I don't know what they represented. I forgot my lines in a play and still cringe thinking about it, but won the drama award. It was the beginning of my love for the mountains and woods and I now live in such an area in Wyoming. Someone should start a TW site for memories.
My dad was the chef at Camp Teela Wooket! And it was my Uncle Pat that made the pop overs :-) My mom worked in the "outfitting" with my Aunty Bea.
Unbelievable! This really does bring back memories: "You can tell a Teela Wooket girl a mile away because she looks so bright and gay; She has a lot of sparkle and zest that makes her the very best..."
Of course I remember going to Dot's or "the vill" as we called it.
And who can forget the bugles?
I just saw Nonie this past summer - she told me to check out the facebook page too.
A million Thanks for this walk down memory lane!
Great come bake and put great stuff also good to see your blog again
Pegasos world
Hello everyone, I am the current director of Teela-Wooket. We are planing a reunion for all alumni in late August, 2011. Please go to our website and log into the alumni section. You will then receive an invitation soon.
Norbert Auger
Director
info@windridgecamps.com
I was at TW in 1978. Took my pony with me and we both had a blast. I remember those overnight camping trips on horseback and galloping through the "Splish Splash" river. Then I ended up going to Ethel Walker School, where unbeknownst to me the TW horses "wintered"... Bonnie Jean, Last Tango, Teneira were some of the school horses I remember. Did anyone make the "dirty list"?
By the way, at TW he was "Captain" but at Ethel Walker's he was "Julius"! His daughter Barb was at both places.
Hi all. I went to Teela Wooket in the 60's, I think. Thanks for the memories. I remember getting in trouble for spending most of my time in the stables learning about horses. I got a badge after taking a test. I loved archery, rifle shooting. Have a pic of me on a huge horse. Don't remember too much else but had a great time there.
I think one song went something like this:
You can tell,
By my wiggly ways...
You can tell,
'cause I hop 'round all day...
You can tell, all the while
That I sure...like to smile!
I'M A JUNIOR!
I was a second generation girl. sarted out in Middler Camp then on the Senior Camp. I'm an only child and it was Fabulous to have all those sisters. Played jacks and canasta for hours. did every activity. Loved every moment. Attended a reunion in Boston a long time ago.
Teela Wooket, Happy CAmp, The one that we adore. Fairest of the beauty spots amid the mountain roar. Teela wooket Camp we adore thee.
sedgartown@gmail.com
Wow this is very nice ti seeing the Blog... Teela-Wooket it is very nice memories...
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I was at TW as a Junior in '67 and I remember learning how to write a check for candy and ice cream. Then I went back in '73 and money was a coupon book you used in camp and turned in at the office for a trip to the Ville. I remember my first trip their as a Senior. My counselor pointed out the Roxbury Public Library to us saying, "It's closed today. The book is out." It took a second, then we all got the joke.
Idlewild was the boys' camp on Lake Winnapasaukee. (sp)
What a joy to read all these memories! I went to TW in the 70s. There was a small gang of us from Montreal, and we had the time of our lives. I remember the uniforms, the delicious food, I'M A JUNIOR song, my favorite horse, Cadet, the vill, the bugle, flag raising and taking down (this was novel to me as a Canadian), taps, golf, crushing on archery instructor, swaying to LET'S GO FLY A KITE after dinner, and of course the amazing friendships. Wonderful stuff :)
Absolutely amazing. I went to TW for 4 years 75-79. I was in all three camps. I fondly remember trips to the Vile for candy, the plays, going down the OLD wooden slide and ripping my suite and Splish Splash. I forgot about the popovers -- they were awesome. I still have my horse bit bracelet, the silver horse charm and 3 honor (?) awards -- silver shields with the TW on the front. I was so excited my third year when I was an honor girl. I just moved to Vermont from Maryland and was telling a co-worker about the uniforms. Remember you either wanted a flat triagular rock for your red tie or safety pin to hold down the tie so you didnt get hit in the face while riding?
From Jean Kallman - I was at TW in 1944. It was my first time away from home and it took a lot of adjusting. By the time camp was over I felt at home. Rode Charlie McCarthy and Edgar Bergen. Brownie was the horse that would nip at other horses. Loved archery and got some certificates. Counselor was Jean Gross. Didn't learn to golf but did roll down the hills on the course. Wonderful memories.
What a great find. i was a counselor there probably 57/58. Love the food. I walked through the camp a few years ago an it brought back such greg memories.
Jean
What memories-I was a Senior counselor 57/58. What a great experience. I was able to visit the camp several years ago an it brought back some lovely memories. What great food.
Jean
Such wonderful memories. I was a camper 64-71, and then a counselor 72-76. I love my summers at TW and always hated to leave at the end of the summer. The good thing was that I would be back the next summer. It truly was my summer home, and I look forward to the reunion in August 2012.
I went to Teela Wooket I think in 1966-67, not sure. I was horribly homesick and new nothing about Drassage. My roommate was the Queen of Drassage and on the 1st or 2nd night she and her friends poured flour on my head when I went to sleep. It was freezing to death when we woke up. Freezing standing around for the bluggle blowing raising the flag. I had written home requesting to come home. My father wrote back and said no. Fearing that, I decided while awaiting his decision that if he said no, I would figure out a way to make it work. So I had to stay put. Thank God I made friends with a Chineese gal who asked me to crawl out of the window at like 11 pm and join her others going to the boys camp. I was thrilled. So we did and turns out the head of the counsellors was with us coming back. I was terrified I'd be caught and something horrible would happen. But we sure had fun TPying everything in site. Never got caught. Put someone's underway up the flag pole. Things got better. But the pond was a no go zone for me. And archery was a disaster. The food was fantastic! That saved every day. I made friends before I left which was good. I was there for one month I think.
what great memories I have a teela-wooket. I started as a junior and traveled the hills to a senior. I remember the Hula raids, vespers - the little white church down the road. Hampton Harrison Smith III was the only male riding instructor at the time. Ice cream 10 cents. I worked as a DA (dining room assistant and enjoyed the early morning fires. went from 1958-1962. The invitation to return I names "The Gold Engraved Invite"
email me at unpacked1@msn.com if you attended during those years
Kathy Korneth
Great memories! I was at TW in the early 50s as a middler and then a senior. I loved the riding program,(rode Pimlico and Parson) rifelry, the pond (did not turn my hair green but was very chilly) the candle shop and archery (I was terrible). Fond memories of Cappy ( you make me feel so happy, in the morn) and Colonel Pugavatchnikov (?) and Madame and have never forgotten watching Cappy on Green Moutain Gold in the Vermont sun. The Colonel could guide any horse through all its paces without reins or stirrups!
The councellors were great and the food...OMG!
Especially breakfast. Vespers...the Honor Service... Singing after dinner....loved it all
Thanks for this blog post! I was there for 4 summers in July in the early 70s...what a great place with amazing riding Instructors...remember the horse back over nights? Ring through the streams to our camping destination? I was there when the Walkers ran it...and sadly the summer the tennis instructor died suddenly. I will never forget walking up those hills and the killing horse flies as we waited to get on. I still have a camp ice cream cone candle!
Going through my parents old boxes of photos and whatnot, I just found a bunch of pictures of counselors, Cappy, and campers that I took in 1953. I'm trying to find an address to send them to. Loved camp, horses, corn fritters, home made ice cream and ice in the pitchers late in August.
I just found this site and the "Grinch" who wrote the first article could have been one of my bunkies...I remember my days there in the early '60's with absolute clarity...so many memories...and I was a DA too along with Linda Craig.
I had a chance to return only once when taking my son back to see Eastern colleges in the early '90's and having come across the Lincoln Gap in early November, we ended up close to Roxbury and drove up (sorry...) to Senior Camp. I found one of the cabins that had been my summer home and on the edge of one of the wooden shelves was still written "Ann-Gale Foote and Linda Craig were here summer 1961." I will never forget finding that shelf with my now-grown 6'1" son standing over my shoulder...
Those days are as clear in my memory tonight 18 November 2012 as any of my life. It was the best of times...
Ann-Gale (Angie) Foote
sevenskies@comcast.net
I just found this site and the "Grinch" who wrote the first article could have been one of my bunkies...I remember my days there in the early '60's with absolute clarity...so many memories...and I was a DA too along with Linda Craig.
I had a chance to return only once when taking my son back to see Eastern colleges in the early '90's and having come across the Lincoln Gap in early November, we ended up close to Roxbury and drove up (sorry...) to Senior Camp. I found one of the cabins that had been my summer home and on the edge of one of the wooden shelves was still written "Ann-Gale Foote and Linda Craig were here summer 1961." I will never forget finding that shelf with my now-grown 6'1" son standing over my shoulder...
Those days are as clear in my memory tonight as any of my life. It was the best of times...
Ann-Gale (Angie) Foote
sevenskies@comcast.net
I loved reading this! My best friend at camp was Bronwyn, the lake was impossibly cold, and the popovers were delicious! Great memories!
To all 60's campers! Join our Facebook groups: Teela-Wooket: Adventures in the 1960's as well as Teela-Wooket Camp - past campers and staff. Find old bunkies, add pictures -- Cheer Cheer!!!!
Valerie Avedon Gardiner
Happy Camper 1965 - 1968
valgate76@aol.com
I went to TW in the late 70s for 3 summers I think. I loved it. My grandmother was an alumna from the 1930s. I went on to take Monday night riding lessons with Julius Mihaly at Ethel Walker School and got to know all the horses--City Slicker, (my favorite) Bantry, Irish Coffee, Chit Chat, Sir Richard. What a big part of my life it all turned out to be. Nice to read up on you all here. Thank you for the memories. You can find me on facebook if you'd like: Jen Dutton
Wow, just ran across this post; brings back so many memories. I remember that each summer there was a theme for naming many of the camp horses. one summer it was flowers, one composers, etc. Many of Dana Hall's school horses went there for the summer. Fell in love with a horse named Alberac, and was devastated for months when my family would not buy him. I was there in the early 70's.
I was a camper at Teela-Wooket for 4 Summers during the 1950s and was at TW when Julie and Tricia Nixon were campers.
How about our camp song--"You can tell, by our shovels and pales, etc."--one for each camp level.
Anyone remember the horse "Jughead'? Oh how I hated to get him! Andy was my favorite.
The golf course was a lot of fun, and the last day of camp with the carnival events was most exciting!
I wish I could find my friend and cabin mate, Patricia, who was from NY. We were Juniors and Middlers together.
I could write lots more--including Pat, the chef, who made the great popovers (and also the doughnuts and applesauce!), was the chef at the Private Girls School in RI during the rest of the year.
Diane
I went to TW from 1951-1960 and loved every minute. In senior camp I was a DA to the head table and got to serve the Nixons when they came to visit Julie and Tricia. My sisters Joan & Pat were there also. As a grandmother I am making sure my granddaughter is learning to ride here in the Cleveland area. I can still sing most of the songs we sang - esp Cappy, Cappy, Cappy what makes you feel so happy ...Fond memories - Lynn Haussermann
I was a camper in the 60s and was so homesick the first year. Then, I loved it the next few years. kRisty Kistler was my counselor and I remember my bunk mates. These were the best summers of my life, a wonderful experience! I have now retired to Vermont, a beautiful state.
I was signing along with you! I was a camper starting in 1955 and a counselor in 1963 and '64. I am still in touch with some of my camp friends. I also went to early and late week for archery and my father was director of the dance camp.
I was at Teela Wooket 1962-1967. I also loved it and remember the songs, horses, hula, freezing mornings, swimming pond, vespers, vill, maple walnut ice cream...I learned to eat squash there. The Haydens were the directors and came to my home for tea and to interview me. I am so glad TW is still there in whstever form. I still have the songbook and love the sound of the wind in the trees. Pst
Wow - just seeing this - brings back so many memories. I went to Teela Wooket every summer through Junior, Middler and Senior when I finally got to be a DA… from 1974-1981. Best friends of my life… the Sadliers were the greatest family and after the Walkers retired, rhe Flemings took over - Laura Fleming was my best friend…. I remember the Browns and their singing… the amazing plays… So many great memories ❣️
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