From our Camp Director, Janet Igoe Paddack This summer we were up for our “once-every-three-year” visit from the American Camp

Association. (More on that in another article.) On a previsit-visit, (a chance for the ACA

representative and the camp director to get together to go over some paperwork and get to

know each other), I had a very interesting conversation with our visitor. Here’s how it went:

Richard: So where is the actual camp office?

Me: Well, we have a president in New Jersey, a treasurer in Pennsylvania, our

registrar is on Long Island, I’m in New Hampshire…

Richard: No, no, I mean, where is your office? You know, where do you keep things, do

business, meet with people, you know, your office?

Me: Well, we have a president in New Jersey, a treasurer in Pennsylvania,

our registrar on Long Island, I’m in New Hampshire…

Richard: You mean there’s no place, no office that the camp operates from?

I smiled wistfully at the thought of such a luxury. Richard is a camp director for the Fresh Air Fund. He has been for

over 30 years. He has also been an ACA visitor for many years, so his knowledge of the camping world is pretty

extensive, but he’d never run across anyone like us before. At least not in this century.

Last year at a meeting for not-for-profit camps we had a similar experience. Ellen, our board president, asked the room

how many of their camps operated without any full-time, year-round, staff. The looks we got ranged from puzzled to

incredulous. No one said, “Oh, sure, we do.”

The truth is that we are a bit of a dinosaur. Camps like Ma-He-Tu have largely been swallowed up by larger camp

groups, gone co-ed to broaden their camper base (like Michikamau), or folded their tents (like Trexler), years ago. To

carry on as we have, without a major organization to give us financial and outreach support, without any year-round

staff to sustain the workload, without even so much as an office – it’s truly amazing!

At this point I could say, “I don’t know how in the world we do it!” But the truth is, I do know. I know how, and I

know why. The “how” is the people who care. They are the heroes (or heroines) of Ma-He-Tu. The board members

who spend their weekends sitting around the table struggling with each pressing issue; the staff members who show up at

the end of June for staff week and stick it out until the last camper has gone home (and cry when it’s over); the parents

who trust us with their precious children; the friends of Ma-He-Tu who show up in the spring to help clean up the camp;

and the wonderful folks who remember to send in a check when those Keep the Campfire Burning letters hit their mail-

boxes each fall. We may not have the deep pockets of a YMCA or the outreach of the Girl Scouts, but we do have you.

We have all of you heroes out there who just don’t give up.

The why? That’s the easy one. It’s camp! On October 5 I took our new camp dog, 11-week old “Charlie” to camp for

the first time. When we arrived, I held him up so he could see all around and whispered in his ear: “Look, Charlie,

look carefully. This is going to be your very favorite place on earth!” I believe that at some level, we all have that

feeling about Ma-He-Tu. There certainly are sandier beaches, bigger mountains, clearer lakes, more comfortable

accommodations, but none of them is “camp” and as much as we may appreciate their loveliness, they will never pull

at our heartstrings the way that Ma-He-Tu does.

THE BABBLE R Fal l 2013

1

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www.mahetu.org and click on the link under Announcements!

Igoe, Jake and Charlie

2

From our Board President...

The Lutheran Girls’ Camp

Association has entered new era.

We are happy to announce that the

Camp Ma-He-Tu Foundation is fully

operational and poised to position our

beloved camp financially for genera-

tions of girls to come. After 76 years

of camp operations, it had become clear that we needed a

venue to obtain and invest non-cash donations for the long

term. The Lutheran Community Foundation has been

selected by the Camp Ma-He-Tu Foundation Board (a

separate 501(c)(3) organization) to assist in maintaining

and investing any gifts. You will be receiving a separate

mailing outlining the Foundation and its procedures

sometime after the New Year. There is a link to the

Foundation’s website on www.mahetu.org.

Your cash donations to The Keep the Campfires Burning

fund have been vital to the operation of our camp program

over the last 10 years. We are extremely grateful for your

generous and continual contributions. Due to the elimina-

tion of support services from the New York State Parks

budget in combination with very minimal financial support

from the ELCA and Lutheran Churches, your continued

gifts have played an indispensable role in providing an out-

standing camping experience to our girls. We cannot thank

you enough!

In an effort to supplement our income, the Board of Direc-

tors has been investigating creative ways to use our beauti-

ful location in Harriman State Park. We are considering

hosting a Family Camping weekend. We would love to

hear if you are interested in this type of event. Other events

being considered are a Family Fun Run in the spring or fall.

In the meantime, our camp can still be used by churches

and other groups for retreats in the off-season.

In early October, I met with some representatives from the

American Camp Association (ACA) to discuss our camp.

We continue to struggle with making ends meet. This

summer we had over 50 empty beds over the three

encampments. Being able to fill our beds will help to

close our financial gap. Outreach in your personal

networks would assist us tremendously. We are in the

process of developing a marketing plan that will include

new and interesting ways to reach potential campers.

The ACA praised us for our ability to run a camp with no

full-time staff. We are an anomaly. We are a small,

personal, niche camp and going forward we will be trying

to capitalize on these attributes. We will be mentioning

that all girls will be coming home from camp with 110

new friends! For years now, we have marketed camp

by concentrating on presentations and sharing printed

materials during Church coffee hours. This has not been

working.

The ACA suggested hosting “Parlor Sessions”. We intend

to work with some families who would be willing to host a

small group gathering in their home, church or the local

Dunkin’ Donuts! The Board will provide a representative

to sit and talk with the potential camp families and answer

some of those all important questions.

Folks, we only need 50 more girls! Can you help?

Please free to contact me if you can help or if you have any

questions. E-mail me at eshakespeare@campmahetu.org or

call me at 908-216-8478.

Ellen Shakespeare Karl President, BoD

Camp Ma-He-Tu Endowment Fund

As you read in Ellen’s article, Camp Ma-He-Tu’s Endowment Fund is up and running! You will hear more about this fund in a January letter, and you can also visit our website now at www.mahetufoundation.org. One of the very first contributions to the fund was a $1,000

gift from a Friend of Ma-He-Tu in memory of

Jean Pidgeon. Jean, a long-time camper and staff member,

passed away last spring of cancer.

With this gift, and the interest we earn from all gifts to

the endowment fund, the camp that Jean loved will have a

permanent source of income, ensuring Ma-He-Tu’s future

for generations of girls to come.

Jean celebrates Ma-He-Tu’s 75th Anniversary with Ruth Muenzen

and Helene Welsing

3

ACA Stamp of Approval—A Perfect Score!

There may be some you out there who aren’t very familiar with the American Camp Association (ACA). You may have

noticed their logo on our website and brochures over the years, and you probably understood that it was a good thing for

us to be able to display it. But what does it really mean to have the ACA stamp of approval?

In the words from the ACA:

The American Camp Association is a community of camp professionals who, for 100 years, have joined together to share

our knowledge and experience and to ensure the quality of camp programs. Because of our diverse 9,000 plus member-

ship and our exceptional programs, children and adults have the opportunity to learn powerful lessons in community,

character-building, skill development, and healthy living — lessons that can be learned nowhere else.

As a leading authority in youth development, ACA works to preserve, promote, and improve the camp experience.

Our association is committed to helping our members and all camps provide:

Camp communities committed to a safe, nurturing environment

Caring, competent adult role models

Healthy, developmentally appropriate experiences

Service to the community and the natural world

Opportunities for leadership and personal growth

Discovery, experiential education, and learning opportunities

Excellence and continuous self-improvement

ACA accredits over 2,400 camps. ACA-Accredited® camps meet up to 300 standards for health, safety, and program

quality.

In order to be one of the select 2,400, each camp is “visited” once every three years by camp directors or other camp

professionals who have very specific training in performing their task, which is to examine the camp in question for each

and every one of these 300 standards.

I’ve been through this process with the ACA seven times, the last one being this past summer. I have to tell you: They

can call it a visit if they like, but there isn’t anything social about it. It is a very rigorous inspection of everything we do,

from the temperature at the water taps to the way our staff runs our program. Each of the 300 standards is made up of

one or more questions whose answers have to be carefully answered, usually requiring written documentation to back up

each response. It takes all spring to get the paperwork in order. It makes for a pretty crazy start to the summer, too,

making sure every “i” is dotted; every “t” is crossed. It’s a grueling process, and I complain about it endlessly to anyone

who will listen.

But I have to admit, in my heart of hearts, when the inspection is

over and we’ve passed each and every standard, and the

ACA visitors are complimenting and congratulating us on the

quality of our program, I fall in love with Ma-He-Tu all over again.

How could I not? We have been held up to the very best practices

and highest standards in our industry, by those who are considered

the top authority on the subject, and found to be nothing short of

excellent. This is something we all should be extremely proud of.

When it comes to getting the job done and getting it done right, no

one does like Ma-He-Tu Women! Yea us!

By Janet Igoe Paddack

4

WE COULDN’T SAY IT ANY BETTER THAN THIS Jade posted this on Face Book!

I would like to give a great big SHOUT

OUT to Ms. Marion Schumacher. She

is the woman who made my attendance

at camp financially possibly for many

years.* In ’92 my mother had to retire

from corporate America at the age of 39 years old on dis-

ability. I was 8 years old and my neighbor suggested that

my mom send me away for a summer camp experience. My

mother thought I was too young and being that she was

now on a fixed income, she knew that affording the experi-

ence was going to be a challenge.

One summer later in ’93, my mother and Ms. Schumacher

conversed from the spring to the summer about my poten-

tial attendance at camp, she then dropped the great news

that I was eligible for a scholarship. YAAAAAY!! That

scholarship helped afford my attendance at camp for my

entire tenure as a camper from ’93-’99. Ms. Schumacher

even stayed in touch with my mom over those summers to

check on me and my experiences.

At first I wasn’t sure how I’d adapt to my new camp

experience as being the youngest camper that was 9 years

old in 4th Encampment with the buddy tag of #1, LOL.

Funny thing is, I still have my same sleeping bag, trunk and

other camp supplies/accessories from back then.

My poor mother was bit of a nervous wreck when we did

my first check-in. Finally I did my swim test. I jumped

right into the crib and she almost had a heart attack because

she usually joked that she couldn’t save me from drowning

due to her insane fear of the water!! Hahaha! If anyone

knew me back then, they knew I had this BIG sense of

humor as a small kid and I became the camp comedian/

impressionist.

My first time performing at Open-Mic Night ‘95 was to

do impersonations of my favorite characters and actors. It

became so funny that over the years my counselors would

ask me on the spot to make them laugh with my impersona-

tions, LOL.

My camper-staff tenure of 14 years afforded me some great

friendships. I’m an only child and my parents STILL credit

Ma-He-Tu til this day for helping mold me into the woman

I am today.

I grew up with quite a few of you and some of you

witnessed me grow up during those summers. Camp gave

me a sense of sisterhood, structure, pushed my athletic

abilities, culturally groomed me and educated me on di-

versity, politics, work ethic, bonds, loyalty, responsibility

and discipline.

This little girl from Queens, NY is a very happy woman

and I thank all of u whom helped shape and mold my

lifelong experiences, love

and passion for people and friendships.

~Sincerely,

AND THIS….

Exactly 60 years ago I saw Camp Ma-He-Tu for the very

first time. I was 13 years old and had never been in the

mountains before.

The memories I have of my days there in 1953 and 1954

were so wonderful that I wanted my daughters, Laurie

(Herzberger Crecca) and Jill (Herzberger Cedar) to have

those experiences also. And now my youngest grand-

daughter is gathering memories of Ma-He-Tu.

She and her cousin Kristin Cedar (who spent time at

camp a few years ago) will be able to share these

memories with each other, their mothers and one very

jealous grandmother who wishes she was there, and is so

glad she was blessed to have started such a special family

tradition.

Happy camping!! Lenore Illjes Herzberger

Laurie Crecca sent us

this picture from drop

off this past

summer.

“There are now eight

girls at camp from our

street! Long before

Caroline was ever old

enough for camp, I

was ‘recruiting’ and

now there is a whole

new group there!”

* Actually, Marion Schumacher is in charge of awarding scholarships using funds provided by our very

generous donors.

5

Three Cheers for the Real Pioneers! by Janet Tings

There is an ice cream shop in my hometown that sells a

specialty cake called the “Banana Split”. It has about 20

different flavors of ice cream, topped with a layer of

bananas and covered with a dark chocolate shell. I bought

it for my mom on her birthday several years ago, because

she loved banana splits! When I saw her a few days later,

she said, “Was that cake good! There was a surprise in

every bite!” That’s the feeling I get with every added

summer and new experience at camp!

By now, you have received our Keep the Campfires

Burning annual campaign letter. Ellen Karl talks about

Dottie Buerk and Marie Nurge, and how special camp is to

them. Here are few other things they had to share about

Ma-He-Tu.

While sitting in chapel during Women in the Woods this

past summer, I met Dorothy “Dottie” Davis Buerk.

Dorothy was on staff for two summers in the 1950’s.

I also had a conversation with Marie Harjes “Nursie”

Nurge who was our camp nurse during my camper and

staff years.

Dorothy mentioned that she had been a counselor in the

Pioneer unit. That started me thinking about Ma-He-Tu’s

real pioneers — those who were part of camp when tradi-

tions were born. And so I asked Dorothy and Nursie to tell

me about their first years at camp and their thoughts upon

returning after a long hiatus.

Dorothy said camp empowered her as a woman. In the

1950’s, a female could not even light the candles in church.

She stressed the importance of an all-girls camping experi-

ence, and in a time when the word “he” was understood to

include all people, it was important to be in a setting where

girls and women could do anything and everything.

In 1944, Nursie arrived at Ma-He-Tu in a paneled station

wagon driven by her pastor’s wife Marie Tamke. (Mrs.

Tamke was president of our 1939 Board of Directors.).

Nursie began, “Let an 83 year old camper tell you about

her love affair with Camp Ma-He-Tu!” And a true love

affair it has been! She said, “It was love at first sight, mice

nests, johns and all.”

Nursie spent many years as a camper and staff member.

After leaving camp, she started a nursing career and began

to raise a family. In 1962, Nursie returned to camp in 1962,

for the 25th Anniversary Luncheon and was asked to be the

nurse for 4th encampment that summer.

With her husband Bob’s blessing, she agreed and moved

into the infirmary with her five year old daughter, Nancy

and their puppy Ginger. Her son Peter went to our

brother camp, Trexler. We were lucky to have her as our

beloved nurse for 22 years.

Dorothy did not return after her initial time at camp, but

remained in close contact with others who were involved

with Ma-He-Tu. She was active in the NY State Luther

League and knew Dr. Paul C. White and Nancy Fitchen.

She said she always felt a connection, although she spent

only two summers at camp.

Dorothy returned to camp for our 75th Anniversary

Luncheon. “My experience at camp was powerful.

When I returned for the first time for the 75th Anniver-

sary, I was overwhelmed. I cried. When I mention my

tears that day, the tears return. I am so happy to have

come back this year for Women in the Woods.”

Throughout the years, Ma-He-Tu has experienced many

changes, but our core traditions, values, and our lifelong

friendships remain strong.

It is wonderful to have such a unique program as

Women in the Woods, that crosses generations and proves

that our passion for our camp is with us for life! What a

great thing it is to have ladies who were at camp in its

beginning stages still with us as campers today! Three

cheers for our real pioneers!

The Old Dining Hall

More rowboats than canoes?

6

2nd Encampment—Christmas July 13—July 26

3rd Encampment—Regatta July 27—August 9

4th Encampment—Closing Play August 10—August 23

Paddleboards Spotted on Lake Kanawauke

Lake Kanawauke welcomed a new watersport to its shores this

summer -- Stand Up Paddleboards! Also known as SUP, this

sport, like surfing, has its roots in Hawaii. Hoe he'e nalu (the

Hawaiian word) uses boards that look like long, bouyant surf-

boards, but instead of riding the waves, you paddle...standing

up!

Now, at Camp Ma-He-Tu, girls of all ages can enjoy four of

these beautiful gliding machines. We have nine and 10 footers.

The paddles are lighter and longer than what

Ma-He-Tu girls are used to, but everyone picked it up quickly

and were soon paddling with ease and without kneepads!

Just another reason Ma-He-Tu is the Best. Camp. Ever.

Thank you for the generous

donations from:

Marie and Bob Nurge

(who donated “The Pidgeon” in

memory of Jean Pidgeon),

The family of Jean Webster

Fasano who donated “The

Lady Fish” in her memory

Nancy Gotwalt

Mary & Andy Lindgren

Ma-He-Tu’s 2014 Calendar

Women in the Woods July 5—July 9

Karen Shafonda demonstrates her SUP skills at

WIW.

I Go You Go We All Go For IGOE

Camp Ma-He-Tu is truly blessed. Janet Igoe Paddack has been our director for 20 years.

Thank goodness, that just like Peter Pan, “She won’t grow up!”

7

2014 Application Women in the Woods Camp Ma-He-Tu Check in begins at 11 AM each day

________________________________________________________ Please indicate the days you will be attending: ADULT NAME ___ Sat. 7/5___ Sun., 7/6

________________________________________________________ __ Mon., 7/7 ___ Tues., 7/8

GIRL’S NAME(S) RELATIONSHIP Final checkout is Weds., July 9 at 11 AM

__________________________________________________ I will be coming for the day __ overnight __ ADDRESS

__________________________________________________ I would prefer to stay in a cabin __ tent __ CITY STATE ZIP no preference __

I would like to share accommodations with: PHONE (day)___________________(evening)___________________e-mail address______________

__________________________________________________ ___________________________________

BIRTHDATES (adult) (children) Make checks or money orders payable to the

Lutheran Girls’ Camp Association-WIW.

I certify that I am in good health, as are the child/children who will be attending WIW with me. I A non-refundable deposit of one day’s fee per understand that my health insurance will act as the primary carrier while I participate in all activities at person is required to insure registration.

Camp Ma-He-Tu. The camp reserves the right to reject any application or to dismiss any camper(s) for

sufficient cause. Mail to: Mrs. Marion Schumacher, Registrar

6 Soundview Drive Norrth

Huntington, NY 11743

SIGNATURE____________________________________________________DATE______________

OR, register online at www.mahetu.org

Rates: Overnight fees—Adults/$85 per day, Girls 12 and under/$65 per day. Non-overnight (day) fees—Adults/$60, Girls 12 and under/$40.

The Flip Sides of Women in the Woods

The Women-in-the-Woods (WIW) program at Ma-He-Tu provides two unique experiences for our campers.

The first one is the chance to never grow up! Friends from camper days, summers as CIT’s or counselors get to come

back to camp and be kids again by swimming, paddling or sailing in the lake, sleeping in tents and cabins and singing

songs from days gone by. More importantly, connections are made stronger with a hug, a smile, a conversation over a

meal or quietly sitting by a campfire. Camp friends made decades ago are forever friends, and it is a pure joy to come

back to camp to share our friendships with others.

The flip side of WIW is to introduce new campers, young and those young at heart to the wonders of life at Ma-He-Tu.

Moms, grandmothers, aunts, cousins, neighbors and friends have a chance to come to camp with their daughters,

granddaughters, nieces and girls of all ages to introduce them to camp and get a younger generation ready for life on

their own during a 2-week encampment. Sharing camp with generations of families and friends strengthens family

bonds and provides for many moments of laughter and joy. Bonds are created around making friendship bracelets,

swimming in the lake and playing games on the meadow. Acting and singing during open Mic night surely brings

everyone together.

If you haven’t been to Ma-He-Tu’s WIW, the real beauty of the program is that everything is optional. The daily

schedule provides a framework and each camper creates her day in camp or on an out of camp excursion. Our staff can

entertain and delight and provide direction when a little courage is needed on the ropes course or when zipping through

the trees. There is just so much to do and so little time.

Don’t miss the 2014 WIW program beginning Saturday, July 5th through Wednesday, July 9th. Come for the whole five

days or a day or two or three. No matter the amount of time with us, you will surely be treated to songs you thought

you had forgotten, hiking on trails around the lake or beyond, challenging yourself to learn how to paddle on a stand up

paddle board, and there is nothing like waking up to the birds chirping and the sun shining on your face. Mark your

calendars, contact your friends and make your reservation today for WIW 2014. Hope to see you there!

There is more information on our web site www.mahetu.org Madeline Sharrock

8

Camperships Deborah Baker

James & Kay Baumann

Dorothy Becker – In memory of Jean Webster Fasano

Dorothy Becker

Page Croyder

Patricia Eagan

Nancy Fletcher

Judith Gorman—In memory of Jean Webster Fasano

Donna Ferrara Gregory

Holy Trinity Lutheran Church Belrose

Glenda Hoppe

Dani Hughes

Estelle Claussen Jones— In memory of Madeline

Claussen Jacobs

Angie & Anne Marie Laidlaw— In memory of William Laidlaw

Nancy Leighley—In memory of Jean Webster Fasano

Florence Maningo

Wendy & Dennis Mele

Claire & Mark Morris

Anne Murphy—In honor of Marion Schumacher

Janet Igoe Paddack

Barbara Brown Rambold

Jennifer & Rich Russo

St. Michael’s Church

Marion & Marty Schumacher

McCarthy Foundation

Thomas Skove—In honor of Helen Busing Skove &

Marcie Skove

Michael & Camille Sleiman

Katie Soroye

Women in the Woods Annual Auction

Keep the Campfires Burning

Director

Janet Igoe Paddack (Igoe donates $1,000 of her salary back to

camp each year!) How How!

Pioneer

Indian

Viking

Upper III & IV

Upper II & III

Marie & Bob Nurge

Inter II

Sigrid Allen

Inter I

Barbara Fitzgerald

Pam & Ed Steinkoenig

Junior

Other

Jane Crane

Apologies if we did not include your donation. Please contact Marion at 631-351-1657, and we will include it in the next issue.

Gifts and Donations to Camp Ma-He-Tu March 23, 2013 — October 1, 2103

Thrivent Choice Dollar Donors

Charles Becker

Loretta Bozeman

Kathryn Carpenter

Ruth Dyer

Danielle Fey

Kimberly Fey

Jayne Knarich

Diane Price

Rev. Fred Schumacher

Joyce Schumacher

Joan Schwanninger

Frances Skaggs

Joan Ziegler

Thrivent Member—Annual Campaign Fund Kay & James Baumann

Granite United Way Megan Paddack

Non-Monetary Donors (Time & Materials)

Frances Skaggs—Arts and Crafts supplies

Jennifer Russo—Printing of recruitment materials

Image First—Sheets for signs and scenery

Wish List Donors Stand up paddle boards Andrea Fasano, Ken & Cheryl Fasano, Ken & Connie Webster,

Susan, Michael, Ryan, Becca, Ben and Eric Branta—

In memory of Jean Webster Fasano

Nancy Gotwalt

Mary & Andy Lindgren

Marie & Bob Nurge—in memory of Jean Pidgeon

Barbara Polansky—Water front renovation

Thank you!

United Way Matching Contributions

If you donate to the United Way through your workplace, you can choose to

designate your donation to Ma-He-Tu.

Use our LGCA code—007303.

Camp Ma-He-Tu

6 Soundview Drive North

Huntington, NY 11743

Friends of Ma-He-Tu

Babbler Fall 2013

Help us “go green”. To save paper and expenses, we need your email address to send our Babbler electronically. Please log on to www.mahetu.org and click on the link under Announcements! Also...please like us on Face book!