I was a Kawagama camper during the summers of 1950 through 1955 (from age 9 to age 14). And yes, I was at the reunion in September '06, where I visited my still-standing original cabin, number 32. After returning from my first summer at camp, I typed (yes, I taught myself to be a fast two-finger typist at age seven, and still am)an account of my first-summer experience. This is that account, exactly as I typed it; completed on September 6, 1950.
It all began when I heard of several overnite camps: Beaver Lake, Wabicon and Kawagama. Beaver Lake is about 100 miles from Buffalo. Wabicon is about 450 miles north in Canada. Kawagama is about 200 miles north in Canada and crammed full of lakes. I refused to go to Beaver Lake, but I still had a big choice to make. I was still in school and only had about three weeks to make up my mind. I got an idea. But my mommy warned me about it. I decided that I would go to Kawagama the first year and Wabicon the second year. But my mommy said, "I'm sure that if you go to Kawagama this year, you'll make many friends and you'll want to go back next year." I didn't take her warning and decided to make Kawagama my choice for the first year.