I am part of the last group of Kawagamites and we sure were a different bunch you might say. After us the camp was shut down permanently and I am sure it had just a teeny bit to do with the amount of drugs and dope that we enjoyed.
I remember droppping acid at camp for the first time, I think it was 1969...maybe it was August. And then, again. Anyway it arrived via canoe at Sandy Point.
We began our journey in the early afternoon and continued all night under the stars. How were we not missed? How did we get away with this? Who all were there with me? It's a blank now.
You might say there wasn't a lot of intense supervision.. In fact we did what we wanted as CIT's,- I have some of the fondest memories of nature and they have stayed with me since then.
I went on a 12 day canoe trip...serious stuff. None of my buddies wanted to go, but there ended up being maybe 4 of us and 2 male trippers.We followed the Pettawawa River and began in Algonquin Park. I remember Jimmy Heller, who played guitar better than Paul even though he never thought so...Seyna, Paul's beautiful, athletic, clean-living girlfriend who was an unbelievable swimmer...Fern and her fantastic riding...Steve Baum, Steve Winbaum who was cooler than anyone...Holly Brown, and our counsellor when we were CIT's Mindy Essig. I think she quit or was fired; and then, we had no supervision that I can recall.
I remember Lawrie Seligman from drama and Marty Gross, who I could never figure out what a guy like him was doing with a bunch of spoiled kids.And the late Dave Weiner. If you are one of the people from my "journey" it would be fun to hear from you now that we are grown up and have to behave ourselves.
I live in an old renovated house on 10 acres in Prince Edward County with my 2 dogs and my partner. My 4 kids are grown up and 2 of them are in the arts.
When I think back on what stuff we got away with it's amazing we didn't drown or wander off etc. Camp was more fun than a lot of other stuff was in my life! I haven't changed that much, I am still not very disciplined, unless it has to do with being outside and having fun!
Peace and love to all who read this.
Hi Liz There's a very good
Hi Liz
There's a very good chance that I was on The Point with you all on that day too.
Recreational Activities
On July 24, 1967 I was arrested at Camp Kawagama by the RCMP after Monte and Wilma Kwinter called the RCMP to have me arrested. My crime was being one of many, many counselors (and campers) who were, way back then, enjoying marijuana, and LSD, on the very beautiful Kawagama Island. And what a glorious time it was. You are so right: no supervision - not much of anything - they had no clue what was going on right under their noses. (and we know why.....)
The arresting officers told me, repeatedly, that I would be let go if I would just give them the names of others at camp who were inhaling. I would not do that, of course, so I went to jail. (no brainer,even for a terrified teenager......)
I left camp in handcuffs and was taken to the Lindsay Jail, where I stayed until my poor traumatized father could come up with the cash bail - it was a weekend and the banks were closed - so I got to stay in jail from Saturday until Monday morning.
It was truly, as Howie Mandel would say, a "life-changing experience" and to this day I have no regrets that I could learn so much in so short a time about so many things.
That the camp continued for another two years is something that has always astonished me. I have been told many tales, by many Kawagamites, who were at camp when I was arrested and after and all of them have left me amused and astonished at the collective stupidity of those in charge at that time.
I was told by the arresting officers (who thought it was very funny) that the Kwinters were "promised" by the RCMP that the arrest would be kept quiet and that nobody would know.
When I was handcuffed in the back of an unmarked RCMP car, on my way to jail in Lindsay, the coppers had the radio on and we heard - the hourly news - CHUM AM I think, and the news of my "bust" was on every hour, which screamed out something like: Elite private Jewish summer camp found to be rampant with drugs and staff were arrested by the RCMP today etc. etc. It was also on the front page of the Toronto Star the next day.
And very quickly parents of kids at camp pulled their children out and staff were fired and some quit and within two years it was all over and the Kwinters lost it all.
I loved it.
I don't remember you. Did you have a different name then? Many have told me their Kawagama/marijuana/LSD stories over the years. To this day, I can only look back and laugh. Had the Kwinters not called the RCMP, they might have been able to hang on to the camp for a lot longer. However, it is much better in the hands of the Downtown Church Workers - Moorelands Camp - as it went to people who understand children and who know how to relate to and supervise teenagers!
What a time it was. I was 18 at the time and now I am 61 and it is still one of my fondest memories and one of my best dinner party stories! I do have plans to publish the tale, as I think it is a great story that needs to be told.
I would love to hear more about your adventures at camp.
We can Blog our adventures, or you can write to me directly at francappe@yahoo.ca