Men of the Camp Ahwahnee Staff

Men of the Camp Ahwahnee Staff

Noel Laflin

8-6-15

Folks came from far and wide to attend the Camp Ahwahnee staff reunion on Sunday, August 2nd. The event coordinator flew in from Chicago. Some caught flights from the Northwest, while others drove down from Napa and surrounding regions. Fellows and their wives came in from Las Vegas, Arizona, the Inland Empire, San Diego, LA, and Orange County.

By one in the afternoon, the old camp parking lot was filled with silver-haired Eagles chomping at the proverbial bit to renew old friendships, spread their wings, and tour the land of their youth.

Calvary Chapel Christian Camp played gracious host. The four hundred and fifty acre site, once known as Ahwahnee, has been in their care for the past quarter of a century.  And it should be noted that by day’s end, there was unanimity in the fact that these folks have proven to be very fine stewards of the property.  The camp is green, serene and beautiful to behold.  Developers spared no expense when it came to magnificent log structures for both staff and campers, paved roads, and an immaculate grassy parade ground stretching before one of the largest log dining halls to be found anywhere in the state.  And yes, they even built a lake.  And yet, the forest is still intact.  They took great care with their building, sparing ancient trees at every turn.  In response, the forest has thrived.

The Scouts actually first acquired a small portion of the camp sixty years ago this summer, and hosted the first troops in July, 1955.  Over time more acreage was added and boys soon had a massive playground to call their own.  The high altitude ensured a forest teeming with wildlife, evergreens and the sweet smell of vanilla/butterscotch wafting off of majestic Jeffrey Pines, the Christmassy smell of white firs, and the familiar comforting aroma of incense cedars.  In short, a beautiful mountain getaway was now only a ninety minute drive from the heart of Orange County.  Build it and they will come?  Indeed they did … for the next twenty-five years.

Thus an Ahwahnee staff was created that very first summer season, growing as the land was increased and the campers and Scouters spread the word.  By 1960, upwards of two hundred boys a week roamed those woods and there was a seasonal staff of forty.  The camping season was increased to eight weeks per summer.  There was barely time to close and secure the camp each season before staff members headed back to school in early September, all the while dreaming of the next summer.

Fast forward six decades to Sunday last where old friendships were rekindled, new introductions made, and a walking tour of the property ensued.  Old staffers and former campers, some having brought their children, wives and significant others to see this magical place they once called home for a week or a summer, pointed out where structures once stood and daily events took place.  The main road through camp still headed out past the newer parade ground, but yet, a very familiar looking pool still glistened and beckoned, clearly whispering, ‘come find a buddy and take a dip.’   The old road followed the same path as the days of yore when narrow gauge logging trains first chugged their way through the once virgin forest – their tracks having been long dismantled a century before, but their path still indelibly imprinted upon the land.

Out and further out the former youngsters roamed, noting where a camp store, handicraft, camp craft, nature area, rifle and archery range all once stood.  But the surrounding forest, including the oldest tree on the property – a white fir some four hundred years old – still stood, looking green and inviting; the forest floor carpeted in thick pine needles, fallen cones, and swatches of vibrant red scarlet bugler blossoms dotting the hillsides.  If you closed your eyes and breathed in the cool mountain air - inhaled the overlapping, competing aromas of incense cedar, Jeffrey pine, fir and dogwood – well, the years simply melted away.

To Inspiration Point and Chapel in the Pines the old-timers headed, marveling at the small lake the newer caretakers of the land had created some twenty years ago.

And then the climb to the Point and the view of the Southland some sixty-seven hundred feet below …

The devastating Running Springs fire of 2007 had charred much of the forest below – burned giants now bore silent witness to the inferno that roared up the steep rugged terrain.  But where other camps down below lost everything, the new Calvary/old Ahwahnee was spared.  The fire stopped at this very point.

As the afternoon wore down, folks reluctantly headed back to the parking lot.  Some took diversionary pathways, seeking out one last favorite haunt, pointing out one last feature of the land, telling one last tale.

Later, one revered senior member would write, “The reunion allowed for 'Magic' to unfurl. Such a diverse assembly of middle-aged ‘servants to youth' testified to scouting ideals gone successfully.”

Another fellow stated, “I had tears in my eyes when I first saw many that I once looked up to, remembering how I had no hope of ever emulating them. So many young men that did so very much with so very little - I can say no more, other than thank you all.”

But perhaps the most poignant conversation took place between a father and his fourteen-year-old son.  The man recorded the following:

“As we drove home from the reunion my son said, ‘I wish the camp was around now so that I could attend.’  He also commented, as we walked from Inspiration Point earlier in the day, ‘It must have been hard to leave the camp each time.’  I said it was.  And looking out from Inspiration Point I now note that same feeling once again”