I’m one of the oldies of Hagan. I was born in 1937. My aunt Ruth Hallman was a camper in 1937. My parents divorced, we lived with my grandparents, and in the summers from that time my sister Emma and I went off to Shawnee-on-the-Delaware….my brothers went to Miller one year but that was all they liked……Emma and I loved it and always looked forward to June, July and August….I did it all: Junior 1 to Intermediate and senior units , CIT and JC Shantytown….all summer, every summer….Camp Hagan was my surrogate mother, and I thank god for that…loved it! Loved it! Loved it.
A few of my favorite things: singing in the shower house, counselors, Janet Lauterbach, Ginny Steele, Bep Burger and sister Kit, Sis Wenrich, Janie Endres, “chief” who convinced us she was from the Blackfoot tribe (whatever that is)…nurse skipper, “tay” (camp director married to Pat Sloan Haven’s dad) Jan Mueller, Linda Brandt, Edie Klain, Dutch. Well, etc. Looking at the camp pictures I remember a lot of faces not always the names. As a counselor, I was boating and canoeing instructor until I broke my foot….then came the flood and we all dispersed to our homes.
Some of my favorite events: Writing letters on Wednesdays to get dinner, campfires and Little Sir Echo, This is My Father’s World panel in Great Hall, The More We Get Together, “Phantom of the Opera” movie in the Korn Kribbe, skinny dips—the whole camp lined up at the top of the hill dressed only in wraparound towels to go to the waterfront for an evening swim, Hagan-Miller playdays and dances. Hikes to Bushkill Falls for treats, and to hidden lake overnight, canoe trips from Milford. My favorite time of day: I loved it all, getting up and laughing with the gals , flag raising, activities, quiet vespers ….day is done……
Hagan influence on me? How to express your emotions, how to trust people, learning teamwork, creativity, most important, confidence in my own abilities.
Delaware river? Beautiful beautiful place, learning to swim, canoe, boat lifesaving, synchronized swimming. I loved the achievements we had to gain to receive our colored ties: red blue green white
Happiest moment? Arriving at Hagan and seeing all the old and new friends…also the awards banquets….fun to see the campers excel…
Spiritually? Well, I had a head start on that….my grandfather and 3 uncles were Lutheran pastors, and it seems I was always in church.
One memory of Hagan? My lasting friendship with Pat Sloan Haven, and the positive attitudes of everyone there. Have you ever met a hag that didn’t have a smile on her face?
Nature? I have always loved open spaces. I can immediately conjure up every image of Hagan on the Delaware surroundings with peace and respect.
Lyrics to songs? I believe I remember not only the fun of the lyrics, but also I remember them because we sang them so much in a happy atmosphere—whether in Great Hall or the outdoor chapel.
The hardest part about going home after camp? Leaving friends and the organized good times
My connection to Hagan is what has made me what I have become. Never had a chance to be alone, to get depressed, to be grouchy. Every moment at camp was a positive experience. Even gals that cried the first night discovered the next day they had no time to cry because every one was having too dang much fun.
Organization*positivity*camaraderie*self-expression. And, of course, honesty and trust.