Girl Scouts 
EAGLE ISLAND NEWS
Women’s Weekend Edition
Girl Scout Council of Greater Essex and Hudson Counties
Valley Road, Montclair, N.J.
April 1999

Visiting the Island for the First Time
First Impressions And Experiences
Lasting Memories

When I first arrived at Camp Eagle Island, I was amazed at all the natural beauty. The trees shade the entire area. My first stop was the mess hall. There were many women from the northeast busily catching up with their "buddies". The walls were full of graces written down so all could sing, and also full of annual song awards. The singing in the mess hall is not surpassed.

The layout of the camp is in the old camp-style tradition. Large log cabins abound. There are many tent areas too where you can hang your hat for the weekend. There are quiet areas of solitude, and if you want to venture off the island, the Adirondacks provide the scenic backdrop for an energetic day hike. Water sports are the main activity, but there’s also arts and crafts, and other things to do. There is so much beauty I ended up taking over eight rolls of film.

I’ll always remember that visit because the natural wonders surrounded me with relaxation and contentment. I also enjoyed meeting all the other adults and plan on returning each year.

Teresa Russo

*** Check Out All These Fabulous Articles ***

News from the Director 2
Our Eagle Island Wish List! 2
Help Keep the Island Above Water 2
Second Annual Fun Walk 2
We Also Need Staff! 2
Women’s Weekend ’98 3
Arts and Crafts 3
Swimming and Funyaking around Eagle Island 3
Song Preservation 4
Friends of EIC Cookbook 4
News from Saranac Lake 4
Women’s Weekend Registration Form 5
Events to Remember for Eagle Island 6

Wider Op to Shop

At Women's Weekend 1998 we kicked around the idea of having a small-scale silent auction in 1999 as a fund raiser, similar to the traditional one held during Family Camp. We are looking for a few really nice items; the idea is quality, not quantity (no white elephants!) Hand-made or Adirondack theme articles would be especially appreciated. Just for an example, last year on the way home from Women's Weekend, four of us (Joan Harrop, Sue Harrop, Janne Sahady, and me) put together a "tea basket". It will have a teapot, mugs, trivet, hand made tea cozy and towel, infuser, canape knives, and of course--tea! We also plan to donate a "candle basket" and a "garden basket". So, with the hope that we've whetted your appetites for some fun shopping this year, we leave you to think up some wonderful items to bring.

Candie Oldham

Annual Women’s Weekend Basket Class

Our favorite basket cases, Bud Ziolkowski and Sandy Muller, will be teaching a basket class on Friday, June 25 from 9:30 to 12:00. This year’s basket will be a weed pouch (a hanging basket to hold dried flowers). The cost will be $13.00. You can sign up for the class when you arrive at camp for Women’s Weekend. (Note: You must sign up before 8:00 P.M. on Thursday night, June 24.)

Joan Harrop

Visit Your Friends

Please come by and visit or revisit the Friends of EIC website, http://members.xoom.com/cindress
There are some new pictures, a links page, and a new look for the guestbook. As always, any suggestions and submissions are welcome.

Cindy Woolworth

Women’s Weekend Edition EAGLE ISLAND NEWS – Page 2 April 1999

News from the Director

This summer I will be privileged to be directing Camp Eagle Island once again. Since I first saw the Island from the cement dock thirty years ago, I have loved Eagle Island and thought of it as my second home. The wonderful experiences I have had as a camper, a counselor, and director have been some of the most important of my life. I look forward to helping this year's talented staff give the campers of 1999 the same life-defining experiences and pass on the glorious traditions we all remember from Eagle Island.

I am also looking forward to seeing many of you, either at Women's Weekend or as you drop off your daughters, nieces, and children of friends at camp. I will be accompanied at camp this summer by my husband Peter Gow (also a former GS camp director), whom many of you know, and my two sons, Nat (age 7) and Will (age 5), whom none of you will recognize.

I count on you all to keep the word out there about Eagle Island. We want camp to be completely filled. There are many former campers and staff returning this summer, but I am still looking for a few good counselors.

When I see you next we will be gathered some evening with green trees around us and bright stars above.

Mimi Harrington
mharrington@dcd.pvt.k12.ma.us

Our Eagle Island Wish List!

  • Sail boats
  • Sails
  • Materials for sailboats (see Peter)
  • Canoe paddles
  • Office furniture and camp cookware (not metal)
  • Sleeping bags
  • Blankets
  • Pillows
  • Linens
  • Towels
  • New/used but workable ICE MACHINE
  • Dishes
  • TWIN BEDS for the cabins (for the cabins only NOT for the platforms)

Carol Chu

Help Keep the Island Above Water

O.K., stand up, everybody! Gimme a D! O! N! A! T! E! DONATE! Gimme your money! MONEY! Gimme your time! TIME! Gimme your love! LOVE! Oh, that was great, everyone!

If that wasn't your style... sit down, relax. Let the philanthropy flow through your body, let the nostalgia wash over you. Mmmm. Very nice. Now reach for your checkbook... write "Friends of EIC Fund" on the memo line...

Donations of any amount are wonderful, and help pay for camp operations, food, utilities, and supplies. It feels so good to give! Send donations to GSCGEHC, 120 Valley Road, Montclair, NJ, 07042.

Cindy Woolworth

Second Annual Fun Walk

Last April 1998 the first "FunWalk" was held in and around South Mountain Reservation in Essex County, New Jersey to benefit the Council's camps. It was a three mile walk over easy terrain. Council did a great job of organizing the event, including water stations, goody bags, police safety guidance, and food at the end of the walk, which terminated at the Oval camp. Walkers obtained sponsorship money from friends and family, and it was designated solely for the Oval and Eagle Island. This year's Fun Walk will be held September 18, 1999. Volunteers and walkers are needed! If you can help out, please get in touch with Council. This is an important way to show our support for camp.

Candie Oldham

We Also Need Staff!

We need a camp nurse, 6 unit leaders, 14 unit counselors, and specialists (archery, nature, arts & crafts, and trip).

Looking forward to meeting everyone at women's weekend!

Carol Chu

Please contact Carol Chu, the Outdoor Program Manager, at the Girl Scout Council Office (973-746-8200) for details.

Women’s Weekend Edition EAGLE ISLAND NEWS – Page 3 April 1999

Women’s Weekend ‘98

Once again Women’s Weekend far exceeded its promise of fun, fun and more fun!

Interesting activities, both old and new, abounded.

The costume party, a perennial favorite, was a hit with everyone. (Don’t forget to scour your attics and basements for old prom dresses, hats, stoles, etc. to add to our costume closet!)

Basket class was a sold-out success, and produced many high quality Adirondack pack baskets. Lots of proud and happy campers that day!

As always, the starlight boat tours were magical experiences enjoyed by many.

Friday evening’s informative Great Camp talk by Mary Hotaling of the Historic Saranac Lake Association gave us greater insight into the rich history of life during the bygone days of Saranac Lake.

And, of course, few could resist the ever popular rowing, funyaking, canoeing, sailing and other water activities that help to make Women’s Weekend such a popular event.

Now that Women’s Weekend ’99 is almost upon us, I can hardly wait to return to Eagle Island, where old friendships will be renewed as new ones are formed.

Adrienne Selig

Arts and Crafts

Arts and Crafts are always fun at Eagle Island and this year at Women’s Weekend we had a particularly good time. Weaving mini pack baskets led by Joan with instructors Sandi and Bud had many of us very involved for an interesting two or three hours. A few of the women, including camp director Ro, made themselves usable large pack baskets for their next camping trips.

At other times we joined Margaret Hoffman, the arts and crafts director, in the craft space that she had organized into ship-shape condition. There we used our artistic abilities to create adorable string dolls, colorful tiles and usable mugs.

Jan Hart

Swimming and Funyaking around Eagle Island

This Women’s Weekend the tradition of the island swim continued. A few women of great courage and questionable intelligence swam around Eagle Island Camp on Saturday afternoon. Ellen W., Eliza, Cindy, Skipper, and Kara left the waterfront with a flotilla of support vessels. Several funyaks, and a rowboat accompanied them. Mimi rowed her boat and displayed the great style expected of an EIC skipper. Kathy, Judy, Lisa, and Ellen C tried to keep up in the funyaks.

The swimmers and boaters finished the first leg to the Service Dock in record time. Perhaps it was the cold drinks available at the homeport of the barge café which inspired them. The swimmers put on a truly awesome display of treading water and drinking sodas. The empties were ferried back to the service dock by the "yakers".

Swimming past Islanders the swimmers and boaters made enough noise to wake the dead, but barely disturbed Pat Ausman from her nap. The swimmers continued on with alarming persistence and endurance. And the funyaks and rowboat struggled to keep up the pace. A water fight broke out near Little Watch. This skirmish escalated when a simple mis-stroke by Ellen C. which accidentally splashed everyone was misinterpreted as the opening salvo. All of the "yakers" got soaked and only stopped splashing each other because they were laughing too hard to continue.

The final leg from Big Watch to the Waterfront was great fun as several "campers" shouted encouragement to the swimmers from the Lakeside tents. (I think rest hour may be the most popular activity at EIC Women’s Weekend.) The Barge Café had dropped anchor off the waterfront, and several funyakers enjoyed a second course of snacks and drinks after our exhausting adventure.

Ellen Connors

 

 

 

Women’s Weekend Edition EAGLE ISLAND NEWS -- Page 4 April 1999

Song Preservation

One of the great things about Women's Weekend is that memories are re-captured through songs. The traditional campfire on Mariner Rock is a very special chance to share camp songs current and past.

Not surprisingly, countless songs have been lost over the years. At 1998 Women's Weekend an extra effort was made to find and preserve some of these favorites. Groups got together and sang into tape recorders for the archives. Much more of this is needed.

My sister Ginny and I had a reunion with the Schultz sisters--Gail, Rowain and June--in August. We recorded hours of E.I.C. songs from the late '50s and early '60s and sent them on to camp along with the words.

A suggestion for this and future years is for Women's Weekenders to get together in groups from their decade past, and to present some of the songs from their era to the group as a whole. This could provide the current staff with songs to re-introduce at the Song Contest and find other ways to help preserve our rich musical heritage.

So bring your instruments, song books, tape recorders and blank tapes and especially your favorite songs to share.

Chris Hildebrand

 

Friends of EIC Cookbook

Do you have a favorite recipe you would like to share with your friends from Eagle Island? Let’s put together a fund raiser cookbook to sell (for donations) in the Trading Post. Bring copies of your favorite recipes to Women’s Weekend ‘99 or E-mail them to jaharrop@dpnet.net. We’ll assemble the cookbook throughout the year and have it available for Women’s Weekend 2000. The summer campers will add illustrations and humorous camp recipes (bug juice, campfire stew).

Joan Harrop

 

 

News from Saranac Lake

This winter has been kind of a dud this year. We had some snow early in January and then again in March, but most of January and February were a bust. However, during March, Saranac Lake recorded the lowest temperature in the continental US for three nights running. So we got to be the icebox of the nation for a little while. We’ve now moved on to some milder weather, the sun is out and the temperature is well above freezing. So, spring can’t be far away. In fact the Spring Work Weekend is in just eight weeks!

As you may know, I’ve had a position change at Council. My new title is that of Eagle Island Camp Property Manager. This means that along with my previous duties I am now more directly involved with budgetary process and with directing and supervising all property and infrastructure aspects of Eagle Island. So, if any of the readers of the newsletter have any questions or concerns relating to the property itself, please feel free to contact me. I’d also like to let you know that EIC will be looking for volunteer maintenance people over the summer. So if people would like to volunteer their time and efforts for a week or weekend during the summer there is now a way to do so. I’m very excited about this change and look forward to working with all of the people involved with Eagle Island.

Peter (and Beth) Benson

 

JUST FOR WOMEN

June 24 – 27th

Each year, the Girl Scout Council of Greater Essex & Hudson Counties offers Women’s Weekend – a wonderful opportunity to get away for a few days and enjoy the company of other women. Swim, water ski, sail, hike, read a book, tour, sing or sleep. Visit with old friends or make new ones.

Women’s Weekend will take place June 24 – 27, 1999 on Eagle Island, 30 miles west of Lake Placid. Participants may stay two nights for $100 or three nights for $125. The cost includes meals, lodging and program. Each participant is responsible for her own transportation to and from boat launch on the mainland. Carpooling is suggested as parking space is limited. Women’s Weekend is a time reserved for woman only--children under 18 and men can not be accommodated. Women’s Weekend is very popular and space is limited so register early. For additional information contact Carol Chu (973-746-8200)

Women’s Weekend Registration Form: Please complete and submit this form to the Girl Scout Council of Greater Essex and Hudson Counties, 120 Valley Rd., Montclair, NJ, 07042 973-746-8200 fax 973-746-4163. Please submit a separate registration form for each participant. Copy this form as need be! (Note: Registration accepted on a first come, first serve basis, beginning March 1, 1999. Any registrations received prior to March 1 will be entered into a lottery to determine accommodations.)

NAME _________________________________________________________________

Address ____________________________________________ APT # _____________

CITY ___________________________________ STATE _________ ZIP ___________

PHONE (H) ___________________________ (W) ___________________________

LODGING PREFERENCE (indicate 1st and 2nd choices) ____ TENT ___ CABIN _____ROOM

ARRIVAL DATE/TIME _________________ DEPARTURE DATE/TIME_______________

I WOULD LIKE TO BE HOUSED WITH/NEAR __________________ NO. IN PARTY _____

Emergency Contact:      Payment Information:

Name:______________________________      Camp fee: ______

Relationship:_________________________      Less deposit ($25 minimum): _____

Phone(Home):_________________________      Balance due: ____

(Business):_______________________ ___      Check enclosed ___ Credit Card

Photo Release: I grant permission for pictures      Amount $_____ ($50 minimum charge)

taken of my family and/or me to be used for      Circle one: MasterCard Visa

promotional purposes.           Card Number: __________________

__________________________________      Expiration date: ________________

Signature Date      Signature: _____________________

OFFICE USE ONLY: Rec'd.: ______ Receipt#: ______ Date: ____________________

EVENTS TO REMEMBER FOR EAGLE ISLAND

 

WORK WEEKENDS!

Peter Benson the Eagle Island property manager is busy preparing for Work Weekend. We have two planned this year. The first is May 28 – 31, 1999 which will focus on opening the camp for the arrival of campers this summer. September 2 – 6, 1999 will focus on closing camp down. We’ll be taking inventory, storing equipment etc. after a full season. Both of these weekends are huge and lots of hands are needed.

Families, individual adults, and older girl troops are welcomed. Anyone under 18 must be accompanied by an adult and have a signed permission form. All meals, beverages and snacks are included. Workers must provide their own transportation and pre-registration is a must. Registration forms are available in the Camp ’99 brochures, or from Carol Chu, outdoor program manager, at 973-746-8200 ext 124.

SUMMER CAMP!

Girl Scout Camp Eagle Island starts Monday, July 5 and closing day is August 16th. We have 3 sessions this year. Session l: July 5 - 19, Session ll: July 19 – Aug 2; and Session lll: Aug 2 – 16th. This season is jam-packed with great activities for the girls including our ever-so-popular sailing program along with an aquatic program, paddlers, wilderness trippers, explorers, and a few sample programs for the younger girls. The girls participate in hiking, boating, arts & craft, singing, cook out meals, and overnights. A few programs are already full so register early.

FAMILY CAMP!

Kathy Retz our Family Camp Director is preparing for family camp this season. Family camp is August 20 – Sept 1st. There will be 4 sessions to select. Family camp is a nice quiet time after a hectic summer to catch up with each other. It’s a great time for families to get together and let us entertain you and we’ll even do the cooking. Or perhaps you’d like to do some shopping and catch dinner on the mainland. Come be our guests on this spectacular island! You won’t regret it!

Housing is on a first come first serve basis so register early, things are filling up fast. Information for Family camp is in the Camp ’99 brochure or contact Carol Chu, Outdoor Program manager 973-746- 8200 ext 124.