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Encyclopedia WinterCampica Volume C |
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Cabin Crawl- The Cabin Crawl, a simple stunt where the point is to circumnavigate a cabin without touching the floor, was long famed in Winter Camp lore as an event which had never been launched. Dave Woods took a shot at it at Winter Camp XX in the BC building. He was successful until he stepped on a nail, when he learned that “barefoot” might not be the best way to travel. Although it had never been attempted at Winter Camp, there had been many cabin crawls at Charles Howell. Most noteworthy among them were one at Ranger and one at Iroquois, Downriver chapter's adopted cabin. At Ranger, a twelve-man cabin, the crawl was done for speed and the record was set by Paul Duran, who completed it in less than thirty seconds. At Iroquois, Matt Mittino provided great entertainment. First, while attempting it on the exterior, he fell from the roof in exactly the same spot five or six times. Later, on the indoor course, he was able to wedge himself into a corner of the building and stayed there for several minutes until he finally became bored. (LP, SD)
CAG Funeral- A collection of activities at Winter Camp IX was directed toward the maligning and destruction of the CAG, an entity believed to be engaged in the destruction of the Order of the Arrow. The CAG was killed during a ceremony on Day One, and his funeral was held on Day Four, where the remains of this beast were cremated atop what is now known in Winter Camp geography as CAG Rock. The CAG's corpse proved somewhat difficult to ignite, so a quantity of photocopy machine toner was added as a fire accelerant. Also burned during the brief ceremony was the Creighton radio cabinet.
CAG Funeral Feast- In conjunction with the CAG Funeral, the traditional banquet at Winter Camp IX was cast as a prelude to the evening service, as members ate and drank to the destruction of this anti-Arrow force.
CAG Funeral Song- This song was written for and recorded at Winter Camp IX as part of the general mirth surrounding the demise of the CAG. The original lyrics had to be modified during the recording session, as the limited musical acumen of the collective Winter Camp crew necessitated simpler words.
CAG Funeral Song
(Tune: “I'm Looking Over A Four-Leaf Clover”)
I'm looking over the CAG's dead body;
A sight that fills me with glee!
His face is broken, his clothes are a mess;
I am just glad that, we're rid of that pest.
There's nobody crying; our thoughts are flying;
The wretched CAG is gone at long last!
[Recorded version: “The wretched CAG is gone!”]
I'm looking over the CAG's dead body;
A sight that fills me with glee!
CAG Trap Contest- The Cub Scout favorite known as Genius Night was imported to Day Four of Winter Camp IX, when members were each presented with the same collection of materials and competed to create the best trap for the late CAG, who had been killed on Day One. Numerous contraptions, most of which involved shooting bamboo skewers with rubber bands, were invented.
Campfire- Two campfires have been held at Winter Camp, each on the last night. At Winter Camp II, the 12 members gathered in song around a fire built on the frozen surface of Beaver Lake. Six years later, a more conventional campfire was staged at the BC building, where two worn-out officers' briefcases were burned. They were eulogized with the immortal words “And to these briefcases, which have served so well, we say good-bye. Good-bye, briefcases...” This eulogy was a parody of statements Harold Oatley had made during a past flag-burning episode at camp.
Campfire Snack- Outdoor cooking was temporarily in vogue at Winter Camp XX, as each member had a chance to venture out to the Beaver Creek cabin fire pit to toast marshmallows. S'more fixings, popcorn, and soft drinks were available inside.
Can Toss Fundraiser- This con game ran throughout Winter Camp XXI. An empty #10 can was placed on the Beaver Creek dining room floor, and Arrowmen were invited to toss coins at it, with the provision that they got to keep anything which landed in the can. Coins which missed were contributed to the general Winter Camp fund, which grew by $3.68 as a result of this venture. Jeff Rand proved to be the most generous contributor, as his toss of a $1 bill fell just short of the can.
Canada Day- Canada Day, promoted in a Powerpoint presentation sent to the pre-planning meeting by Ron Donohue, was unanimously chosen as the theme for Day Three of Winter Camp XXII. Events of the day included curling, Murder Mountie Clue, the Clearwater Stampede, Casino Windsor Night, and the showing of the McKenzie brothers film “Strange Brew”. The day's meals also had a Canadian flavor: Hearty Canadian Breakfast, Bouchard's Bonanza, and Sallee Manger Supper joined the returning Casino Snack.
Candidate Lunch- “Travel back in time to your last lunch as a non-Arrowman” might well be the motto of this meal, which replicates the “scant food” challenge of the Ordeal. As this meal was served on the service project day of Winter Camp VII, it was possible for members to relive half of their Ordeal at Winter Camp that year. This meal debuted at Winter Camp III on the day of the 100-Dish Banquet. As extensive feasting was planned for dinner, it was felt that a light lunch might be welcome. Additionally, preparations for the banquet occupied the chapter and the full resources of the kitchen all day--it was thought wise to schedule a lunch which could be served with minimal preparation. 22 years later, similar logic saw the Candidate Lunch return to Winter Camp as lunch before the 162-Dish Banquet.
Cannibalistic Chickadees- The Winter Camp “Wildlife Encounters” file includes two invasions by these creatures. At Winter Camp I, several chickadees appeared outside Clearwater to feast on scraps of chicken which had been placed there. They, or others like them, returned to dine again at Winter Camp IX.
Cannonball Lunch- As a twist on the Pirate theme at Winter Camp XVIII, this lunch served exclusively spherical food: meatballs, brussels sprouts, new potatoes, rolls, and plums. Special pirate hats were provided for all campers.
Cantina Lunch- As part of Star Wars Day at Winter Camp XXII, lunch took on the trappings of the cantina from the first film. Kielbasa and sauerkraut led the menu, which included “Daha Delight”, a formal name for the artificial Kool-Aid which was first concocted at Winter Camp XIX.
Capture The Objective- Winter Camp's variant on Capture The Flag is a continuously evolving Winter Camp activity. When two teams play, Cow Camp and Highland are the home bases; when three face off, the third is based at Treasure Oak. In its first incarnation, at Winter Camp II, the objective was called the “Oatley”, was human, and could evade its pursuers. Over the course of successive Winter Camps, numerous rules experiments have been tested, many inspired by arguments which arise after the game. Indeed, post-game arguments over rules interpretations are something of a CTO tradition. The game took a three-year hiatus during Winter Camps XV-XVII as the variant known as Predator took its place, but the game and the argument returned at Winter Camp XVIII.
Capture The Objective: Highlights Winter Camp Noteworthy Event or Innovation II Mobile objectives III Three teams participate III Dave Oakley dives through barbed wire fence IV Punch cards added as scoring mechanism IV Treasures added to scoring system IX Spies added to lineup IX 4 A.M. kickoff XIV Balloons used as multi-part objective XVIII Dave Woods challenges barbed wire, loses XXII Played in reverse as Viral Infestation
Card Tournament- The card game Magic: The Gathering attained significant popularity among Winter Campers during the 360¼ lesser days of the earth year throughout the mid-1990's. Accordingly, it was fitting that the game be included in the Winter Camp program, and a formal competition at Winter Camp XX topped off several informal matches which had been held at previous camps.
Caricatures- Steve Donohue led a crew of Arrowmen in this poetic excursion at Winter Camp XVIII. Joe Hall had inspired this collection of limericks with a 3-stanza ode to Steve's snoring in Clearwater cabin, but before the budding poets were done, all Winter Camp XVIII participants found their names and personalities commemorated in verse.
Carnival- Held at Winter Camp VI, this event was a demonstration where members brought a personal hobby to camp for display. By far the hit of the evening was Dwayne Forsyth's radio-controlled model car, which quickly drew the attention from every other exhibit.
Carnivorous Lunch- Animal products in a variety of forms graced the table at this Winter Camp V meal. In the quest for a meat-related beverage, the menu planners chose to bypass obvious choices like bouillon and invented a concoction dubbed “AB- Juice”. Red Kool-Aid by any other name still tastes as sweet.
The Case of the Missing Marquis- This board game was developed by Steve Donohue and served as the Human Clue game at Winter Camp XVI. The format was much the same as a life-size match of Human Clue: teams competed to amass information and solve a murder mystery. This innovation eliminated the need for exposure to the elements, which in 1992 allowed Winter Camp to come in out of the rain.
Casino Night- Running from Winter Camps II through XI and again at XXI, this event traditionally ran on the last night of camp and allowed campers to try their luck against a variety of games of chance. Blackjack, roulette, craps, poker, and computerized Volkswagen races have at various times found a welcome reception at the Winter Camp gaming tables. When printed currency was used, a ready medium of exchange was available. Before its introduction and after its demise, members were issued an allotment of chips from the central bank. Mark Bollman--> crafted a poker chip value system at Winter Camp II which differentiated chips both by size and color and was described 7 years later as “unintelligible to the normal participants”. Numerous Arrowmen made small virtual fortunes during the night, while others fell prey to the immutable laws of probability. One particularly successful gambler was Bob Stone, who struck it rich at Winter Camp IV and lit a victory cigarette with a burning $5,000,000 bill. In its return to Winter Camp in the 1990's the event's name has been modified twice to fit with camp themes. At Winter Camp XVIII, it returned in the cloaking of the Pirate theme as “Shore Leave”, and at Winter Camp XXII, it was adopted by Canada Day as “Casino Windsor Night”. Casino Night is also noted for the “big poker pot” tradition, where several participants appear to engage in a poker game with real money, often totaling thousands of dollars, at stake. The tradition was modified slightly beginning at Winter Camp XXII when Ron Donohue and Mark Bollman--> appeared to play roulette (blackjack at Winter Camp XXIV) for real cash.
Casino Snack- Served, in the past, in conjunction with Casino Night festivities. This is a low-impact meal, with no significant effort required behind that necessary to pop popcorn. Assorted munchies and soft drinks--which have at times included some rather curious-looking sherbet punches--round out the menu. At Winter Camp XVIII, the menu was historically accurate, but the name became “Pirate Snack”. Winter Camp XXIV saw hot snacks added to the menu when Ron Donohue gathered leftover supplies from the Spanish Embassy Dinner and made a batch of nachos. At that same Casino Snack, Paul Kupser contributed a 12-gallon keg of home-brewed root beer, part of his 1999 hobby.
Caste Breakfast- At this meal, the Winter Camp crew is randomly separated into two groups, and each group enjoys a rather different breakfast experience. The upper caste enjoys oeufs a la carte, jambon, gateau meg, jus d'orange, and lait froid served off Winter Camp's accumulated fine china, while the lower caste must make do with ham and eggs or pancakes, consumed from paper plates and washed down with orange juice or milk. As this meal has been served four times, Mike Osvath has beaten odds of 15-1 against by landing in the lower caste each time.
Casual Observer- Casual Observer joined the ranks of the anonymous posters at The Wall in March 1998. Like his predecessor, Big Bro, his messages have been thought-provoking, although not usually in the same way. His poor grammar and spelling force the reader to work hard to translate even the simplest things he types and even when they are “translated”, the thoughts behind them are rarely worth the effort. Thus far, there have been four people accused of being Casual Observer. John Howey has put forth Steve Perri (unlikely, since he does not have Internet access) and/or Steve Harig as the most likely candidates. He later accused Dr. Beast due to some serious typos and misspellings in one of his posts. Steve Donohue has the distinction of being accused of being both Big Bro and Casual Observer by none other than Jeff Rand. To date, the jury is still out. (SD)
Catchphrases- At the planning meeting for Winter Camp XIX, a group of Arrowmen wrote a retroactive catchphrase for each previous Winter Camp and for the upcoming event. These phrases found their way onto placards which stood behind candles lighting the way to the CHR Memorial Site during that year's Time Capsule Hike. Jeff Rand sees to the updating of this list (see p. 23). For explanations of these phrases, consult the Yottapedia.
Winter Camp Catchphrase I We finally have an adult II Beginning of eternity III We've reached critical mass IV Rebellious expansion V Communism: the introduction of currency VI Soda pop, anyone? VII Democracy rears its ugly head VIII Terts are people too IX The Committee Strikes Back X A glimpse of the Future XI Dawn of the Information Age XII Six people, six cars. Six full cars. XIII What's my password; I gotta go XIV Traditionally unconventional XV Forever young XVI Murphy was an optimist XVII Help us to make the right decisions XVIII We the fallen XIX Conquering new worlds of fun XX The investment pays off XXI Aliens are among us XXII A new kitchen-no more stove fires XXIII A web of opportunity XXIV Looking toward the Future XXV Our first quarter-century of excess
Cat's Quizzer- Part of Dr. Seuss Day at Winter Camp XXIII, the Quizzer was a trivia contest based on the good doctor's works. Early promotional material for camp indicated that teams would have nine lives--that is, that they could notch nine wrong answers before being eliminated. Question master Mark Bollman--> found this to be something of a challenge in planning the event, so he devised a competition where all five teams first faced off in a 20-question challenge based on How The Grinch Stole Christmas!. The two surviving teams then proceeded to answer individual questions, but only one was necessary before a winner was determined.
Caveman Dinner- One of Winter Camp's most famous meal themes, this meal has been served 21 times since meal themes were introduced. It is best known for its minimalist approach to dining--as Winter Camp slips for an evening into caveman emulation mode, all trappings of modernity are discarded. Eating utensils? Gone--although in deference to minimal hygiene standards, serving utensils and drinking vessels are now employed (they weren't always). As the evening's menu includes spaghetti, garlic bread, salad, and chocolate pudding, this does indeed present a challenge. Electric lighting? None--flaming oil has, on occasion, provided some illumination. Language? Nothing intelligible. Mike Osvath is known for his willingness to serve as a model caveman for the rest of the group, and numerous Arrowmen have followed his lead in exhibiting primitive behavior. On occasion, this temporal regression has led to a bit of combat, although food fights are not scheduled for the evening. The activity which does go along with the Caveman Dinner is a massive cleanup effort (invariably necessary) in which all hands participate. This meal was threatened at Winter Camp XX, when its menu was co-opted by the planned Phone Prank/Kimballs' Dinner. However, a Future Society meeting during camp saw it voted back onto the schedule.
Cemetery Hike- An evening hike to the Metamora Cemetery, located on Dryden Road just south of camp, this three-time Winter Camp event is notable as one of few Winter Camp activities which actually leaves the boundaries of D-A.
Ceremonies Day- Something of a return to Winter Camp's origins, Ceremonies Day at Winter Camp XXIII was intended to provide ceremonial training and ceremony-related activities. The day broke with a reenactment of the 1936 Pre-Ordeal ceremony, included the Oakes Lunch from the 1970's Ceremonial Training Seminars and the 1977 Trivia Contest, and closed with the Return of the Lenape rededication ceremony.
Ceremonies Day Snack- For no readily apparent reason, organizers of Ceremonies Day at Winter Camp XXIII developed no theme for the evening snack. Campers returning from the rededication ceremony and its far-ranging hike found the popcorn served no less enjoyable for its lack of thematic trappings.
Changing of the Donohue Pot Handles- A tradition “easy to trace, but hard to understand”, according to Steve Donohue and Jeff Rand in Origins, this curious Winter Camp custom can be traced all the way back to Winter Camp I. Each year at the close of camp, someone makes it a point to take the Donohue pot and reverse the orientation of the handles, where they remain for the following year. Originally an act performed by Doug Wilson as he sought to clean the pot to its very edges in 1977, it is now among the most firmly established Winter Camp rituals.
“Channel 120”- This novel, written by Mark Bollman--> as his assignment for 1993 in the first Hobby Draw, is noteworthy as the first intentionally fictional publication ever written about Winter Camp. It tells the story of the United States in the mid-1990's after the Moral Reform Act has caused great changes in American life. Among these changes are the demise of the Boy Scouts of America and the clandestine continuation of Winter Camp far from D-A and possible persecution. The title takes its name from Lapeer's new community television station, broadcasting on channel 120 as WCXX-TV. The novel was released at Winter Camp XVII during the first Hobby Demo, and met with mixed reviews but wide popular appeal. A careful reading will reveal some indication of one possible future for Winter Camp.
Chess Tournament- This double-elimination tournament was held at Winter Camp XVI. The Donohue brothers met in the finals, with Steve coasting to victory in a 12-move game. Jeff Rand nosed out Dave Woods in the consolation round to finish third. Dave's fourth place finish won him the youth title.
Chili Cookoff- This Winter Camp XIV meal may well have been the final death blow to the idea of competitive cooking at Winter Camp. Three teams were formed and quested to create a pot of chili using the full resources of the Winter Camp kitchen. While two teams produced passable batches, the squad led by Dave Milon and Dave Woods cooked up a creation using samples from all 24 jars in the Winter Camp spice rack. The results proved most distasteful; one anonymous evaluator summed up the dish by noting “Just because spices exist, you don't have to use them all.” Dave Milon himself perhaps described the quality best in his Winter Camp News review when he judged it “not suitable for [Rand] stew”.
China- Winter Camp's official china was acquired at a rummage sale at Trinity United Methodist Church in Allen Park. The various pieces were assembled from a wide variety of sources, with the result being twenty or so china plates, very few of which matched each other. The Anniversary Banquet at Winter Camp X and the Emily Post Dinner at Winter Camp XIII used the china, but the dishes eventually proved too bothersome to contend with and were replaced with durable plastic plates at Winter Camp XIV and beyond. (SD)
Chinese Dinner- This meal was served at Winter Camp III, and saw campers struggle to eat spaghetti with chopsticks. Spaghetti has been served at every Winter Camp except Winter Camp XXIV, but thanks to this meal and the Caveman Dinner, it has only been eaten with forks at Winter Camp I and as part of the 162-Dish Banquet. Also of interest at this meal were fortune cookies, where many Roman Catholic campers found fortunes indicating that they could soon expect an addition to their family.
Christmas Banquet- Celebrating Christmas has been a recurring favorite at Winter Camp. At Winter Camp V, the holiday was borrowed for the year's banquet theme.
Christmas Party- While an exchange of natural gifts was logged on the schedule for Winter Camp II, it was not held. However, the cabin was decorated, Christmas tunes issued forth from an 8-track tape player, and a festive holiday snack was served as scheduled. Popular Winter Camp Christmas songs that year included “Winter Wonderland” and “Rudolph, The Red-Nosed Reindeer”. Jeff Rand proved himself quite the budding song parodist when he changed the latter to “Crudolph, the little Daha”. There wasn't more than that, but the intro to the song included “Rudolph...Rudolph...Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer” which was changed to “Crudolph,...”
CHR Memorial Site- In its heyday, the Charles Howell Scout Reservation near Brighton was widely regarded as one of the finest Scout camps in America. However, the property was sold by the Detroit Area Council in 1986 for development into the Pine Creek Ridge subdivision of luxury home sites. Several Winter Campers have made visits to CHR since its sale, and a number of artifacts, including 5 campsite markers (Jim Bridger, Davy Crockett, OA Cabin, Plainsman, and Ranger), have made their way to Winter Camp for enshrinement at the CHR Memorial Site, which was constructed at Winter Camp XI in 1987. The collection of artifacts was enhanced at Winter Camp XVI, when soil from CHR was scattered over the site and a tree was transplanted from the former CHR Ordeal site to the Beaver Creek woods. The memorial is a fenced-in area housing the campsite markers, with a gateway built from the Lime Lake Field Sports sign. It is located somewhat downhill from the Last Ceremony site in such a location as to make it unlikely that it will be discovered without a deliberate search. Winter Camp's annual, 5-year, and 10-year time capsules are buried there each year. Jeff Rand has written a brief ceremony performed at the site during each year's time capsule placement in commemoration of two former DAC camps in metro Detroit: CHR and Waterford Township's Camp Brady. Other notable events include a campout on the site by Steve Donohue, John Howey, Tim Hunt, and Dave Milon on a December 1997 weekend as part of a weekend-long manhunt where the Venture Scouts from Troop1373 were supposed to conduct a manhunt to find them. The 1997 Fall Fellowship saw a crew from Mahican Chapter converge on the site and build a new wing, increasing the size by 50%, and add a basement. Unfortunately, the basement had collapsed by Winter Camp XXI, and there are no plans to rebuild it.
Civil Court- Winter Camp's criminal court system, in conjunction with the Murder Game, had operated for years before being joined at Winter Camp VI by a civil counterpart. Two lawsuits were filed that first year, both by area directors accusing their fellows of dereliction of duty. Maintenance Director Paul Duran filed the first suit, against Security Director Dan Bollman. Dan countersued with the same charge. This set the stage for future civil court activity as “dereliction of duty” seemed to be the most popular charge brought before the bench in its three years of existence and Paul Duran was the most frequent litigant, either as plaintiff or defendant.
Civil War Lunch- At Winter Camp XVII, this lunch served beef-a-roni. It was hoped that some sort of battle would take place during the meal, but no intentional conflicts occurred. The same hopes were held for its return at Winter Camp XXV, but diners proved civil without warring.
Classic/Sports Day- This thematic hybrid was conceived by Mark Bollman--> at the Winter Camp XXIII pre-planning meeting. Both Winter Camp Classics Day and Sports Day had received support as daily themes, and when Mark--> pointed out that many classic Winter Camp events are, in fact, sports, the merger of the two found favor. Cross-Country Golf and 4-Way Volleyball led off the day.
Clearwater- This cabin was home to the first Winter Camp's six-person crew, and has served as an auxiliary cabin from Winter Camp IV onward, as the growing popularity of the event required its expansion beyond the confines of a single cabin. Clearwater was traditionally the home turf of Steve Donohue, John Howey, and the younger advisers until High Point cabin was annexed to the Winter Camp grounds in 2000. Sleeping in this cabin is seen as an honor by some and as a punishment by others. There is definitely a difference in the Winter Camp experience depending on which cabin you sleep in. (SD)
Clearwater Stampede- This version of the thematic Olympics was contested on Canada Day at Winter Camp XXII and was modeled after the Calgary Stampede. The Stampede was also a partial observance of the Wild West theme originally chosen for Winter Camp XXII but discarded in favor of daily themes. Two events comprised the Stampede: lassoing (of picture of horses posted on parking lot railroad ties), and target shooting (of Dixie cups with rubber bands).
Coastal Cuisine- A seafood dinner, this was one of the finer meals planned and executed at Winter Camp VI. Scallops, shrimp, fish, French fries, and cole slaw comprised the menu.
Coconut Cream Soda- This unscheduled beverage was prepared by Ron Donohue at several Winter Camps in the late 1970's and early 1980's. Two commercial products, Coco Colada and cream soda, are combined to create this soft drink. Bob Stone was perhaps the biggest fan of this drink, and insisted on picking up the ingredients each year. (RD)
Coin Spinning- An improvised event, Coin Spinning took place on Day One of Winter Camp XXII. Arrowmen gathered in the dining room and tried to spin a coin from one end of a table to the other. Ron Donohue holds the record with a spin that reached 143.25”.
Cold Room- For 15 years, Clearwater cabin was known alternately as the ”Cold Room“. This nickname started when Steve Donohue and John Howey determined that there should be no heat in the building at night. Since Winter Camp VI, there has been no heat in Clearwater after midnight. (SD)
”The Committee Strikes Back“- This is the name given to a reworking of Jeff Rand's ”The Last Ceremony“, which was modified at Winter Camp IX to include the killing of the CAG. A new character was added, and new special effects were introduced to simulate the bloody death of this intruder.
Communications Merit Badge- The Winter Camp XVI planning meeting included a proposal that youth members be given the opportunity to earn a merit badge at camp. Machinery was the first choice, but Communications soon replaced it. Counseling sessions run by Ron Donohue, Steve Donohue, and Doug Wilson were held on the first night of camp.
Communist Government- From Winter Camp V through Winter Camp VII, the government was a modified communist system. Directorships were established as part of the Central Committee's ”Five-Day Plan“ and leadership responsibilities were distributed among the participants. A central bank was established and a tightly-controlled economy instituted. Arrowmen were paid a flat rate of $50 for work on the service project, but since bunks were controlled by the state and rented for $25 per night, everyone was forced to find work sometime during the weekette in order to scrape out even the most menial existence. After a 3-year experiment, Communism was abandoned as a form of government following Winter Camp VII in 1983. During the years 1989-91, the rest of the world caught up with Winter Camp as Eastern Europe broke free from the Soviet Union's influence and the USSR itself broke up.
Competition Lunch- Served on the service project day at Winter Camp X, the Competition Lunch was described in press accounts as more a competition for fresh air than for the Italian hoagies which comprised the main course.
Computer Use- One of the defining features of Winter Camp is its early and continuous use of home computers in program planning and execution. Indeed, a decent history of personal computers may be written by examining the Winter Camp record. Winter Camp II was the first where a computer appeared, as Mike Osvath's Radio Shack TRS-80 Model I was tapped for service and for entertainment. That first year of Winter Camp programming saw a roster program and the Volkswagen Races game used at Casino Night. Several commercial programs also found their way from the cassette storage system to the machine's microprocessor. As home computers have evolved, Winter Camp has been quick to keep up with developing technologies, as the following charts indicate.
Advances In Winter Camp Computing: Hardware Winter Camp/Year Development II/1978 First computer (TRS-80) III/1979 First disk drive V/1981 First Apple product (IIC) VI/1982 First Texas Instruments computer (TI-99) X/1986 First IBM-compatible computer (AT&T PC6300) XII/1988 Greatest number of computers (11) XIII/1989 First Apple Macintosh XIII/1989 First computerized latrine monitor XVII/1993 First color printer XIX/1995 First laser printer XIX/1995 First CD-ROM drive XXI/1997 First Internet access XXI/1997 First digital camera XXIII/1999 First network (6 computers) XXIV/2000 First digital video camera
Advances In Winter Camp Computing: Software Winter Camp/Year Development II/1978 Roster II/1978 Volkswagen Races III/1979 Battle Of The Arrowmen III/1979 Murder Game V/1981 Directional Distance Analysis VI/1982 Capture The Objective VII/1983 Trivia Test (TRS-80) VII/1983 Bar Exam X/1986 Winter Camp Adventure XIII/1989 Latrine monitor XIV/1990 Winter Camp Trivia Challenge (IBM) XVIII/1994 Menu database XXI/1997 Worldwide Web site
Condiment Tree- While certain high-volume condiments, including ketchup and mustard, are regular items on the Winter Camp food list, others with less of a following may be found at Winter Camp on the condiment tree. Individual packets of more esoteric flavorings, including taco sauce, horseradish, and soy sauce, are arranged into a rough Christmas tree shape for easy harvest. These creations are the work of Mrs. Lynda Donohue, and the first one appeared at Winter Camp XVIII. The tree was originally inspired by a joke in an old issue of Orbit about last-minute Christmas gifts. The first condiment tree was topped by a single vacuum-packed pickle which was placed in the Winter Camp XVIII time capsule and returned to the tree top the next year. No one dared eat it. Mrs. Donohue later commissioned a more permanent wooden tree, which first appeared at Winter Camp XXII.
Conglomerate Lunch- The quintessential Winter Camp meal, this is the traditional luncheon on December 31. It had been known as the Survival Lunch at Winter Camps II and III. The main dish at this lunch is, of course, Rand Stew, a concoction including leftovers from many previous Winter Camp meals. Apples traditionally accompany this fare, along with any food that hasn't yet been eaten at camp. In a shocking departure from tradition, this meal was canceled at Winter Camp XVIII in favor of 4-Way Volleyball played in a light rain as time pressure which had been building throughout the weekette finally extracted a toll. While only one previously scheduled event had been canceled, when the choice came down to food or fun, folks chose to play.
Continental Breakfast- A continental breakfast was first served at Winter Camp X, but the idea was more fully embraced following Winter Camp XIV, when Doug Wilson observed that he never woke up hungry at Winter Camp. This revelation--which many agreed with--coupled with some difficulty in getting people to turn out to cook or eat a complex morning meal led to the adoption of one to three continental breakfasts at all Winter Camps from XV forward. A substantial breakfast is still served occasionally on December 31 (the Last Breakfast) and the morning of the service project, but on the other mornings, it is typically a much more casual approach to feeding which begins the day. Since its Winter Camp XV inception, an article announcing the inclusion of this meal has appeared in the postcamp newspaper each year.
Continental Lunch- Again with an eye toward a streamlined food service, this meal was introduced as an experiment at Winter Camps XIX and XX, where it was served on the service project day. The fare is simple--a sandwich spread is laid out by a skeleton kitchen crew--and the Winter Camp service tradition can continue with minimal interruption.
Continuous Storytelling- Members at Winter Camp XI formed a rough circle and one began making up a story. At irregular intervals, control passed clockwise to the next member, who continued the story where it had been interrupted. Several topics vied for attention early on, but the prevailing storyline had something to do with Rand Stew.
Cooking Contest- Part cooking contest, part pancake-eating contest, this meal was served as breakfast at Winter Camp VIII.
Counterweight Dinner- This meal was eaten at Winter Camp XI, and again saw Arrowmen paired into short-term alliances. Each participant placed his food on one end of a makeshift tabletop teeter-totter, and the challenge for the duo was to eat with such synchrony that the plates remained in balance.
Cross-Country Golf- This Winter Camp classic traces its origins to the former Michigami chapter, who proposed this activity, somewhat in jest, for the 1977 lodge Fall Fellowship. Seven years later, it found its way to Winter Camp VIII, where the Beaver Creek Athletic Club is now established as a one-hole, par-62 course. The annual two-team match tees off at the Beaver Creek Scoutcraft building and proceeds over the lake or up the dam along camp roads to the Ordeal site. A particular honor is to be handed the club for the traditional ”face shot“ from the top of the hill to the fire bowl. The hole is a pit atop a hill beneath a distinctive tree at the back of the clearing. Par was 162--matching the lodge number--for the first two years of the tournament before being arbitrarily reset for subsequent matches. Mark Bollman--> and Ron Donohue took to the links on Day Four of Winter Camp XXIII in an unofficial effort to challenge the record. They scored a 34 (-28) with their best ball as a two-man team.
Evolution of Cross-Country Golf Records Winter Camp Score Team IX 80 (-82) Musolf Team X 52 (-10) Macionskites & Fultsters (tie) XIX 50 (-12) Battling Bluegills XXII 43 (-19) Mark of the Beast
Crude Dinner- The Crude Dinner was designed as an antidote to the Emily Post Dinner at Winter Camp XIII. On the menu were barbecued chicken, cole slaw, baked potatoes, biscuits, cake, and milk.
Cube Meal- Matrix Day at Winter Camp XXIV saw a new geometric meal. The Cube Meal was served as dinner, with a geometric menu including cube steak, carrot sticks, new potatoes, Rice Krispie treats, milk, and cornbread.
Curling- Winter Camp XIX saw four teams take to the ice in an approximation of this Canadian sport. Plastic milk jugs, filled with water and frozen, served as stones until the sunlight began to melt them. The team of Dan Bollman, Tim Hunt, and Tom Ray, representing Calgary, triumphed over Winnipeg in the first round while Josh Davis' Belleville squad knocked off Alberta. The Canadian finalists made quick work of their American foes in the championship bonspiel, icing a shutout victory. At Winter Camp XXII, the game returned as part of Canada Day, but not without controversy. Big Bro had promised to cast curling stones for the game, but failed to deliver. Fortunately, Ron Donohue had foreseen this possibility and brought a set of boccie balls, which substituted for stones nicely.
Currency- At Winter Camp IV, the main incentive in charging Dan Bollman with creating alternate legal tender was to invent a medium of exchange to add realism to two events. The low-valued bills--$1 and $2--were intended for use with the McDonald's Breakfast, served at the new walk-up window at Clearwater cabin. Higher values were designed to enliven Casino Night. Beyond these uses, the currency was little-needed. A cursory look at the designs and alternate notation on the bills will reveal that a seriously whimsical design dimension existed.
Winter Camp IV Currency Series $1 ($|ei(pi)|) Jeff Rand (Pope Jeff I) $2 Doug Wilson $10 Dan Bollman $50 (1 gold piece) Steve Donohue $666 (1 Soul) Ron Donohue $5,000,000 Harold Oatley - Whimsy was not the issue when the question of money came up for Winter Camp V. As the government moved to a Communist system, tight fiscal control became a necessity. Accordingly, the previous year's currency was devalued and new bills issued, also designed by Dan. This series was somewhat more conventionally designed (including clandestine anti-counterfeiting measures on the $50 bill), and the bills became the focus of much Winter Camp activity. While they were still central to the activities of Casino Night, the economy that developed used Winter Camp cash in a far more dominant role than the year before. This new approach to internal money was a much greater success, and the bills were retained for subsequent camps. Inflation, however, took its toll on the system. The operation of the gaming tables pushed currency into circulation far faster than the Central Committee had intended, and “old money” became a problem as bills re-emerged from year to year. A pair of stopgap measures was instituted at Winter Camp VIII. First, all public officials saw their salaries drastically slashed. Second, bills circulated under the Korish regime were explicitly marked on the reverse, with Mike Osvath's name and address stamped in black ink. No bills lacking this imprint were classified as legal tender. Although this brought the inflation problem under control, an embezzlement scandal involving the Korish and some of his closest followers cast new doubts on the wisdom of internal finance. While no one was convicted in the uproar, the Winter Camp bills which remained were quietly retired at the close of the encampment. The remaining $20 bills returned at Winter Camp XX, when the debut of the Winter Camp Stock Market game brought with it a need for hard currency for investors. The cash made another appearance at the Sim City Market at Winter Camp XXIV.
Winter Camp V-VIII Currency Series $1 Harold Oatley $5 Joe Wyckoff $10 Robert Baden-Powell $20 Carroll A. Edson $50 E. Urner Goodman $100 The stylized Indian (“MGM”) of the OA logo - Joe Wyckoff, portrayed on the $5 bill, was Council Executive during Winter Camp V. Upon learning of his depiction on this issue of bills, he noted in a congratulatory memo to Downriver District Executive Lou Salute that he was “flattered” and thought that the currency was “an interesting gimmick”.
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