Summer Camp at Elkhart- · '21

:'Far above the lake's dear waters, Beneath the skies of blue,

tands our camp at dear old Elkhart Glorious to view."

JN no other part of the country are the lakes clearer, or the skies bluer,

t~an

at Elkhart. Will anyone who has spent a summer at Camp Brosms ever forget the beautiful sunsets at dusk, or the cool, shady path:vays .around the lake, with arbors overhead, formed by the over- hangmg birch and willow trees?

A day at Camp Brosius is a busy one. At 7: 00 o'clock, the quiet of

~he

early morning is broken by the rising gong. At 7: 15 , breakfast

IS

served in the long mess hall, which is situated at the top of the hill overlooking the lake. After having spent a night of slumber out in the fresh lake-blown air , no plate of hot cakes is too large for the campers to attack. All of the nights, however, are not peaceful, as occasionally

~

"so'wester" arises, which causes every one to "break ranks" and run m all directions, adjusting their primitive abodes, so that they will not blow into the lake. Such an experience, however, is only an ex- ample of the many different ones encountered at Elkhart.

The first class, a lecture of some kind, begins at 8: 00 o'clock. Last summer, in addition to the lectures given by Mr. Rath, we were for- tunate to hear the views of Mr. Stecher, of Philadelphia, and Dr.

Hartung, of Chicago, who also took care of the health of the campers.

Following the lecture period are two periods of aesthetic dancing. An additional feature in last summer's dancing program was the production of Mr. Carl Heedrick 's "Peach Blossom Ballet." After the dancing per.iod, we hurry to the mess hall, where, after a wild dive for the mail which had been sorted and placed on the table, we eat a luncheon, greater in proportion to any eaten at home; the work of the morning in open gymnasiums having made our appetites keen.

I~

the afternoon, after a period of rest, free

e~ercises, apI?aratu~,

tactics and games, folk dancing and ball room dancmg , .follow

~n

their respective hours. During the period of games we play

~nteresti:ig

and heated volley ball with one or the other of the teams mto which the class is divided.

At the close of the day's program, the

comma~d

"Fall

In"

is heard once mor . Thi time, however, it means to fall mto the warm waters of Elkhart, and thi is a very popular hour.

A short di tance from the shore is placed a platform, upon one side of which i a diving board. Every now and

t~en,

this platform is the cene of a battle royal , and there is much confus10n, as one after another

. l l l i l i ii

'"" !lllil!illll 1 9 2 2 nn~cmmr@@~~~"~'!!!! " @@j~~@@j~~~~ ~

page sixty-fivp

~~~~~~~··=~~ THE G y MN As T @i11m~1111~· ~~i!ili~ld!!~!!"'~' ~~·11!@1amm~~y ~

of the swimmers is thrown in. After coming from the swim, we all feel ready to start a new day, and after a hearty dinner, we feel ready for any diversions which the evening may offer.

uch is a day at Elkhart.

The

social

aspect, however, was not neglected

.

Each week an enter- tainment committee was appointed, and many good times resulted. One day the following announcement appeared on the bulletin board: "A Wedding of the South Sea Isles." This proved to be an original form

of entertainment,

in which all of the men were dressed in barbarian co tume

,

consisting of everything from wash basins and whisk brooms to talk

of

wheat from the neighboring fields. After a grotesque dance

around the campfire, the tallest man in camp was wedded to the shortest one w.ho was

dressed as the bride. The scene was enacted in a field

with

no other light

save

that of the big moon and the campfire. The

gue t were

then invited to the wedding feast, which consisted of marsh-

mallow , toasted

in a fire, above which hung a stuffed image represent-

ina the sacrifice for

the wedding.

Xot to be outdone by the men, the following week the girls planned

a

dance,

which

was given in one of the gymnasiums which had been

decorated

with branches and gaily colored butterflies. Unique favor

and ongs

by the girls added to the evening's entertainment.

At another

time the entire camp hiked to Crystal Lake, which i

five mile

from Elkhart Lake. After a delightful walk through beau-

tiful country

we reached the hotel, where a lunch was served on the

porch overlooking

the lake. After an exploration of the surroundings

and dancing in the pavillion, we hiked back to Elkhart in the moonlight.

Ko

one

could ever forget the good time on the hayrack. There were

three big

wagons filled with jolly students. After riding until dusk, we

enjoyed a camp upper and played various games. When all were tired, we rode home in the light of the moon, singing as we went.

Dur.ing a?other week

stunt-night

was appointed

,

at which time each tent vied with the other in the presentation of original stunts.

o one

good time followed another until the four weeks were over.

The la t event was an exhibition given by all of the students of the

cam~, at Elkhart

Village. This consisted of a program of aesthetic

da~cmg

apparatu

wor~,

free exercises and pyramid building, and wa

enjoyed

by a large audience of villagers.

On the whole a summer at Elkhart is one of valuable experience

,

and . the end

of

the camping

season

finds every one feeling well and lookmg

strong

and healthy, after having spent a delightful four week of work and play among the beauties of Nature.

C. K.,

'22.

~. ~

page s1xty-s1x

!lll![IIIIII!llII 1 9 2 2 IIIIiIIIIIIIii!!I

mrrmrnrmr11• '""~

~mmmmmrnm= THE G y MN As T IlDIIllllllmmmDIIllllllrnd!lllll! ~

I _/

iIIIIII!lilrifuirirtTmml!II~??T"'!mTTTTl ~~

~~c:::mrrmrnmmmmnnrnmm ^, 111111rn1III 1 9 2 2 IIIIJIIIIII page sixty-seven

~~~~~~~=~~ THE GYMNAST TTilll"""