Camp Horizon Media

*** This is a draft, online for reviewers to add details. If you have details to add send them to 50-Years@webchapel.org.***

These were formative years for what would become the new Camp Horizon. Many of the traditions brought from the original camp along with new ones created here would be a part of camp for many years. The counselors and staff were still referred to by campers as “chief” (from the Camp Flo-go-pi years). There was signing in the dining hall for any occasion like “get your elbows off the table” which ended with “around the dining hall you must go.” This tradition died by end of the 1980s.

The Lakewood Retreat years produced many leaders for the new camp. The director Ted (& Karen) Thisse mentored several young men who would become full-time camp staff. These include (but are not limited to) Mike and Jack Nelson, Bob Conlon, and Steve Slusser. His co-worker Charlie (& Norma) Lacey mentored these boys and others in support roles that would become camp cooks and support staff. Among them was Kitty Spletter (now Slusser). “If you have time to lean, you have time to clean.”

Several board members, summer program directors, summer staff, speakers and full-time support staff were at Lakewood Retreat as a camper, staff, or both.

Campers from this era became leaders at the new Camp Horizon in Leesburg. Among them Billy Skelton who would become an all-summer program leader, board member, and full-time staff. Billy is currently the board chairman.

Things folks might remember from these years which carried on at the new camp include: Hobo Breakfast (#10 Can, Sterno, Eggs, Bacon), Four-Way Volleyball, Capture the Flag, and more. A unique feature was the steep winding entrance road. Ted had collected chassis from Soap Box Racers which teams used to create their unique “cars” to race. (see the feature photo above)

The Junior Camp speakers mentored the next generation of speakers. Ed Smith used gospel magic, the penny jar, mystery boxes, along with Bible stories and mission stories. Johnny Phelan is best remembered for his continuing stories like “Nick Spider and Lilly Fly” which kept even the staff on the edge of their seats.

Horton Haven Camp was born during these years as well. Johnny Phelan was a founder of that camp in Tennessee and took some of the Camp Horizon traditions with him. Some of these traditions were lost through the years at Camp Horizon but continued at Horton Haven (camper awards: participation patches and cards).

Lakewood Retreat was owned and operated by churches of the Menonite tradition. They were role models for how guest groups/camps should be treated and were silent partners in making Camp Horizon a success.

The facilities were mostly quite rustic except for the new Dining Hall facility (1975). There was no air-conditioning. The bathrooms/showers were shared. There were no bathrooms in any cabins or buildings. Campers ate at Pinecone Lodge which was a screened in facility with a small kitchen. There were stoves outside along the kitchen wall and dishes were washed in “wash tubs” outside using a hose.

One cabin was across a creek. The only access was a pair of railroad ties (kind of a bridge) which was slippery when it rained. Again, no bathrooms. It was a bit of a walk to the shared facilities.

The staff lived in trailers. In 1972 five guys lived in a small trailer with a bed on each end. The fifth guy (Noel Barnes) was too tall to sleep on those beds. His cot ran from the front to the back. The two beds each served as home to two other boys. Once inside, nobody could leave without everybody getting up. Later more trailers were added and sharing beds was no longer necessary.

These are only a few memories of these years. The next chapter will tell what was going on in Leesburg during this same time period.