Zoar Valley Camp Video link (not my video!)

I could have done without the spooky music... and I wonder whether the new owners gave these folks permission to explore!  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yKWtAiPW_3w

The units at Zoar Valley Camp

My first stay at Zoar Valley Camp  - I was about eight years old, and my cabin was in Jungao.  65 years later, I have no idea how to spell that - but it was pronounced Jung-gay-O.  The unit was right by the creek, and had very sturdy large cabins.  My only really clear memory from that stay ... I was walking on a fallen log, trying to keep my balance. I fell off and got a deep cut on my knee. Off to the camp nurse!  (I still have the scar.) To get to the main part of the camp, we walked past the foot of the Pioneer Hill, and past Sherwood.

Sherwood - second year.  I remember maybe six cabins, smaller than Jungao, but still enclosed cabins.  The cabins were around a large area of lawn, over near the camp store.  We were separated from the main area of the camp by a swinging bridge over the creek. For our song, unimaginatively, we sang "Robin Hood, Robin Hood, riding through the glen. Robin Hood, Robin Hood, with his band of men. Feared by the bad, loved by the good - Robin Hood!"

Indian - third year.  Up on a hill - but the hill was pretty moderate, neither terribly steep nor terribly long. Housing was in lean-tos -- sturdy buildings, but open on one side.  (I think the counselors had a cabin, but I'm not sure!) I was on Indian as a camper and a counselor. (My camp name was Dee.) Our song -- "Indians are high minded. Bless my soul, they're double-jointed.  They climb hills and don't mind it -- all day long."

Pioneer - fourth year.  Located on a more serious hill - longer, and a couple of places were steep.  Housing was in good-sized tents with wooden floors.  We had a communal building for rainy days.  I was on Pioneer both as a camper and years later, as unit director. I remember getting the girls ready to hike down the hill for breakfast - and roaring with them "GOOD MORNING, WORLD! I feel TERRIFIC!"  And we always re-gathered into a group at the bottom of our hill so that we could march into the main part of the camp singing our song. "We are the Pioneers. Jolly Old Pioneers.  We come from Zoar Valley, as you all may know.  As for the things we do, we leave them up to you! We are the jolly Pioneers, we're not so slow! (Other shout "Oh no?")  Pioneers end with "NO!" My best memory of Pioneer - I must have been around twelve years old.  We were setting up for a campout on a meadow near the unit. I lay back in the grass for a few minutes, and realized, I think for the first time in my young life, fully realized, that I was completely, utterly happy. Sweet moment, sweet memory.

Trailblazer - fifth year.  Now up a very long hill - not as steep as Pioneer, but longer.  We were in tents, but I don't remember that the tents were on platforms. May have been. We did go down to the main part of the camp for swimming and some meals, but many meals were prepared and eaten on the unit.  We also hiked somewhere for a campout, carrying all of our food and tents and gear. A group of us shared Trailblazer with a group of Canadian Girl Cadets and their leader.  And we raised the Canadian flag in the morning, along with the American flag. I still know all of the words to O Canada.

Others may remember other units - I know that there was a horseback riders unit in the meadow across from the main camp, but I think that was when I was an adult. (Because I was passionate about horses, and if that had been an option when I was a kid, I would have signed up in a New York minute!)

ROUNDS - singing rounds at Zoar Valley Camp

ROUNDS  

Dona Nobis Pacem 

For health and strength and daily bread We praise Thy Name, O Lord. (Grace before meals)

Fire's burning, fires's burning; draw nearer, draw nearer; in the gloaming, in the gloaming; come sing and be merry.

Make new friends, but keep the old; one is silver and the other gold

Rise up, o flame, by thy light glowing; show to us beauty, vision, and joy.

Music alone shall live    All things shall perish from under the sky; Music alone shall live, music alone shall live, music alone shall live, never to die

Whene’er you make a promise, Consider well its importance. And when made, engrave it upon your heart. 

Oh how lovely is the evening (Trad. German) 

Oh how lovely is the evening, is the evening. 

When the bells are sweetly ringing, sweetly ringing. 

Ding dong, ding dong, ding dong. 

Tall Timbers Calling (song lyrics)

Tall timbers calling, and the echoes ring
All nature sings a song along the timber trail.

Blue shadows falling on the canyon pale
And the whisp'rin' pines entwine along the timber trail.

While high above, the love song of the trees
Will wend and blend it's way out on the breeze....

Talk timbers calling and the echoes ring
All nature sings a song along the timber trail.

Quiet songs for the evening campfires at Zoar Valley Camp

Quiet Campfire Songs at Zoar Valley

Some of these are from my old notebook.... some I have found on the web.  These are the lyrics as I remember them many decades later.

PEACE OF THE RIVER

Peace I ask of thee, oh river
Peace, peace, peace
When I learn to live serenely
Cares will cease

From the hills I gather courage
Visions of the days to be
Strength to lead and faith to follow
All are given unto me.

(repeat first verse.)

BED IS TOO SMALL

Sung in a very soft minor key...

Bed is too small for my tiredness.
Give me a hill topped with trees!
Tuck a cloud up under my chin.
Lord, blow the moon out - please.

Rock me to sleep in a cradle of dreams,
Sing me a lullaby of leaves.
Tuck a cloud up under my chin.
Lord, blow the moon out - please.

TALL TIMBERS CALLING

Tall timber calling and the echoes ring
All nature sings a song along the timber trail

Blue shadows falling, in the canyon pale
And the whispering pines entwine along the timber trail

While high above, the love song of the trees
Will wend, and bend, its way out on the breeze

Tall timbers calling as the echoes ring
All nature sings a song along the timber trail.

EACH CAMPFIRE LIGHTS ANEW 

Each campfire lights anew.

The flame of friendship true.

The joy we’ve had in knowing you,

Will last our whole life through.

And as the embers fade away,

We wish that we might ever stay.

But since we cannot have our way, 

We’ll come again some other day. 

I WANT TO LINGER 

Mmm‐‐ I want to linger

Mmm‐‐ a little longer 

Mmm‐‐ a little longer here with you 

Mmm‐‐ it’s such a perfect night

Mmm— it doesn’t seem quite right

Mmm‐‐ that it should be my last with you

Mmm‐‐ and come September 

Mmm‐‐ and I will remember

Mmm‐‐ the camping days I spent with you

Mmm‐‐ and as the years go by

Mmm‐‐ I’ll think of you and sigh

Mmm‐‐ this is goodnight and not goodbye

Mmm‐‐ I want to linger 

Mmm‐‐ a little longer

Mmm‐‐ a little longer here with you. 

RISE UP, O FLAME (round)

Rise up O Flame 

By thy light glowing

Show to us beauty. vision, and joy.

KUM-BA-YA 

Kum-ba-ya my Lord, Kum-ba-ya. 

Kum-ba-ya my Lord, Kum-ba-ya 

Kum-ba-ya my Lord, Kum-ba-ya 

Oh Lord, Kum-ba-ya. 

Someone's crying Lord... 

Someone’s hoping Lord... 

Someone's singing Lord... 

Someone's praying Lord... 

ALL NIGHT, ALL DAY 
(Trad. Black Spiritual) 

CHORUS 

All night, all day, Angels watching over me, my Lord 

All night, all day Angels watching over me. 

Day is dying in the west, Angels watching over me, my Lord. 

Sleep, my child, and take your rest, Angels watching over me. 

CHORUS 

Now I lay me down to sleep, Angels watching over me, my Lord 

Pray the Lord my soul to keep, Angels watching over me. 

CHORUS 

If I die before I wake, Angels watching over me, my Lord 

Pray the Lord my soul to take Angels watching over me 

CHORUS 

THE ASH GROVE (Trad. English folk song ) 

(This had a nice easy harmony, and I loved the song.  But we only sang the first few verses at Zoar Valley... years later, I discovered that there were more verses!)

Down yonder, green valley, Where streamlets meander 

When twilight is fading I pensively roam. 

Or at the bright noontide in solitude wander 

Amid the dark shades of the lovely ash grove. 

 Tis there where the blackbird is cheerfully singing 

Each warble enchants with his notes from the trees. 

Oh! Then little think I of sorrows or sadness 

The ash grove, the ash grove, spells beauty for me. 

(Traditional verses) Twas there while the blackbird was cheerfully singing, I first met that dear one, the joy of my heart, Around us for gladness, the bluebells were ringing. Ah! Then little thought I, how soon we would part Still glows the bright sunshine over valley and mountain. Still warbles the blackbird, its notes from the tree. Still trembles the moonbeam on streamlet and fountain, But what are the beauties of nature to me? With sorrow, deep sorrow, my heart is laden. All day I go mourning in search of my love. Ye echoes! Oh, tell me where is my sweet loved one. He sleeps ‘neath the green turf down by the Ash grove)

Been Riding

Been ridin' since daylight, through shadow and sunlight,

But now in the twilight ,we're travelin' slow.

The comin' stars guidin', we'll keep on a-ridin'

Down the trail where the sun hangs low.

    Joggin' along to nowhere,

    Joggin' along all day,

    Joggin' along to nowhere,

    We sure do know the way.

There's no cabin waitin', and nobody's watchin',

And no one to welcome us homeward, and so

We'll keep on together,

Whatever the weather,

Down the trail where the sun hangs low.

    Joggin' along to nowhere, (etc.)

Some day we'll quit ridin', the big Boss providin',

And then we'll be leavin' these trails that we know.

The sun will be settin', and we'll be forgettin'

Down the trail where the sun hangs low.

    Joggin' along to nowhere, (etc.)

WITCHCRAFT

If there were witchcraft,
I'd make two wishes
A winding road that beckons me to roam.
And then I'd wish for a blazing campfire
To welcome me when I'm returning home.
But in this real world, there is no witchcraft
And golden wishes never grow on trees.
Our fondest daydreams must be the magic
To bring us back happy memories
Mem'ries that linger, constant and true
Mem'ries we cherish, Zoar Valley Camp,  of you.

 

Closing ceremony at Zoar Valley

If you have read any of my posts about Zoar Valley, you probably have a clue that I really, really treasured the time I spent at camp.  Camp started on a Sunday, and ended two weeks later on a Saturday.  On the last Friday afternoon, each camper and counselor would spend part of the afternoon making a little boat out of natural materials... frequently, a piece of bark decorated with leaves and twigs and flowers, or a small woven raft decorated with flowers.  After dinner, all of the campers would hike a short distance down to the Cattaraugus each carrying a little boat.  (I remember one of my last years there, probably as staff.. we held the ceremony at the creek that ran right through camp.  But as a kid... I remember walking on the rocks, hiking down to the river.)

The ceremony was always incredibly bittersweet.  "Each campfire lights anew" "Peace of the River" "If there were witchcraft."  And of course, most tear-inducing....

I want to linger
A little longer
A little longer here with you

It's such a perfect night
It doesn't seem quite right
That it should be my last with you

And come September
I will remember
The happy days I spent with you

And as the years go by
I'll think of you and sigh....
This is goodnight, but not goodbye.

I want to linger
A little longer
A little longer here with you

Each of our little boats was decorated with a small candle.  At the end of the ceremony, each unit walked down to the water, each candle was lit, and each camper carefully launched her small boat.  I remember trying to watch for my boat amidst all of the bobbing lights... they said that if your candle was still lit when the boat went around the curve.... well, it meant that you would come back to Zoar, or it meant that your wish would come true... something like that.  Anyhow, I remember tearfully watching my little boat sail away, marking the end of another wonderful session at Zoar Valley. 

Flag ceremonies at Zoar Valley

Flag Ceremony at Zoar Valley Camp

Every morning, all of the units met in front of the Mess Hall for the flag ceremony.  The campers would file in by units, and form a large horseshoe. The units took turns presenting the flag ceremonies.  I've always been patriotic... and I liked participating in flag ceremonies as a camper, and I liked planning them as a counselor. I remember....

• learning how to raise and lower the flag
• learning how to fold a flag, properly
• readings... we had a book of readings, and one was chosen for each flag ceremony.  Many decades later, I remember a reading about remembering to help those "who have no hills to remember"
• songs... a patriotic song, and I remember learning the words to "Oh Canada" although I don't remember raising both flags every morning.  
• one song in particular... I remember that my unit (Pioneer) had flag ceremony duty on July 21, 1969.  The counselors on Pioneer had listened to the radio the previous night, while Neil Armstrong became the first man to walk on the moon.  Moved by this incredible event, I put the Star Spangled Banner into the flag ceremony the next morning.  It did not go well... I suspect because we started too high and completely failed on the high notes.  Afterwards, the Assistant Camp Director, told me, drily, that she thought that had been "a little ambitious."

After the flag ceremony, we would file out of the horseshoe formation by units, then break silence and line up at the Mess Hall for breakfast.  It was a lovely way to start every day.