From The Mailbag

Camp shaped my life - A Thank You.
This is not so much an attempt to reconnect with any of my old Camp Hale buddies or counselors, it is more an attempt to say thank you for the invaluable experiences I had over the course of the 4 years I attended the camp. I attended camp Hale from 1996-2000; I started at the age of 9 and returned every summer until I turned 14. There is so much that I can say about camp that has impacted the man I am today that it sometimes surprises even me. I come from a single parent household, like so many other young boys who attend the camp, and I was an only child growing up so this was one of my earliest memories of male camaraderie. While at camp I conquered the six peaks, received my boating, archery, and canoeing licenses, and I completed the 2 mile swim. These are things I can say with full confidence that I would have otherwise never had experienced let alone been able to do by myself; even today I am one of the few people I know that can steer a row boat or a canoe. I learned the meaning of hard work and discipline at Camp Hale and in many ways I came into my manhood at the camp. When I arrived my first summer during the first session I was a chubby little mama’s boy and when I left second session of my last summer I was a lean, athletic, young man (how I managed to do this with Ms. D’s cooking on the menu everyday is still a mystery).

I think it is great that the tradition goes back so far and that camp is still getting new young boys every year who will experience those same experiences myself and so many others had. I noticed that D’mon Bills and Hakim Reid are directors at Camp. To me these men will always have a special place in my mind even if they do not know it. I know them as Mr. D’mon and Mr. Hakim! I thought these were two of the fastest men in the world as a child, no one could’ve told me different; they were my heroes. Other staff that I remember as being impactful was Mr. Jimmy and Mr. Jason, who we all called Jesus; Mr. Jason was my counselor in the foxes and I can remember him playing eryka badu for us and us pretending like we knew what she was talking about. Man, those were some good times.

Now I am 24 years old and I am an accountant at State Street corporation. I graduated from the University of Massachusetts-Amherst in 2010. Preceding my years at camp Hale I attended Boston Latin School and while there led the state in rushing touchdowns for div 1A schools and I also served as captain of the team before I went on to walk on the team at Umass-Amherst. I write these accomplishments because I am not sure that were it not for my years at Camp Hale that I would be where I am right now in life. I look forward to giving back to the camp at my soonest convenience and I am anxiously awaiting the day I have a son of my own that I can send to experience the same things that made me who I am.

WE ARE CAMP HALE, MIGHTY MIGHTY CAMP HALE!

Rashaad R. Bryant

A Picture that WOWS them
Here's a little feed back from the road. For my day job I travel throughout New England conducting seminars or giving presentations to business owners and leaders and their staff. I'm usually using my laptop during these times. On most occasions someone will ask me about the origins of the picture and comment on its beauty. I have talked to people in upstate VT, Mid and Upstate ME and NH who have all marveled at the image. Which blows me away because they live among the same areas but are still drawn to the image. Click Here to read more ...

Images from Barry Brideau
I went to Camp Hale for many years & worked as a Kitchen Aide my last year.  I have some Black & White photos dated in Jan 1965 ?  Mostly around the council fire & Mead Wilderness Base.  I would like to put names with these faces if anyone can identify them...
Click here to read more and see the pictures Barry sent

Memories from Chris Cato
Remembering eating dinner at the head table with Mr. Nick, Mr. Nat, and I can’t remember who else but it was an unusually uneventful meal until a bat decided to cruise the upper atmosphere of the dinning hall just before desert. It was kind cute for a moment, all the campers were looking at it a with ah’s and ooh’s until it started dive bombing the audience. That is when the panic hit, screams of terror, children hitting the floor and scampering under the tables, some smart ones made it out the door and rest were frozen like a deer is by a cars headlights. The kitchen aides jumped to action and instantly became the “Bat Busters”. With very little skill an and no grace, a half dozen brooms were swinging in the air attempting the subdue the uninvited guest. After a minute of no success campers began to emerge from under the tables and watch the show. A quick thinker suggested that they wait for the bat to land and trap it. A stern command from the nature Counselor “It must be captured alive” was headed when an apron was used as a net as soon the bat landed on the ledge just behind the Beavers cabin table. It was escorted outside and freed. Calm was restored and desert was resumed. The usual noise level was a few decibels lower as campers were discussing the event. As the dining hall cleared a camper approached the head table to ask the biggest authority in camp (Mr. Nick) a question. His counselor told him that the bat was mechanical and operated by remote control. “Is that true Mr. Nick?” Mr. Nick set his down spoon, wiped his face with a napkin and then paused for a long moment before answering this trusting child who was seeking only the truth. The camper along with the rest of us sitting at the table waited for Mr. Nick to set the record straight so that we could go with our lives. Mr. Nick looked the child in the Eye, put his hand on his shoulder and said “yes”.

Chris Cato

WHAT'S UP MY CAMP BROTHERS!!
Hey my Camp Hale brothers, life has been strange in the far west. The east has always beckoned me to return to the roots of eternal happiness. My stop is here in Rhode Island, Lincoln, RI that is. I have continued to wonder what has changed in each of your lives. A lot has happen in mine over time. Well, to make a long story short,. I need to here from all of you. We need to connect soon.
PEACE MY BROTHERS.
Mr. Rey Martinez
reym_smithmarketing@yahoo.com

Jody Collins
I had to be one of the luckiest kids growing up spending every summer in the heart of New Hampshire on one the most beautiful lakes in the state. Click here to Read More

The impact of Camp Hale shows up everyday in my life.  When I was a junior in High School at the beginning of the summer break I had no idea of what do with my life, let alone the next two months. As I walked with my brother contemplating that very issue, the guy that taught me to swim, and encouraged me to reach seemingly impossible heights, stepped into my path and asked, "What are you doing this summer?"  I replied, "I don't know",  "Well then, you're going to work at Camp Hale as a counselor".  That was the day my life changed for the better. Click here to Read More ....

In all my 27 years I have never encountered anything that gets my juices flowing and more hyped than a good Brackety Ax. It's good to find this web site. As a 4 year Camp Hale Counselor, I have many memories and all of them just as great as each other. Keep up the great work. Even all the way in London, England, you have support.

Take good care of the place.
Mr Dame.

Dame DeBique
Camp Hale '99 - '02
London, UK

From The Mailbag Archive
A letter from Billy Carriere

Send us your memories of Camp. This section of the CHAA web site functions as a focal point for all Alumni members to share their experience of Camp with others. We're looking for pictures and memories of Camp to collect and store here. Additionally, each month we'll be choosing a letter to post on the web site. The letter can contain a tale of an adventure, an event that became a defining point, a song that you remember, or a quick line to say hello. And don't worry, we are adamant in our pledge to get all your items on the web site, whenever possible. If you do not see your item this month, stay tuned, you're likely to see it soon.

We want to here from you!! Send us your letters.
 We'll do our best to post your letters each month.

Click here to email us your letters
tofee@mac.com