Month: January 2023

Interviewer: Rachael Groves

Name:  
Cynthia Jones O’Kelly
Margaret McWhorter King
Florine Robinson Klussmann
Laura Ward Gruber
Ginny Bass Carl

How many years & which years were you a camper? 
Cynthia: 7 years. 1973-1979
Margaret: I attended camp for 7 years as a camper (1972-1979) – GO ‘ZONS AND MINNIES!!! – and 3 years as a “mom” counselor in junior camp when my daughters, Maggie and Adelaide, were there (2001-2003). I taught tennis and lived in “The Hut” with Nancy Brucker. Fun fact: My sister Marjorie is a Valkyrie, as was my mother (Gordon Jackson), so we’re a divided family. My nieces, Hollis and Ruthie, had the opportunity to choose their teams.
Florine: 9 summers
Laura: 1972-1979. 8 years of 7 to 5 weeks, but I think my first summer was 8 weeks. One of the girls in my age group, Nancy Ewing from Maine, came to camp late because her school wasn’t out yet. Tuition at camp was $700. My dad said he couldn’t keep us at home for $100 a week. 
Ginny: 1974-79 6 summers

Valk or Zon? 
Cynthia: Valk! Whoop!
Margaret: ZON!
Florine: Valkyrie
Laura: Valk
Ginny: Valk, of course

What’s your day job? 
Cynthia: Director of Bariatrics for a hospital
Margaret: I’m a foreign language professor (French, Italian)
Florine: Retired
Laura: I loved my work! I’m retired now. I counseled as an RD, mostly women and some men, about nutrition and helped them recover from eating disorders. I got to really know them and their families. It was very rewarding. I definitely received more than I gave. Seeing my clients work so hard to change their eating habits and work to restore a healthy relationship with food was a gift to me. 
Ginny: Nonprofit consultant. For last 2 1/2 years have led a team of 150 administering the Emergency Rental Assistance programs funded through US Treasury for the state of Oklahoma, providing $334,000,000 to over 83,000 families across the state helping them stay housed in the midst of a pandemic and its economic fallout for so many. Bonus fact: my daughter, Rachael Groves (TR 14) is our project manager and works next to me everyday!!!

What’s something you’re proud of (personal or professional)? 
Cynthia: I love what I do. I help caterpillars become butterflies.
Florine: Being a stay-at-home mom who raised 4 children
Ginny: My kids, without a doubt. Besides the fact that I genuinely enjoy them more and more every year, they have both been off the dole since college graduation. Sitting for (and passing) my 3rd bar exam 21 years after I graduated from law school (three states is more than enough licenses!).

Is there someone at camp who influenced you or made an impact on your life?
Cynthia: Frazier Outlan Kelly
Margaret: Many people and many things about camp influenced my life. Since the longer camp sessions used to last 7 weeks per summer, the camp ethos became a formative part of my character. I learned to set goals, strive for excellence, appreciate nature, compete in a friendly way, lose gracefully, win graciously, be thoughtful towards others, form deep friendships and get along with cabin mates. As an adult, I appreciate Camp Nakanawa’s comparative old fashioned, unplugged, and feminist essence. One of my greatest joys has been participating, sharing, and witnessing the experience of Camp Nakanawa throughout the generations of my family. 
Florine: Beverly Bryan Darlington, Junior Camp counselor. Beverly is so kind and caring. Once I was on the Senior side of camp, she sought me out to buy ice cream for Ginny and I at the circus. That’s a big deal! She made me feel special. She and I are Facebook friends and I admire her still.
Laura: I think Mitch gave us all so much. She was calm and she could be very stern. All campers respected her. She showed us sportsmanship when she would play tennis. Her church services were delightful, and everyone sat still and listened to her message. She wore a beautiful light blue and red tie. She often wore a white skirt with pleats.  She knew us and our families. She would report to me about my sister in senior camp. She knew my grandmother who did not go to camp and always asked about her. She was a great networker and knew how everyone found out about camp. For example, she knew Bitsy Kirby, Laura and Martha’s mom, told my mom to send us to camp. My mother and Bitsy had gone to school together in San Antonio. She had a great laugh and would love to kid with us when we helped with cabin requests after Rock Meetings. I remember her saying you will always run into someone from Camp wherever you go. It’s so true! When we recently moved to Atlanta, I had two women from Camp in my neighborhood and several others in the area. That always feels good. There are many things she said that have come true in my life. 
Ginny: Sounds cliche, but how could Mitch not be the answer. Plus the older captains, esp. when you’re last year Jr. or Intermediate camp. They were beautiful, smart, kind, kinda untouchable. What you aspired to. If I hadn’t named Rachael her name, I would have chosen Walton (for Walton Estes). Our own kind of celebrity.

Any advice for younger campers/counselors (personal or professional)? 
Cynthia: Be in the moment. The memories will last a lifetime. 
Margaret: TR girls can be great role models and mentors! Also, camp songs will be running through your brain forever.
Florine: If you can make it through summers at Nakanawa (making the best of it of course), you will be prepared to go away to college. 

What’s something that’s not on your resume? 
Cynthia: I have 5 stepchildren and 2 grandchildren
Margaret: I enjoy consistently earning masterpoints as a duplicate bridge player. I’m also a first-time grandmother to a 10 month old grandson. Like a lot of women my age, I adore playing pickleball.
Florine: I was onstage with the Backstreet Boys when I was 9 months pregnant with my youngest, Rees.
Laura: Camp is not on my resume and it’s where I learned to get along with people. It really prepared me for going to college and being away from my family. 

Did you ever pull any pranks?
Laura: I didn’t do pranks: (I was a goody two shoes)
Florine: Ginny knows 
Ginny: Yes – Florine and I cut Katherine’s hair in Intermediate camp. Her mom came to visit and DIDN’T recognize her own daughter. Yikes! There may have been one or two others, but we’ll save those for a happy hour!

Favorite camp memory?
Cynthia:  I was a member of Octet my Tent Row year. I loved going around and singing to the award winners or special events.
Margaret: Camp Nakanawa is such a special place because of its unique traditions. I remember getting goosebumps when, in bed, late at night, I heard the eerie song announcing the approach of the Valkyrie Surprise party. I also remember being willed Snoopy and feeling elated. It brings me great joy to think of all the amazing memories future campers will make year after year. I think camp is going in a terrific direction and I’m optimistic about its future.
Florine: Receiving my first silver letter
Laura: My favorite memories are being in a canoe and nighttime blinks. It was so fun to paddle around and blade. Watching Florine handle a canoe so gracefully was also a great memory. At night during blinks, it was so fun to be in Egypt with everyone at those sinks brushing our teeth and laughing. Then heading to the cabins from being silly and then serious for devotions and lights out. I loved going to visit Lynne and Alice in Cottage Cheese before bed. They had it fixed up like a cute little house with chairs on the front porch. Memories created of going to get my daughter and meeting her friends have also been wonderful. The big bonus to the process of picking up my daughter was getting to see my friends from camp. We’ve reconnected and it’s wonderful to know what their lives are about.

Favorite camp meal?
Cynthia: Shepherd’s Pie
Margaret: I relished the weekly Saturday Hershey chocolate bar
Florine: Shepherd’s Pie
Laura: Shepherd’s Pie
Ginny: Sunday breakfast – coffee cake, bacon and applesauce

Favorite camp song?
Cynthia: Save Your Memories
Margaret: Even though it wasn’t popular when I was a camper, “Barges” became my favorite song when my daughters attended camp.
Florine: The Rainbow Song
Laura: “We’re at Nakanawa” has to be my favorite with “Walk Along the Lake” as a close second. Songs were such a lifeblood of camp. One time in Junior all the Valkyries went away for free day and the Amazons stayed to work on the wiener roast. The buses for the Valks broke down and Carson had to come get us with his huge truck. We all got in the back with towels and blankets around us. I have a recollection that it was dark. I think it was Margaret but maybe it was Lynne but we started singing in the back of that truck on a long rainy night! It was probably 15 minutes from camp but that’s what I remember. Carson rescuing us and singing!

Memorable devotion? 
Cynthia: Valkyrie Vespers
Florine: Having “The Little Prince” read to us
Laura: I don’t remember a specific devotion, but I remember adoring my counselors who did prepare something or read to us. As I said, it was the part of the day – I thought we had the most sense of community.
Ginny: The Little Prince – always!

Favorite camp activity/special event?
Cynthia: 4th of July events!
Margaret: As a camper, I adored Evening Entertainment, especially Bunk Stunts skits. I feared the Wild Woman, smeared with ketchup, at the circus. As a counselor, I appreciated the non-denominational and creative church services, especially Pepe’s poems. As both a camper and a counselor, I detested the lost and found assemblies!
Florine: Canoeing
Laura: I loved Valkyrie Vespers! I still remember singing As I walk through the Garden, we sang in Junior Camp. Seeing it from both sides of the lake was enchanting. 
Ginny: The Circus – and all that ice cream!

Did you ever break any camp rules? 
Margaret: I was never a rule breaker even though I daringly engaged in cabin barnyards. I also ate apples from the orchard in Sr. Camp
Florine: When we were on an overnight, a couple of girls used a pay phone in the state park to call home. I didn’t tell. Until now!

Dream job?
Cynthia: I think I am currently doing my dream job, but I would love to win the lottery and start some non-profits.
Margaret: My dream job would be a mind reader so I could know Karen’s thoughts during the camp sessions! Karen was in my TR, so we go way back.
Florine: Go back to Nakanawa to be a counselor
Ginny: Exactly what I do, but only half the time