Mop's 30 Plus Summers
Hi, Everyone! My name is Margaret Queen….but everyone calls me Mop. (Yea, that’s me leading the Junior 4th of July parade!) Let me share a bit about why I love Nakanawa.
In 1954, my parents thought that camp would be a wonderful learning experience for their only child who was quite timid. I arrived with a group of about 30 girls from Oklahoma City after a 2 day train ride. I fell in love with everything about camp life immediately. For the first time, I felt that I could be appreciated for the person I really was. There was so much social and academic competition at home yet at camp that was not important. There WAS really a place for a silly skinny kid that did not have the “killer instinct” to be the fastest swimmer or center forward on the soccer team running down their opponent to score a goal. I was overcomethe with the beauty of a sunset across the lake or amazed at the adventure of a trip in the back of a tuck for our overnight at Cumberland cove There were a million reasons why I loved camp.
This brings me to why I returned to camp for 30+ summers. Of course, it has to do with the time spent with camp friends, but also I felt a need to give back and help make camp a special experience for young girls as they begin their time at Nakanawa. I am always drawn to those who are not the most popular, or the best athlete but those who may need a little extra help to get adjusted to a new place and make new friends. I feel it is so important to affirm every girl and help them become comfortable with the terrific person who they are.
In my first life I was a school teacher in Denver. I’ve been in sales for the last 17 years and really miss the time spent with my students long ago. Camp gives me a chance to interact with young people at least 6 weeks of the year.
Stop by the Senior Dining Hall and say “HI!”
Mop
A note from Shelly: Mop was also Head Counselor for Junior Camp for ten years. She can help with just about any question or problem you may have. She understands homesickness, or cabin squabbles, or the feeling a young girl has when she was not elected to that team position she so wanted. And she tells wonderful stories. You can always count on Mop for a nighttime canoeing chat or a great devotion story for your cabin.