July 20, 2007
I am Christopher Keller I was at Camp Junipero Serra
in the summers of 1965 and 1966. I recall that a Mr. Ingals was there.
There was a old Catholic priest also. A fellow I know named Mike Pontarelli
who is now a Servite priest based out of San Juan Capistrano was there
with me in 1966. I had a helluva great time at Camp Serra. I remember the
Ant Tree (nothing is left of it), a canoe with stripes called the Sergeant,
a guy named Nugent who ran the Nature Shack, and Hike Day up to the Blue
Ridge. I still have two banners from "Jumping Ceasar." In 1975 I heard
the camp was abandoned. I went there, found the place half demolished,
and took the banners I found in a cardboard box.. They are my only possessions
from the place.
Sincerely,
Chris Keller
818 219 8063
email: MtLoweMan at aol.com
Junipero Serra banners from Chris Keller
May 30, 2007
I was a camper at Camp Junipero Serra and loved it. At least 6 summers. Mike Shadow ran the store. Mr. Seavers was the director with his big orange tabby cat. I had the fortune of one summer, about 64, that Bob Shadow was my counselor. He was a character to say the least . I still have my camp picture with him in it 2 times. If you were there you would know how he did it.
We went to Mt. Baden Powell and back and set a record time. I can't say how we did it cause we went off the trail.
I am surprised it has been so long since any one has talked on the Internet about this camp that had so many kids went to during the 50's and 60's.
I spent at least five or six 2 week sessions there and the last one in 1968 as a C.I.T. Councilor In Training. It seems to me that my best memories were in summers having fun and camping as I still do today. I am now 55. I still have memories of that camping all of the time. The tents that were 2x4 frames with canvas on cement slabs. The clean house inspections the counselors did that were hilarious, and the awards night that they gave all the campers the awards that the counselor picked were like the Oscar awards for the campers. I was awarded 2 handicraft awards and 2 best camper awards. I also was a chess champion that Father Wilfrid helped me with. I still have all the plaques. I hope that more campers that went there share their moments they had on the web. As I remember in the counselors cabin, I thought there was all the camp pictures of each session on all the walls. There were a lot of campers that went there.
Thanks again,
Chris Miller
MILLZ56 at aol.com
p.s. What about the Friday night fights and popcorn by the fire pit. Mr. Seaver always said: "All you campers out here -- think about all the people here. You will never be all together again." It was a very solemn moment around the campfire.