On Saturday July 9th & Sunday July 10th, Camp Wright held one of its best parties ever...the 75th Anniversary Reunion! Old campers, counselors, friends, and family traveled great distances in order to celebrate this special occasion. The reunion was a weekend to remember the past and support the future of Camp Wright. With over 400 guests in attendance, the celebration turned out to be a great success!
 
 
Saturday, July 9, 2005
After registering and making name tags alumni, friends and family gathered for a welcome activity to start the festivities.  The morning was full of activities with swimming, newspaper, and a blue/white scavenger hunt.  Guests were welcome to go from activity to activity as they began to meet up with old friends and make new ones.  A fifty foot timeline with beautiful artistic work done by Andrew Kiracofe and Lori Beth Callahan was hung in Clary Hall for all to sign and write memories of past Camp Wright experiences.
 
At lunch two graces were said: the untraditional Superman grace, and the traditional lunchtime “grace on the wall.”  In keeping with Camp Wright tradition, table cheers and songs from all decades entertained all guests.  Talbot’s table was even strong enough to get one woman to perform a hula dance! After lunch three different slide shows were shown the first was from 1930 through the 1950's, the second was the 60's and 70's, and the last was the past twenty five years of camp.  Chuckles were granted for some pictures of mud wrestling and cross dressing in the 1970's. The slide shows gave all the opportunity to reminisce over the past.
 
The afternoon also included kayaking, sailing, and a live oral history taping where groups of alumni shared their stories of past events and what Camp Wright means to them.  After canteen the blue/white swim meet took place, there were several different swim races and even a canoe sinking contest!  Bishop Shand, Father Joe James and Father Al Spicer lead the worship service that was followed by an outdoor reception.  The night ended with a benefit banquet at the Chesapeake Bay Beach Club, which included a silent and live auction in support of camp programs and future Camp Wright projects.
 
Sunday, July 10, 2005
The wake up bell sounded at 8 AM and slowly like any other regular Camp Wright session cabin doors began to open with sleepy "campers" strolling to breakfast.  After coffee, cereal, and danishes guests joined in for more camp activities and welcomed the new comers as they slowly began to arrive at camp.  Activities included arts and crafts, archery, swimming, newspaper, nature/baylore, sports and of course the timeline. 
 
Many old friends were reunited as they began to catch up on where their lives had taken them.  Friends looked at the many memory books in Clary Hall brought to camp by alumni and some even searched for their names as painted in Clary Hall, Bishop Davenport Hall, and the numerous cabins. At 11 AM the slides shows were shown for all the people who were not able to see them the first day.  Many alumni laughed over the cool 80's clothes and hair styles. 
 
Lunch was served promptly at 12:30 to be followed by sailing, kayaking, silly olympics, canteen and a shortened blue/white softball game.  The oral history taping gave alumni the opportunity to share stories and memories that captured the essence of Camp Wright.  At 4 PM Chris Noyes played fun songs at the outdoor chapel for all to enjoy.  The 75th Anniversary weekend ended after a cookout dinner and flag lowering.  Many were sad to drive down the lane after such a fun weekend, but all knew that they would return to camp soon.
 
"I look at the beach, the buildings and the people and they give me a warm feeling inside. I know that throughout my life I will look proudly back at my stay at Camp Wright and will sigh."
  -Tim Cross
 
Blue vs. White Competition!

Scavenger Hunt - BLUE!
Swim Meet - WHITE!
Canoe Sinking - BLUE!
Softball Game - WHITE!

With an overall score of 2-2 the 75th Anniversary Blue/White title goes to the RED team!
Congratulations both blue and white teams!
 
The Phantom Strikes! by Patrick Tiedemann
It would seem that our old nemesis, “The Phantom” could not resist making an appearance at the 75th Reunion.  On Saturday night, reunion guests spent the evening at the banquet, attending local celebrations, or heading out for a crab feast. Once we were all back in our cabins with teeth brushed, being lulled to sleep by the long familiar lap of the bay, it seemed we would enjoy a peaceful end to another wonderful day at camp.  However, it is always at these quiet moments that the Phantom is at his naughty best!

According to several eyewitness reports, strange lights appeared in the sky above camp!  The strange and colorful lights were accompanied by disturbing noises that woke several counselors and reunion guests.  They went to investigate and even perhaps finally capture our long-time foe, but, alas, their pursuit was to no avail.  The phantom once again slipped into the murky darkness in which he/she dwells, and we are left to wonder when and how the Camp Wright Phantom will strike again!
 
Celebrating 75 Years by Father Al Spicer, Director 1965-1983
What a wonderful celebration to honor 75 years.  The return of a least a few campers from every decade in Camp Wright history.  Over the two days, former directors Joseph James, Bob Campbell, and myself joined the celebration.  Former campers and counselors enjoyed seeing each other again.  People came from as far away as the West Coast to join the festivities.  Everyone remarked how well organized the days were and how loving an atmosphere prevailed.  What was so wonderful was to see former campers and counselors with their children, some of whom attend camp now.  It is good to see generation after generation coming to be a part of camp life.  Director Van Beers and his wife Jane received a quilt at the banquet that contained T-shirts and remembrances covering the entire history of camp.  We old timers could see a few changes, but the same spirit prevailed!  These were wonderful times for us all.
 
Final Thoughts
In closing, the 75th Anniversary celebration and reunion was a special time for former campers and counselors to come back to the camp and feel like campers once again.  It was a chance for those still young at heart to be able to show their youth one more time. It was a joy to watch fellow alumni make friends based merrily off their love of Camp Wright.  There truly is a light at Camp Wright that is clear to shine within in each person that has the privilege to experience a camp like this one.
Don't be dismayed at good-bye
A farewell is necessary before we can meet again
And meeting again after moments or a lifetime
Is certain for those who are friends
So when you say good-bye
Remember that we at Camp Wright
Share a spirit that lasts forever!
 
Want to stay in touch with Camp Wright Alumni?
Register at our alumni page, which allows you to register information about yourself and you can allow some, all or none of the information to be accessed by other alumni. Alumni Information Page. You can also call or e-mail the camp office with alumni names and contact information.  Contact Van Beers at (410) 643-4171 or director@campwright4life.org.
 
 
Camp Wright: A Year Round Ministry of the Diocese of Easton, Maryland
400 Camp Wright Lane, Stevensville, Maryland 21666
(410) 643-4171