Ohana Family Camp Journal

Our Extended Ohana Family by Colleen Scholer

2011-11-28T16:50:00.012-05:00

Last winter as I filled out our forms to pre-register for Ohana, a smile came across my face. Visions of delicious and nutritious homemade meals, that would not be prepared by myself, popped into my head. For a mom, who rarely orders out or does the drive-thru circuit, having someone else plan and cook healthy meals all week is a vacation in itself.
We returned to Ohana for our second summer for the beautiful location, great food, great staff and for special moments spent together as a family. Now, as I sit here on the porch of the main lodge, I realize it was for so much more. Sure, there are the special moments I’ll remember, like the butter knife that my husband carved for me for my birthday that I celebrated at Ohana. Moments like walking to the dining hall alone as the rain fell and my vow to take more walks in my yellow slicker and rain boots when at home. I found great joy in watching the mama robin feed her babies in the nest she built in the eaves of the dining hall porch, and in observing my daughter hard at work collecting baby toads with one of her new camp friends.
What took me by surprise, however, was the true love and appreciation I found for community living. I experienced first-hand the meaning of “it takes a village to raise a child.” We came as a family of five, and with each day that passed, our family grew. We watched in delight as we, the adults, savored each tasty morsel of dinner without rushing to finish because all of our children were playing around the big rock. The big kids helped the little kids out of love, and not parental request or nagging.

One afternoon, as our two-year-old, Madeline, expressed the independence she was gaining at Ohana, she marched herself out of the cabin and down the hill. When I realized where she was, I sighed and put down the towels that I was hanging out to dry. What happened next was something I wish could happen in my daily life at home. Out of nowhere, another mom and fellow camper yelled up to me, “Can Madeline go for a walk with me?” With great relief I shouted back “yes and that I would meet them at the dining hall in a bit.”
I actually had the opportunity to finish my task that afternoon. I arrived at dinner with a smile and a big hug for my youngest. She was happy and so was her new friend who had taken her to see the goats.
And so it went all week long. Several of us took turns holding the youngest member of our group, a 4-month-old baby. Each of us cherished those sweet moments of cuddling the sweet baby as we remembered holding our own. Meanwhile, the baby’s parents enjoyed finishing their meal together.
It is so difficult to put into words how wonderful this week has been. We found a break from the frantic pace of the electronically charged world back home. My three kids, my husband and I enjoyed many special moments together as we explored and enjoyed the natural surroundings and activities at Ohana. We came as a family of five, but on this last day, we feel the warmth, companionship and strength of a family of 92! Though we sadly realize that we can’t take this village home with us, we will do what we can to hold onto these feelings and memories in our hearts.
We know that we will return next year!

Maple Sugaring at Robinson Farm

2011-04-15T08:03:00.030-04:00

It is 7:00 AM on April 9 and I have just put my daily spoonful of maple syrup on my oatmeal. I glance at the thermometer which reads 24 degrees and my mind goes to Ken and Janice and the Robinson Farm in Post Mills. You might say why in the world would you string that all together. Here’s why. I know that because it is below freezing today and it will go above freezing later today, that once again the sap will flow in the maple trees. It has been what farmers are calling a “gusher” year. The weather has been perfect for many weeks now and the sap flow has been tremendous. That means Ken and Janice and their family have been working long hours to keep the pans boiling to produce that sweet treasure of the north – Maple Syrup. It is very hard work; collecting, pumping it to the holding tanks, boiling at all hours of the day and night, and “bottling” it after it is finished. It will take anywhere from 32-40 gallons of sap to produce one gallon of syrup. At Ohana Family Camp, we will enjoy the "fruits of their labor" as we pour that delicious golden syrup on our pan cakes and French Toast. Jake, our chef, will use that syrup in all manner of cooking.

We are fortunate to have the Robinsons close by, and more fortunate that they still practice the art of “sugaring.” And it is an art. Every sugar maker has learned the hard way; by dozing off and burning their pan or undercooking their syrup or letting the sap “sour,” if you will, by not boiling it soon enough. Ken has been sugaring for more than 70 years, an art he learned from his father. Janice learned from Ken and has been sugaring for 50 years.

At one time The Robinson Farm and the Bacon Farm (where Ohana is now) were all of the same family, and probably sugared together. We still have the remnants of our old sugar house near the barn, along with many buckets and much of the old equipment. The huge maples wear the marks of ancient drill holes where the taps where placed. They slowly heal over, but if you look closely you can find them.

Sugaring is a ritual in Vermont and we are so lucky to have the benefits of the sweet success on our tables. Ken and Janice are mindful that we need much syrup to feed all the families and campers who stay at Ohana. And campers also like to take a pint home with them to remember Vermont. Ohana’s syrup for this year is already “put up” in 15 gallon containers. With our commitment to support local agriculture, we feel fortunate to be able to buy from a farm just up Quinibeck Road. It is our part in honoring a Vermont tradition and our agricultural heritage. Thank you Ken and Janice.

Elfuns return to Ohana for a work week

2010-06-22T17:56:00.011-04:00

Twenty-two Elfuns from nine states recently put on their GE Volunteer caps for a week in mid-June at historic Ohana Camp in picturesque Vermont, accomplishing a wide range of volunteer tasks to help preserve the classic Vermont summer camp on the shores of Lake Fairlee.
Coming to Vermont from California to Connecticut, the Elfuns arrived on a Sunday evening and got the week started with a reception, dinner, and a look at three flip chart pages full of varied work assignments to be led by Ohana Camp Directors Andy and Deb Williams.
The list of accomplishments during the week was impressive! For example, Joe Gould and Randy Morrison built an enclosure for the goats, which sounds easy until calculating in the fact that posthole diggers are basically inoperative when hitting Vermont rock. But the posts are in and standing straight and tall, thanks to Joe and Randy, who also shored up the concrete foundation at the camp’s sugar house.
Andy and Gary Sieving and Gisele Hill worked on both vegetable and flower garden beds, creating areas of both beauty and value. Kathleen Betchkal and Jean Jankowski teamed up to prep a building lovingly called “Area 51” to be the site of an urgently needed maintenance storage space.
Carpentry par excellence produced a new deck for Cabin 12 thanks to Joe Maruyama, Bob McKenzie, and Gene Bratton, while nearby Otto and Moe Jankus and Al Jankowski put shingles on a staff cabin. Right behind them to paint the shingles were Joyce Maruyama and John Betchkal.
Picasso-like painting of camp furniture badly in need of fresh coats of protective and appealing color was accomplished by Linda McKenzie, Carolyn Morrison, and Sue Sheridan. And they were neat – no spilled cans or brush marks!
Dave Hill and Richard Hoffard took charge of prepping the Gardenside building for staff housing, removing rafters which supported low ceilings, pulling out old wall board, checking electrical systems, and getting it spiffy “for immediate occupancy.”
Lois Lovinger was all smiles as she completed a star quilt which is beautiful and will have a place of honor. And our traveling Ohana Camp historian-in-residence-for-a-week, Jean Bratton, came up with more historical “finds”, adding to this locations wonderfully meaningful history.
It wasn’t all work for the week. Will Lange was here to deliver pure Vermont humor, Christopher Wren talked about “Walking to Vermont” following retirement from his NY Times desk , Ben Kilham amazed the group with his stories about bears in Vermont woods, and master storyteller Simon Brooks entertained us preceding a marvelous DVD presented by Andy Williams, summarizing our week together..
Best of all was the terrific hospitality, great food and sense of accomplishment we had during our week with Andy and Deb Williams and the wonderful Ohana Camp staff. Thanks, everybody, for the memories!

Fiddlehead Season

2010-04-23T16:39:00.020-04:00

Nothing signals spring at Ohana like the delicate and persistent unfolding of the ferns. We call this Fiddlehead Season, when each little frond unfolds like the head of a violin. Ohana seems to have all manner and variety in it's woodlands and around it's cabins. We have even named the Tent Unit's gathering cabin and wash house, Fern House, in honor of the many ferns that cascade through and surround the area. They soften and beautify the woodlands and edges of fields, the wet areas and the dry areas. And since there are only about 100 varieties of ferns, versus the thousands of plant varieties, they are relatively easy to identify. The Ohana library has a number of field guides to the ferns, but one of our favorites is one written in 1910, about the time the camp was established. It's called "Who's Who Among Ferns" by W.I. Beecroft. The illustrations are as intricate as the ferns are themselves. Ferns have caught the imagination of many. In 1922, Clarissa Buffum, a young nature counselor at Camp Aloha Hive, across the lake, created a wonderful and beautiful poster of the ferns of the area. We are lucky enough to have a copy of it still. As fate would have it, Clarissa later became the mother of David, Bob and Chippy Bassett, who have been long time supporters of the Aloha Foundation and of Ohana Camp, as have their children and grandchildren.

At this time of year some folks forage in the forest for fiddleheads to eat as a delicacy. Here is an old article written by a staff member of the Aloha Foundation's Hulbert Outdoor Center in 1983.

Fiddlehead Ferns - a woodland delicacy
Come springtime, wild food lovers search far and wide for fiddlehead ferns. To many, these are a delicacy. People often wonder what the term fiddlehead refers to. Is it a separate type of fern? Not exactly. The term fiddlehead refers to the early growth stages of any fern. When a fern first pops its head out of the ground, its foliage, or frond, is coiled up like a snail, often resembling the head of a violin, or fiddle, thus the name. The Bracken fern and Ostrich fern are the most palatable of fiddleheads. They are commonly found in open and wooded areas of New England. As you go fiddlehead harvesting, the most important rule of thumb is to leave half of the fronds behind so that the ferns will return next year.
The Ostrich fern, known in the summer for its tall plumes of fertile fronds, is identifiable in the early spring by the tightly coiled tops with brown scale coverings. The scales should be removed before cooking. Ostrich ferns like damp areas and are found growing in crowns or circles of eight to ten fronds per group. The best time to pick Ostrich fern fiddleheads is when they have reached a height of six to ten inches. The Bracken fern is the most common fern found in open, dry woods, clearings and pastures. This fern usually grows to four feet tall and has three main branches from a single stem. Bracken fern fiddleheads have a half inch thick base at harvest time and are covered with a rusty colored wool. Pick only the part that is tender enough to snap easily between your fingers, then remove the rusty colored wool by pulling the frond through your hand. Bracken ferns may be eaten raw (they’re great in salads!) or cooked. Both Ostrich fern and the Bracken fern can be stored in the freezer after they are cleaned of scales or wool, washed and then par-boiled in water for five minutes. These ferns are delicious when steamed for thirty minutes and served with melted butter. When spring settles into your area, perhaps you might like to harvest a few fiddleheads and have a treat!

artwork by Craig Richardson

Winter Work at Ohana

2010-01-24T17:45:00.015-05:00

It has been below zero on Lake Fairlee recently, the fishing houses are on the ice, and skaters and cross country skiers can be seen out and about. The winter season is upon us, but work continues at Ohana. Camp has been "buttoned up" since October after a terrific group of volunteers help to close camp during our annual Fall Work Weekend. A rather soggy weekend drew a record 40 volunteers to Ohana. Without the help of these loyal workers we could not accomplish so much in such a short time. After Ohana was "closed up" for the winter, we took a breather to start work on the new brochure. It looks terrific. If you have not received it yet you should let us know.

Winter projects have included the renovation of "Cabin 51" - the tool cabin near the volley ball court. Our Buildings and Grounds men have worked hard to upgrade it, install bathrooms and do general carpentry. It is very exciting to see an old run down building transformed into a very comfortable four bedroom cabin for meetings and lodging.

Our other major project this winter was to start clearing some of the large trees that were growing up and blocking our view of the lake. Although we will not go back to the clearing that was part of view 50 years ago, we certainly are beginning to have a better look at the lake from the Dining Hall. Graham Webster, staff member Libby's brother, and Eamon Donovan have been doing a very professional job under the careful guidance of our forester, Paul Harwood. And we now have all our firewood cut for the next two years!

Even as work goes on in the deep of winter, our families are already making plans to return next summer. We hope you will be among them. We look forward to welcoming you all back to see all the exciting changes.

Weekly Contra Dances for the Families at Ohana Camp

2009-08-03T10:25:00.005-04:00

The old dining hall at Ohana Family Camp is full of music and dance each Thursday night as the Family Campers, young and old, take to the floor. David Millstone, well known caller, guides the dancers through the dances and the Sugar River String Band (a family band), accompanies the calling. There is much laughter and fun for the whole group....from babies to grandparents!

It's Mid Summer at Ohana Family Camp

2009-07-29T07:05:00.006-04:00

Ohana Family Campers continue to enjoy themselves as mid summer rolls around. The summer seems to be flying by, but the happy laughter from families will stay with us all year. Here are a few photos from this week.

The Wilcox Family feeding Ella the goat at Ohana Family Camp

2009-07-21T06:38:00.001-04:00

Ohana Open House to Honor Sabra Field Prints

2009-07-01T07:15:00.011-04:00

Saturday afternoon, June 27, was sunny and beautiful as 70 neighbors and friends gathered at Ohana Camp. The event was an opportunity to recognize the work of well known Vermont landscape artist, Sabra Field and to dedicate this suite of four prints of our Ohana view to the memory of Wren Floeckher Smith, an Aloha family camper for many years. Luckily, Wren's family and children were able to attend the event. Neighbors and friends had a chance to view all the renovations to cabins and the historic dining hall. After the dedication, Sabra spoke about the process of creating the original wood block prints, and passed around the actual blocks that were used. There were over 20 blocks used to create the prints. The enlarged prints hang on either side of the massive Dining Hall fireplace for all to enjoy. The original prints, which are 10" x 15", are being used as gifts to donors who contribute to Ohana Camp.

VYCC Crew Completes Ohana Trail

2009-06-28T08:34:00.008-04:00

It's completed!!! The staff of Ohana Family Camp were treated to our first walk on the newly completed trail to the waterfront on Friday. It is a terrific trail, as it meanders through the beautiful woods, by old stone walls and by amazing rock formations. The Vermont Youth Conservation Corps worked very hard, in blistering heat and humidity, to complete their project by Friday. On behalf of the Ohana Staff, the Aloha Foundation, and all the future "walkers" on the path, we say a huge thank you to this wonderful crew and their leaders. Come walk with us on our new trail!

New Aloha Camp Parents Welcome Lunch at Ohana

2009-06-26T06:50:00.004-04:00

About 60 parents, who were bringing their children to the Aloha Camps for the first time, were invited to a luncheon at Ohana Family Camp on Wednesday. Opening day at the camps, is always a time of mixed emotions for first time parents. Elation that their children will have such a wonderful summer, probably a few little concerns, and often a feeling of emptiness as they leave their children at camp for the first time. The luncheon organized by Ann Downey, Trustee, and the Aloha Foundation's Development Department was a real hit with parents. They enjoyed discussions, a nice luncheon and a chance to meet each other and share a common bond. It's success will surely guarantee a repeat gathering next summer.

VYCC Trail Construction Continues at Ohana Family Camp

2009-06-25T08:07:00.006-04:00

Day 4 of trail construction by the Vermont Youth Conservation Corps finds the group making great progress. They have come together as a team, and have learned much about trail construction. In the evening, after they have cooked their dinner and cleaned up, they can be found playing spirited games of volleyball and soceer. It brings to mind the saying that they "work hard and play hard." They are terrific team of young people, with very able leaders Maggie and Emily.

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Ohana Pre Camp Training is in Full Swing

2009-06-24T06:39:00.005-04:00

This is staff training week at Ohana Family Camp. Although we have been working with a small crew for over a month now, our full staff arrived on Monday morning. It feels great to have everyone here, and to anticipate the first families arriving on Saturday. Yesterday was a day of projects to get ready for opening. Much time was spent on cleaning out our wonderful old barn to get it ready for use as our arts and crafts area. It is terrific to work as a group and to accomplish so much.

Note how Libby and Courtney take a break to show their real skills!

Vermont Youth Conservation Corps arrives at Ohana Family Camp

2009-06-21T08:35:00.008-04:00

A VYCC crew of 8 teenagers and 2 crew leaders arrived at Ohana Family Camp yesterday. They are part of a larger group of Vermont young adults who will be working on crews all over the state this summer. They have set up camp in the Tent Unit at Ohana, where they will cook their own meals and make plans for the trail construction which starts on Sunday. With their leaders, Maggie and Emily, they will plan and inspect the area that has been designated for the Ohana Trail. They will look at potential routes , soil depths, topography of the terrain, interesting points along the way, and a myriad of other details before they actually take any tools to the woods. This energetic group of 4 young men and 4 young women, all Vermonters, have been chosen, as have many outstanding students, to work with this statewide program this summer. The Vermont Youth Conservation Corps is a non-profit youth, leadership, service, conservation, and education organization that instills in individuals the values of personal responsibility, hard work, education, and respect for the environment. This is accomplished by using conservation projects as the vehicle for learning in an intense environment. Read more about their important work at www.vycc.org

GE Service Week - Final Day at Ohana Family Camp

2009-06-19T21:52:00.003-04:00

It has been a grand week at Ohama, and all the GE Elfuns are unanimous in expressing heartfelt appreciation to the terrific team which makes this Camp so very special.

We’d like to salute:

Clark for always being one step ahead of the game. His eagerness to be helpful and to make us feel at home couldn’t have been more genuine.

Austin was everywhere doing everything, and anything, that needed attention. Austin, you made a lot of new friends this week.

Lynn, you may be the glue that keeps the day-to-day camp administration together, but this week you also were the thread that kept the sewing circle humming.

Jake you were better than the best in the kitchen, We enjoyed the quality, quantity and variety of your meals. Thanks especially for the cheerful handling of special requests.

Libby your smile is as big as your heart. Your help with the Area 51 crew was awesome. Thanks for being so upbeat and so smart!

Then there’s Deb and Andy. In a word, fantastic. We thank you for caring about us, for making us feel at home, and for helping in every way possible -- even when you were swamped with priority projects of your own.

The DVD will say it all when we get back home. But until then, and forever, thanks to all of you from all of us for a gratifying week together.

Charlotte and Joel Albert

Barbara and Wally Baker

Kathleen and John Betchkal

Jean and Gene Bratton

Pat and Don Dickerman

Ronda and Ron Duvelius

Helen Gaul

Richard Hoffard

Michael Holmes

Marie and Buzz Hope

Jean and Al Jankowski

Ellie Lockwood

Lois Lovinger

Madeline and John Stephenson

Day 5 - Elfun Service Week at Ohana Camp

2009-06-18T20:43:00.004-04:00

Thursday was fantastic! It started with the usual perusing of Deb’s “to do” list, but there was an awareness that today was the Elfuns’ last full work day, so the approach was: Let’s make this Victory Day. And victory was achieved!
The Sugar House got its coat of attractive light yellow paint just before the drizzling rain began. All the other major projects were under cover, including completion of window frame painting for the barn and running wire for the fabled Area 51 building. It got a bit crowded in Area 51 when reinforcements arrived, but the progress was awesome.
Highlight of the mid-morning break was an impromptu piano session with Al Jankowski at the keyboard. He was so good that he inspired Gene Bratton to begin singing. Mighty nice duo! As chance (spelled: good planning) would have it, Andy Williams just happened to place a couple of new tables which needed polyurethaning under cover on the porch. So John Betchkal and Gene grabbed two brushes, applied the polyurethane, and finished just in time for the group photo before lunch.
Once again the Vermont weather was cooperative as the rain stopped just long enough to gather for a picture with Lake Fairlee as a backdrop. Everybody showed up, everybody smiled, and after the picture was taken the light rain began once again.
At lunch time the mood was somewhat serious. The Elfuns knew they had only another four hours to work so the camp area became a blur of moving, hardworking volunteers doing wrap-up tasks. And just for fun at lunch, Deb Williams said she’d really be pleased if some renovation work could be started in the office. She got her wish, and the new look is classy along the wall between the reception area and office.
Every fine effort deserves some kind of celebration. So in anticipation of a Friday morning tree planting Joel Albert dug holes for three lilac bushes to join the lush Ohama Camp grounds right at the entrance to the main gate. Tomorrow the Elfuns will toss ceremonial shovels of Vermont topsoil and then head down the highway with good thoughts about their achievements and happy moments together at Ohana.

Day 4 - GE Elfuns Work Week at Ohana Camp

2009-06-17T21:27:00.004-04:00

Wednesday’s breakfast got off to a scholarly start at one table when the discussion centered on the proper use of the words further and farther. Fortunately, Will Lange was at the table and it was pretty much agreed that further refers to distance and farther is used relevant to progress, such as in “I hope my career goes farther.” Or is it the other way around?

Whatever the case, the GE Elfuns are furthering their progress as their projects go farther forward. The big news today is that the first shed is completed, and there’s enthusiasm for starting on a second one which will be located at the lower parking lot, replacing a rental storage trailer.
The library is a busy spot where Jean Bratton of Greenville, South Carolina, has catalogued more than 200 books, and today she’s getting a nice assist from Barbara Baker of Hampstead, North Carolina. Nearby Charlotte Albert of Potomac, Maryland, and Madeline Stephenson of Utica, New York, are sewing curtains for cabins. Classy!
Speaking of cabins, Don Dickerman of Leland, North Carolina, and Helen Gaul of Silver Spring, Maryland, volunteered for a very important and “tougher than it sounds” assignment. They’re attaching knobs to the cabin windows, and the challenge is that there are around 144 windows needing attention – each one presenting a unique challenge.
And in Tom Sawyer style, there’s a burgeoning group of folks hovering around the Sugar House, waiting for Andy to pronounce that the sun has dried the building enough for the outside painting to commence. That group may expand because the Fabulous Foresters (Gene Bratton of Greenville, South Carolina, Buzz Hope of Atlanta, Georgia, and Al Jankowski of Granville, Ohio,) have finished taking down selected timber to enhance the view of the lake from the porch.
All this energy comes to a halt after lunch because today’s the day for the Elfuns to spend the afternoon exploring the region, with many of them setting their GPS systems for Ben & Jerry’s. What’s a double scoop of chocolate when you’ve been working all morning!

Ohana Camp Elfun Service Volunteers Tackle Day 3

2009-06-16T21:12:00.006-04:00

It could have been a scene from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.

But rather it was Deb Williams and the 23 GE Elfun volunteers figuratively singing “Hi-Ho, Hi-Ho, it’s off to work we go” on a beautiful Vermont morning, specifically Tuesday June 16. The group started its day with a salute to Marie and Buzz Hope of Atlanta, Georgia, who are today celebrating their 53^rd wedding anniversary. They may not have had toast for breakfast, but they’ll have several “toasts” tonight at dinner.

Progress and pride are the key words for today. The Elfun team building the new shed at the waterfront (Joel Albert of Potomac , Maryland, Ronda and Ron Duvelius of Loveland, Ohio, and John Stephenson of Utica , New York), are making huge progress and could finish the job on Wednesday if the weather stays as nice as it is today.

Jean Jankowski of Granville, Ohio, and Kathleen Betchkal of Shaker Heights, Ohio were all smiles as volunteers stopping at the fabled Area 51 tool shed complimented them on their organizational skills. As the morning progressed they got an assist from Richard Hoffard, of Detroit, Michigan, who arrived there and announced that he was going to be installing new wiring for the building. So, with thanks to Richard, Jean and Kathleen will be able to shine not a little, but a lot, of light on their success.

Across the road the barn restoration volunteers weren’t glazey-eyed doing their day’s project, but Marie Hope, Michael Holmes of Hales Corners, Wisconsin, Pat Dickerman of Leland, North Carolina, and Ellie Lockwood of Arlington, Virginia, gleefully completed glazing the old barn windows, many of which needed new glass.

Andy Williams, with boundless enthusiasm, was power washing the Sugar House, which could only mean that he’d like to have it painted before the Elfuns leave Lake Fairlee. And when he finished the power washing the next project was just next door at the Gardenside building, the interior of which is at this very writing is now being gutted as a first big step toward its eventual renovation.

This has been a productive day, but all work and no play is not the Ohama Camp way, so at mid afternoon the kayaks and canoes will be occupied by GE Elfuns further building their appetites for tonight’s pork roast with all the trimmings!

G.E. Volunteer Work Week at Ohana Camp

2009-06-16T06:42:00.004-04:00

Ohana Camp welcomed 23 GE Elfuns from 10 states on Sunday evening, June 14, for a week of service interspersed with fun. Jake Williams prepared a five star dinner that evening, followed by a briefing and walking tour of the camp led by Deb Williams.
Many of the Elfun volunteers had been to Ohana two years ago and were consequently amazed and thrilled with the progress achieved since their last visit. Notwithstanding past progress, Deb was up to the task of generating almost three pages of wide-ranging new tasks to present on her ubiquitous flip chart to the eager Elfuns
So after devouring strawberry shortcake and selecting Monday’s projects, the GE Elfuns called it a day and headed for a night’s rest in the crisp spring Vermont air. Before they knew it, the smell of coffee brought them out of their cabins to a Monday morning feast of pancakes and sausage –plus a whole lot more-- and then everyone was enthusiastically on the way to work.
Libby Webster was in charge of the fabled Area 51 tool shed, and from there within minutes one crew was going down the road to build a storage shed at the waterfront, another was on its way to glaze windows in the historic barn. And individuals were tackling tasks ranging from tree cutting to electrical wiring, carpentry and even quilting.
“This camp is a very special spot,” said Richard Hoffard of suburban Detroit, Michigan. Hoffard, who was a regional service manager for GE’s Medical Systems Business before retiring , is making his second service trip to Ohana. “It’s picturesque, and it’s peaceful. Working on these meaningful improvements is tremendously satisfying. Equally important, just being here gives us all a renewed sense of purpose and truly separates us from the turmoil of the everyday world. It is a nice refresher course on the meaning of the word Friendship. Spending a week here Is a big time battery charger. I love it!”
It won’t be all work and no play on the Elfuns’ first day because after tonight’s dinner the Elfuns will celebrate Lois Lovinger’s birthday. Lois came to Ohana from Fort Wayne, Indiana. A quilter and also photographer par excellence, she’s planning to snap a few photos of the group after dinner when Vermont Public Radio’s Will Lange entertains with his perspectives on life in New England -- with special emphasis on this neck of the woods.

Ohana Camp Welcomes Spring

2009-04-19T10:59:00.003-04:00

The old earth is turning again and spring is in the air. Soon we will welcome Ohana Family Campers back to the shores of Vermont’s Lake Fairlee. Even if we did not have the gift of sight, we could simply hear the arrival of spring. Every day there is a new voice to be added to the spring chorus. The Red Wing Blackbirds arrived in mid March with snow still on the ground and ice on the lake! They cling to the cat-tails on the lakes edge as they stake out their territories. The wood frogs are also looking for mates as they began their “duck like” chorus last week in the ephemeral (temporary) pools that dot the property. They are courting at a frenzied pace, triggered by the increasing light, warmer days and the open shallow pools. Their eggs will be laid shortly, the hatching tadpoles will mature and head back to the forest. We expect their cousins, the Spring Peepers, to start singing any day now. And soon we will have the sound of Family Campers laughing and playing all around the beautiful grounds of Ohana Camp. Campers will be happy to see all the work that has been accomplished this winter thanks to our dedicated Buildings and Grounds crew. Most of the 23 cabins now have new roofs, including Cabin 11, or affectionately known as “Area 51.” Work on our historic barn has started with the installation of electricity and lights. This summer it will be used for arts and crafts activities. An Alden rowing shell was the first of our new boats to arrive, along with kayaks. And a much needed new storage shed for the waterfront will arrive in a few weeks. The natural world, and the human world are coming alive with excitement as we anticipate summer, and our families gathering once more to enjoy the warm weather on beautiful Lake Fairlee.

Historic Barn at Ohana Family Camp to be Preserved

2008-12-08T15:17:00.011-05:00

Great news!!!! The State of Vermont’s Division of Historic Preservation, has granted the Aloha Foundation a $10,000 matching grant to start renovation on Ohana’s historic barn, one of the few original buildings from the 1800’s hillside farm that preceded Shanty Shane and more recently Ohana Camp. . The state awarded this grant to a handful of worthy renovation projects, with the goal of preserving the historic barns of Vermont, such an important part of our landscape and our cultural history. The award of this grant, and the exciting possibilities, reminded me of the days when this barn and the adjoining fields were part of a subsistence farm over 130 years ago, and the day I spent haying in that field last summer.
The Robinson’s Family has been haying these fields since the 1800's. Their ancestors, the Bacon Family, worked this land, now called Ohana Camp, before there were motorized vehicles or even electricity – most likely before the civil war. So it was with that wonderful sense of history that I had volunteered to help with the haying of the main field late last summer. With Ken Robinson, his wife Janice, their daughter Jessica, their granddaughter Charlotte, and her friend AJ, we set about to harvest the golden hay on one of the most beautiful days I can remember. The sky was a clear blue juxtaposed with the late summer green of the woods and the warm hue of golden grass. Jessica and her mother, Janice, drove the tractors and turned the hay to dry one last time. Ken drove his ancient, but reliable, Allis Chalmers tractor which pulled the baler. Charlotte, AJ and I walked behind and threw bales of hay onto the wagon. As we worked and talked, I felt a connection with this land and its historic use; hay, animals, even playing fields. The old homestead barn was the back drop for our day. I wondered how many years it had seen haying like this, and how many bales of hay had been stored in it. By mid-afternoon we were ready for a break. Like magic, Janice, Ken’s wife, who had stopped turning hay and left for a bit, arrived with warm homemade bread and butter, and cold water. It could not have been more tasty. We loaded the wagons with 190 bales of hay that afternoon and headed for the barn at the Robinson homestead up the road. As we unloaded, Jessica talked about the way to stack the hay efficiently and showed how to put salt down to keep the fire danger low. She backed the hay wagons around with the skill of a woman who had grown up driving farm equipment. Now the field was cut, tidy and ready to grow next year's crop of hay. Ken, in his dry Vermont way, commented that the field was a little “bumpy,” meaning that it had quite a few ruts from tractors haying when it was too wet. But he added, “got more good hay than I expected from it.” That day, as I worked with the three generations of Robinsons, I had the sense that this land was part of a continuum, and that we, as stewards of this new piece of property, had the responsibility to respect it as the extended Robinson Family has done for many generations. It was a beautiful day that I will hold in my memory for a long time. On cold winter nights, I will think of cows munching on that hay, in some warm barn down the road, as they have for generations, and as they did here at the Ohana Camp barn when it was a small hillside subsistence farm. It is good to have a connection to this land.

Deb Williams

Ohana Family Camp's First Season is Humming Along

2008-07-31T07:46:00.006-04:00

Our fifth week of Ohana Family campers arrived on Saturday to a beautiful sunny day. The waterfront was a popular spot that afternoon. Kayaks, canoes and sailboats were out on the crystal clear lake which was sparkling as it often does. The new swimming docks were full of laughing children and happy parents and grandparents. Families of all manner have been joining us this summer for our inaugural season. A number of extended families have experienced the joy of a multi -generation vacation. Grandparents have their own cabins, children can play with cousins and visit with aunts and uncles whom they may not see as often as they like. The families are all anxious to return next year and have made their reservations already. So Ohana Camp is up and running. Our wonderful and dedicated staff are having fun being a part of the first year of camp – creating the Ohana Camp culture - as they like to say. From hiking to contra dances to campfires to reading on the front porch and enjoying the views, it all seems so natural here at this historic site.
Mid-summer is upon us and the days are long and green. Wildflowers are everywhere and our gardens are producing a wonderful bounty. Crickets are beginning to sing their August songs. Haying on our fields will start in another few days. It is all part of the natural cycle here at Ohana Camp on Lake Fairlee, and having the joyful sounds of children and families having fun, just adds to the beauty of this special place.

April at Ohana Family Camp

2008-04-27T11:04:00.003-04:00

It's late April and Spring is bursting out all over Ohana Camp. Little leaves are emerging on every tree and the grass is starting to green up. The hillsides are glowing with the soft hues of many shades of green and the reds of the maple buds. There is a pile of snow left on the north side of the dining hall, but we suspect it will be gone in a week or so. It's time to get out our rakes and start cleaning up after a long winter. The loons have been back on Lake Fairlee for a couple of weeks, where they will start nesting along the shore in early May. Our loons have most likely wintered along the coast, although some may stay on Lake Champlain's open water. Vermont Loons have finally been taken off the endangered species list, but are still being carefully monitored by the Vermont Loon Recovery Program www.vtecostudies.org/loons/. The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department reminds us that it is important for humans to stay at least 300 feet from nesting sites, and adults with young. This summer at Ohana, we will participate in the official Loon Watch on the third Saturday of July. We hope for good results.

How to Get to the Waterfront - 1930's Style.

2008-03-10T11:52:00.002-04:00

Perhaps we should think about going back to low-tech transportation for Family Camp?

Historic Photo of Shanty Shane now Ohana Camp

2008-03-06T08:38:00.010-05:00

Historic photo of Ohana Camp Lodge/Dining Hall, originally called Shanty Shane, and built around 1911 by the William Clendenin family, teachers from Yonkers, New York.

Barred Owls are Calling at Ohana Family Camp

2008-03-05T10:06:00.011-05:00

The “who-cooks-for-you” hooting of the barred owls began some weeks ago on Robinson Hill, signaling that mating season has begun for these medium size woodland owls. We hear them all summer at Ohana Camp, but we know that March is the time when nests are being readied for clutches of 3-5 white eggs. Barred Owls normally pair for life. Nest sites are most commonly in hollows of old trees, but they may also use abandoned squirrel or crow's nests. Incubation, done exclusively by the female, lasts about a month. The male owl will bring food to his mate(rabbits, voles, mice) while she keeps the eggs, and then the young warm. At about 4-5 weeks old the young will begin to leave the nest to nearby branches, but they do not fledge until they are about 6 weeks old, and they may receive food from their parents for up to 4 months. So when we hear those wonderful calls on summer nights, it could be parent owls calling to their young or even young barred owls practicing their calls. They are such a special part of our woods around Ohana Family Camp. For more information on Barred Owls visit http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Barred_Owl.html

Winter Views from the Porch of Ohana Family Camp

2008-03-04T13:16:00.000-05:00

Looking Northwest over Lake Fairlee and up the Middlebrook Valley

Welcome to the Ohana Camp Journal

2008-03-03T13:33:00.000-05:00

Ohana Camp, formerly known as Shanty Shane, Lake Fairlee Club and Lake Fairlee Camp, is a family program of the Aloha Foundation, Inc. of Fairlee Vermont. Ohana Camp is the newest addition to the six camps of the historic Aloha Foundation founded in 1903.

It is our hope to enter periodic journal notes in order to chronicle the exciting changes happening on this beautiful hill which overlooks Lake Fairlee and the Middlebrook Valley. We hope to keep you updated on the rythms of the natural world outside our doors, the restoration work being done on this 100 year old site, the goings and comings of happy family campers, and all the wonderful little events occurring day to day, year to year.

These are exciting times for all of us.