Comments on: Celebrating international campers and staff at Pemi

By: Andy Webster

Andy Webster — Mon, 17 May 2010 13:04:44 +0000

As a camper from the rather insular state of Vermont in the mid to late 70s, I remember being surprised to meet so many foreign campers, especially a large number of Latino kids. I probably learned more about the possibilities of the sport of soccer, rarely played in Vermont, from watching the three Venezuelan Paz Parra brothers than from any other source. And my cabin mate Cesar Castillo, a Puerto Rican (and perhaps then not technically foreign…), became a good friend. I remember being amazed at his ability to catch minnows out of the stream with his bare hands, and also never being able to beat him at tennis. There is no doubt that the cadre of foreign campers and counselors added a richness to the camp experience that is well worth preserving, and which I was glad to see last summer as my son shared a cabin with Sompy.

By: Chris. Kirkpatrick

Chris. Kirkpatrick — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 12:57:32 +0000

Nostalgic Return Visit to Pemi

Last month (Feb. 2010), during my first visit to New England for 40 years, I made a special point of returning to Lower Baker Pond. In contrast to that warm summer of 1969, the lake was now in deep freeze and the timber huts deserted and bleak in the drifting snow. Camp Pemi was in hibernation, gathering energy for the coming summer season.
In 1969, as a student from Ireland, working as a camp counsellor was a wonderful opportunity to visit a little corner of the U S A for the first time and experience the invigorating environment of New Hampshire. Throughout that summer the hospitality of directors and staff was nothing less than generous and the good humour plus friendliness of fellow counsellors and campers alike evokes warm memories. I was assigned Hut J 4 with responsibility for such diverse individuals as Rob Wheatcroft, Tommy Sunshine, Fred Hellyer, Jon Ravenal (if any of you read this, please get in touch). The programme of sports, hiking, camp-craft, cultural activities and visits to local scenic venues was always well organised. Occasionally events in the outside world would intrude such as the first moon landing on 21 July but mostly we were all cocooned in the rural idyll that was/is Camp Pemi.
Now 40 years later the international flavour of Pemi has been enhanced by campers and counsellors from many countries. If they derive even half of the enjoyment of my stay in that far-off summer, they will be amply rewarded. Thanks Pemi.

Chris. Kirkpatrick

By: Matt Carter

Matt Carter — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 14:11:00 +0000

As one of the BUNACer’s fortunate enough to have been on the shores of Lower Baker Pond this year, I certainly agree with Rob when he says that spending a summer at Pemi, having come from another country, is a really rewarding experience. As well as meeting great people, Pemi opened my eyes to the world of summer camp – a tradition and culture that, unfortunately, hasn’t made it over to our side of the pond. One summer was enough for me to realise that Pemi is really quite special, made all the better by the diversity of the campers and staff.

I found out about Pemi through an organisation that started in 1962, BUNAC. It aims to facilitate cultural exchange programmes across North America – and Pemi is a great example of the programme’s success. I loved meeting and getting to know campers, parents and staff, exploring NH and further afield, finally understanding baseball, trying s’mores and lots more… And in return, amongst other things, I think the campers (and staff!) enjoy and benefit from hearing our funny accents, playing new games, finding out what England is really like, and of course, tasting British chocolate!

By: José Periel

José Periel — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 11:17:08 +0000

Thank you for dedicating an article to the campers from abroad. At the age 11 I attended a summer camp in New Hampshire,and came back 3 summers. 30 years later I have clear and vivid rememberances of thous summers in which I had fabulous times and experiences. Globalization wasn´t then as developed as now; it helpped me a lot to live and work in this global world we live in. So this year we are very excited since two of my sons, Pepe (10) and Diego (9) have rolled up in Camp Pemi for the first period. There is no doubt it will be one of the greatest experiences in their lives.

José Periel, Spain.

By: camppemi

camppemi — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 21:49:41 +0000

Thanks, Fred! Glad you liked the article, and thanks for sharing– and for mentioning so many great people by name!

By: Fred Seebeck

Fred Seebeck — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 21:37:51 +0000

Great article, Rob! My fond memories of international counselors date back to the early ’70’s and Ian MacGregor, a charming Irishman with prodigious energy and good will. Legends like Rick “Drivingboat” Davenport, Michael “Scotty” Clarke, Phil Burnett, Justin Thompson-Glover, Mark and Simon Warmington, Colin Brooks, Esq. (now residing with wife and family in Vermont) and, very recently, the Bryant brothers (Sneaky and Squeaky!)have enriched the lives of Pemi boys for ages, as have those boys who’ve joined us from all over the world. We look forward to working with alumnus Jaime Garcia’s son from Puerto Rico this summer, for instance. My trip to London with the Malcolms, the Reeds, and Brad Saffer to attend Phil and Emma Burnett’s wedding remains one of the most pleasant (and hilarious) weekends of my life, and I’ll never forget newlyweds Esteban and Tania Garcia taking time out of their wedding night to show a bunch of their Pemi friends around Old San Juan. Such friendships as these, which endure the passage of years and decades, most certainly, as you say, rank among the richest parts of the Pemi experience.