From the Belltower

Billy's Letter for 2007 Mini Reunion

Billy the Brown Bat — Sat, 08 Sep 2007 21:11:00 GMT

Dear Campers,

Greetings from the Bell Tower!

Yes, it’s me again – Billy the Brown Bat. I’m still flying around the Chippewa Trail property and keeping an eye on the antics of all you former campers and counselors. I’m thrilled that you decided to return to the shores of Elk Lake this weekend to celebrate what would have been Chippewa Trail’s 80th anniversary. There never was and there never will be another camp quite like Chippewa.

I also understand that this weekend brings us an honorary Chippewa camper. Yes, Katie Barr, I’m talking about you!

I have it on good authority from my pals at the ‘Bats Who Live At Summer Camps Association’ that Katie has the kind of spirit we love here at Chippewa! Her times at golf, basketball and nursing camps were marked by much laughter and wacky fun. And I overheard her Mom, Bizzy, last summer tell the tale of Katie’s adventures with the wave runner. Katie called her folks to tell them she and her wave runner were being towed in from Lake Michigan by the county sheriff and that she was being charged with reckless driving. After Bizzy regained consciousness, Katie let it slip that actually, she was only being towed in because the battery died.

Katie, you’re my kind of gal! And because you are now part of the Chippewa family, I think you should know something about your mother. I’ve been keeping tabs on Bizzy since she was a kid here at camp. As you can tell, she just LOVED Chippewa. Like you, she was a very talented athlete, she adored the waterfront and she was an enthusiastic singer of all the camp songs. But here’s the thing: Your mom doesn’t know the real words to ANY of the Chippewa songs!

For example, the first line of our most beloved camp song is ‘If the lake is clear and blue.’ Your mom usually sings ‘If the steak is near and due.’

And whatever you do, do NOT follow her example when singing the super-secret-second verse to that song. The real words are: If you want to swim the waters clear and watch the sun behind the distant hills appear, why don’t-cha come to Chip-a-way Trail.

Instead, your mom thinks the words are: If you want to trim the waiter’s beard and watch the gum behind his distant ear appear, why don’t-cha come to Chip-a-way Trail. Katie, do yourself a favor and hang with Lisa and the other CTC alums to get the full skinny on all the great Chippewa songs.

In fact, I’d recommend getting some sonic input from Deb Jordan Bryan. Not only does Deb have a beautiful voice, and a flawless memory for all the camp songs, you’ll be doing her a tremendous favor by keeping her mind off of a teeny-tiny inconvenience.

You see, Deb and her family recently moved from California to the Lodge here at CTC. Well, to be clear, THEY moved to Michigan. Their belongings, however, have moved to destinations unknown. More than 60 boxes of Bryan family stuff are missing in action. Repeated calls to the moving company remind me why it was so important that Shorty started the ‘Shootman’ tradition. Let’s just say, that the language around the Lodge of late has been rather colorful.

Well campers, that’s about it for me. Have a great time this weekend and sing those songs as loudly as you can. Just don’t let Bizzy get away with this gem:

I wanna go back to Chippaway,
that’s near the trampled flowers
Back to the stodgey fig, of course
Back to the flake with the ridgey horse ...

Your friend, Billy the Brown Bat

Chippewa Trail Mini Reunion 2007!

Billy the Brown Bat — Thu, 12 Jul 2007 00:14:00 GMT

Dear Campers,

Greetings from the Bell Tower! We've seen our fair share of Million Dollar Mornings at Chippewa this summer. The weather has been great and Elk Lake is just as clear and blue as you remember it. Oh, and for you Constant Readers, my "Tankini" bathing suit is not only flattering, but quick-dry!

I still miss spying on campers and their counselors and reporting on the shenanigans each Friday night at Log. I've asked Deb Jordan Bryan, who now owns the Lodge, if she wouldn't mind arranging a weekly Log program with all the current homeowners at the CTC property. But she tells me that the embarrassing moments are now of a more 'adult' nature. I'm not sure what that means, but I'll take her word for it.

Luckily, Deb and I won't be the only Chippewa 'grads' in residence this year. Bizzy Allen Barr and Lisa Schwartz Diamost will host Reunion 2007 at the Chippewa property Saturday, Sept. 1 and Sunday, Sept. 2.

The formal activities are at a minimum but pack a powerful punch: Saturday night campfire with singing and stories, and, if past reunions hold...more than a couple of wine bottles. Sunday morning will feature a pancake breakfast at the Dutch oven...assuming it's been restored to something close to working order. If not, I'm sure those Chippewa gals will figure out a new plan for a group breakfast!

Bizzy and Lisa tell me they also are trying to convince Shorty and Susan to make an appearance, so it should be a special event. If you want more information or to let Bizzy know you're coming, email her at EBARR@entergy.com.

I'm just so thrilled that CTC alums can't stay away from our little corner of the world. I hope to see as many of you as possible at the campfire on Saturday, Sept. 1. And don't be surprised if your favorite brown bat writes up a little letter and asks someone to read it at the campfire. You know how I LOVE to write about you gals!

Enjoy the rest of your summer!

Your friend,
Billy the Brown Bat

CTC for 80 Years!!!

Billy the Brown Bat — Sun, 10 Jun 2007 22:28:00 GMT

Dear Campers,

Greetings from the Bell Tower! Here’s hoping all you Chippewa gals had a wonderful winter and are planning some fun in the sun for Summer, 2007.

As you know, this summer marks the 80th anniversary of Chippewa Trail. Even though the camp has passed into history, the property is still around; Deb Jordan Bryan has turned the Lodge into a lovely home filled with CTC memorabilia; and so many of you campers have kept in touch with one another through the years that the spirit of Chippewa continues.

As we approach the traditional mid-June starting date of camp, I can’t help but get a little misty remembering those wonderful Opening Days. Girls in the backs of station wagons so darn excited that it seemed as if they drank an entire case of Red Bull. Parents so tired and bedraggled from amassing the items on Shorty’s checklist (what the heck is a shoe bag, anyway?) that they didn’t seem to care as their daughters barely said goodbye and practically forced them back into the car for the drive home. Counselors trying to do the higher math required to create a balanced Job Wheel. Ah, those were the days!

It’s mind-blowing for my tiny bat-brain to think about how the first campers of 1927 might react to campers of 2007. If Chippewa were operating today, my guess is that iPods, cellphones, and computers might be stowed in those foot lockers. The crew from 1927 needed only a compass and a simple jackknife to make their way on a day-long hike; while today’s campers might want to bring along a GPS satellite tracking system and freeze dried food supplies.

However, I know in my little bat-heart that all campers, regardless of technological acumen, would agree that it’s the simple pleasures of CTC that made the best memories. Laughing with friends through rest hour. Spit-pit contests. Dutch Oven Wednesdays. Swimming in Elk Lake. Campfires among the pines every night. And singing “Pals.” Who needs an iPod when you’ve got a hundred voices joining together?!

Well, I’m off to find a new bathing suit for the summer. What exactly is a Tankini and do you think it would flatter my bat-figure? We’ll soon find out!

Enjoy the summer and when you have a moment, grab a glass of bug juice, turn towards Northern Michigan and give a toast to Chippewa Trail Camp’s 80th birthday.

Your friend,
Billy the Brown Bat

Happy Holidays 2006

Billy the Brown Bat — Sat, 09 Dec 2006 14:55:00 GMT

Dear Campers,

It’s a busy time here at Chippewa Trail Camp for Girls. The snow has fallen, the lake is almost frozen and I’ve decked out the bell tower with holly, wreaths and my favorite Christmas stocking.

We’re doing Secret Santa this year. I picked the Returning Indian, but he’s always so hard to buy for. I mean, what do you get an all-seeing, all-powerful spirit that he can’t get for himself? I decided to order him an iPod and I’ll load it up with the CD of songs from the 2004 CTC reunion that alum Renee Bator so thoughtfully created. I know it will get his toes a-tapping! By the way, if you want to relive those reunion memories and hear the old songs again, check out the chippewatrailcamp.com site for information on ordering a CD from Renee.

Never fear campers, summer will return again and I hope to see you all back at the CTC property soon!

Here’s hoping you all have a safe and happy holiday season.

Peace.

Your friend,

Billy the Brown Bat

Happy Halloween 2006 From Billy the Brown Bat!

Billy the Brown Bat — Sat, 14 Oct 2006 22:57:00 GMT

Dear Campers,

Well, summer has finally caught the last plane for Florida and we are smack-dab in the middle of my favorite time of year. Yes, campers, it’s Halloween! I love it all – the crisp fall air, the bright orange and red leaves, and all that free candy.

I’m madly working on my costume for this year’s Chippewa Trail Camp Halloween party. I had a few stops and starts. My first idea was to go as Paris Hilton, but the blond wigs really impaired my flying ability. Then I thought I’d go as Suri Cruise, but the diapers kept riding up. So, I opted for the tried and the true. I’m going as…wait for it… Batman! What? You’ll never know it’s me!

I hope all you former campers and counselors had a wonderful summer. As you know, a CTC reunion was held in August and a wonderful time was had by all. This year’s reunion featured a wide variety of activities. Linnea Kettler Brunk brought her original, vintage Chippewa Trail Camp canoe back to the shores of Elk Lake

And speaking of the next reunion, I want to remind you all that next year marks the 80^th anniversary of Chippewa Trail Camp for Girls, the Finest Camp in Michigan. I remember that first summer of 1927 – the camp looked a little different then, there weren’t as many campers as would come each subsequent summer, but we knew then that we were on to something special. T Morgan had a vision; Shorty, and later, Susan, carried that vision to new and wonderful heights, and all of you campers and counselors gave Chippewa that special spirit that carries on to this day.

I don’t know if there’s going to be a formal 2007 CTC reunion, but I hope you’ll all plan to drop by the camp property and toast Chippewa’s 80^th birthday in whatever way you can. Remember that Deb Jordan Bryan now owns the Lodge and she has created a wonderful home filled with CTC memorabilia. Contact Deb if you’re interested in renting the Lodge for a mini-reunion with your pals-good-old-pals. Stop by the Chippewatrailcamp.com site for details on getting in touch with Deb.

Well, that’s all from the Belltower. Have a happy and safe Halloween and don’t be surprised if you see a mini-Batman at your door yelling Trick or Treat!

Your friend,

Billy

Has Anyone Heard From Billy Lately?

Billy the Brown Bat — Mon, 14 Aug 2006 01:21:00 GMT

Welcome to BillytheBrownBat.com – your source for all the giddy gossip generated by generations of gals at Chippewa Trail Camp for Girls, the finest camp in Michigan.

But don’t let me do all the talking! Sign up, log in and start tattling on your camp buddies. Share a story from when you were at camp, or some embarrassing indiscretion from recently. As you know, I’m a bat, and I’m all ears!

Biography of Billy the Brown Bat

William Hornblower Brown Bat is rather cagey about his age. Suffice to say he’s old enough to know better, but young enough to enjoy what life has to offer.

As a teenager, William decided to forgo formality and legally changed his name to Billy. However, he also added ‘the’ to his last name, creating a slight rift among the rest of the Brown Bat clan that exists to this day.

Billy took up residence at the top of the Chippewa Trail Camp belltower in 1927 and began reporting on the activities of all the campers at that time. His small size, flights of derring-do and incredible hearing ability made him the perfect reporter of all things embarrassing. If you snuck candy into your cabin, Billy knew about it. If you wore your bathing suit backwards, Billy was right there to see you do it. But more than that, he told people about it! The industrious little bat would write his weekly update letter, then secretly give it to a camper or staff member for delivery. Every Friday night at camp, a highlight of the Log program was the Editor in Chief asking the audience, ‘Has anyone heard from Billy?’

Even though Chippewa Trail Camp closed its gates after the summer of 1984, Billy decided to stay at the bell tower and keep a watchful eye on the property. In the fall of 2004, the first of several Chippewa Trail Camp Reunions was held and the ‘letter from Billy’ made a triumphant return. You can find that letter elsewhere on this site. Since that time, Billy’s been keeping up on the goings on a Chippewa and is proud to launch his first website.

While he enjoys traveling, stamp collecting and an occasional pilates class, his first love will always be Chippewa Trail Camp for Girls and his perch atop the bell tower.

Latest News From Billy the Brown Bat:

Billy the Brown Bat — Sat, 12 Aug 2006 15:00:00 GMT

August 11 - 13, 2006 – Highlights from the 2006 Chippewa Trail Reunion

Those wacky campers are still at it! Reunion 2006 got off to a lovely start on Friday night with a beautiful sunset. The reunionites ate dinner outside and sang songs after the meal, just like the old days. Well, actually not quite like the old days. I couldn’t help but hear that Linnea Kettler Brunk kept singing Shorty’s part during ‘Hand Me Down.’ Still, Linnea earns an A plus for enthusiasm!

Later, Deb Jordan Bryan’s husband, Steve, built a roaring campfire in the pit next to the old Dutch Oven. The campers had a great night singing songs, sharing Chippewa memories, eating ‘Smores and getting doused with that unmistakable woodsmoke smell. However, I’m sorry to report that while the Chippewa alums clearly know how to build a fire and keep a fire going, they are a little lax on putting a fire out. It seems that the next morning, the embers were still burning and smoke still rising from the firepit. Do you think Deb’s fellow cabin owners would have elected her Neighbor of the Month if the property had gone up in flames?

During breakfast on Saturday morning, I heard some alums plotting future reunions and Lisa Schwartz came up with a great idea for ‘Chippewa Trail Fantasy Camp.’ In Lisa’s fertile imagination, you would drive down the hill at camp to be met by the counselor of your choice, clipboard in hand, who would make your Chippewa Dreams come true. Always wanted to be in Tonda? Poof! You’re in Tonda! Never got a Secret Part at Indian Council? Poof! You’re Medicine Man! Feeling low because you were never picked to turn out the lights? Poof! Shorty is saying wonderful things about you and asking you to flip the switch at the end of Log. I think it’s a great idea and in Billy the Brown Bat’s fantasy camp, you girls are the ones sleeping upside down by your toenails from a 30 foot bell tower while I’m snuggled in a nice warm bed in the Lodge.

I felt a bit sorry for Renee Bator at the reunion. She awoke to the Million Dollar Morning on Saturday and decided to take a run over to Lake Skegamog. Upon her return, sweating and glistening with the glow of good health, she was subjected to the gentle teasing of her fellow reunionites who wondered why she would ever think to ruin a perfectly good morning by getting her heart-rate up. They mocked and heckled her, all while stuffing their faces with glazed donuts. Ever wonder who the Last Chippewa Camper will be in years to come? I’m putting my money on Renee.

2006 Chippewa Trail Camp Reunion

Billy the Brown Bat — Sat, 12 Aug 2006 04:30:00 GMT

Dear Campers,

Welcome back to Chippewa Trail Camp, the Finest Camp in Michigan. I can’t tell you how it gets my little bat heart beating to have all of you here again. Just hearing your voices makes me remember the good old days when I’d keep track of all the embarrassing things you’d do each week at camp and write about them for Log.

Not surprisingly, you scalliwags have not dulled with age. You’re still up to some mighty interesting things. In fact, I think it’s worthwhile to note some of the highlights from the first Chippewa Trail Camp Reunion, in the fall of 2004.

What a weekend! The laughter. The songs. The tears. The…wine bottles!

The reunion kicked off Friday night with Shorty’s arrival to a rousing chorus of We Welcome You to Chip-Way Trail. Dinner was followed by a Log program, complete with a bugler – who for some unknown reason had to play Taps in the middle of Log. However, you Chip-way girls didn’t let the unusual scheduling interfere with your fun. You simply opened more wine bottles.

The next day, I flew around the property as clusters of reunionites wandered the camp and reminisced about days gone by. From the barn and horse rings to the old golf course to the tennis courts and down past the chapel, to the Council Ring and the waterfront. You snapped pictures, shared stories, and realized that many of you couldn’t remember if the archery range had two or three targets.

You toasted the lake, you toasted your friends, you toasted your youth, you toasted…oh, heck, some of you got pretty toasted! In fact, several of you bellowed forth an old song I hadn’t thought of in years – the one with the lines – ‘And If Shorty should appear, we’ll say Shorty have a beer, in the cellars of old Chipway Trail.’

But the most amazing sight was to watch as you pulled out the old Indian Council drum and tried to reenact those famous dances. You tried ‘em all – the 12-step, the grapevine, the stomp hop and the toe-heel. Once again, you laughed, you cried, you tried not to break a hip, and you couldn’t remember whether the jump-out-from-the-audience-and-scream-like-a-banshee was from the start the War dance or Victory dance.

So, in order to jumpstart those slightly fading memory cells, most of you trooped over to the Alden Museum where you clawed through old camp photographs like you were at a 50 percent off sale at Nordstroms. I don’t think the musuem curators knew what hit them! But, as all good Chip-Way girls, you left the museum in tip-top shape and returned back to the camp just in time for cocktails.

In true Chippewa fashion, the dark and windy skies of the day parted, the sky turned blue and everyone was treated to a beautiful sunset over Elk Lake. After dinner, you sang the old songs and played a camp trivia game that was as cut-throat and competitive as any battle between the Orange and Green I’ve ever seen. But a candlelight campfire and singing ‘This Little Corner of the World’ brought a perfect end to a perfect day at the most perfect camp on earth.

The next morning, around a final campfire, Shorty had the crowd in stitches with her usual combination of philosopher and vaudevillian – telling tales of keeping all you campers in line over the years, with just a few ‘corrections.’ The tears flowed, the laughter peeled, the songs lifted into the crisp fall air as the first Chippewa Trail Camp reunion came to a close.

And as I sat in my bell tower and watched you drive out of the gates, I promised myself that I would do a better job of keeping in touch with all of you. I want to remain a beacon for Chippewa Trail and do my part to keep our spirit alive. I stood atop the bell tower, looked out at the lake and like Scarlett O’Hara shaking her fist into the sky, I vowed that I, Billy the Brown Bat… would start a BLOG!

So, with just a few taps on my bat lap top, the BillytheBrownBat.com site was up and running! I am totally and completely serious…Check out BillytheBrownBat.com when you get home and surf on over regularly because I’ll have lots of updates.

Now that Deb Jordan and her family are in residence in our Lodge, I hope to see many of you and your friends take her up on her offer to come back for some mini-camp reunions.

But, I feel that it’s only fair to warn you that the old rules still apply. If you do something embarrassing here at camp, I’ll know about it. And so will Google.

Your friend,

Billy the Brown Bat

2004 Chippewa Trail Camp Reunion

Billy the Brown Bat — Sat, 09 Oct 2004 04:30:00 GMT

Dear Campers,

Greetings from the Bell Tower! Yes, it’s me, Billy the Brown Bat. I’m still in residence and keeping a watchful eye on the goings on at Chippewa Trail Camp for Girls, the Finest Camp in Michigan.

I must say it’s been a tad quiet since the last campers drove out of the gates in 1984. While I can certainly understand Shorty and Susan’s desire to enjoy a life apart from camp, I still miss you campers and your wacky exploits. It seems like just yesterday I would cull through a week of embarrassing moments and put them all down in a letter to be read each Friday night at Log.

I’m sure I put many of you on the spot over the years – telling tales of the short-sheeted beds, the inside-out bathing suits, the sprint to the outhouse in nothing but your skivvies. The bug-juice squirting out your nose, the candy bars you weren’t supposed to have, the spit-pit wars that turned ugly, the bellyflops you didn’t think I saw, the kitchen raids you didn’t think I knew about.

Which isn’t to say that it’s been entirely dull around here. The shores of Elk Lake have been touched by corporate scandal. It seems the man who bought the property from Shorty was the president of Exide Battery. Charming fellow. He LOVED camp and vowed to keep the spirit of CTC in tact. Unfortunately, this former Boy Scout concocted an ill-conceived plan to sell defective car batteries to a little retail outfit called Sears. Alas, he had to pack his trunk and send his duffle bag along … to a minimum-security prison.

The current property owners seem like a swell bunch. They kept Shorty and Susan’s old house, my bell tower condo is in great shape, the tennis courts are in working order, and as you can see, the Lodge has been turned into a lovely home. It just seems fitting that people can still ‘face the lake’ from the deck of our beloved lodge.

But there have been some changes on the property. How many of you remember the old red barn behind the tennis backboard? How many of you remember when it was built? How many of you think construction standards in the 1970s were kinda crummy? You see, the old red barn fell over, collapsed in a heap in a strong wind. As they say in the building biz…oops.

Elsewhere, without little girls making piles and piles of pancakes, Dutch Oven has turned into piles and piles of rubble. And did you guys see that big boulder in the middle of what used to be Senior Circle? Did we have an ice age and I missed it?

Wakiconza is still back in the creepy part of the woods and still looks like something out of the Blair Witch Project. The campfire pit at the end of the path is long gone and it appears that the chapel and dance stage have been reclaimed by the forest.

I know a few former Directors of Waterfront –and you know who you are - must be mighty jealous of the huge house that now sits where your little shack used to be. No doubt Shorty WOULD have built you a similar abode, but my understanding is that she wanted a director of waterfront who actually came out TO the waterfront instead of staying inside watching satellite tv.

Unfortunately, my friends, the Indian Council ring is no more. But a few teepee sticks and a totem pole remain on the original site. Hopefully, you’ll break out the old drum this weekend and shake your groove thing with a toe-heel and a stomp-hop. And all you 12-steppers, remember this: forward back back forward forward back forward back forward forward back together.

Over the years I’ve watched as many of you have come back to visit camp. You’ve laughed. You’ve cried. You’ve bored your friends and family to tears with stories that begin: “And here’s where I learned to tie a lanyard!” God love ‘ya, but you never notice as your family’s eyes glaze over, as they quietly wait for you in the car, as they beg you not to break into another round of ‘We are the girls of Chipway Chorus.’

Well campers, this is the weekend you’ve been waiting for! Here, surrounded by your fellow CTC alums, you can indulge in all the ‘remember when’ stories you want. Sing those songs! Dance those dances! Tie those lanyards and wash that trainwreck down with as much bug-juice as you can stand!

And speaking of signing, I have it on good authority that Shorty has been practicing just for this weekend. As some of you know, she recently had to spend some time in a rehab center where she showed those doctors a thing or two about a picture-perfect recovery. They soon discovered that beautiful singing voice that we all know and love and put her to work each morning singing for the patients and staff. She’s all warmed up, so don’t let her down!

Chippewa Trail Camp is alive again. Thanks for coming back and I hope you have a great time. And remember, if you end up doing something embarrassing this weekend…I’ll know about it. And I have Internet access!

Your friend,

Billy the Brown Bat