Being a CampmasterCampmaster Mike gives us his thoughts about joining the Campmaster Program
What if someone offered you a free weekend cabin in the woods with all the comforts of home – a flush toilet and shower, a kitchen, soft beds to sleep on and gas heat. Right outside your door is 800 acres of beautiful Northern New Jersey woods to hike and explore. All you have to do is check folks in and out of camp and run a small general store. Good deal, no ? I sure think it is. I’ve been taking advantage of this offer for over 12 years as a Camp Glen Gray Campmaster. My wife (also a campmaster) and son join me for a very relaxing stay at camp. My son can generally be found running the store.
As campmasters you are the camp’s hosts for the weekend, freeing up Ranger Drew Baumgardt to do work around camp. Sometimes we get to help out whatever weekend camp improvement project is currently under way.
You become the “face” of the camp to all its weekend residents. “Where is the West Well,” someone asked me. Rather than tell them, I took a hike with them up the road to the well. On the way back, I stopped by to see what a group had set up as a campsite at the North Brook tent site. From there it was an easy hike up the hill to visit a Scout troop in Gilwell campsite.
One weekend, the entire camp was rented by a role playing group. People dressed as science fiction characters roamed around having a heck of a good time. Green skin was seen on more than the camp’s frogs that weekend.
I have spent many an enjoyable weekend at camp, and being a campmaster is my way of paying back. If you like the outdoors and like helping people why not call camp to find out how to become a campmaster. If I can help folks enjoy camp the way I do, I will have done a good thing. Driving up the road to camp, I can almost feel my blood pressure drop as the cares of the world fall away. Everyone should spend at least several weekends a year in this beautiful place. Virtually unchanged (other than a lake appearing and some roads and trails) since it first became a camp in 1917, Camp Glen Gray is the answer to the stresses of everyday life. Come relax with me in the hills of Mahwah.
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Last updated: October 28, 2007