4th Annual Alumni Lunchapalooza

photos & a guest post from
alumna Betty Valerius O'Regan

The weather was perfect and the bugs did not come to lunch, but the 2013 CA staff did. Carrying green dinner plates and forks,  groups of both new and experienced staffers walked to each of the seven the Pioneer Units. At each stop, two alumni demonstrated the preparation of a different dish, cooked over the campfire and shared their camp stories.

I was excited when I was invited to grab a plate and proceeded to P-1 where Mitty Downing-Webster, Anne Kelsey and Meg Waters were making OCTODOGS!  (or fancy-cut hot dogs) that when held over the fire on a stick, formed 8 curled legs. Some resembled crabs and others spiders, depending on how the roasted stick was inserted... a good problem solving experience for campers. The CINNAMON BAKED APPLES were a big hit too.

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On the way to P-6  I enjoyed chatting with two veterans...one three year and one four, who like all of the staffers I met were friendly, interested, polite and enthusiastic. Just the kind of mentors that I would like my grandchildren to have when they come to Arrowhead in a few years.

At P-2, the group was enjoying one of my favorite desserts, BROWNIE BATTER BANANA BOATS prepared by Meg Sebastianelli and Mary Fran Torpey.  Meg talked about the function, goals, and opportunities of the Alumni Association saying that "it is coming back with a purpose."  It's a great way to stay connected to camp and friends and at the same time, giving back.

One thing that I noticed that was different from when I was at camp (1969-1973) was more awareness of offering vegetarian options, being able to accomodate different tastes, and attention to food allergies (why are food sensitivities so prevalent these days I wonder again?)

One of my vivid memories as an 8 year old camper was uncooked Spam sandwiches. Crispy, fried Spam is one thing, but a cold, gelatinous chunk is another. Do they still make Spam?

An important tip to remember- Make sure your can openers work :)

Doreen Raub (Walt's sister) and Carolyn Lipscomb, joined by old friend (never old in that way though), Nanese Hawthorne, served PIZZA RICE. (recipe to follow) This dish offers great flexibility since most ingredients are added to the basic rice and sauce mixture, kind of like building a pizza. An experienced cook in the crowd questioned, "What spice is in here...oregano?" and Ryan was correct. Everyone enjoyed hearing how Nanese's son, Andy, married childhood camp friend and Doreen's daughter, Michelle. Back in the day, Andy and Melissa Raub were in charge of laundry and even delivered it!

This time, my chat-in-passing led me to an introduction of the son of my old friend and CA legend, Danny Mason. His son,Wyatt, told me that his Dad said that the best Father's Day present was the one he gave him this year. Wyatt will be Service Crew Chief, just like his Dad who served under another legend, Terry Carmine. Danny attended the CA Reunion last year wearing an identical hat to the one I remember and telling me he still had the jeans of many patches,one of which I sewed on maybe 43 years ago. Those jeans are close to antique!

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Brothers, Guido and Sean Martelli, were making breakfast in P-3, FRENCH TOAST EGG IN A HOLE, which is a family favorite for us, impressive, but easy and fun to make and eat. Bethany Bennett said, "It's like stepping up to a new level." The boys also introduced the stick game, where you think of as many uses for a stick as possible. You could substitute all kinds of things, a clam shell, pine cone, bandana, etc.

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Another sibling group, this time brother and sister, Billy and Cathy Hartman cooked up TACO PITA POCKETS in P-4. No need to worry about crushing taco shells while carrying the supplies to the campsite. Billy and Cathy remembered working with my step-son, Kevin O'Regan, so we caught up on what they all were doing. These two alums both met their mates at camp. Billy's wife was here from Scotland with the popular, Camp America Program. What a great way to experience the United States.

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While visiting P-5 I had a nice chat with Ben Bennett (lots of Bennetts at camp this year!) Ben, who is from New Zealand, is in the US for a few months traveling. The new craft shop location is great, so much bigger, with the usual exciting stuff going on. Megan Battles Bennett (also married a Camp America staffer) is Ben's aunt and worked in the craft shop, as did I.The new craft shop location is great, so much bigger, with the usual exciting stuff going on and more. I remember that spot as Terry Carmine's shop. It was brimming with all sorts of stuff...Terry was known for saving and having everything, for many years making do with very little. He and his wife, Betty, were the heart of soul of Camp Arrowhead for 45 years and positively affected the lives of literally hundreds (probably thousands) of young people. If you know them, you are lucky.

Now back to the food, John Fairchild and Emily Witsil, experimented with PANCONS, a complicated endeavor involving pancakes, bacon, and apple rings. They simplified the process as the groups came and went. These two alumni describe themselves as "child-like on the inside" ... a great quality for anyone working, playing or living with kids. Parting words- "Stay safe and check for ticks." I did, and found a deer tick, which is better than the 72 ticks (I counted) that I pulled off my dog when I got home after his Take Your Dog To Work Day. My husband Denis designs and produces fireworks shows and his containers are in the middle of a tick infested field in Vineland, NJ. This would not be a good location for a camp.

The squeamish may not want to hear about food after that, but SHISH KABOBS were on the menu in P-7. Dustin Damiano and Trevor Metz had all of the ingredients, including a tasty basting sauce, organized for assembly. Tofu, marinated in the sauce, would be a good protein substitute. This was the last stop and part of the instruction included how to clean a griddle, starting with a good rub down with sand. Wouldn't their parents be surprised if they tried this technique at home?

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With this... my day was done. After some warm good-byes, I left with a full heart and drove down the sandy exit road in my convertible. A gull cried farewell overhead and I remembered seeing deer beside the road several times in the past. I considered taking artistic license in this blog,, saying that I saw one then, when just seconds later,  I noticed a young buck with developing fuzzy antlers staring at me. I think he was helping to prevent me from tarnishing my blogging experience with a lie. REALLY this is the truth...with my hand on a Bible!

Here is another truth...any CA staffer has the privilege of working with others of such a high caliber that they will be worthy life-long friends (or even in several cases, spouses, which should also be friends BTW.) Here are two of my stories.

Tonight, just days after Lunchapalooza, I will be joining my good friend, Steve Johns  (CA 1969) and his wife Marybeth (also a staffer) for one of our dinner groups. The other dinner group includes Walt and Nancy (Walt and Steve were LTG's together), current employees Dina and Rick Hollingsworth, and Scott Forrest who I met while acting as a volunteer unit leader and on the alumni board. Getting together regularly with these folks is a highlight of my life and they really know how to have a good time.

Later this summer I will be having a mini-reunion at Family Camp with Brenda Brown Eyes (named in a song by musician and Rec Hall Manager, Scott Birney, from his hammock) Everyone loved Brenda (Ellen Cooper) with her red hair and gentle nature, but she was a "lost soul"...that is a former staffer with whom we have lost touch and have no contact information...don't ever become one. I tried asking friends, searching the internet, locating parents and finally she appeared on Facebook . We  have been happily reconnecting with each other again. I can't wait to hug her and give her a great, big Arrowhead smile in August.


Maybe, if you like this blog, I will write another one about our visit together. We will surely have lots of stories to share and feelings to express, and maybe even some adventures to report.

Betty Valerius O'Regan
Camp Arrowhead Alumni Association-past president
1969-73, LTG, Craft Shop

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Regular/Vegetarian PIZZA RICE (12 servings)
Ingredients
2 green bell peppers, diced
2 medium OR 1 large onion, diced
2 T vegetable oil
4 cups uncooked instant rice
6 cups pizza sauce
5 cups water
14 oz. can mushrooms, drain liquid
12 oz. can diced tomatoes, with liquid
2 T Italian seasoning
1 cup parmesan cheese
2 cups shredded mozzarella
8 oz. pepperoni slices (optional)
1 lb ground beef or turkey (optional)

Directions

1. Optional: Brown ground meat. Set aside
   
2. Saute green peppers and onion in a little veg. oil
   
3. Combine rice, pizza sauce, water, mushrooms, and tomatoes with the vegies. Stir
4. Cook, covered, until rice is done

Options 

• Serve Pizza Rice topped with cheeses (with or without meat.) If using meat, stir in before adding cheese....or
• Serve vegetarians before adding meat. Then add meat and serve non-vegetarians. Put the cheese on top...or
  
• If using pepperoni put it into the pizza rice before serving, to heat the pepperoni. Then add cheeses and serve.