At this moment, somewhere in upstate New York and Maine and Pennsylvania, kids are deeply invested in a battle of skills and wills, in one of the rituals of childhood summers.
How will it break? What color will they be? Will they be pitted against a best friend or a brother or sister? Will they be chosen a camper captain? Will they buckle under pressure or will they rise to the occasion?
If you have no idea what I mean, click here to read today’s New York Times, describing the experience and origins of Color War. This tradition— almost a hundred years old—is often the climax of summer camp. For many kids, it’s not only the high point of the summer, it’s the high point of the year.
Reading this article brought memories flooding back. What I remember most about Color War: lining up to march with our team to meals and activities while singing fight songs. Hours of rehearsal to memorize several songs written by counselors that we’d perform on the last night at the Camp Sing. The Apache Relay, passing a baton after racing or doing a stunt like you’d see on Minute to Win it-–involving the participation of every camper in the whole camp. I also remember it seemed as if the Green Team always won.
Those four days of Color War every summer are embedded so deeply in my brain that to this day, I remember Color War songs I learned at age 8 — that I sang ONCE—better than I remember most of my college courses.
I went to camp every summer for 8 weeks—from age 8 through age 18—including two years as a counselor. I waited 10 months every year for the chance to sleep on a sagging mattress and swim twice a day in a freezing cold lake and sweep the floor and clean the bathrooms…and love every minute.
It’s where experiences and attachments can help form a future. Where kids both grow and get to be kids—learning about sports and sharing and life and love. Where romances often bloom—including my own parents, who met at the same camp I attended in upstate New York. I didn’t meet a mate at camp—but I was lucky to make friends—and bonds—and memories—-that have lasted a lifetime. If you went to camp, maybe you did, too.
E. Sheppard says
I used to LOVE camp! We had day camp and “Established Camp” as youngsters. I went to Girl Scout camp in Wisconsin. It was SO fun. I don’t think food ever tasted so good as it did there.
We walked everywhere, and liked it. We did crafts… swimming… canoeing – – campfires – – and made friends too. But we didn’t have Color War – – that sounded so fun too. And 8 weeks – wow. I had 2 weeks, and always wanted more.
I think every kid should have the chance go to camp at least once to see what it is like. Great posting!
Rick in Miami says
50 years after the fact, I can still sing the first few bars of one of my color war fight songs. To this day I’m thankful I had the camp experience.
Darryle Pollack says
I agree every kid should get to experience camp–and they seem to either LOVE it or HATE it. The 8-week long summer seems to be an east coast thing–when I mention it to people in California they think sending your kid away for 8 weeks is borderline child abuse. I wonder if those kids who spend more time at camp have an easier time adjusting to college.
Darryle Pollack says
I still hear from camp people sometimes–know lots of camps do reunions etc.. I think it’s great since those bonds really stick with you. But I wonder why the songs stick in your head for the rest of your life.
Ira Nadborne says
Dear Darryle,
I am compelled to write to you because it seems we have lived parallel lives at summer camp. Your article on color war hits a home run with me. I am a vetran of Camps Diana Dalmaqua in Glen Spey New York. I was a camper and then a counselor spanning the glory years of 1950-1969. Not only that but I have had a relative (sometimes many in attendance) from the first year of its existance 1920 until I left.
I was a color war camper camptain for many of those seasons and later a Counselor Color War General for 3 consecutive years. Our wonderful and friendly battles lasted anywhere from a week to 9 days. Our color wars helped galvanize and energize every camper counselor and staff member. Some of the Color War Breaks were quite spectacular:
Skydivers streaming Red and White Smoke
Airplanes Dropping Leaflets
An Acted out drowning that was so real that it shocked the camp.
I can go on and on. I wrote some of the most incredible color war songs and like you I remember all of them from my first year to my last year.
My Teams Red Dragons built a 40 foot dragon that moved its wings and blew smoke and fake fire
The Greek Gods, another team I lead build a scale model of the Partheon that seated its 250 plus members Above its flew the flying horse pegasis with wings that moved
You name the theme and we could develop it into a Hollywood set!
There are fond memories of our team singing Spirit In The Woods as we entered the dinning hall each repetition getting louder and louder until the earth shook.
Apache Relays, Gold Rush, Rope Burn, Water Boiling, Bucket Brigade all were included puntuated by swim meets boat meets, track meets, field meets, gymnastics meet, every athletic and cultural pursuit imaginable all for points.
The Color War Plaques and Cheverons along with other projects will long hang in the mueseum of my mind.
But there is one big part of the story that brings me sadness
Our Dear Camp Diana Dalmaqua is no longer in existance. It was sold to a charitable organization that provides camping to terminally ill children. Oh how I wish I could win the lottery and off the organization all the money to help these kids and at the same time buy back the camp of my youth, once again reestablish the grand traditions of those glory days.
Until then I sing our Camp’s Alma Mater, A tune I persoanlly wrote as a camp captain at age 11.
Please email me so we can talk camp or call me if you wish (520) 881-0847. A former New Yorker residing in Tucson Arizona
Best Always,
Ira Nadborne
Julian Kaplan says
Ira,
I hope you remember me. Between 1961 and 1976, I was a camper, waiter, counselor, group leader, and color war general. My brother, Arnold Kaplan, went from 1960-68, and his nickname was “Beetle Baum” or “Beetles” for short, a nickname given to him by his counselor in his very first summer, Nate Malkinson. My brother became the camp bugler in his last summer (and as a result, lost some friends early in the mornings). If I’m not mistaken, you had a brother with the same first name, Arnold, and he was a terrific athlete — one of the best in camp.
I remember you well. You are a few years older than I am, and you were a counselor around the time I was a Collegiate and Waiter. Strangely, my most vivid memory of you is the summer I worked closely with you as your #1 assistant on the Camp Yearbook one summer in the early 70’s.
There are too many (hundreds of) memories to put into this comment, but I came across your blog while “Googling” Camp Diana Dalmaqua. Reading it brought tears to my eyes, and I just had to respond. I know your blog was almost 2 years ago, but I hope you’ll see this response and I would very much like to connect with you and perhaps trade some stories, as I am sure we both have many to exchange.
You should have my e-mail address from this message, but just in case, it is jkaplan40@gmail.com. My cell phone number is (516) 456-8968. I look forward to hearing from you.
All the Best,
Julian Kaplan