I’ve created this separate page for you to leave memories and comments on. Just use the comment feature below. I’ve moved over a couple of comments already posted as I didn’t want them to get lost. So, let me know what you think! Thanks for visiting!
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Heffalump (Rachel) | racastor_at_yahoo.com | Aug 29, 2006
What is the tie that binds us
Friends of the long, long trail?
Just this: we have shared the weather,
We have slumbered side by side,
And friends who have camped together
Shall never again divide.
I didn’t leave Oregon until Kilowan closed, and I have worked many camps since them, some of which capture the same spirit as Kilowan did. But part of my heart is there, in the roaring sounds of teal creek from Alderea #5, in the cold clear water below 60′ falls, in the fairy boats reflecting on the still water of the lake, in the songs sung late around the glowing embers. I’ll never stop missing those memories, and searching for them everywhere I go.
Kilowan Love,
Heffalump/Rachel Castor
@ Kilowan from 1985 – 1999
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Peggy Lindburg | pklindburg_at_aol.com | Aug 11, 2006
What a wonderful surprise to find this little slice of Kilowan! Going to camp as a girl was the best part of my childhood, my happiest memories. Kilowan was a lifeline for me for 10 years as a camper. I still very often think about it and miss it. Songs I learned at Kilowan were the lullabies I sang to my children for years. They know Walk Shepherdess Walk, Wee Baby Moon, Barges, Kilowan, Seven Golden Daffodils, and any others. I even wrote them all in a book for my daughter. I have thought many times of trying to see if I could find Kilowan again; my friend and I who were counselors together would love to go back. But I’m afraid it would be so changed that it would break my heart. My last year up there was 1977.
I have so many wonderful memories of times at Kilowan. Fairy boats on the lake after Friday night council fire. The serenity and beauty of the chapel. Creek hiking. Going on the ridge hike and shouting “hey lop lop!” to the camp far away. Toast parties, shepherd’s pie, bibble and squib, smores, and darn goods. Sleepouts in the meadow under a blanket of stars. Earning my IOAPF and IOAFS awards, then making the little metal badges in the craft house to put on my tie. Singing around a campfire. The Indian legends at council fire. Skinny dipping in the lake.
Does anyone else out there have any of these same memories?
Thanks for the trip down memory lane.
52 Comments
October 4, 2006 at 7:56 pm
I came across this website by accident and was so excited. Although I was only a counsler at Kilowan for one summer(1993) I loved the whole summer and the camp. I still have wonderful memories of that year and my kids have a great time looking through my photo album and laughing at how silly mom was. Thanks for starting this website and a glimpse back to a great place.
February 20, 2007 at 4:26 am
HELLO, KILOWAN LOVE EVERYBODY. TINY HERE. ALL MY FRIENDS I HAVE MISSED SO MUCH SORRY I HAVEN’T BEEN IN CONTACT FOR A WHILE. I HAVE SO MANY FANTASTIC MEMORIES OF MY TIME AT CAMP AND TO THIS DAY MISS IT AND EVERYONE THERE SO MUCH. I HOPE I CAN GET IN CONTACT WITH YOU ALL. MY EMAIL IS gwaterhouse7@aol.com PLEASE FEEL FREE TO DROP ME A LINE xx
February 27, 2007 at 4:08 pm
Wow, I never thought I would ever stumble across a wonderful place like this. Some of my very best summer memories were shared at Kilowan, and I remember that while at camp, being very adamant about keeping as many of the old traditions as we could. I miss everyone from Kilowan so much, and think very fondly of the friends I made while I was there, and am always a little melancholy when I dig up the old Memory Books. I was a camper from 1982 to 1987, and a Totem/CIT/Counselor through 1995. I regret that I couldn’t come back to at least get my 15 year, but I definitely don’t regret everything that I learned, saw, and experienced being at Kilowan. I miss it a lot, especially in the summertime.
I earnestly hope to be able to return someday, but often wonder what I would see now…considering it’s been over 15 years. Larken, thank you so much for sharing this page with us, and all the wonderful memories that it’s sparked in me.
With much love and sprizzies,
Mim
March 10, 2007 at 9:31 pm
I was randomly thinking about Kilowan, and all of my childhood memories there, so I did a search in hopes of some pictures, and came across this. Kilowan made a big part of who I am today, and my memories there can be compared to nothing else in my life. The song “Moon on the Meadow” has the lyric about people in cities not understanding falling in love with the land, but I got to experience that there, and am ever greatful.
October 23, 2009 at 4:24 am
Hi Chris,
Maria told me about this website and told me to get in now. And I’m glad I did. And I got so many surprizes that I’m glad my ticker is still strong nuf to handle it all. How ye been, maaannnn?
HAWKEYE
April 2, 2007 at 10:22 am
Great website! When’s the next reunion?! Kilowan holds a very special place in my heart…From Dreamboats to campfires to “Disco Mafia” to the sound of Teal Creek as I drifted off to sleep. I was on the kitchen staff the summer of ‘78 and ‘79 as well as helped out with winter camps in ‘79 & ‘80.Any other folks from the late 70s out there?
I’d love to be involved in another Reunion. Contact me at scurlb@yahoo.com. Thanks for keeping the memories alive!!
October 3, 2009 at 9:29 pm
I remember you Buzz! I remember Disco Mafia too!! I am going to have to hunt up those photos! My camp name was Bongo.
April 15, 2007 at 10:23 am
Hi Everyone,
I started a myspace group for camp because I thought it would be a great way for alumni to reconnect. Here’s the site: http://groups.myspace.com/kilowan. I haven’t posted pictures or anything yet, but I will do that soon. So if you’re on myspace, you can become a member.
Kilowan Love,
Maniak
April 16, 2007 at 4:43 am
What a pleasure to serve this great, great camp. Infact it ‘was almost too good’. 10 years have almost passed but yet I can still class the magical summer of 97 as a worthy pinnacle in my life. I salute you my great American cousins!!
Simon Dennis aka Pudding
April 20, 2007 at 1:30 pm
Aloha, as many of you have shared Kilowan was a huge influence in my life. Spending weeks and monthes in the woods yeah!! I had terrible homesickness my first year ( very contagious) my counselor handled it gracefully, letting me beleive I could call home at any time. Did the phones in bluebird lodge actually connect anywhere? The next year my Mom made me go again grudgingly I went and the rest is history I attended for 14yrs ending as counselor making awesome friends , great experiences, hiking to other camps, canoeing 125 miles on the Willamette ( further than the Boy Scouts haha) Sadly I moved farther away and lost touch. I miss it dearly and did not realize it is closed?? My first year must have been 1972 and we had many bus loads from all over the valley. 3 or 4 from Corvallis every week!
Anywho I will post a song or two. Any Totems or Cpa’s from the early 80’s out there???
Kilowan Love
July 8, 2007 at 7:56 pm
Hello,
I was a camper at Kilowan back in 1970-1972…
I have wonderful memories of Camp Kilowan and now that I am a nurse, living in Boston, I often find myself going back in my mind to that relaxing carefree time.
I am so happy to see it still is there! I hope Bluebird lodge is still there and my little cabin where I first stayed as an 8 year old!
I’m just so relieved to see that it is still functioning, alive and well! Thank you! Love, Ellen
August 1, 2007 at 9:00 am
hi all hope every one is doing great…I miss you all and most of all I miss the times of camp. I have gone up to camp a few times and have hiked out to Beaver Pond and have sat thinking about life and all the good times had by all. Stay in touch and I hope to hear from you soon. My email is mj_gladden@yahoo.com
August 1, 2007 at 10:44 am
Does anyone remember the song that we sang when we set our Dreamboats or Fairyboat out into the lake?
August 14, 2007 at 4:11 pm
I was a camper the summers of 1959 through 1966. I was on staff the summers of 1967 (kitchen aide), 1968 (office assistant), 1973 and 1974 (office manager).
Some of you may have just gotten Cathy Bourson’s postcard about the possible sale of Kilowan to the LDS church later this summer, which means the September 2007 reunion is iffy. Please contact Cathy right away if you had thought about going to the reunion, so she can keep you updated. Her email is abour1@juno.com.
August 14, 2007 at 7:23 pm
Lynne (Koehler) Keller
August 14th, 2007 at 7:21 pm
I only attended Camp Kilowan for 1 summer camp as a Blue Bird but that summer has stayed with me for these many years. I just celebrated my 60th birthday and I moved away from Oregon during my 4th grade year in Corvallis – but I will always remember Kilowan. My cabin mates and I discovered a place inhabited by fairies and visited regularly by pixies and gnomes. We made up wonderful stories in that magical place. I remember the frog eggs in the swimming area. And I remember hiking through a grassy area with my counselor and discovering the nest of a meadow lark with baby birds while their mother tried to lure us away by pretending she had an injured wing. Oregon is my heart – I have lived all over the United States but I yearn to return to Oregon and all that she is to me. My husband and I moved our family there and we lived in the Portland area for 14 years until we were tranferred to Austin, TX, then Dallas and now we are in Northwest Arkansas. But our heart will always belong to Oregon – to her mountains, to the coast, to the forests and to the majesty that is Oregon.
August 30, 2007 at 5:05 pm
Wow, Larken, this is too cool! Great job on the website! I have some pics I’d like to send you, too. The ones you took were awesome.
I’m glad there is a space out there where the spirit of Kilowan is being kept alive. I worked at camp for 3 summers and have brought my Camp Fire club there as often as possible for weekend camping trips for the last 8 years and let me tell you, there is no place the lot of us would rather be! I hope to see you in September.
Marie
September 4, 2007 at 4:39 am
I met my husband Joe on internet and he moved down here in 2000 to New Zealand
The first night he arrived he sung to me the song In The Land of Odin
tonight I googled it and came up with your site
wonderful site thanks
would love to hear the original version if any one has it thanks
November 15, 2007 at 10:16 am
Here’s another song I remember fondly:
The flicker of a campfire, the wind in the pines
The moon in the heavens, the stars that shine
A place where people gather to make friends of all kinds
A place where all our troubles are always left behind
Oh give me the light of a campfire, warm and bright
And give me some friends to sing with; I’ll be here all night
Love is for those who find it; I found mine right here
Just you and me and the campfire and songs we love to hear
So let the campfire flicker long into the night,
And let the dreams we cherish remain in sight.
Love is for those who find it, I’ve found mine right here.
Just you and me and the campfire and songs we like to hear.
November 15, 2007 at 10:21 am
I also remember Linger…
Hmmm, I want to linger
Hmmm, a little longer
Hmmm, a little longer here with you
Hmmm, it’s such a perfect night
Hmmm, it doesn’t seem quite right
Hmmm, that this should be my last with you
Hmmm, and come September
Hmmm, I will remember
Hmmm, our campfires bright and friendships true
Hmmm, and as the years go by
Hmmm, I’ll think of you and sigh
Hmmm, this is good-night and not good-bye
December 24, 2007 at 9:22 pm
I wash looking up old camp song . It was on my mind. Well see ya’ll later.
January 4, 2008 at 11:28 pm
Hello to all,
This is an amazing site. I hope the creators will keep it going. I went to Kilowan or (I should say had the essential-life-experience that is Camp Kilowan) for from Second grade until I was a Sophomore. I started in the summer of 92 and my counselors were Cowboy(name?) , Oigo (Susie ?), Outhouse(Susie ?), and Shadow who in later years changed her name….? AAAGH my memory fails me know. I think she became the nurse one summer.
All the same, it’s just good to know that all these things you hold dear are shard by others somewhere out there. It was a the beginning of something for me that I will never forget. All the places, The Songs ( NOTE IT WOULD BE GREAT IF SOMEONE COULD POST THE LYRICS IN THERE ENTIRETY TO FRIDAY MORN’) and most of all the People. If the Counselors Larken or Spaz happen to read this I would love an email to know if you are still out there in the wide wide world. De_Head@yahoo.com Hope this site stays to keep memories alive.
Joel in Portland ( I never got a camp name, it closed the year before I got to become a CIT)
January 18, 2008 at 7:19 pm
I went to Kilowan in…87-90? 88-91? My mom was the nurse (I think her camp name was Darts). I think often of the camp. I’d heard it closed, which makes me sad. I had some good times there before we moved away. Friday night fairy boats always made me cry–especially since I stayed all summer but had to say goodbye to new friends every week. I remember thinking the skits the counselors did were hilarious–out in some kind of covered pavilion?
Glad to have found you all!
February 4, 2008 at 10:59 pm
Hey All,
I stop by this site every once and awhile and it is great to see all the familiar names. Having been there for 15 years, I swear I am not bragging, starting in 1980 to 1999 (missing some years in between) there are a lot of names to remember fondly. You can tell I have a hard time letting go of things and Kilowan is one of the most magical, fabulous, and wonderous places I will ever have the privledge of being a part of and I know many feel the same. One of my fellow camp-ites sent me this site you should check out. It is a great video put together featuring the camp. You might want to have a tissue handy. Such good memories.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTeSFlGamxQ
All the best!
February 17, 2008 at 12:44 am
I just stumbled on this website looking for summer camps for my sister…..I saw Finnigan’s post!! I attended Kilowan for many summers. I think my last summer was 1984. That was my 12th summer. So many of the songs and experiences are a wonderful part of my tapestry. I remember you, Finnigan! We were Totems and CPAs together–I was on that mega hike to the Girl Scout camp. What a time…and the 125 canoe trip up the Willamette.
Love, Fritz (Gretchen)
February 20, 2008 at 3:42 am
What a great blog. I’ve been looking for some of these lyrics, which I can’t find anywhere else. I attended Camp Kilowan for five years, from 1988-1992 (through 8th grade). Those memories are definitely some of my fondest ones from childhood
March 4, 2008 at 8:10 pm
Wow…what an excellent website! Long long ago in the land of Kilowan, I was known to some as Ozark Mountain Bagg. For any who are interested, I have some photos, recipes, songs, memory pages on the ditto sheets etc. I have missed this magical place.
Thanks for presenting us with this website!
March 23, 2008 at 11:38 am
I was reorganizing old photos and came across pictures that I took at Camp Kilowan summer of 1993. I thought that I would share them and put them on a slideshow on http://www.myspace.com/stacilmt. If you see a photo you want email me at StaciLMT@yahoo.com and I’ll send you the pic. Also if for some reason you don’t want one in the slideshow please let me know and I can take it off. It was a fun summer and great to see these pics again.
April 14, 2008 at 1:50 am
I was on that canoe trip! There was a guy in an orange or red kayak that went with us, we got stuck in an eddy, camped with a bunch of cows…wow, I haven’t thought of that in years. I was supposed to be in the teepees that year but I was the only one so I stayed with the older girls (one year) in Addies. I remember twins – Beth and Gretchen I think? That was a great summer!!
April 25, 2008 at 3:03 pm
I have been cheking into this site every so often. I am glad Kilowan has touch so many lives. I know I have great memories. Alumni from 89-99.
April 30, 2008 at 8:48 am
I went to camp every year starting from when i was in the first grade until like the 6th grade. That was always the highlight of my summer. I was looking though some of the comments and recognized a few of my old leaders such as Sundance and Heffalump I grew and learned so much at this camp because of the people and the experiences. I still to this day almost 6 years later miss coming home totally horse because of how much singing we did. Thank you to all of the leaders and the Camp.
Deanna Dickerson (Butterfly) freckles91@gmail.com
May 8, 2008 at 5:56 pm
Melissa “Daisy” Gee contacted the Camp Fire Office this week and was officially told that Kilowan has been sold to “a church group”. Earlier, the LDS church was looking at buying, but the office didn’t specify and Melissa didn’t ask.
Has anyone else heard about the sale?
I hope that the church takes better care of camp than Camp Fire did. If it was the LDS church that purchased it, it was my impression that they were open to letting alumni rent it from them. I know Mable Taylor would be very disappointed about Camp Fire losing camp, but, as I said before, hopefully it will get cared for now and kids will be back this summer to enjoy the land as we did.
What will go with the sale are our traditions and legends. This is extremely sad. Thanks to Cari for this site and to all you for being here and participating in sharing memories, songs, legends and traditions; in a way, keeping them alive.
June 20, 2008 at 4:24 pm
Wow – a Camp Kilowan web-site. I found myself there accidentally as a counselor in the summer of 1977, fell in love with the place and came back on purpose for the summer of ‘78. Very special memories, very special place. Perusing other memories and reading words like “Teal Lodge” , “Alderea” (my unit), 60 foot…favorite hike….ah, you can only go back in your memories, eh? My final “tilly” present I gave was a hand made book with all the words to all the camp songs… dang I wish I’d kept that thing! One of my favorite memories of Camp is that’s where I was first turned on to John Prine – of whom I remain a life-long fan. I think it was Duffy…..
June 24, 2008 at 9:59 am
I was a camper at Kilowan for 10 years and then a councelor for 2 years, 1976 & 1977. I remember you, Lobo. The great times of Kilowan!
I have so many fond memories of my years at campfires, toast parties, creek hiking, sliding rock, fairy boats, new friends, etc.
June 25, 2008 at 8:04 am
Wow! This is great! I was a regular at Kilowan from Blue Bird Lodge through CIT – my last year was ‘79. The photos bring back so many amazing memories – three pools, fairy boats, birthdays at Teal, council fire, cleaning ’susies’, raising the flag (colorguard, ADVANCE).
I am a pack rat and have the Kilowan songbook I put together (in my overly cursive teenage hand!) I’ll have to dig that out and walk down memory lane again. Thank you so much for putting this website together!!
June 30, 2008 at 2:07 am
Thank you for this site, Larken, and everyone who has posted! I was blessed enough to have Kilowan as part of my summer during my elementary school years (1985-1990?) as well as weekend trips with my Campfire group at Greenwood during the school year.
I’ve been thinking about Kilowan and wondering if there were photos on the web. I’ve always been afraid to go back, afraid of changes there.
The slideshow was excellent. It brought back so many memories of how rich my experiences were, and how much culture and legend was wrapped up in even one or two weeks of camp. I feel I could almost make a book of all my memories there!
I’ve often wondered when visiting the woods, how people can choose to focus their spiritual lives inside a building. When I saw the photo of the outdoor Chapel during the slide show, it all came together where so many of my values were instilled. I still love the woods.
-Erin Brassfield, camper during 1985-1990
July 14, 2008 at 7:47 am
Wouldn’t it be great, Erin, if we could hold sunday services at the Doris Koenig Chaple at Kilowan? I’d make the drive every Sunday (or Monday or Tuesday or whenever!).
July 19, 2008 at 3:56 pm
I just happened to be reminiscing and finally thought to look up Kilowan online–what a pleasant surprise to find this site! I’ve recently had several trips down memory lane as I find more people who love eating banana boats or know the words to Barges and other great camp songs. I have so many wonderful memories of my summers at camp (‘88-’99), from camper all the way to counselor, and it’s great to see all these familiar names. Spaz, Maniak, Sundance, Heff, Larken, Iggy, George, Tiny, and Mim, I hope you are all doing well! If there’s ever another chance to have a reunion at camp, or anywhere, I’d love to attend.
August 1, 2008 at 10:42 am
Here’s a link to an album of my (scanned) pictures from camp: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=27027&l=0c4a7&id=513282766
Several of you are in them! There are a few from late ’80s-early ’90s, but most are from 1998 & 1999.
August 14, 2008 at 7:29 pm
Thank you for your Kilowan Pictures…I was there for many years (70s-early 80’s). Your pictures are wonderful and bring great memories back to me…camp fires…night walks…Teal… the meadow…great stuff.
What years were you there?
October 1, 2008 at 2:51 pm
I was so pleased to run across this site today as I think about Kilowan often and I’m amazed at the number of memories and fiascos that keep coming back to me over the years. Kilowan is magical–as are the songs and the people. Tippy canoes, totem trips and CIT pranks baby!
October 22, 2008 at 3:45 pm
Wow, a couple of the best summers I have ever had. 1987 and 1988. Camp Counselor. Somebody should make a movie!
November 6, 2008 at 9:44 pm
I have a group photo…bluebird lodge group from 1971 if anyone is interested….kingliz@hotmail.com
November 9, 2008 at 6:47 pm
My old Kilowan pal “Harpo” (Joan Saylor) turned me on to the site. Great to see the old camp photos, songs, etc. I was only there as a counselor in 80 &81, but I will never forget it!
September 21, 2009 at 10:16 pm
I was just looking for Joan, Harpo on Facebook! I went to camp for many years with her and worked with her their at Kilowan too! My camp name was Bongo! If you talk to her let her know I was thinking of her and would like to know how she is!!
Stella aka Bongo
November 25, 2008 at 9:46 am
This is fantastic! Thank you so much for putting this together! Not a day goes by that I don’t think of Kilowan, it has made an enormous impact on who I am! I’m constantly humming or singing a song from camp.
December 24, 2008 at 1:24 pm
I am so glad I found this website. Not only did I got to Camp Kilowan for five years, but I also grew up not more than 15 minutes away from the campground. I would love to go back there and see it again as it was a important part of every summer during my childhood!
December 29, 2008 at 1:51 pm
Here I am looking for an address for a job application, and I run across this. What a treat, what a trip, what a reminder of what has been lost but certainly not forgotten. I don’t remember when I was there; mid 80s probably, but I was a wussie (waterfront staff), there with Jasper, and others whose names I long forgot, although Spaz and Heffalump certainly ring a bell! Makes me want to get a garage sale guitar and start strumming!
January 23, 2009 at 11:00 pm
I am a very old alumni and just heard of the sale. I am very saddened. Wish I would have heard of the alumni in 2007. Is there any chance of another one? By my estimates, I went to Kilowan in about 1968 through 1976. These were my fondest memories. I am still singing the songs!
February 2, 2009 at 6:33 pm
Hi everyone. I’ve become a Montessori teacher and I sing camp songs daily with my kids. They love One Tin Soldier and the Washer Woman song. It was great to read all the posts from so many old friends.
Wherever we may go
Wherever we may be
Remember we are friends
Eternally.
This was written on the wall of the Addies, and Spanx, I still have the crossstitch you did for me in 1991.
April 8, 2009 at 5:26 pm
I just returned to Oregon from California, I attended camp from 1976 – 1985, I was a Totem and a CIT. I love the memories that I have and the experiences that changed me forever. I was hoping my daughter could attend camp like I did and I just found out that it isn’t a Camp Fire camp anymore and I felt an overwhelming feeling of loss. I sing the songs to my daughter and I tell her the stories, hopefully she will help keep the legends alive. Thanks for the site, Colleen or Tweety
August 17, 2009 at 3:10 pm
wow thanks for creating this site. I Love camp Kilowan. I attend there from 1996 to 1999 and wish I could go again. I have so many memories and never wanted to go home from camp. My favorite cabins as a kid were Blue Bird, Lakota Lodge and Mary Louise. Kilowan Forever in my heart!
October 5, 2009 at 2:51 pm
What wonderful memories I have of this place. My mom was my campfire leader from 1978 to 1984 and use to bring our group here. I, to brought my daughter and our group here to make more wonderful memories from 2001 to 2006!