Becky Hanna Masterson June 18, 2008 19:58:09 (EDT)

Just wanted to let people know that many former MWL people go to yahoo groups as there is a website for MWL. Go to yahoo.com/group/MWL Girls/files/ and then sign in.

Also want to make sure this gets out-Linda Ramer was in a very bad auto accident on June 9th. She has lots of broken bones, but her head, plevis and upper body did not get hurt. She is now in a Rehab. Hospital. If you know Linda please send her a card, the address is on the yahoo site. She has a long recovery, but seems to be doing well with the help of her strong MWL spirit and family.

Nancy Nelson Martin June 5, 2008 01:24:05 (EDT)

Oops...I was wrong about me being in the slideshow and about Liz's cast showing too, but I do remember it in my year books...and I remembered her last name...Mellon!

Nancy Nelson Martin June 5, 2008 01:10:09 (EDT)

Wow! I Googled Minne Wonka Lodge and found this site. I was a camper for 2 years, both as an Oneida I think the summers of 1972/73. I was in Windsong for sure and then Linden Lodge the second year? Without digging out my camp year books, I remember cabin mates Karen Mericle, Lee Upson, Laura Fisher(St. Louis, MO), Gabby Weckel, Mollie Eads, Barbara Box and counselors Mary Dee(also St. Louis)(and her handsome brothers) and Penny Miller. I also remember "my" horse Two Bits and that a horse named Shadow threw a rider and she broke her arm, but she came back complete with cast! Liz, maybe? You can notice her arm in the cast in the slideshow pictures. Anyone rember the girl with the dark blue hunt cap versus everyone else's black one or a girl from Cape Girardeau, Mo? That's me! The reunion must have been loads of fun. Sorry to have missed out...PLEASE let me know if there's going to be another one!

holly wachs o'connell May 3, 2008 17:42:34 (EDT)

Oh my gosh, I was looking to see if there was anything on MWL on the internet, and found this! I attended this wonderful camp from 1959-1962 and would so love to get in touch with some of my cabin mates...especially: D.Dick, A. Wham, C. Timothy, B. Penhallagan, J. Rice, C. Jones and many more! Please contact me! It was such a special place and a special part of my childhood. Would loved to have attended the reunion, had I known of it.

Margit Hunt Nahra January 10, 2008 21:40:37 (EDT)

Wow! I was just researching whether Minne Wonka is still around and came across this web site. I had no idea there'd been a reunion; would love to attend if there's another in the future. I attended from 1973-76 and treasure the memory of those summers. It's so nice to see so many familiar names!

Jane (O'Neil)Fleming January 1, 2008 11:46:09 (EDT)

Happy New Year everyone! If you are connected with the MWL yahoo groups, I have uploaded the entire Reunion'95 Songbook in the files. If you are not connectected - then you should! Lots of messages are going in there again. It's so great to rekindle those very special bonds! Let's all resolve to keep in consistent contact and find more MWL girls in 2008!

Cindy Armstrong December 29, 2007 03:34:17 (EDT)

Wow, great to find this site! And to think I'd see my old buddy Kat here! I wish I had known about the reunion! I attended MWL for 7years, from late 60's-early 70s. I miss the music and songs the most. Does anyone have any of the camp songs we used to sing?

Kristan Jore-Swanson November 19, 2007 13:43:36 (EDT)

Some camp history can be found on the other MWL website, http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MWLGirls/ . If you join the group, which we would love everyone to do, there is lots of contact info of old friends, photos, stories, happenings etc. Camp history info can be found on the message board. Messages; #90, 317-319, 332, 335 & 336.

My personal camp history (as clipped from other website); 'hi this is kris jore. my mom (marge Jore) & aunt winnie (winn ramer)
were the camp nurses. i lived in the infirmary from '63-'64, became
a camper in '65, continued as a camper, missed 1972, back '73-'75
(74 & 75 as C.I.T.), missed '76, then back 78 & 79 as counselor.
i was in pineknot, windsong, redpine, balsam bunk, hemlock hut,
wistful vista, linden lodge, (NOT trailsend), deepwoods, trailside,
white birch (CIT) & caboose (CIT).

leslie, your name sounds familiar, maybe you remember my sister &
cousin, karen jore (dob '56) & jan ramer(dob '56)!

other camper relatives; katherine jore (dob '60) + cousins, leigh
ellen ramer(59), linda ramer(63) & anna lynn ramer(70) .'

Glad to see some real 'old timers' have found the site.

Cheer for Minne Wonka!!

Kristan Jore-Swanson

shannon graham November 12, 2007 17:21:07 (EDT)

WOW! I was so excited to find this site today! I am really sad that I didn't find out about the reunion. Is there another one planned next year? I read something about a mailing? The Breeze? I would love to hear from everyone!

Shannon Graham
3005 w 19th ct
lawrence, ks 66047 785-838-3207

Jeanne Volderauer Lowder October 27, 2007 12:17:51 (EDT)

I am a real "old-timer" Camp Minne Wonka Lodge camper from the mid-late 1950's.....back in the days when Mom and Dad Lyons ran the camp. What great memories I have! I was sorry to read in the messages that the camp no longer exists. Could someone give me the history of it's closing?
The when and why?

Cecilia Azcarraga Servitje August 30, 2007 19:43:16 (EDT)

Hi everyone!
It is great hearing from so many friends and looking at camp pictures.

Julie Hayward Armstrong August 6, 2007 22:02:04 (EDT)

Barbara:

Great to hear your unique experiences on getting to camp vai Pullman sleeper! I went in the late 70s and loved it so much too! My son is at Highlands and I am living vicariously through him as he takes his canoe trip, sails, and waterskis. I wish we could all go back for a month!

Barbara Hall Pickard August 5, 2007 19:33:49 (EDT)

I was a camper at Minne Wonka in 1948 and 1948. At least 10 girls from Decatur, Illinois were among our group of campers. It was very exciting to take the train from Springfield - club car and Pullman sleeper for the overnight trip. Helen Irwin's granfather was Dr. Eberhart. As you know he developed the camp, and loved the area. I loved Minne Wonka!

William Mericle November 10, 2006 03:21:21 (EDT)

Does anyone remember my sister, Karen Mericle? She was a camper and counselor at Minne Wonka for many years in the 70's and 80's. She loved her camp experiences with all her heart and spoke of them often. Sadly, Karen passed away a few years ago. I am her younger brother. I attended Camp Highlands, which I've just discovered still exists. I am hoping to one day take my sister's two little girls to the site of Minne Wonka. Does anyone have any information on where exactly "the remains" are and what I might expect to find? My memories of Minne Wonka are faint. Thanks in advance. Feel free to email me directly if you have any info to impart or if you were a friend of Karen's and want to say hello. Any specific memories of her I will keep and pass onto her kids when they are old enough to appreciate them. wmericle@mac.com

Laura Hotchkiss Capaldini October 16, 2006 16:36:39 (EDT)

I know that this is a little late, but thanks again to everyone who made the reunion such a special weekend. I can't believe that we can still remember all the songs! Obviously an enormous amount of work went into putting this whole thing together. The attention to detail was amazing! To my former cabin-mates - it was awesome to see you all. Please keep in touch and come see me in my new home in Minnetonka, MN (only 4 hours from Minocqua!).

Jill Hersee Hinkle September 10, 2006 11:13:36 (EDT)

I started my MWL experience back in 1966. I was there for five years as a camper, took a year off to go to fat camp cause I gained so much weight on the great cooking, loved the cinnamon toast! I came back, I believe 1972 as a CIT.

Kat Schneider-Clark August 30, 2006 09:29:38 (EDT)

I had such a wonderful time. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. What a treat for my senses to be hiking in those northwoods again. I felt like I was 12 again...and thinking to myself that I might have to send my Caroline to Clearwoods...in about 10 years! :-) And what a riot seeing Benny, who has changed SO little!
Hugs and kisses to everyone.

Ellie Kluver August 29, 2006 12:51:50 (EDT)

What a fantastic weekend!! It was so great seeing everyone and learning about your families and jobs. I experienced how a parent (grandparent) must feel when the children do wonderful things, as I know I was so proud when I looked around and saw how happy and successful you all are. Thanks to the committee, each and every one of you, for organizing the reunion. Your hard work was definitely appreciated.

Ellie Kluver August 29, 2006 12:51:14 (EDT)

What a fantastic weekend!! It was so great seeing everyone and learning about your families and jobs. I experienced how a parent (grandparent) must feel when the children do wonderful things, as I know I was so proud when I looked around and saw how happy and successful you all are. Thanks to the committee, each and every one of you, for organizing the reunion. Your hard work was definitely appreciated.