Excerpts from a letter from Tay about her camp philosophy

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“There are so many worlds to explore..." and the camping world is the best! When we sit around the campfire and I listen to the campers sing this song, I cannot help but reflect on all my years of camping - at Kittiwake - Rockbrook - Montreat, first as a camper, then counselor, head counselor, and then director. All my life I have wanted my own camp and in 1973 when we heard the YMCA camp on Strong River was for sale, I was thrilled to find it such a perfect place for camping. As a matter of fact, I fell in love with it!

 

​My own children had been to camp each summer and were ready to help me develop my own camp philosophy. Julie was at Vanderbilt, Guy T. at Harvard, and Sarah Dabney and Gordon in Junior High at home. My husband Guy was extremely busy with his medical practice in Jackson and was delighted for me to have this opportunity to develop my own camp.​

 

Camp would be a paradise for children, a place where you could relax and not be "bossed" around by staff, where you could choose what you wanted to do, and do it with the best leadership possible - a place where you could learn a sport but the fun of doing it was most important - a place like a visit to grandparents in the country in older days - a place with old-fashioned values - where you don't kill anything (mosquitoes excepted), where you watch spiders make webs, let frogs go free, don't worry about what time it is, enjoy an early morning bird walk - being at home with nature and not being afraid of animals - where you can learn what a vegetable garden is like, eating lots of fresh vegetables and fruit and hot biscuits, forgetting about television, radios, and "soda pop" - a place where you learn to be a friend, and find miraculously that by being a friend you have friends - where you discover your talents and gain confidence in yourself - a place where there are so many things to do and so many people to be with that there's always a choice.​

 

We wanted a camp with campers from many places and now they come from 22 states and from over 70 towns in Mississippi. The counselors come from all over the world. What an interesting atmosphere it makes to see all of this come together in one place and to know this little piece of land near Pinola, Mississippi, is now loved by over 30,000 campers and staff. What Strong River has to offer is good memories, and so in the winter when we sit by the fire and think of camp days, we know the value of Strong River. We like the philosophy. We believe in what it does. It is a feeling that cannot be given to you - you have to experience it for yourself.​

 

This...is...Strong River.....

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Living the Strong River Way

by Martyn Howells, 1984, Counselor from Wales

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To laugh often and love much as Emerson taught us to say.
To find our joy in being a friend and living the Strong River Way.

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From miles around the campers come and look forward to the day,
When schedules end and freedom begins for living the Strong River Way.

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If you're up early morning, and you're ready to go,
There's a counselor who'll show you the way,
To use your time wisely, and live your day fully,
When living the Strong River Way.

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You can jump on a wagon and go over to the farm,
Where there's fruit and veg picking galore,
Like blueberries, peaches, plums, and tomatoes,
So delicious and so many more.
There's squash and zucchini, potatoes and corn,
And okra and lady peas too.

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There's eggplant and cabbage and watermelon sweet,
Just waiting to be picked by you.

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If sport is your hobby, then you're in the right place,
And it matters not how well you play,

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It's enjoyment that matters, not winning or losing,
When playing the Strong River Way.

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There are horses to ride on, and fishing at daybreak,
And there's shuffleboard and tetherball too,
There's a game of touch rugby, and ping-pong for others,
But maybe softball or archery's for you.
The soccer's great fun, especially in the rain,
And the tennis courts are open all day,
And if you want to get cool, you can jump in the pool,
When living the Strong River Way.

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If you're here for two weeks then you're in for a treat,
For the overnight canoe trip's such fun,
With canoes full of food and your bed for the night,
We leave dock in the afternoon sun.
By sunset we're sitting around a campfire bright,
And it's time for some stories of awe,
And the sky forms your roof with its myriad of stars,
Just perfect with your warm, sandy floor.

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If the quieter life is what you desire,
Then arts and crafts is for you.
Make bracelets, and pictures on paper and bookmarks,
Try knitting or ceramics too.
There are plays to perform in, and books to get lost in,
Or sit down on the back porch and play chess,
Take a walk 'round with Nature, or bird watch
And savor early morning when the day's at its best.

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And when the day's nearly over, and darkness draws in,
It's at "Brown Cow" that our perfect day ends,
Where we'll sing a few songs and play a few games,
And thank God for our newly made friends.
And when the last drops of chocolate milk are finally sipped,
And we've all said our "Good Nights" to Tay,
Then it's time to reflect on the beauty and goodness
Of our life and the Strong River Way.