4-H Camp

celebrates

60 years

POMFRET — The 254-acre property on Taft Pond Road rang with sounds of laughter and celebration last week with a celebration of the Windham County 4-H Camp 60th anniversary.

Current, past, and prospective campers, staff, friends and families arrived on Friday afternoon to claim a cabin or pitch a tent for the night.  They settled in for dinner and an evening program that featured skits that everyone participated in, and the requisite campfire with camp songs led by Betty Lou Sandy and s’mores before taps.   Everyone was up early the next morning for breakfast and to sign up for four different activity periods throughout the day.  On offer were opportunities for art & craft activities, archery, ziplining, taking a nature walk, water sports, fishing, playing foursquare, or sitting on the newly completed front porch reminiscing and enjoying the view of the pond.  After a delicious lunch and remarks by Jane Rider, Foundation president, and Eileen Fritz, long term Foundation member, who remembered helping to clear the land where the lodge now sits, the 60th anniversary cake was cut for dessert.  

 The oldest attendee was Bea Buell, 98, who was one of the original camp counselors and is the great aunt of Heather Logee, current camp director.   Also among those in attendance were several descendents or relatives of the original Foundation members, who started the camp with $50,000 and hundreds of hours of volunteer labor on 28 acres in 1954.  All funds raised from this event went into the Jim Logee Campership Fund, to defray camp costs for those who might not be able to attend next year without some financial help.  

The all volunteer Foundation is continuing to raise funds to embark on phase two of a long anticipated lodge renovation project which will hopefully be completed before the 61st camp season begins.  To contribute to this effort, please contact the Foundation office at 860-974-3379.