Since 1922, Camp Arcadia has been a place of gathering and fellowship, filled with countless memories and moments. Those stories can be heard in the echo of waves lapping on the sandy shores, the chatter from the patio, laughter in the Trading Post, or the gentle creak of a swing that accompanies silent reflection. But those stories should have the opportunity to be heard by the entire Camp Arcadia community, so this summer, we are inviting YOU to share your special Arcadia moments, podcast-style, at the RKD Story Booth! If you are interested in sharing a short memory, moment, or realization made at Camp, visit us this summer and be sure to check out the booth!
Camp is storied with the Weiherman family legacy – it has left a lasting impact on Camp that is still felt and seen these 100 years later. We had the opportunity to speak with Roxie Bureman, Chief Weiherman’s granddaughter, when she and her family attended Family Week 5. Roxie gave us a special glimpse into her relationship with her mother and grandparents and what it was like to grow up at Camp. Listen and read below to hear some of Roxie’s memories of Camp!
ROXIE BUREMAN:
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In memory of . . . RINKIE:
“I spent a lot of years up here as a child, starting in 1952, and loved every second of my time here at Camp. And now I’m bringing my children and my grandchildren. One of the funny stories I have is about my mom. She worked at Camp alongside Mom and Dad. She worked in the Trading Post and one day she was making someone a malt, but the malt powder was next to the soap powder and inadvertently, she grabbed the wrong powder. So he had a very bubbly malt! I believe now that they don’t keep them together, which is probably a good thing . . .”
In memory of . . . CHIEF:
“When I was here with my grandpa, we used to go over to Bear Lake a lot and go fishing. That was my favorite thing to do with him. One night we were looking at the stars here and somehow he knew that Sputnik was going overhead, and I have no idea how he could’ve known that, but he got it in the telescope and it was really special. I’ve always wondered how on earth did he know? He knew a lot about stars and the planets, but not space flight. We were out here on the patio.
“He always sucked on wintergreen mints because he smoked a cigar. I don’t know if he thought people would think he didn’t smoke, but we actually called him Pock because he kept mints in his pocket. I still love wintergreen mints today. I’ve smelled it up here once and a while and when I do I feel that that’s my grandpa coming to say hi.”
3 Responses
I remember Roxie and her sister, Shelley.
My parents were good friends of Mom & Chief and they had visited our house so I knew who they were, but I had never been to Camp Arcadia. I had only heard stories and seen pictures of times my dad had been there as a teenager with my grandparents and my uncles, and he and my mom had gone there with my brother when he was little. I was so excited to be going there for my first time in 1962.
My parents learned from Mom & Chief that Roxie and Shelley were going to be there the week we were going. A day or two after we arrived, I got to meet and play with them. I was ten and Roxie was a little younger; Shelley was maybe five or six. I played mainly with Roxie and she took me up in the top of the Wigwam, where they stayed with their mom and grandparents. Staff also stayed in the Wigwam. I felt so privileged to be up an area where most people didn’t get to go! Roxie showed me her collection of petoskey stones. That was the first time I had ever seen or heard of a petoskey. Then she took me down along the lakeshore and we hunted for petoskeys. I did find one of my own that was a tan color. I took it home and kept it for a long time; I’m not sure whatever happened to it.
That was the first and last time I went to Camp Arcadia until I was an adult and went back with my own two sons and and my parents, around 1984. My husband didn’t come with us that time, but after seeing pictures and hearing stories from the kids, he wanted to go, and I think we went back the next summer. We met two great families that year; the Harbitts and the Mumbowers, who stayed in one of the cottages. We remained friends with them and went back for a Labor Day weekend together. They later moved to Hudson, FL and we visited them there in 1989 as a side trip when we had gone to Disney World.
I wish I had had more opportunities to go to Camp. I am now retired and my husband, Paul, passed away this past January. We had bought property in Paw Paw, MI and built a cottage there, so much of our vacation time was spent at our cottage. I have since given that property to my son, so maybe now I can go back to Camp again with a friend whom I think would enjoy it. Who knows – maybe I could meet Roxie again?
We’d love to have you back to Camp sometime, Denise! Thanks for sharing your story. 🙂
I’d love to get together with you at camp sometime! Maybe we could keep in touch by email?