I always looked forward to \"Church Camp\" at Camp Piomingo every summer (Lutheran Church KY/TN Synod - later, the KY/IN Synod). I think (?) I attended in 1964, 1965 and 1966.
Camp Piomingo is a wonderful place filled with rich tradition and much to offer all that attend. Since arriving in March 2007 my fiance and i have truly found a home and we are so happy to be a part of the Piomingo family. Thank you to all that have supported Camp Piomingo over the years. The future looks bright for camp and we are excited about were it will take us. We are looking forward to seeing you all for the 70th Celebration and keeping you connected to Camp Piomingo for many years to come.
Noonway, Steve Merifield, Executive Director.
Hi, my name is Abigail Morguelan and i\\\'m 11 years old in the summer of 2007 i was in the session 3 Equesrian program it was wonderful I got to ride cricket for two whole weeks she was great but at the end of the two weeks we were going to have a little tiny show to show our parents what we have learned. Well 2 days before the show cricket kept refusing the jump well Whitney the directer of the Equestrian program came to the ring she saw that I was having a bit of trouble well she came in there and gave me some great pointers and then cricket went right over that jump and until the end of the two weeks everyone in my lesson that day called her the horse whisper. If you see this whitney i thank you a lot. For the show cricket was great and did not refuse any jumps during the course. I\'ll see you in 2008 again.
There are sooooo many things I remember...I\'m sure some of these are my private memories and some will be recalled by others... Boarding the bus at the St. Matthews YMCA, apple crap/cherry crap for dessert, the mudslide, Clancey\'s cave, cheers...\'sardines, sha-koom, pork and beans, sha-koom...\', bug juice, \'you kill it, you fill it\', vulchering, hugging trees, slug man, C.C.O.C., Will yelling \'Bandit\' across the soccer field, Shawnee Campfire--the puppy skit, B-O-N-E-H-E-A-D-N-E-S-S, Kevin Casey\'s song about a rose up a buffalo\'s nose, The Police (ie, music, not cops), Trailblazer trips, Camp Dances, Venus, Jerome, Cabin 17, the Italians...Mirko, David, Mickey et al, road to Miami, songs associated with the summers...Don\'t You Want Me Baby, We Are Family, Wild Thing, Come on Eileen, ie...if I hear an Asia song, I think...Cherokee-cabin 12-Jerri Smith! the Piomingo Plague, Lemonheads, theme song to Indiana Jones movies, S.O.S...save our sows, L.I.T.s, C.I.Ts, Counselors with cool nicknames...Bug, Chick, Turtle, Trow, Stretch, Unk... I could be nostalgic for many paragraphs...
The best thing about Piomingo for me has been the gift of lifelong friendships and the legacy of an amazing place that still gives back to children and young adults. I hope to see and meet many of you at the 70th anniversary celebration!!
Lisa Hirsch
(77-88...camper/staff...now a board member...)
My debt to Camp Piomingo can never be repaid. Every benefit I received from 19 years of association with Camp Piomingo is directly traceable to the YMCA as a whole, and to my children. I missed out on the joy of being a Camp Piomingo camper. My first experiences with the YMCA’s crown jewel were through the father/daughter Y program, and then the father/son Y program. The highlights of the year-round program, at least for my children and me were the weekend campouts at Camp Piomingo, one in May, and one in October. The blessings of one-on-one with your child in an outdoor setting are legacies that we still practice today, even though I am old (only in years) and our children are 26 and 23, respectively. The magic of late night hikes with no flashlights but guided by florescent foxfire, the ropes course, the rifle range, the archery targets, the hikes down to the quarry and the railroad tracks by the river- these lessons of fun and new experiences shared together pay continuing dividends. When our children were teenagers, and the typical misunderstandings occurred, one of us would bring up Camp Piomingo, and all was right with the world again. The time by the campfires, both the large one, and the ones by the cabins, were mystical in just getting to know more about yourself and your children. As Chief of the Ottawa Nation, I was automatically on the Board for one year. I stayed on the Board for 15 years, and grew to understand and deeply appreciate counselors, unit directors, staff, and several fine Executive Directors. I’m afraid if I start naming names, I will overlook some fine individuals. I salute Camp Piomingo on this well-earned anniversary, and know the continuing traditions there will be a blessing to many more children and adults for generations to come.