Remembering Camp

Check out memories from your fellow classmates. Click a name below and get a blast from the past!

Favorite memory from camp or Forestry classes on campus: Bob Colwell aerial photography class was a favorite.

—Kurt Korthals, 1958

While the class was driving by a cabin along Schneider creek, Dr. Ed Stone told me to stop. He proceeded to give an impromptu lecture on the abuse of "mining claims", for illegal occupancy, on national forest land. He told me later that the occupant had threatened him for collecting vegetation specimens from the vicinity of the cabin, which was public land, but on the "mining claim". Ed knew how to get even, and it was a lesson about mining claims I never forgot!

—Donald McLean, 1973

I greatly enjoyed Steve Merlo's video story about Peggy Dame and the Bell Fire. As 1970 Summer Camp TA, I can fill in a detail that Steve left out. The other young women at camp also spent a day on the fire line, thanks to Prof. Rudy Grah, who was teaching the forest management unit at the time of the fire (see: http://cnr.berkeley.edu/grahchair/who.html). In spite of the wishes of the Fire Boss, Rudy personally accompanied the other women out to the fire line, and brought them back to Camp in the evening, sooty and tired. Peggy, of course, spent the night in the Forest Service fire camp.

—Bob Coats, 1965

One of my favorite memories is when Dave decided that we needed "Christmas in July." The summer of 1981 was extremely hot. Several of us went into Quincy and told our sad tale of earnest students working to save the woods from wood eating bugs and aggregate cutting techniques. Well, the charming ladies at the USFS office stuffed our worn out hiking socks with Smokey pencils, Smokey rulers plus a sticker. We baked cookies and everybody received a beer from Santa Dave. My stocking runneth over! Shouts of joy rang through the woods that morning.

My other favorite memory is dancing in the back of the cattle truck to "Twist and Shout" and tunes from the Greatful Dead. Just thinking about the cattle truck makes my butt sore. I had to sit on my jacket or else I bruised.

I still don't know who borrowed the camp truck one night and got it stuck in a ditch...

—Vanessa Ivelich, 1983

Camp was great, but the most important thing about my experience at Cal was the networking provided by Herb Sampert to get me connected with the industry side of forestry. He got me into the field when I was about to go in another direction. I trust there is someone who can fill Herb's shoes at Cal today, but they are mighty big shoes.

—Steve Merlo, 1973

Kreug’s Call...
No one who went to our summer camp would forget the loud call that came from a faculty tent just as the sky was losing its greyness and morning was close. Myron Kreuger’s call from his bed filled the camp as his “Daylight in the Swamps!” yell filled our ears. There were curses, shouts and moans on the first morning this yell came and punctuated the quiet of still morning. But this cry was to wake us each morning we were at Camp. Eventually some of us had enough so one early morning several of us gathered together and carrying a small Cedar about 10 feet long and 4 inches in diameter, we snuck up to Kreug’s tent. We quietly went into the two-man tent he shared with John Zivnuska who woke up but just watched us.

We had brought us some cans and other “noise makers.” We stomped on the floors, threw the log on the floor and yelled loudly “Daylight on the Swamps!” We hooted and hollered and woke Kreug up. He sat straight in his bed with a tired smile on his face. We gave him another yell and trooped out of his tent. We had had our “revenge” and we were pleased.

Less than five minutes after our sortie the cry “Daylight in the Swamps” filled the air in the camp and wiped the grin that had just settled on our faces.

—Raymond E. Helm, 1951

All differences aside, we were united by trees. Trees aside, we were all very different. No other experience would have brought us thirty-five campers together. Together we spent eight weeks in the Sierra Nevada at UC Forestry Camp: breakfast at seven, twelve person vans, smoke in the air, and too many sandwiches. Oh, and trees, so many trees.

From the perspective of the glorious and wise trees of Meadow Valley:

Our first fires began only hours before the campers showed up. Unsure if this would stop them, we waited. We were eager to find out what the campers of 2008 would be like. This group was going to be different, or so we heard through the canopy. As they arrived, we looked at them, just as they looked at us. At first glance, nothing special. We saw them as just another group of Berkeley students; they saw us as just another forest full of trees. We knew the scenario well. Every summer since 1917, a group of forestry majors and minors came to Baker Forest to study us. They were here to learn to tell the differences between our many species, to measure us, to manage us.

The first day they made one of the biggest decisions of camp: bunkhouse or shanty. After the decision was made and their bags were unpacked, the true nature of the campers began to show. On the first Monday of camp, we knew for sure that we would like them. It was their first day out in the field with Joe – Joe McBride. Any friend of Joe’s is a friend of ours. And, boy did they love Joe. We could tell it was going to be a great summer.

During the first three weeks, no one could see the sky because of the thick smoke from the surrounding forest fires. This would probably make most people discouraged, but not the campers of 2008. Over the next few weeks, they learned how to use DBH-tapes, clinometers, and increment bores. Soon, we became individuals to them rather than a just a forest full of trees. As they came to know us, by name, measurements, and key characteristics, we came to know them. Every one of them was unique, friendly, and most of all, fun! Sometimes we wouldn’t recognize them because they were dressed up in funny outfits walking down to the meadow, not to return until the early hours of the morning. However, without fail, they would be up in time for breakfast and ready to spend another day with us, the many trees of Meadow Valley.

They did all the things that most campers do: Lover’s Leap and Spanish Falls on the weekends and many hours spent in the field on the weekdays. Over the following few weeks, we saw the most unlikely people make friendships. As we watched them learn new things about themselves and each other, we learned new things about forestry majors and their determination to collaborate with us in our struggle to survive. They were not here to exploit us and cut us down; they were here to learn how to take care of us. Watching them enjoy their days became the highlight of our summer.

—Lucy K. Clark, 2010

Camp was a great introduction to forestry. I wanted to be in the woods, and I was. I didn't go on to a forestry career, but I did sell myself to my classmates and was elected manager. Those two experiences were my first in a lifetime of selling and managing, ultimately in my own business.

A special camp memory was being alone in a cutover behind the mess hall after a rain - sitting in the sun on a stump thinking "there can't be a much more religious experience than this."

—Jim Morgan, 1972

When we teamed-off to cool down after a long hot and dusty day riding in the back of the stake trucks with fire hose water.

—Mark E. Schultz, 1972

I enjoyed all my classes and felt honored to have such outstanding professors. My mother objected only to Wood Technology because there were too many wooden objects around the house that were missing little chips.

—Frank L. Bonham, Forestry, 1942

2014 - A truly remarkable year! University of California Forestry becomes 100 years old, my class of 1933 becomes 81 years old and I shall reach the ripe old age of 104 the day after the Celebration. I guess I must claim to be the oldest living Cal Forester!

My mind is crowded with memories of student years at Cal, elected by the students as summer camp manager in 1932, president of Cal Alumni Foresters and over 75 years as a member of the Society of American Foresters including a term on the national council. I also had the honor of serving as chairman of the 50th UC Forestry Celebration.

I wound up my official employment at the Pacific Southwest (PSW) Experiment Station, where I started as a researcher in Forest Influences. After many assignments across the US, I retired as Director of the PSW station. Cal Forestry prepared me well for my 42 years of employment with the U.S. Forest Service.

Go Bears!

—Harry W. Camp, B.S. Forestry, 1933

Camp '82 was a great group of people that have become long-time friends. Favorite memory of camp was our float entry in the Plumas County Fair Parade. The fair theme that summer was "Seasons for Fun" and our float entry was titled, "4 Seasons 4 Foresters" (or something to that effect), including a biltmore chorus line. Brought home a trophy and prize (beer) money!

—Rick Leong '84

The summer I attended forestry camp is one full of memories for me. Chopping firewood, coring trees, panning for gold, star gazing, bird watching, getting stung by yellow jackets, visiting lumber mills... What really sticks, though, is the intense fellowship and camaraderie we developed: sitting around the fire at night, playing guitar, singing "Fast Car" by Tracy Chapman; or visiting the hot springs at night, watching satellites blink past. What a summer. A summer to remember. A summer of youth.

FC05 for LIFE!

—Andrew Wallace '06

The Camp of '76 was the biggest Camp, but was also the last to enjoy the decades-old tradition of the Silver Lake Swim. Coming down from Spanish Peak on a hot afternoon, reaching the lake, and within less than a minute all clothes were off and everyone was in Silver Lake au naturale! Photos in the archives show this tradition went back to the 1930's. The next year, the tradition was gone.

—Bill Apger aka "LK", '78

As I recall, our class was split about evenly between men and women. when we started camp, lo and behold, there was only one bathroom for the women. so one day we decided to take over one of the men's bathrooms. at first the guys were not very happy about it (professors included) but what could they do? a women's bathroom it remained. should I add that one of the most interesting aspects of the takeover was reading the graffiti!

—Katrina (Katy) Marshall (Mallams), '80

I didn't really attend camp (went to camp in North Carolina as a student at NCSU), but attended the first week of camp in 1977 as a grad student to learn Sierra Nevada ecology, plant ID, soils, etc. The most memorable event was the hiking up Spanish Peak, and hearing John Zivnuska share the cultural and economic history of the Meadow Valley area. It was the 40th anniversary of John's first hike up Spanish Peak as a student in 1937. He made us all realize that people have a deep role in shaping the landscapes we look at today, and their signatures are imbedded in the forests we love. Thank you, John!

—Rick Standiford, '78

It felt like hallowed halls within Mulford Hall. Names on the door were Drs. Ed Stone, Dennis Teeguardin, John Helms, A. Starker Leopold, John Zivnuska, Harry "the Torch" Biswell, and many others. We were ranked #1 Forestry School in the nation. I was a Research Assistant to Dr. Stone in putting a taxonomic key of Sierran Wildflowers together. Got to play with all kinds of advanced equipment like Electron Microscopes. Had an entire Greenhouse at my disposal for a Plant Nutrition class. Went from Cal to establish Forest Tree Nurseries within 3 states growing over 45 million seedlings. It was a great experience!

—Steve Schalla '76

We had a really small camp, 2 grad students, a student from Canada who was studying at UC Davis, a woman who wanted to build her own house, and then our forestry undergrad group of 4 women, and 4 guys. A number of us went every Friday after class to Moons for pizza and garlic bread. So many fun memories! Also, met my husband there, the T.A. Frieder Schurr (summer camp 82), but we were only friends there!

—Kip Freytag '86

I spent 2 summers at Forestry Camp. The summer of 1979 Sandy hired me to be the maintenance man. My favorite memory was "borrowing" the cattle truck to take students into Quincy for evening recreation.

—Gordon Weil '82

Writing Guidelines

Each submission is limited to a maximum of 250 words. Please frame your answers around these two questions:

1. Tell us about a favorite memory from your forestry education at Cal, including Forestry Camp.
2. How has your Cal forestry education influenced your professional life?

Also, provide a recent photo-the largest file size you have is needed for print- at least 1MB if possible. (Sorry, we cannot return hard copies of photos.)

Please note that Memories submissions may be edited for length and clarity, and moderated for appropriateness for a public forum. They may be posted on the Forestry 100 website and/or printed in a publication commemorating 100 Years of Cal Forestry.