Campfire
From: Peter De Haan


Audio Recording of \"Christmas in July\" Campfire, 1980, Side 2. (Only portions were recorded due to limited tape length.)
Campfire
From: Peter De Haan


Audio Recording of the \"Christmas in July\" Campfire, 1980, Side 1.
Camp Year 2014
From: Steph Burkhart


This is at Cup Family Camp in August 2014. One of my favorite events is the Flag Ceremony. I\'m a veteran and I work as a 911 dispatcher for LAPD. I\'m honored to present the flag. I\'m on the left toward the front holding the flag.
Camp Year 2021 (75th Summer)
From: Camp Whitsett
Camp Year 2021 (75th Summer)
From: Camp Whitsett
Camp Year 2021 (75th Summer)
From: Camp Whitsett
Camp Year 2021 (75th Summer)
From: Camp Whitsett
Camp Year 2021 (75th Summer)
From: Camp Whitsett
Camp Year 2021 (75th Summer)
From: Camp Whitsett
Camp Year 2021 (75th Summer)
From: Camp Whitsett
Camp Year 2021 (75th Summer)
From: Camp Whitsett
Camp Year 2021 (75th Summer)
From: Camp Whitsett
Camp Year 2021 (75th Summer)
From: Camp Whitsett
Camp Year 2021 (75th Summer)
From: Camp Whitsett
Camp Year 2021 (75th Summer)
From: Camp Whitsett
Camp Year 2021 (75th Summer)
From: Camp Whitsett
Camp Year 2021 (75th Summer)
From: Camp Whitsett
Camp Year 2021 (75th Summer)
From: Camp Whitsett
Camp Year 2021 (75th Summer)
From: Camp Whitsett
Camp Year 2021 (75th Summer)
From: Camp Whitsett
Camp Year 2021 (75th Summer)
From: Camp Whitsett
Camp Year 2021 (75th Summer)
From: Camp Whitsett
Camp Year 2021 (75th Summer)
From: Camp Whitsett
Camp Year 2021 (75th Summer)
From: Camp Whitsett
Camp Year 2021 (75th Summer)
From: Camp Whitsett
Camp Year 2021 (75th Summer)
From: Camp Whitsett
Camp Year 2021 (75th Summer)
From: Camp Whitsett
Camp Year 2021 (75th Summer)
From: Camp Whitsett
Camp Year 2021 (75th Summer)
From: Camp Whitsett
Camp Year 2021 (75th Summer)
From: Camp Whitsett
Camp Year 2021 (75th Summer)
From: Camp Whitsett
Camp Year 2021 (75th Summer)
From: Camp Whitsett
Camp Year 2021 (75th Summer)
From: Camp Whitsett
Camp Year 2021 (75th Summer)
From: Camp Whitsett
Camp Year 2021 (75th Summer)
From: Camp Whitsett
Camp Year 2021 (75th Summer)
From: Camp Whitsett
Camp Year 2021 (75th Summer)
From: Camp Whitsett
Camp Year 2021 (75th Summer)
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Camp Year 2021 (75th Summer)
From: Alix Fulham
Camp Whitsett
From: Alix Fulham


The song \"Whitsett Roads\" written and sung by Eddie Nager
Camp Year 2021 (75th Summer)
From: Alix Fulham
Camp Year 2021 (75th Summer)
From: Alix Fulham
Camp Year 2021 (75th Summer)
From: Alix Fulham
High Adventure
From: Alix Fulham
Camp Year 2021 (75th Summer)
From: Alix Fulham
Flags & Parade Ground
From: Alix Fulham
Flags & Parade Ground
From: Alix Fulham
Flags & Parade Ground
From: Alix Fulham
Flags & Parade Ground
From: Alix Fulham
Waterfront
From: Alix Fulham
Camp Year 2021 (75th Summer)
From: Alix Fulham
Waterfront
From: Alix Fulham
Camp Year 2021 (75th Summer)
From: Alix Fulham
Camp Year 2021 (75th Summer)
From: Alix Fulham
Camp Year 2021 (75th Summer)
From: Alix Fulham
Camp Year 1960-1969
From: Donald Hanley


Maybe some of you can identify these staff members from 1964. I am the third from the right in the front row. Don Hanley
Camp Year 1960-1969
From: Frank Casias Jr Casias


While reading the Whitsett Book about \'Homesick\' scouts, I was reminded of one year when I was SM and I was taking a seat in front of the old Trading Post. Well one of my first year scouts called me to the payphone. So when I answered it, it was the boys mom. She said tha her son was \'homesick\' and wanted to come home. It was Wednesday. I explained to her that she had 2 options. #1. She coud make the drive up to Whitsett to take him home. OR #2. She could leave him to \'deal \' with it and let time run it\'s course. I didn\'t want to say, that she should cut the string and let him experience the camp. Maybe he will come around, especially when he was to hear it from her. She didn\'t come get him ..AND yes he did survive. My assistant and I had found out that the bottom of his pack was stuffed with candy and he was being super active/antsy, on Tuesday, so we confiscated his \'stash\'. I think this is why he wanted to go home. Noted here: he was a scout for only 3 weeks and the son of our District Executive. So I felt compelled to bring him even though he had never been with us at any campout. We DID HAVE him tag along with 2 of the older scouts and he subsided his desire to go home...PLUS I wasn\'t going to spoil the week for the rest of the troop. There was only my assistant and myself, so if one went...well you know the rule.
Camp Year 1960-1969
From: Frank Casias Jr Casias


I can remember, when my dad was SM of T-348 of Reseda. He would always get the furthest campsite from the Trading Post. So we were at the last camp below the dam. This one year several of us were working on our Physical Fitness MB. We needed to make an oval track. There wasa large clearing next door to our camp, so we measured off an 1/8 mile track. We started off by measuring a dollar bill and worked our way out to 25 yards of rope then we were off until we had a trck. There was another troop down below the dam and they decided to use our track. By Thursday of that week several other units had heard of our track. During one of our \'lull\' periods, we held a mini track meet. I\'ll never forget that year, 1969.
Camp Year 1960-1969
From: Donald Hanley


May 3, 2021 Mr. Chuck Smith C/o Friends of Camp Whitsett 9255 Polaris Avenue Las Vegas Nevada 89139-8108 Mr. Smith: The purpose of this quick note is to thank you for authoring the wonderful book The Camp Whitsett Story. Your book provided me with many enjoyable memories that I have about the camp when I was a Boy Scout and when I worked on the staff. It is wonderfully written and provides a historical document that I am sure will be treasured for many years by all that have attended camp. . I have no idea if our paths have ever crossed at Camp Whitsett, I first set foot at camp in 1957 as a 10 year old Cub Scout helping out at a work party and then was there off and on until 1966. A little bit about myself and how Camp Whitsett and the Boy Scouts influenced me greatly as a young person and the impact this all had on my career and life. As I said, the first time I saw Camp Whitsett was 1957 as I was with my family helping at a spring time work party. My older brother was a boy scout in Troop 59 out of Reseda, and I was a cub scout in Pack 173. My parents were active in both the troop and the pack and thus we were at the work party that year. My father was a very talented person who could fix almost anything and was asked to repair minor problems with the original commissary and trading post buildings and I remember helping him as a 10 year old. In subsequent work parties some years later, I remember working in the new cement block commissary and was there when the fluorescent ceiling lights were turned on for the very first time. A great memory! This work in the commissary and trading post must have made a significant impression on me because when I joined the camp staff in 1963 at $10/week salary and all the food you could eat, I worked at the commissary and the trading post. I was on camp staff for four years from 1963-1966, the whole time in the commissary. The staff picture with this note was taken in 1964. I will scan it and uplink it to the camp memories webpage. You will notice a number of staff members that are mentioned in the book. While I do not possess your wonderful memory, I do recognize a number of the staff from that year, some 57 years ago. While working in the commissary under the jamboree feeding system, it gave me time to earn my merit badges as I attained the rank of Eagle during my scouting career. One merit badge in particular had an overwhelming influence on me: the forestry merit badge. When I ended my “staff career” I went off to college to study forestry at the University of Montana. My career in forestry, 1969-2009, spanned four states and I am now a Forestry Professor Emeritus in Washington State. I was elected as a fellow to the Society of American Foresters, the national organization of professional foresters, a high honor, and all of this started at Camp Whitsett with one merit badge. During my forestry career, I did nothing with scouting until about five years ago when my grandson joined scouts. And now my other grandson and granddaughter are also in scouts! My son-in-law is the local scoutmaster and has as much interest in helping young adults as we did years ago. And yes, I am now back involved as a forestry merit badge counselor. I especially enjoyed your wonderful quote A Hundred Years at the end of the book and I wish to again thank you for all that you have done for the many scouts and other young people that have crossed your path during your lifetime. Sincerely, Donald Hanley 1924 5th PL Kirkland WA 98033 [email protected]
Camp Year 1960-1969
From: Donald Hanley


Valley Greensheet article about Lake Ida dam improvements 1963. Two jpg files.
Camp Year 1960-1969
From: Donald Hanley


Valley Greensheet article about Lake Ida dam improvements 1963. Two jpg files.
Camp Year 1960-1969
From: Dennis McLane


Chuck Smith’s book, The Camp Whitsett Story, has evoked a lot of memories for me. When I got to page 141 and saw the names of Dick Jackson and Irv Bertram, I began to recall one of the greatest adventure experiences of my life. I didn’t grow up in an outdoorsy family. It was Scouting that introduced me to camping and the great outdoors. I was on the Whitsett staff in 1967, 1968, and 1969. In 67 and 68, I was an instructor on the JLT staff working with some great mentors Don York and Drew Lobenstein. In 1968, I was 16 and would be 17 that August. The finish of the JLT season, which was just five weeks long, was approaching its end. I had a desire to stay on staff for a few more weeks. So I went to speak with the Business Manager, C.T. Miller, who was my home District Executive. He took me to see Camp Director Hipskin where I made my request to stay on. Mr. Hipskin said he would give it some thought. I told him that I was most qualified for Nature Staff as I had finished advanced placement biology in high school the previous spring. However, Mr. Hipskin asked me the following day if I would be interested in assisting Irv Bertram with Outpost Duties. Boy would I! As I had previously hiked both the old and new Silver Knapsack trails with my troop, I was familiar with Irv when I was a “camper.” When I joined the staff, my first impressions of Irv was that he was rather aloof. But he was one of the most well respected members of the staff. So I was a little nervous about working with him. He immediately placed trust in me and ask me to participate in giving the briefings to incoming scouts and leaders who we getting ready to do the Silver Knapsack trail. He told me, “You’ve been on the trail, so share from your experience.” Another part of my assignment was to prepare for and go on a “surveying” expedition with Irv and Dick Jackson on a possible new backpacking trail. (From here, I will refer to Dick Jackson, as Mr. Jackson as that was the honor title used for him by the junior staff). Mr. Jackson was another mystery to me. I just knew him as the “old guy” around camp. Irv showed me on several topographic maps the route we intended to take on the expedition. He asked me to look at the contour lines to figure out the elevation gains that we might encounter each day. I did the best that I could, but when I reported my results to Irv, he said it wasn’t correct and to do it over again. I figured out that he had already done it himself and was using this as an experience to teach me something. The day came that we were to begin our trek. I admired the great and “high tech” equipment that Irv and Mr. Jackson had. They had Kelty backpacks, down filled lightweight sleeping bags, and specialty hiking boots with Vibram soles. I was definitely the poor kid on the block with my cumbersome official Boy Scout Camper Pack, standard sleeping bag, and J.C. Penney’s boots. (Note: before I could tell the rest of this story, I had to consult some on-line topographic maps to refresh my memory.) We drove to the trailhead which at that time was at the end of the road about two miles past Woody’s Pack Station at Quaking Aspen. (That road goes a lot further now!) I soon found out that I would be entrusted with pushing the trail wheel. It was a wheel with a push handle and a meter on it that measured distances. Our job was to scout out the trail, examine potential Scout camping places, and measure the distances between the camping places and other major features encountered on the trail. So Irv would look at the trail wheel meter occasionally and make notes along the way. Since we almost lost a half day preparing to leave Whitsett and driving the trailhead, Irv wanted to get some distance between us and the trailhead. So the trail that day would take us from the trailhead to Log Cabin Meadow down the Click’s Creek Canyon to Grey Meadow. It was all downhill, so I had no problem keeping up with these seasoned hikers. In the morning, we crossed the Little Kern River and we would try to make it to Lion Meadows before nightfall. It had some elevation gain, but not much. I remember that it was around dusk as we continued to hike with late afternoon shadows drawing across the trail. I was pushing the trail wheel when I noticed something that looked like a cowpie in the middle of the trail. As I approached, it moved! It was a rattlesnake soaking up the warmth of the trail. We walked around it giving it a wide berth. We got to Lion Meadows just after dark. Irv wanted to make it that far because the next day we would have to do a significant climb up what was marked on the map as the “Hunter’s Trail.” Sure enough, after about two easy miles we arrived at a fork in the trail where the Hunter’s Trail took off to the right and immediately we were climbing. It was a long arduous slog up to Coyote Pass at 10,550 feet. We put our packs down at the pass, and climbed south to a feature called Rim of the World at 10,700 feet. We sat together and took in the view in awe. It was a fairly clear day and we could see all the way to the Pacific coastline in Southern California. We then returned to Coyote Pass, picked up our packs, and descended 500 feet to Coyote Lakes. Since we started very early that morning, we still had a few hours of daylight left. I remember finding a large flat slab of granite near the lake and lying there soaking up the warm late afternoon sunshine until the shadows reached out from the west and drew across the lake. We had a satisfying dehydrated food dinner and for the first time on the trek sat around a campfire drinking some hot tea. Most of the time I listened to the conversations of Irv and Mr. Jackson. Irv would talk of his ideas for future Camp Whitsett hikes and his love of backpacking and the outdoors. Mr. Jackson was a wealth of knowledge on the natural history of the Sierras. Compared to these most learned men, I had little to contribute to the conversation, but rather hung on their every words. Each night, Mr. Jackson would position his sleeping bag a little a little ways away from Irv and I. He was suffering from significant muscle cramping pains each night and we could hear his moans and groans in the distance. What I began to admire was that he wouldn’t ever allow the inconvenience of a little pain to ever cause him to choose to stay in camp rather than go on an extended hike. He loved hiking that much. The next day, we had to ascend to Coyote Pass again, and then head north across the Sequoia National Park boundary into the Coyote Creek drainage. Believe it or not this would be only my second time ever to visit a National Park. The first time was just a loop through another part of the park on the Silver Knapsack trail. It was a easy day, all downhill to the Kern River Canyon. We camped at an improved backpacker campsite near the National Park Service Kern Canyon Ranger Station. Then we made contact with the park ranger there. He had to open a little gate on a small canal that fed water right to our campsite. This was my first encounter with a park ranger. I had been familiar with the forest rangers in my home town as they were some of my merit badge counselors. But a park ranger seemed like a somewhat different occupation. I thought to myself, that I might be interested in being a park ranger someday. I remember that we had almost a whole afternoon to relax there. I took the opportunity to cross the Kern River and go to the mouth of Golden Trout Creek. But I only went to where I could see Volcano Falls in the distance. I remember learning from Mr. Jackson that the Golden Trout was an isolated population originally found in Golden Trout Creek above Volcano Falls and that it had been transplanting to many alpine streams and lakes after that. On my way back to the campsite I was crossing the Kern River and I decided to just sit down in the middle of the river course and take in the fabulous scenery. It was a narrow part of the canyon and a feature called Tower Rock literally “towered” abruptly on the east side. Then all of a sudden a couple of Air Force jets came screaming up the canyon. So much for the wilderness experience. I would say that those few days were my greatest memories of the expedition. We then followed the trail down the Kern River canyon through Grasshooper Flats where we took a trail branching to the right to Trout Meadows. From there we crossed over to a trail that led over the ridge to the Little Kern River. The objective was to make it to Jerky Meadows. At Jerky Meadows there was a good trail that led south to Lloyd Meadows and Pyles Boys Camp. On what would be our last day on the expedition, Irv wanted to scout out a trail that showed on the topographic map that connected Jerky Meadows to our starting point at the Silver Knapsack trailhead, so that our route would be a full loop. For the first half of the day, the trail was easy to follow, but later it began to appear that maybe the Forest Service had abandoned this route. We were constantly walking around and over old downfall logs. Then we entered an area with a lot of meadows to traverse. While the topo maps showed the trail going through these meadows, the grass had grown over the trail so well as to make it hard to find. We were navigating by dead reckoning. Lifting out legs over logs and having to waste time looking for the trail where it exited the meadows had become exhausting. At least I was feeling a bit fatigued and began to have fears that we may be lost. But my hiking partners exuded confidence in their navigation skills and were trudging on and I had no intention of complaining or showing weakness. We finally came out to the other trail just a little north of the trailhead. On the way back to Whitsett we stopped at the Ponderosa for hamburgers and fries. Wow that greasy food tasted great after so many days of dehydrated food. Then when I got to page 183 of Chuck’s book, I remember that I was part of the Whitsett staff that made up a search party in regards to a scout that who got lost near Maggie Lakes on the Silver Knapsack Trail. Yes, it was a “grueling pace.” Normally, in the Silver Knapsack briefings we advised leaders to start at the trailhead and stop at Log Cabin Meadows for their first night. This would give them a short day to get acclimatized to the altitude change. Then we would tell them to make it to Mowery Meadows on the second day. On the search party expedition, we hiked all the way to Mowery Meadows in one afternoon arriving well after dark and ate only lunch items, no cooking, for a quick dinner. We slept for a few hours, got up in the dark, ate a few snack items and then did the significant altitude gain to Maggie Lakes. And yes the scout had been found by the time we got there. So we headed back to the trailhead and once again the meal at the Ponderosa was fantastic. I never found out what became of the trail we surveyed. Although, I remember Irv talking about a possible Whitsett to Whitney adventure. The epilogue to this story is that 1968 would not end my experiences of adventure in the great outdoors and experience with maps and compass. When I was in the Air Force a few years later I was taking training to be an Air Force medic. We had to complete a task called “find the downed pilot exercise.” I was my team’s leader and we completed the exercise very quickly. The training sergeant was amazed at how fast we did it. Afterall it was just a map and compass course and with my experience, it was completed with ease. Then I went to college to academically prepare me for eligibility for park ranger jobs. I started my career as a State Park Ranger for California and later spent a long career as a ranger for the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management. A great deal of my work would involve map and compass work and led me to great adventures working in America’s forests, deserts, and rangelands. It could be said that it all started for me in the summer of 1968 as a member of the Camp Whitsett staff. So I express my gratitude for the many persons at Camp Whitsett that inspired and mentored me. Dennis McLane Boise, ID
Camp Year 1950-1959
From: Mike Briggd


My Dad at Camp Whitsett in about 1958. He passed away in April 2021. He mentioned his many great memories during his 5 years working at Camp Whitsett.
Camp Year 1980-1989
From: Paul Reiter


I think my favorite memory was my experience as a Garbonzo in 1988. I'll never forget taking a kayak in total darkness to the edge of the campfire and Gordo (Big Joe) rocking the kayak until it tipped over and then swimming to shore to the campfire to do out normal skit. All to the joyous sound of Chuck's accordion. RIP Big Joe.
Camp Year 2000-2009
From: Sean Trimmer


Alumni Weekend 2009
Camp Year 1970-1979
From: William Gardner


As a scout 76 to 78 cobbler and campfires, as staff 78 to 80 waking up to accordion music thanks Chuck.
Camp Year 2000-2009
From: Andrew Sisolak


Staff Holiday parties were always great.Thank you Jackie for gingerbread artistry. Not sure why Clif is on the parade ground wearing only a speedo.
Camp Year 2000-2009
From: Cynthia Briseno


Aaron Briseno was working camp and Ed and I were bringing Nick Briseno up to be leader of his troop, Troop 2. We brought a birthday cake for Aaron. The big Kernville fire broke out and we were on our way home and the boys were evacuated to Porterville. Nick never got to lead his troop, but Aaron’s cake was still on his bunk when he returned. Some humor in an otherwise scary situation.
Camp Whitsett
From: Linnea


My first time visiting Camp Whitsett was a last-minute trip with Camp Director, Ethan, to collect some Trading Post items. When we arrived, I was completely blown away. The Camp Ranger, Joe, was friendly and cheerful, and kept camp beautiful, even in the off season. I cannot wait to head back up to camp and use the new climbing wall!
Camp Year 2014
From: joy torrero


First time at BB guns
Frontier
From: Chris Woodward
Camp Year 2000-2009
From: Chris Woodward


I'm on a boat!
Camp Whitsett
From: Chuck Smith


I have so many memories of Camp Whitsett that they could (and do) fill a book. My overwhelming memory is the life-long friendships that have been built, by being associated with the Scouts, Leaders, and especially the Staff, I have had the privilege to meet.
Camp Year 2012
From: FrankGlick


On the Weekend of May 4 - 6, 2012, members of the Camp Wolverton Staff were welcomed at Camp Whitsett for a reunion and service weekend.
Camp Year 2013
From: FrankGlick


A lot of hard work by volunteers and contractors culminated on June 1, 2013, with the dedication of the redesigned and rebuilt Nature Lodge at Camp Whitsett.
Camp Year 1970-1979
From: Chuck Smith


1970 Staff picture shared with me. The names, we could remember, are added.
Camp Year 1970-1979
From: Chuck Smith


1978 Staff with names
Camp Year 1970-1979
From: Chuck Smith


1979 Staff with names
Camp Wolverton
From: FrankGlick


Camp Wolverton was another Scout camp, located about 47 miles from Camp Whitsett - if you could hike in a straight line. Our Council operated this camp from 1939 through 2011.
Horses
From: Alix Fulham


From merit badge class to trail rides to the overnight, there are too many wonderful memories. I'm grateful for the opportunity to work on staff during my teenage and young adult years, they helped shape the person I am today.
Trading Post
From: Alix Fulham


As staff, it was fun when we got to "rob" the trading post on Western day.
High Adventure
From: Alix Fulham


So many wonderful memories from my years working the COPE course. I will forever remember the positive impact I had .