Ron Lavine – Ultimate Sports Enthusiast

Ron was an older camper when his brother Steve was in my cabin. I only knew that he was a golfer and good at most sports. He was part of the group that Skipper took to the local golf course to play a round a couple times a summer. When it was time to award the Dave Weiner Sportsman of the Year award, Bob Krohn nominated him. Of course there were others. I championed an outstanding young man who had some support from the other counselors. When the secret vote was taken Ron won.

As a CIT Ron was an assistant golf instructor. The following year he took over the golf program and improved the camp course. With sand instead of grass around the holes it was had to teach putting. So that it would be possible to have a putting green he cover a piece of plywood with outdoor carpet. Not the best green but at least he could teach putting. If I remember correctly, Ron either added or changed a hole on the course.

Ron did not socialize with the other counselors at the Rec Hall or Mess Hall after his cabin was quiet. Working hard with his cabin, his cabin was usually the winner of cabin inspections. Claiming not to be a good story teller, when passing his cabin on OD one could hear a tape recording of an old time radio show or other such recording. Ron took exceptional care of his cabin and his campers loved him.

Larry Gray took over as the Athletic Director when Bob Krohn left to run a summer camp that he had purchased. Ron worked closely with Larry. Larry had planned to return the next year however he took a different job and Ron became the Program Director. Ron used the same program that Larry had introduced to Camp Waupaca.

Some think that Ron and I did not get along. There was conflict when our programs bumped into each other. For me sports were good tools for training young men, but they are not the only tools. Ron wanted competition in everything. I wanted to be able to show campers a bit of nature. Sports have strict rules and there must be a winner and a loser. Nature gives the freedom to investigate and explore natural things that make up the environment. A walk in the woods did not have to be a competition with winners and losers. So often there were campers whose athletic abilities were less than average not return for a second season. It seemed to me that camp should have equal activities for all. Knowing how to compete is vital for survival, however many people burn out because competition is all they know and do.

Agree or disagree with Ron's program, no one could not admire his dedication and his recognition of campers who were outstanding athletes. Each day he announced the winners of the teams. He kept pages of statistics that were printed in the year books. Certainly there are grandfathers who show their accomplishments to grandchildren now. “When I was at camp my _________ beat out everybody.”

“Medals” for the Olympic Games were first made of painted washers stamped with a rubber stamp. Then they were cast of plastic by Wayne at the Trip Shack until so many were needed that there was not time to cast them. The last “medals” just as the first awarded were painted washers stamped with a rubber stamp.