| Date: 2000-07-26 Posted By: Dave Stewart Email: dbs@dbscom.com | Story ID: 0 Logged IP Addr: 0.0.0.0 |
| Way back in the late 70s, must have been 1978, the first y
ear we had a real nature center at Camp Simpson, Don Love was the nature counsellor. During the week prior to summer camp, the staf
f (I was a CIT) basically got the camp ready for campers.
Don had his reptiles mostly in Phil-Kit Hall, since the big Army tent wasn't up and ready for them yet.
One day, several of us noticed the copperhead snakes had disappeared from their tank. We looked around, but could not find them. W e didn't look very long, because copperheads are native to the area and we thought the snakes had just gone on to find a new home.< p> An hour or so later, several of the staff went to pick up some boards on the front porch of Phil-Kit Hall. We found one of the copp erheads. A few minutes after that, the second copperhead was spotted slinking away.
Don and his Explorer Scouts grabbed their snake hooks and caught the snakes - but not before some of us had a good scare!
Remember, always check your boots, shoes, bed, etc at Simpson! You never know what you'll find! |
| Date: 2000-08-04 Posted By: R. Tim Lehman Email: tlehman@pontotoc.com | Story ID: 1 Logged IP Addr: 0.0.0.0 |
| I moved to Ada, OK with my wife and three sons in July of 1979. During the fall we camped at Simpson and heard all of the stories about Calk Cliffs. My oldest son told about what fun the scouts had jumping off of the cliff into lake. During the summer of 1980 I had all three boys in a rowboat and we docked at the cliff. The boys were eager to climb up but hesitant to jump. This is when I learned that they had heard stories but never actually seen anyone jump. After a great deal of encouragement I finally got the boys to jump, but only after I climbed up and led the charge. Pretty exhilarating! I should add that I have not jumped again since then but it was a great deal of fun just that once. R. Tim Lehman tlehman@pontotoc.com |
| Date: 2000-08-04 Posted By: Dave Stewart Email: dbs@dbscom.com | Story ID: 2 Logged IP Addr: 0.0.0.0 |
| Ahh, the chalk cliffs.
Tim, I think your son was Troy, correct? I don't remember Troy going to the cliffs with us. But we did, back before that property was part of the camp. J. Arvil and Jim Atkisson would have skinned us alive if they'd caught us - but, after all, that was part of it, wasn't it?! Dave Stewart |
| Date: 2000-12-09 Posted By: Tony Email: ozone@brightok.net | Story ID: 3 Logged IP Addr: 0.0.0.0 |
| Hello all and all that stuff... I just happened on the site after being completly out of scouting for about 15 years now but after going through the camp simpson webpage and seeing some of the newer stuff i was wondering what has become of the cliff/ridge that was a favorite climbing spot back in about 83/85 era , and is the place that the chapel is now where the Cliff that was just a Giant rock faceing hill,,,name escapes me now, that faces the lake and had to walk along the dam to get to it, Is that now the chapel area. It use to have the Giant Cross on top of it too. email me at ozone@brightok.net or icq 9207135. laterZ |
| Date: 2001-08-24 Posted By: Jack Wiley Email: jwiley3@kc.rr.com | Story ID: 4 Logged IP Addr: 0.0.0.0 |
| Man, what a flood of memories. I can't believe how much things have changed at Camp Simpson since I moved away from Oklahoma. I was at Camp Simpson the summers of 75-77 and had a great time. I remember jumping off of the Chalk Cliffs and climbing Inspiration Point, looking for Mountain Boomers on the dam, swimming in Witches Hole. Mr. Hickman was the caretaker during my whole scouting career. What a nice guy. My Troop (13, out of FUMC Ada) always camped at Delaware, right on the waterfront. It was a long way from the dining hall (at that time) but we liked it there. I remember Jim Hohl and Pat Fountain vividly. Jim was on my Philmont crew in 1979. Harvey Johnson was my baseball coach one year. I remember his son, Harrison, too. And Tim Lehman, oh my gosh. I probably spent as much time at his house as I did at my own. Great family. I'll have to get back to Camp Simpson sometime. I live in Lee's Summit, Missouri now and am Scoutmaster of Troop 195 out of Grace Methodist Church. My son Cameron is a Star scout and is going for his ordeal weekend today at Camp Naish. Jack Wiley Eagle Scout, Troop 13, FUMC Ada |
| Date: 2001-08-28 Posted By: Dave Stewart Email: dbscom.com | Story ID: 5 Logged IP Addr: 0.0.0.0 |
| Jack! Great to see you post here! Back in the mid/late 70s, Jim Speed was scoutmaster of the Latta troop. Both his sons, Jimmy and Billy, were at camp every year as well. Lately, I've learned that Billy's living in Ada again, having moved back from Texas. I've not heard from or about Jim Hohl, Pat Fountain or the rest of those I mentioned. J. Arvil Hickman. Wow... what a great man. J. Arvil *was* Camp Simpson and Scouting. When we were at Simpson in 99 (when the photos on this site were taken), everything looked normal when we drove in... except that J. Arvil's house was gone. And no beat up old white Chevrolet pickup. Of course, once you head back into the camp, you begin to see how much things have changed. The campsites up on the hill aren't in use anymore (we didn't walk up there to see if the latrines/showers are still in place, though). The Quonset hut where we stored tents is gone. We parked at what used to be the Apache campsite and that's where I took the pictures of the swinging bridge. I'm just glad that the dining hall and Phil-Kit are still there. Without those two things, the character of Camp Simpson would be forever changed... and not necessarily for the better. |
| Date: 2000-08-07 Posted By: Dave Stewart Email: dbs@dbscom.com | Story ID: 7 Logged IP Addr: 0.0.0.0 |
| Tim Lehman sent me email today, and got me to thinking about some of the folks who did so much for and meant so much to scouting in the 70s and early 80s. I have no idea what's become of most of them - perhaps some of you can fill in the blanks:
Pat Fountain (Counselor many summers) More will come to me as I wander back in time... |
| Date: 2001-10-30 Posted By: Dave Stewart Email: dbs@dbscom.com | Story ID: 8 Logged IP Addr: 0.0.0.0 |
| Remembering the 'old' days at Camp Simpson. Recently, a couple of emails trickled in, and I thought I'd mention them. First of all, I did hear from Pat Fountain. He's in Ada, doing well, and has kept in touch with some of the gang, such as Jim Hohl. Who among us remembers the old dining hall? Remember Ms Daniels, the cook? Of course you do - she kept us fed every summer. I just heard from her granddaughter (some of you will remember Sunshine - or, if you prefer, her real name, Joani). Ms. Daniels is doing well, approaching 85, and I hear she still cooks up a storm at Thanksgiving and Christmas for her family! Well, that's the latest I've heard from the ol' gang - post your stories (Joanie reminded me of the underwear up the flagpoles, and setting cots in the creek, etc - I'll have to pass on a few soon) |
| Date: 2001-10-30 Posted By: Dave Stewart Email: dbs@dbscom.com | Story ID: 9 Logged IP Addr: 0.0.0.0 |
| Ah, the story of the underwear up the flagpole. It's been so many years, I don't remember whose it was, but late, late.. I mean LATE.. one night, some of the camp staff was asleep. Their mistake... Somewhere along the line, it became almost a tradition. I know it happened several times after the night in question - I'm just not sure it had happened before. That night, we creatively obtained someone's underwear, and attached it to the flag pole - then ran it up. And come daylight - there it hung. Whoever it belonged to suffered the expected amount of embarassment, and our illustrious Camp Director, Jim Atkisson, was less than thrilled. I'm quite amazed that the event was brought up in the email I got from Joani Daniel... heh... more of the hijinx of the day coming soon. In the meantime, please share your own stories! |
| Date: 2001-11-15 Posted By: Dave Stewart Email: dbs@dbscom.com | Story ID: 14 Logged IP Addr: 216.21.168.3 |
| I've moved this to a different database (PostgreSQL, in case anyone cares), added IP logging to make it easier in case someone posts nasty stories, and done a little formatting to make it, hopefully, easier to read! One other little note - I finally noticed that the email links didn't work. I fixed that up in the code, too, so they work now. You can just click on an email address to send that person email. |
| Date: 2002-02-12 Posted By: Dave Stewart Email: dbs@dbscom.com | Story ID: 15 Logged IP Addr: 216.21.168.3 |
| I just heard from Jay Johnson - of the Johnson family in Ada... y'all remember Harvey the Scoutmaster - Sue the Cub leader - Harrison, too! Jay, I wish you'd post some of your stories from your summers (and spring and fall ordeals, too). And be sure to get everyone else you still have contact with to post, as well. |
| Date: 2002-05-05 Posted By: Jim Emory Email: jemory9194aol.com | Story ID: 16 Logged IP Addr: 205.188.193.167 |
| I spent a week or two at Camp Simpson sometime in the early 50's I think. It was so long ago that I don't remember a whole lot about it. A buddy of mine George Wilcox was there at the same time. I remember we called the Kool-Aid at the mess hall Bug Juice. And there was a dog that hung out at the mess hall that went by the name of "Pot Licker". |
| Date: 2002-05-07 Posted By: Dave Stewart Email: dbs@dbscom.com | Story ID: 17 Logged IP Addr: 216.21.168.3 |
| Some traditions continue. In the late 70s, when I was spending so much time at Simpson, we called the dreaded pink lemonade Bug Juice, too. |
| Date: 2002-08-01 Posted By: Mike Jones Email: mwjones@brightok.net | Story ID: 19 Logged IP Addr: 206.30.114.59 |
| I was an assistant Scout Master the Summer of 1980, with troop 250 from Ardmore. My Two Sons Charles and Shannon were active in Scouting at this time. Charles, is the oldest, and he and I spent the polar bear weekend at Camp Simpson, one Weekend in Feb. I think we were the only troop there at the time. The Week at Summer camp was fairly memorable. I learned a lot from many of the other Volunteers who were active in Scouts. I remember an older couple there, seems like their names were Chuck and Lela Atkins or Atkinson? He was a very talented wood carver and showed me a few things about carving. I don't think any of the newer facilities were there at the time except maybe for the pavillion. The Mess Hall was still in the Stone house with the steps in front. I remember the people who cooked there and a young girl who helped them out. She was either the daughter or maybe the grand daugter I just read about in a previous post. I know they used to tease her a little bit about being the only girl at Camp Simpson, at the time she wasn't much older if any than the Scouts who visited there during the Summers. The Trading post was the other buidling made of logs and stone. I think these were the only buildings there except for the Caretakers home. I also remember a place on the other side of the dam where it was customary to scratch the name of the troop and the year into a rock which was placed in a pile of other rocks and large stones that had been placed there previously by other troops from years before. From what I have seen on one of the web sites, Camp Simpson was a lot more rustic when I last visited it. My first Summer Camp was back in the Late 50's "Camp Kiowa," Just East of Canandian, Tx. It was a wonderful place but the last time I visited Canadian in the late 70's Camp Kiowa, was no longer a Boy Scout Camp, but was privately owned and posted, so I was unable to visit it. I think all of these Scouting facilities are special with their own special memories of the scouts who used and enjoyed them. Mike Jones |
| Date: 2002-09-03 Posted By: Dave Stewart Email: dbs@dbscom.com | Story ID: 20 Logged IP Addr: 209.42.213.50 |
| Mike, it's good to see your memories posted here... The older couple you're thinking of were Chuck and Leila Crouch. Last September, Pat Fountain mentioned wondering what had become of them after they left Ada - but I didn't know they'd left Ada. Joani Daniel was, indeed, the granddaughter of the cook. She's about my age... I'm 37 now. So you're right - she was about the same age as us Scouts. Camp Simpson has changed a lot in the last 20 years. Most of the new facilities are on land that wasn't owned by the council back then... that land is where the Chalk Cliffs are, too, and we weren't supposed to go back there, since it was private property. That doesn't mean we didn't go, though! |
| Date: 2002-09-03 Posted By: Dave Stewart Email: dbs@dbscom.com | Story ID: 21 Logged IP Addr: 209.42.213.50 |
| About a year ago, Pat Fountain mentioned to me in email that we should have a big reunion of all the former Camp Simpson staff members. I think it's a great idea... but we need to find all we can. So here's the call - email me with contact info for as many former Camp Simpson staff as you can, and let's see how many we can find. Then we'll work out a date and place. |
| Date: 2002-09-09 Posted By: T.G. Garrett Email: tggarrett@maguirecomserv.com | Story ID: 22 Logged IP Addr: 66.119.34.39 |
| I just ran accross this page as I was looking at the Council Page. All the memories I had just came back to me. Some good, Some bad. I was on Staff at Simpson in '92 or '93, but I spent a lot of time there between '91 and '95. I recognize only some of the names (Cumpton, Burris, Parker), but I remember many faces. I was on Staff with Claude Burris, John Parker, Wade Hisle, Guy Robberson, Eric Nichols, Bill Nichols(not related)was the Camp Ranger, Pete Popham, Terry Lehman... I can see all theirs and many others faces. We used to jump off Chalk Cliffs too. I remember a couple of years the lake flooded way up over the trees and jumping off the cliff meant jumping 15' or 20'. That was nothing compared to jumping when the water was low. Another memory that stands out was how the troop from Wapanucka would fry up catfish and soft-shell turtle. Eric Nichols and I stuck around camp on Staff's night out so we could eat with those guys. There are so many great memories I couldn't even recount them all, but I think I will come back occasionally and tell a couple. If I remember right the Daniels family was still cooking at our summer camps. I just remember all the guys being in love with the girl that was our age at the time. I think they were from Atoka. I worked for a guy named Dave in the Trading Post, but I can't remember his last name. Staff reunion sounds like a good idea. |
| Date: 2002-09-11 Posted By: Dave Stewart Email: dbs@dbscom.com | Story ID: 24 Logged IP Addr: 209.42.213.50 |
| I don't know when the Mrs. Daniels stopped cooking at Simpson. I was on the staff in 1978... here's the staff as I recall them: Camp Ranger: J. Arvil Hickman Camp Director: Jim Atkisson Counselors: Pat Fountain Jim Hohl Harry Evans Darrel Flinn Don Love Peanut (first name Kevin, can't remember his last name) Mike Choate Jerry Todd (I think Jerry's still around Ada, too) There were, I think, 3 others who helped Don Love with the nature area, which was in a huge Army tent that year... the year before the Chapman Pavilion was ready. Just remembered another - Chief. I can't remember his name for the life of me - he was the Indian guy who did such wonderful carving (no, it wasn't Chuck Crouch... Chuck was wonderful with carving, too, but I know you guys who were at Simpson in the late 70s/early 80s know him) There were others on staff - unfortunately, I can't remember their names. I do remember faces - mostly - but no names. I apologize for not mentioning the others of you who were on staff back then. And a Google search doesn't turn up much besides this story page! |
| Date: 2002-11-01 Posted By: Greg Mayberry Email: herpteacher@hotmail.com | Story ID: 25 Logged IP Addr: 164.58.146.8 |
| I was around at that time also. I believe Chief was Jerry Underwood. |
| Date: 2002-11-01 Posted By: Dave Stewart Email: dbs@dbscom.com | Story ID: 26 Logged IP Addr: 209.42.213.50 |
| That's right! Chief was Jerry Underwood. Thanks, Greg, for filling in that blank! |
| Date: 2003-02-11 Posted By: Gordon Deen Email: gdeen@llbcompany.com | Story ID: 27 Logged IP Addr: 209.99.39.33 |
| Wow! I just stumbled across this while doing some research for an upcoming Philmont Trek. I was with Troop 4 out of Ada during the mid 70's. Went on a Philmont Trek in 1976 with Pat Fountain, Harry Evans and Jim Hohl. That goes way back. Seems I heard Harry was on Staff at Philmont for several years culminating with the Head Ranger Job or something like that. Anyone know for sure? My memories of Camp Simpson include: Camping on the hill, the mile swim, tap-out ceremonies at the campfires, and putting a roof on the dining hall during an ordeal weekend. I am currently in Austin Tx and am completing my 2nd year as Scoutmaster of Troop 30 in the Captital Area Council. I have a 17 year old in Venturing, a 15 year old Life, and a 13 year old Star Scout. Great to run across this site. Thanks. Gordon Deen |
| Date: 2003-05-21 Posted By: angela baxter Email: baxterang@msn.com | Story ID: 28 Logged IP Addr: 69.8.19.85 |
| IT WAS GREAT FINDING THIS SITE...SO MANY MEMORIES FROM CAMP...I WAS CUBMASTER FOR THE WAPANUCKA TROOP AND ALSO HELPED WITH THE BOYSCOUTS AND I WAS THERE THE NIGHT THEY COOKED THE TURTLE AND CATFISH...I AM SO GLAD THAT MY BOYS WERE IN SCOUTING AND HAD THE CHANCE AND AS IT GAVE ME THE CHANCE TO BE A PART OF IT ALL... I ONLY WISH THAT THE GIRL SCOUTS WERE AS INTERESTING AND AS FUN...NOTHING AGAINST THAT GREAT ORGANIZATION...I GUESS I WAS ALWAYS A TOM BOY...KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK GUYS... |
| Date: 2003-08-27 Posted By: Jim Martin Email: yourfriendjim@hotmail.com | Story ID: 29 Logged IP Addr: 64.250.212.250 |
| I grew up on the farm across the road from the gate at the camp. I was born a few miles away in 1937. As a member of the scouts at Bromide, Oklahoma (3 miles away) I camped there a lot . We were also friends and neighbors of the camp caretakers and roamed in the creek and camp in all seasons. Camp Simpson is a fond part of my life. God bless and prosper the BSA!!! Jim Martin Newcastle, Oklahoma |
| Date: 2003-09-07 Posted By: Mark Cleveland Email: clevelandksu@aol.com | Story ID: 30 Logged IP Addr: 205.188.209.8 |
| Wow! What memories and great pictures! For whatever reason I was wondering about Camp Simpson and thought I would just do a search to see if it still existed. Not only does it exist but it has prospered so much over the years that I hardly recognized it. As a boy and young man, I attended Camp Simpson every summer for many years as part of the local scount troop from Tishomingo. The late T-Bone King was our Scoutmaster ans we generally stayed in one of the campgrounds up above the swinging bridge. While the scouts stayed in either heavy, canvas tents or a large "circus-type" tent, T-Bone and the other leaders always stayed at the "Conrad-Hilton" (a three-chambered tend with two sleep quarters, a "living room", and a floor. What luxury! Most of my memories as a scout centered around: the mile swim at the witches hole, the archery range, located dowm by the main building and parade grounds, climbing the cliffs, and the swinging bridge-especially at night. The envious tent sites were those that were reserved for camp counselors that were located directly behind the mess hall. Those tents were all built up on pallets so that when it rained there was no need to move all of your worldly belongings on top of your bunk. Nor did a camp counselor have to "experience" "Pennington Creek" running directly under their bed! What times!!! Our troup would often visit Camp Simpson in the fall and winter months as well as the summer. As I became older, the need to find summer employeement, unfortunately, outweighed the need to attend Camp Simpson. However, one of the most relaxing summers I ever spent was the beginning og the summer of 1968. My father, who had worked at Murray State, had taken a position with a college in Arizona which meant we were moving. After living in Tish since 6th grade, we were going to move my senior year. I was not happy! Nevertheless, the move meant that I could not find a full-time, summertime job. At that same time one of your football coaches, Coach Charles Wyatt, asked if I would join he and his younger brother, Bernie, who was my age, to serve as swim counselors for the "new" lake. I had a great time. I now got to stay in the tents behing the mess hall, let the rain come! In the evenings Bernie and I would return to the lake, which we had all to ourselves as campers had other directives, and we would "sink" a couple of the canoes and paddle around the lake in total relaxation and solitude. We did not have the amenities that appear in the pictues on the web site. We had one dock and a buddy-board to hand buddy tags upon. We did have a couple of roped-off areas to separate the biginners from the advanced swimmers. I also believe that may have been the first year that we held the mile swim out beyond the roped area and not down at the Witches Hole. We also held contest of jousters who would stand up on their canoes with long poles with boxing gloves tied at one end. Each canoe had a "jouster" and a paddler. The one to knock the other out of the canoe moved on to the next round. I also recall my parents giving me a brand new pair of Ray-Ban sunglasses for my birthday. I was wearing them at the waterfront when a over-zellous, young camper grabbed them and slung them out into the depths of the lake. I do not think he realized what he had just done, but I gave him 15 minutes to find them before Camp Simpson was minus one camper. In about ten minutes he came up with them and I still have them. It really made me feel good to know that Camp Simpson is thriving. I also noticed that some of the pictures on the web site were taken by a person named Odell. Any relation to Charlie Odell in Tishomingo? |
| Date: 2003-09-10 Posted By: Dave Stewart Email: dbs@dbscom.com | Story ID: 31 Logged IP Addr: 207.69.140.55 |
| Everytime I go through my website (I host the stories portion on my own web server, located in Georgia) wondering what I can delete to save on disk space, I look at this, and I'm always surprised to see more entries. I'm starting to think that it may be a good idea to introduce some kind of alert system that would send mail when there is a new entry on this site. It's great to see your memories of Camp Simpson. Keep them coming! |
| Date: 2003-10-03 Posted By: josh jacobs Email: joshsjacobs@yahoo.com | Story ID: 32 Logged IP Addr: 12.237.179.206 |
| This website is very cool. I was just talking to my uncle about camp simpson and man; It brings back memories. I would like to think that i have explored every sq/inch of that place after 9 summer camps and 3 years on staff but, I am everso eager to return to the TRUE great outdoors. Talk about solitude, philmont barely competes. I live in dallas, tx and when i go to bed i dream of the 4.3.2.1.4 pound catfish i caught off the swinging bridge my first night of our wilderness survival merit badge ordeal on top of newton's ridge; and how everyone loved the way it tasted cooked on a stick over an open flame without any ketchup. I WILL return for some much needed R&R&R&R&R. I wish to thank the sponsors of this site for their contributions for it is TRULY a great investment. (Josh Jacobs)(ES) |
| Date: 2003-12-16 Posted By: Tony Brister Email: bbcomm@rrcnet.org | Story ID: 33 Logged IP Addr: 204.73.110.17 |
| Hi to all !! I just discovered this site and MAN does it bring back the memories! I was in Troop 71 From Elmore City and we always camped in the "Delaware" site and we sure did have a blast. I was a camper there til around 82' and was on Staff in 86' (I believe) and never had as much fun.I remember eating at the old chowhall and everyone having to wait in line as you came in through the side door to get your food, and teasing all of the new kids about the "Bug Juice" !! I just loved the times that a lot of the scouts sat around with Chuck and practiced our inept whittling and was astounded when Chuck would finish a new creation and would just give it to someone. I really miss that place. I attended the 1981 National Jamboree and was wondering if anyone has any pictures of that trip. I lost all of mine in a house fire in 97' and would be GLAD to pay someone for the time and processing of some reprints. I now live in Minnesota and My son is a Webelo and I am the Scoutmaster of our troop here where I live. ONCE A SCOUT, ALWAYS A SCOUT !!! I would be glad to hear from anyone down there. |
| Date: 2004-05-15 Posted By: Dave Stewart Email: dbs@dbscom.com | Story ID: 34 Logged IP Addr: 162.40.233.197 |
| The only thing I found on a Google search are pictures of various patches from the 1981 National Jamboree. |
| Date: 2004-06-11 Posted By: Zach Email: Zach@tulsahosting.com | Story ID: 35 Logged IP Addr: 199.4.216.68 |
| I didn't attend this camp but reading about it brought back many good memories of the Will Rogers Camp up here in Cleveland Oklahoma.. |
| Date: 2004-12-27 Posted By: Jack Wiley Email: jwiley3@kc.rr.com | Story ID: 36 Logged IP Addr: 65.28.44.39 |
| Dave, I just remembered that I have a neckerchief slide carved by Chuck Crouch. It belonged to my dad (Dwain Wiley) and he gave it to me. Harry Evans was also a friend of mine. Has anyone, like Pat, been in touch with him? I also remember Gordon Deen, at least in name. Gordon, did you ever go on any White River trips with Troop 13? Bat Shunatona, Mike Smith (local atty) Larry Cartmell, and Dike Ehrlich would have been the scoutmasters involved. Any of those names ring a bell? This is a great site. I've had a blast re-reading the memories. |
| Date: 2004-12-28 Posted By: Jimmie Martin Email: jdmartin@pldi.net | Story ID: 37 Logged IP Addr: 64.250.216.126 |
| We owned the farm across the road from Camp Simpson and one summer day my dad was working under his car with his feet sticking out and some one kicked his boot. He asked what they wanted and recieved no answer. Being a man who expressed himself with swearing he cussed and crawled out from under the car to find a deaf scout who was asking directions. Sheepishly Dad got in his truck and led them down the road to the intrance to Simpson. The troop was from the school at Sulpher and the year was 1954. Dad (Freck Martin 1900-1956)worked for the ranch that surronded the Camp on three sides and helped lost scouts find the trail back dozens of times. |
| Date: 2005-01-26 Posted By: Tony Day Email: ala101@comcast.net | Story ID: 38 Logged IP Addr: 208.190.25.212 |
| I spent several summers and several years growing up at Camp Simpson. I have fond memories of swimming in Witches Hole (even though by the time, we were there it wasn't accepted as a swimming location as much anymore. I remember the Tapouts and the Order of the Arrow most as I was Chief for a Year in 1983. I moved away in 1984 but have been back a couple of times to visit or bring Troops from texas up to spend time their on Spring Breaks. I have jsut completed a number of milestones in scouting this past year, such as keeping my Vigil after doing my Ordeal at Camp Simpson in the summer of 1982 and will receive the Silver Beaver in March of this year from Circle 10 council in Dallas. I remember folks like the Crouches, Arvil Hickman, John parker (former SM), Tim Lehman, Pat Fountain, Jim Hohl (My first aid instructor - my first year. I also remember the summer of 1984 as a Staff member and Mr. Creecy who was my Commissioner as I taught Poineering, Orienteering and other Conservation badges that summer. I remember swimming the Mile Swim with my younger Brother Brian, who lapped me at the end. I am going back to visit during a Council of Chief's in February and look forward to the visit. |
| Date: 2005-01-30 Posted By: josh jacobs Email: joshsjacobs@yahoo.com | Story ID: 39 Logged IP Addr: 67.174.64.95 |
| This is unreal. I am an Eagle Scout and I think nothing could make me prouder than experiencing the feedback that I see on this website. To the people making these posts, "You are true leaders of the future scouters." It is your drive that makes it happen. Keep it up! I was fortunate enough to attend summer camp @ the superior "Camp Simpson" + JLT for 13 years and it was the best thing that ever happened to me. Some people just don't understand the impact it has on young people. I will be deployed to Iraq soon and when I return I will be at Camp Simpson. Josh Jacobs, Troop 39, Asbury United Methodist Church, Ardmore, OK PS: If you are in the area, Jim Gaston needs your support. He is a great man leading a great troop. PSS: Mr. Burris is the shiznit!!! From: The rifle and shotgun dude. |
| Date: 2005-03-03 Posted By: Kyle Foster Email: kylefoster_2005@hotmail.com | Story ID: 40 Logged IP Addr: 164.58.243.146 |
| I live next door to Camp Simpson and it has been a place where I'll always have fond memories of growing up. My father used to be a Scout Master for the Bromide/Wapanucka troop, so I've been spending time at Camp Simpson since I was a little kid. |
| Date: 2005-06-24 Posted By: Brian Burrell Email: flynbrian@cox.net | Story ID: 41 Logged IP Addr: 65.70.83.78 |
| Hello everyone! I couldn't give up the chance to post here on the Camp Simpson website. After reading all those memories and reading some of the names I grew up with. I am an Eagle Scout formerly of Troop 4 in Ada. Angus McFarland was my scout master. I spent four summers at Camp simpson from 1981-1985 two of those years as a staff member. My Brother Mike Burrell also an Eagle scout from Troop 4 in Ada attended Camp Simpson as well. We spend many hours clearing the new land for the current Camp Simpson. Troop 4 camped at Iroquois campsite (Not sure it's still there) up on the hill above the swinging bridge. Very fond memories of hiking up and down that hill for breakfast and dinner. Going across the low-water dam and swimming in the witches hole. I live in Tulsa now and both my sons are in Scouts with Troop 412 here in Tulsa. As I am typing this they are at summer camp down in Texas. Next year I am going to push for them to attend Camp Simpson! |