Camp Memories 40

from Walker Magazine | Fall 2021

by Daily Mountain Eagle

From the Vault

Camp Memories:

Stories from ICYC alumni

I was the fi rst ever to register for Indian Creek Youth Camp! That’s funny because I remember my Mama, Ma Pounds, jumping up and down badgering me as an 11-year-old: “If you don’t get your application in, the camp’s going to be full and you’re not going to be able to get in!” Needless to say, I did what Mama said and got my application in on time! Pa and Ma Pounds were with Earl Barnett, Ronnie Poore, Paul Wylie, Brodie Plyer, the Nichols and Gurganus families and countless others who worked in the workdays allotted in cutting through bush, brier and yellow jacket nests in the aspiration of children having a beautiful wooded campground to grow closer to God in. I believe there is no place on earth that you feel closer to God as when you’re singing camp songs together. Sometimes even late at night in a circle on the ballfi eld, the amphitheater in the morning, at a devo in the pavilion, I’ve even ugly cried in a song service in the cafeteria thinking about the songs…all through the beautiful memories of camp long ago. The closeness you feel is in awe of our creator and the angelic voices of young chiming together remains in you long after the camp session is over. You feel like singing especially at diff erent times during the day remembering the joyful songs from camp way after you go back home.

Ma Pounds, who has a gazebo craft hut named for her, would spend her winters at home, cutting up fl our sacks and sewing them into scrolls. On these scrolls, she would draw character stories through the Bible and color them in with colorful magic markers and teach the small children, holding one side of the scroll, while allowing a camper to unroll the other side, teaching her Bible story. She also sewed “Cob Dolls” for Dorcas lessons and taught swimming into her 80’s! She was so happy when she could share all her joys of camp, as it was her life. Pa Pounds, not to be out-done, would get with Paul or Earl at Skit night and play the “Old Timer” portraying a scally-wag knucklehead attracting laughter in every little heart there. Back then we would jump off of a rope into the creek and sing Kum-By-Ya by a fi re on the riverside, even had spook houses in the Creek cabin. Memories!

All the love, songs and laughter have made so many young-‘uns what is good in them today. Quena, Sherry and I went there to check out the boys, and we always did that, but what we brought home with us was a natural peace within us. It is what made us real as adults through the careful thoughts and planning of our loving mentors, many of whom, no doubt, are reaping their reward. - Cookie Hyche ‘70’s

I have so many memories of ICYC, it’s hard to choose just one. I went to camp in the early 70’s through early 80’s. I learned how to swim using just a ski belt because if I didn’t, I would never be allowed on the rope swing that swung out over the creek and dropped you in the middle of it! ;) That was plenty enough motivation for me! That was just the beginning. ICYC taught me to be more confi dent in being myself but the most important thing I learned was to Rejoice in the Lord Always, no matter what happens in this life! - Carol Appling Manley 70’s & 80’s

How do you tell about all your camp memories? I guess I’d have to remember the way camp made me feel all those years. It was a happy, joyful, fun place to be with nature and your best friends in the world.

From being one of the very fi rst campers that stayed on Hilltop in 1971 to being at camp till I was around 50 years old working at this wonderful place. I think about all the Bible classes under the trees, sitting under the mess hall tree, listening to songs we sang at the point or playing ball on the ball fi eld...eating together in the mess hall, late night devotionals in the cabins... it all blends together into one huge lovely memory of times that were simpler. - Linda Guthrie

My favorite memory of Indian Creek Youth Camp was the singing. My cousins and friends that grew up at Cordova Church of Christ started singing together at an early age. With my uncle, Milton Wylie and Jimmie Lee Alexander as two of our wonderful song leaders we always had the best song services at church so we grew to love singing hymns together. At camp our favorite counselor, Vicki Blackwood, would get us to sing in the cabin sometimes. She still mentions that every time I see her. But the blended voices at ICYC was like none other. It always seemed like there were thousands of us there when we would sing. I have many great memories of camp days but singing stands out the most. - Jennifer Rosser Ingram

When I came to ICYC, I had never been a counselor, so I had lots to learn. I think L.T. invited me to come from my home in Anniston. I had a great time and made friends. I think of it often. There are two memories that stand out. One evening we had a contest or maybe it was like a skit night. My group did a circus act, and I did some kind of feature like swinging on a rope (Billy says it was a tight-rope). I know Billy Courington and maybe Twila was in this act.. How crazy, but it was so much fun! The other memory was of my Aunt Lois “Ma Pounds”, sitting on a stool or a rock with a circle of children around her. She was teaching a bible story from one of the scrolls she had made. I still have a scroll she gave me and still use it in my bible classes today. Many young, teens, middle aged, and older have been taught about the Bible at ICYC. Much love and greetings to family and friends of ICYC.

To God be the Glory! - Suzanne Clark McElory ‘70’s

I remember my experiences with my little brother Donny (Herb) Myers, when I went to Indian Creek. I was 10-13 yrs. old and I am 60 now and haven’t forgotten my summers there. We had so many, many good times there!

Loved the food

Loved the Bible Classes

Loved the ball playing

Loved the cabins

Loved, Loved the friends – My mom would bake brownies and bring to our cabins. We would pig out! One night, I remember having a devo with my friends, Kathy, Twila & Delesia in our cabin. Afterwards, Delesia & I were baptized down in the creek! The sweetness of my cousin, Walt Williams, who would carry me everywhere due to a skin disorder I had with my feet blistering from too much activity. Youth camp was wonderful and I am thankful and grateful Mama and Daddy let me experience it. We had AWESOME times there!!! - Sandy Myers Lumsden ‘70’s

My favorite memory is all of the many friendships made at ICYC and the peace I felt even as a teenager while there! I was away from the peer pressures of the “world”. - Kathleen Williams ‘70’s

“What a great impact Indian Creek Youth Camp has had on my life. I think it was in 1971 the fi rst time I went for a work day and saw a number of volunteers cleaning up the old fi shing camp on Wolf Creek. A few of us worked that day on making a trail from there to the bottom of the bluff that we call the ‘Point’. This is where Indian Creek and Wolf Creek meet. I thought it was the most beautiful place around and still do.

In 1972 I came for my fi rst week of camp as a counselor for the youngest boys cabin under Earl Barnett’s direction. As I recall, most of the kids’s were very well behaved as we stayed so busy, singing, playing ball, swimming in the creek (no pool then), Bible class, eating together and just having the most fun.

The next year I was there for the whole summer. I think it was the year Earl’s dog got in contact with a skunk and our cabin was sprayed- that poor dog, and poor us! Those types of adventure you never forget.

When I was in college my wife, Susan, came as a counselor. She has been our head cook for a number of years and always does little special things like making a birthday for campers celebrating our week. This year the cooks made a 50 Year Birthday cake for the camp for our Birthday/ Carnival fun night.

I still help direct a week each year and it’s exciting to see the camp grow with more and more campers. This year we had a few kids at camp whose grandparents had been campers. For the fi rst time, all ten of our grandchildren were able to be there, too. - David Courington

I had so many great memories of ICYC that I can’t possibly pick out a favorite! I most vividly remember, at age 11 or 12 yrs old, crying all the way home. I never wanted to leave that place. My favorite memory was a girl named Quena ; ) - Jamie Wyers ‘70’s

Our congregation, Tubbs Church of Christ, wanted to host the monthly youth rally in May of 1975 or 1976. However, our small building would not hold the crowds that attended those special events, so we planned to have it at ICYC on the creek bank where everybody could gather. Our preacher, Wheeler Pounds, did a fabulous job coordinating the service. His brother, Garland, Jr., came down the creek on a pontoon boat and presented a lesson. It was well attended, and everyone seemed to enjoy coming to their favorite place to participate in a favorite monthly activity and see their ICYC friends - Brenda Appling Wheeler

Some more memories are of the Mess Hall-dining hall. When camp fi rst started that was the only meeting place we had. We had all our meals there, crafts, Bible class, devos, Stunt Night, movie nights---everything. We had no other building. In the summer of 1974 the board put up a BIG TENT in the parking lot over near where the dumpster is now—(back then we had to haul off the trash). We had Bible class, crafts, devos, stunt night, and other assemblies there in 1974. We even had a Circus that year under the “BIG TOP”.

On May 3, 1975 we had our fi rst walk-athon to camp---17 miles. We were walking to raise money to pay for a Pavilion (better than the tent) and a swimming pool. We had to get out of the creek swimming due to sometimes the creek got so muddy.

Thought Id give you some of my memories about EARLY DAYS of canteen and crafts. First year I went to ICYC was 1972.

Canteen in 1972 was in the top part of an old pontoon boat that had been fi xed with doors to open. We had drinks out of BOTTLES and the RC Cola man would come and pick up the bottles an bring new drinks. We’d have “coke” cases leaning against trees for the campers to put their empty bottles in. I think we drank RC, Nehi orange and grape is all I remember. We had all kinds of candy bars for snacks to go along with the drink. I especially remember liking Snickers candy bars. We also had all kinds of ice cream and dream sickles and push up bars and fudge sickles for canteen.

Crafts in 1972 was very limited!!! I remember my grandfather, Gus Nichols, announcing on the 8 am radio station on WWWB to bring your magazines, Pringles Potato chip cans (we’d make into pencil holders), egg cartons, and Kentucky Fried chicken barrels (made into trash cans) for us to use as crafts. another favorite craft item was pieces on wood cut from wood on the property with a whole drilled in the top.. We’d string yarn through the hole and decorate the wood with our name of ICYC and wear it ALL WEEK at cam— camp jewelry. The boys also made gun racks and sling shots. In the next few years or so we painted rocks with rocks we’d pick up from the camp parking lot. You can tell our crafts were on a very LOW BUDGET We had NO EXTRA MONEY--but it didn’t matter. The kids seemed to be happy doing or making whatever.

Folks would also turn in their BAMA jelly glasses as that was the “CAMP CRYSTAL PATTERN” HA Folks would bring all these craft items and BAMA jars to the Sixth Avenue Church of Christ basement where it was collected. - Vicki Blackwood

I remember after lunch in the mess hall, hiking down the hill to swim in the creek! - Dena Pounds ‘70’s

A group of men came up the side of the hill leading to the now Hilltop Hilton with axes doing some of the fi rst clearing ever. Papa bear bought me a bow-saw so I wouldn’t cut my foot off ….fi nally someone showed up with a chainsaw and we all thought that was amazing…. The big tank on the hill came from Empire school. My cousins Britt and Eric had to get inside to clean it (used as a reservoir for the pump water). We had to get the water “in code” with the health Dept. I still remember the hilltop and the mess hall being built. Eugene Jones, Herman King, Ab Watson, Bro. Smith and all the gang. Sister King would bring the workers a cooler of fried pies to eat. I remember the Watson twins (Brenda and Linda) unloading an entire truck of blocks for the mess hall. They taught me how to put mortar on the bricks with a trowel. Remember “ol snort” (camp truck)? Claud Keaton built the engine to go in it and best I remember gave it that great paint job!! Yo-Yo and Sugar Bear (camp dogs) made every step with me and dad. After the boys cabins were built little known fact that dad had to run water to the boys shower THE DAY BEFORE camp opened because someone had dropped the ball on getting it done. The big double boys cabin was built with wood donated by my uncle Cliff . Brodie Plylar did the carpentry. I helped him one day build the bunk beds and I have NEVER seen a man be able to build stuff like that. Ol snort, Sugar Bear, Yo-Yo and all the great men I got to know as a kid. Is it any wonder how blessed I am. Now we are “ reaping where another man has sown”. These wonderful memories were just on my mind… Just let me throw this out there who remembers cabin raids with pillow fi ghts in the middle of the night and the teenage girls going on strike with cabin clean-up?!?! Lol - Danny Barnett ’70’s

Back in the early years, Thursday nights were a really big thing! Rumors of the approaching Green Ghosts had been fl ying since Sunday… it all lead up to the Haunted House down by the creek. Yes, back then, we did it right - Somehow, we got a casket, dry ice, pretty much the “works”!!! Just seeing their faces as it unfolded were memories that will always bring a smile to my face.

Roger “Stubby” Gray ‘70’s

I will never forget the scary story “Who stole my golden arm” by Earl late at night. Got me every time. And the time during early camp early construction when a fl ood came. It took one of the cabins off its foundation. We all were so solemn and devastated over this. So much hard work destroyed. But we came back. Nothing ever destroyed the dream.

So many more memories. Too many to count. The swing, I learned how to do fl ips off of it. The cabins with no air conditioning. Canteen. Crafts. I made a pair of moccasins. - Tammy Gurganus McClusky ‘70’s

When thinking about memories of Indian Creek Youth Camp, I realize I learned, grew and had many fi rsts jam packed into one or two weeks in a summer. Not bad for a girl who got homesick her fi rst few days. I was young, but so glad I stayed.

I miss that warm, extended family of sisters, brothers and leaders. We were surrounded by the beauty of God’s masterpiece around us, studying his word and enjoying each other’s company.

I can still remember walking down trails to sit at a beautiful clearing in the woods and listen to the great lessons taught by our wonderful leaders and teachers.

I was in attendance before the installation of the pool. Yes, the days of swimming in the creek. Yet, my parents didn’t feel good about me or my sister swimming in the creek. So, many days I watched others having fun in the water. It wasn’t until my dad’s best friend told me it was okay for me to go in. What fun it was jumping off the rope swing and swimming in the cool water.

Between meals at the “mess” hall, arts and crafts, swimming, the canteen, softball (minus trying to catch a ball with my face! Yes, that hurt and may be the reason my nose isn’t beautifully straight!), Thursday night cookouts by the creek, the green ghost (G.G.) to the bonds made with so many lasting friendships across towns; it’s a whole life-changing experience.

I had the experience of being a K-girl. Kitchen girl is what I remember that stood for, but it was a prestigious position that I enjoyed thoroughly. Then, under the guidance of others, I learned a little about leadership and responsibility by being a cabin counselor, just looking up to so many great personalities in days gone by, being at Indian Creek Youth Camp. - Julie Beaird Daniels ‘70’s

“Earl Barnett, fi rst President of ICYC, asked me to come down to the area where the camp would be built to remove underbrush. I bought an ax from the hardware store in Jasper and met Earl at an assigned time and began the clearing. Later, I was appointed the camp’s fi rst Vice-President! Today, 50 years have passed and I am proud to have had part in the organization and promotion of the highly successful and eff ective camp which continues to infl uence young boys and girls!” - James Horton of Ripley, MS. James was associate minister of the Sixth Avenue Church of Christ in Jasper from 1966-1971.

My association with the camp was in the late 70’s and early 80’s, fi rst as one of the counselors, and later as one of the directors during one week each year. I treasure the memories of friendships I formed with dedicated Christian staff volunteers who gave tirelessly of their time and talent to nurture the campers spiritually and socially.

The camp provided an atmosphere that encouraged responsibility, as well as providing wholesome recreation. For example,I will always remember the lighthearted cabin cleaning judging each day, where the young people enjoyed striving for the best marks, and I enjoyed having fun with the process. Of course, the greatest joy was to see young people growing in their faith through the daily Bible study periods

Finally, being much younger back then, and susceptible to suggestions for crazy things from the staff , I donned costume after costume and played character after character that they thought would entertain the campers! I was so blessed by the opportunity I had to be a part of ICYC. It was a special time. - Jim Dearman, Co-Producer of Good News Today, www.gnttv.org

Fall on Main

For a second year in a row, local volunteers joined with businesses to decorate downtown Jasper for fall fun.

with Brisa Ventura

Brisa Ventura began working at Carl Cannon Chevrolet in June as a translator for the dealership’s Spanish-speaking customers. Brisa, who works alongside salesman Greg Williams, was born in Argentina and moved to the United States when she was one year old. Her family moved to Walker County fi ve years ago from Miami, and she graduated from Jasper High School in 2018.

“Since I’ve been here, Greg has sold to several Hispanic customers. One of them he had tried to sell to before and he wasn’t interested. This time I talked to him and he ended up buying a 2021 truck. I never expected to be here (a dealership). I was going to college for veterinary practices and now I’m in a place where I feel like I can start again, but I love this job too.”

- BRISA VENTURA