My teenage summers were spent working at Camp Inawendawin on Paint Lake. The camp was owed by the Andersons who treated the staff like family. We worked hard in the kitchen and dining room 6 1/2 days each week with Wednesday afternoons off.
Each Wednesday we rushed through our work in order to hitch -hike to our cottage on otter Lake, hoping to get there in time for a late swim and supper. Hitch-hiking was a popular mode of transportation for young people. it was easy to hitch a ride and once in Dorset, we often walked the rest of the way. If we were lucky, Jack Crozier would give us a ride in the back of his truck from the camp to Dorset when he came in to pick up the mail. Dad drove us back tot eh camp next imorning in time to start work at 7:30 am.
We worked with Ellen Avery who was the main cook for the camp and Jennie McLennan who was pastry cook. our pay cheques came at the end of the 2 months of summer. We were paid $200. for the summer with a $50. bonus. Our pay included our lodging and food. Camp food was excellent. The campers were very well fed and desserts Jenny made could have won prizes! After the evening meal, a sign-song usually got under way and ended with the singing of the Camp Inawendawin song.
Inawendawin Inawendawin…lovely refuge in the Northland We will return again To stand here hand in hand Inawendawin We know that time will never change you The greatest camp that’s ever been Inawendawin We love Inawendawin We all hope to come again To dear old Inawendawin
Camp Inawendawin offered the girls swimming, canoeing, surfing, horse-back riding, overnight camping, crafts, drama and everything else a camper would enjoy. The campers cabins all had names and each week a cabin was chosen as best camper cabin for its neatness. Cabin names included Bob Inn, Bo Out, Sleepy Hollow. Our staff cabin had as its name Hollow Log. The name Inawendawin conjures up many happy summer memories of days and nights spen at camp on Paint Lake near Dorset.
Fond memories remembered by Lorna Cassie – Bywater