It is so exciting to think that, this summer, Nyoda will have a brand new Infirmary and Craft Room! Not too long ago, the idea of completely rebuilding these beloved spots seemed like a far-away dream. But here we are, thanks to a collaborative Nyoda effort, involving the Farmhouse Team, current Nyoda campers, counselors and their families, and our incredible alumnae.
And, while we´ll heartily “Give a Cheer” once the project is fully completed, there is a certain nostalgia in having said good-bye to those dear old buildings, so long a part of Nyoda´s history. Many members of the Nyoda family were eager to share their memories of the old Infirmary and the old Craft Room so, without further ado, we now share them with you!
Memories of the old Infirmary, from Nyoda Alumnae:
“Akanta was my first summer at camp, and in the middle of my three weeks, I came down with a bad virus with the usual symptoms. But this time it was a doozy. With a high fever, exhaustion, and feeling so weak, I begrudgingly and very nervously went to Lee for help. She made a comfortable place for me in the scary infirmary bedroom, and I slept there for 23 hours straight except for when she awakened me occasionally to check in, or give me fluids, or let me know that she had touched base with my mom. I was so young and had been so scared of this infirmary and it´s back rooms. And I remember settling myself back to sleep in the infirmary bedroom thinking that this was all so strange. The room that I had thought was so creepy was actually such a relief, and actually quite beautiful in its simplicity. Lee couldn´t have known this, but I had had such a tough year at home before that summer. My relationship with my parents was a disaster when they dropped me off at camp. And Lee was practically a stranger to me, and yet she cared for me with such tenderness and compassion. It was a remarkable experience for me. Though I didn’t realize it at the time, I think that was when I began to correct the false narrative that I had created in my head, that I was bad or unworthy or generally broken, and that all adults would see that about me and reject me. That summer was so influential in getting me back on track, and I think that moment in the infirmary contributed to that in a big way. I think about that infirmary experience a lot, actually, in my life as a mom. But if I asked Lee about it, she would probably say that it was really more about being a human of God than about being a daughter or mother. And I think that’s probably more accurate.” Jess Wajbel Roer – Tia 1996
“It’s amazing that such a small action in a quick moment has had such a lasting impact on my life. I remember running into the poles by the swings during a “Big S” and I thought I broke my face. Later, I felt so awful and Lee tried to get me to take medicine and I refused, saying that I was unable to swallow pills. And she said, “Sure you can!” I have never once since that day had any trouble swallowing pills. And I think about it, and her, almost daily when I take my vitamins, or anytime I have to swallow any kind of pill.” Meg Marsh Johnston – Tia 1996
“Like many Nyoda girls, I learned to swallow a pill at one of Lee’s M&M pill swallowing clinics outside the infirmary. My first year in Wapomeo I was too scared, so I sat on the sidelines, watching and sneaking M&Ms as others faced their fear. My second year I went exclusively for the M&Ms, but eventually the group convinced me to try swallowing one – and I did it!” Liz Bershad – Tia 2004
“I vividly remember learning to swallow a pill with Lee Cooper on the porch! In Oececa, a small pill was a tall order and I was scared, but after many M&M tries and words of encouragement, I learned a new life skill! And, of course, I received the famous Council Fire award (with poem below) to prove it! Cate Gropper – Tia 2007
M&Ms they swallowed with water,
They weren’t really sure that they oughta.
Now they’ll bring home a skill,
That will bring mom a thrill,
To show they can swallow a pill!”
“One of my infirmary memories was watching my sister learn to swallow a pill. This was the early nineties, so no M&Ms, no Council Fire award, just a very reluctant little Beth (Kupin Cranston, Tia 1999), sitting on that rickety bench by the side of the bed, mouth full to bursting with water and a Tylenol that had probably already dissolved into a bitter, pulpy mess. Suddenly, Lee, who had been encouraging her from across the room, jumped up from her chair and pushed her back onto the bed – she was so surprised that she swallowed everything in her mouth: both the water and the pill! And then, of course, we all just about died laughing. I will never forget Lee pouncing at her from across the room, or the look of utter shock on Beth’s face, which quickly turned to pride (and relief!) when she realized she had finally done it!” Anna Kupin – Tia 1993
“I remember one night Lisa was having some tummy troubles, so Cindy sent her down to see Lee, and I went along as her buddy. Lee checked her out and decided Lisa needed to learn the best “passing gas position.” It was a little embarrassing though—chest down, knees tucked in, butt in the air—so to make her feel comfortable, we all three did it together. We were all laughing hysterically and then it worked! Well, Lisa was the only one who it worked for, or at least that’s how I’m telling it.” Cara Marcous – Tia 1990
“All my time at camp, I only had to stay in the infirmary once. It was the day after Visiting Day. I was a counselor and my parents had left some stuff for me and, being an idiot, I didn’t refrigerate it. So, basically, I gave myself food poisoning. Lee and Molly took such great care of me! I was so glad they were there!” Laura Holloway – Tia 1986
“I can’t believe no one has mentioned pink eye!! Camp was the first place I had ever heard of it, and if you got it, it was almost as though you had the plague. I had it once, and had to go early in the morning for eye drops, often waking up Lee, who was asleep on the back porch. Peggy MacDonald Kenrick (Tia 1988) and I also got double swimmers ear, and both had to take a trek with Lee in the green Subaru to the doctor for meds. Then, of course, swimmers ear drops – the line every morning…” Brenda Lally Herman – Tia 1988
“How about Lee´s talks at sing, advising us all to “air it all out” at night (meaning no undies to bed)?!” Leslie Kaugher Brow – Tia 1989
“The cockeye twins!!!” Peggy MacDonald Kenrick – Tia 1988
“The copperhead talk!” Jenn Nisivoccia Wright – Tia 1988
“I was a homesick mess my first two out of three weeks. I had gone to Frost Valley the summer before, and had an awful co-ed experience. Lee just kept telling me how different it was with all girls, and that Nyoda was the place for me. My third week was the best week ever, but I probably would have given up without Lee. She’s tough as nails, but with a huge heart.” Julie Nevin – Tia 1989
“My first year of camp was Actatci. My parents somehow thought visiting day was on Sunday instead of Saturday… I remember running down to the infirmary so no one would see me getting upset. I burst out crying when I got down there, and Lee had me call them, and then they were on their way. She said “we’re all family”. When they finally got there, we had pizza and it was all good. But Lee and Ginny comforted me – Lee was there hugging me and showing me so much love.” Reneé Polite Perma – Tia 1989
Memories of the old Infirmary, from our wonderful Nyoda Nurses:
“I am going to miss the old infirmary. It was cozy and full of charm. The three years that I spent sleeping there were fun. But I have to tell you that I won’t miss waking up in the middle of the night and colliding into the wall unit; because the floor had a downward pitch. Every time I was woken from a sound sleep, I would be surprised and unbalanced and, with the pitch in the floor, I always fell into the bookshelf! I had more bruises on me then the girls after a game of capture the flag!” Maria Barisciano Peluso – Nyoda Nurse (2016 – present)
“One summer I was plagued by wasps in the infirmary and my room. I finally found the nest right outside the window of the toilet. Greg, being Greg, gave me some sort of power spray wasp killing can, and told me to have at it. Having never used one in my life, I pointed, aimed, and it fired like a flamethrower, scattering a mass of very angry wasps in all directions and annihilating their nest. Naturally, I chose to do this during rest hour, but somehow my screams did not bring anyone running… My other memorable event was the night after Akanta returned from their overnight to Wayway [Waywayanda State Park]. It started with Margaret throwing up at 03:00 and coming down to stay for the night. This was followed by every other Akanta camper vomiting over the next 24 hours. I was putting them in the Farmhouse, the counselor cabin, and sending them home (with their heads over trash bags in the backs of their parents´ cars!). Hayley’s piece de resistance was vomiting right in the middle of the room and then bursting into tears! I was close to joining them myself by that point, but fortunately we managed to contain it to Akanta and their counselors, and after 48 hours I was able to sanitize the place and it never came back!” Tracy Prior – Nyoda Nurse (2004 – 2011)
“The infirmary was [initially] a chicken coop next to the Farmhouse. In the early days, before the Dining Room was built, the [old] Craft Room was where campers had their meals, which were prepared in the Farmhouse kitchen…because that was the only kitchen at camp. The roof was put onto that Dining Room [what was later the old Craft Room], and the infirmary and the storage room, at the same time.”
Regarding her feelings about working as the camp nurse: “I loved it! I loved the girls and I loved nursing, and I wish that I had been a nurse from the very beginning!” Lee Cooper – Nyoda Nurse (Basically Forever)
Memories of the old Craft Room, from Nyoda Alumnae:
“I have a soft spot for the old Arts ´n Crafts Room. I completely understand it needed a re-do (and definitely the infirmary, too) but having been an Arts ´n Crafts counselor for three years, I had such fun down there, not to mention my life as a camper – I spent all my days there! I wasn’t the most athletic girl, but I did enjoy a good tie-dye or God´s eye, and I definitely made my parents a TON of name tags for visiting day when the button machine came out! I wasn’t the best artist by any means, but it was such a fun, social, colorful place, and the bonus was getting out of the sun on hot days! As a counselor, I remember Jill Kuncken (Reynolds, Tia 1995) and I would hide snacks in the “supplies room” (I feel like we used to call it something else, but can’t remember now). It was so dark in there, but also definitely a lot cooler on those hot days. I also remember being super weird and eating the raw pasta we would have for collages…why?! Yelling “DON’T RUN DOWN THE HILL” was a constant, but thankfully I don’t recall anyone actually falling down that hill – there’s a reason the infirmary is so close! I also remember making the mural on the door of the supplies room on Change Day…umm…in 1997? That was such a fun time! Lastly, I still say “Skissors”…!” Danielle Tandet – Tia 1996
“My favorite thing in the Craft Room was always tie-dye! Wasn’t that everyone’s favorite? By Oececa, I was bringing a whole bag of white clothes to camp every summer to tie-dye. I proudly wore those tie-dyes all year round. Nyoda always brought out my inner hippie – peace, love and bug juice – so tie-dye felt like the right style to match. To this day I still love to tie-dye, and even organized a tie-dye event with my friends last summer.” Liz Bershad – Tia 2004
