Camp Alumni

Memories from the 1960's

Camp Ho Mita Koda in 1967
Shared by: Keith Davis

"My name is Keith Davis. I was diagnosed type 1 on May 15, 1954, my third birthday!!! I attended Camp Banting in Canada from 1960 til 1970.

In 1967, four campers were selected from Camp Banting (which is located on the western shores of the Ottawa River in the province of Ontario, Canada) to go a FOREIGN camp - Ho Mita Koda. The other three Canucks were, Ralph Manore, Marg O'Neill, and Margaret Conroy. I was 13 years old and my first time out of Canada - actually the first time out of my neighbourhood!!!!

We flew from Ottawa, Ontario to Cleveland, Ohio. On arrival, the Camp Director met us and asked us what type of chocolate bar we would like. What a shock. Even more shocking were all the colourfully dressed women in their cork high heels in the lobby. I was only 13 and a country bumpkin so I did not know they were working girls!!!

All my memories of Camp are great especially sports, raiding the girls cabins (shhhh), midnight treks in the countryside, the camaraderie and on and on... Two names that stand out in my memories are CORKY and Sue Lorraine also known as Gigunza.

For any younger campers that are worried about their future health.......DON"T. Eat well (smart), get your eight hours of sleep a night, and exercise daily. I still play competitive BBall twice a week and our one league has had us as Champions two years in row."