1998

DEDICATION OF NEW TRIP SHACK GETS "IN TENTS"
HERK COOPER "PACKS" 'EM IN:
by Ma Lee Zyland

Tamakwa's Canoe Trip program last summer began with a dedication ceremony of the new Trip Shack. Besides being a test run for cramming the entire camp into the expanded Trip departure area, camp was treated to a nostalgic stroll down trail mix lane. Guest of honour was Gerald "Herk" Cooper -- former Trip Director from the 60's, neighbor from Smoke Lake, and dad of current Tamakwans Rebecca & Mark. Herk addressed the camp with these words:

Herk: Canoe Tripping can be "in tents".

Anybody who has paddled Smoke Lake against the wind or walked the Ink Lake portage -- whether on the first day of a trip when the pack feels as if it weighs 100 pounds or on the last day of a long trip when you're trying to get in by rest hour -- knows what an accomplishment canoe tripping from Camp Tamakwa is.

Tripping is much the same now as when I first saw the old trip shack, which this building replaces, over 35 years ago. There are differences though. As a tripper in 1963 pre-camp, I remember flipping, carrying and water-testing every black cedar strip canoe in camp, looking for the lightest and driest for use on trips. Today you mostly use Grummans; the weight is always the same and the canoes are more or less dry.

In those days, we trippers repaired the holes with shirt cloth and whittled plugs using heated pine gum as the glue.

Back then only Red & Green Cap swimmers were required to wear life jackets on trips. Today everyone takes them -- and wears them -- Right?

Back then there were no women trippers; this year there are more women than men.

This brings me to the new trip shack itself. We used to trip with tin cans. Tinned tuna and salmon or spam for lunch. Irish stew for dinner. Carnation milk in tins. Tinned peaches, pears and fruit cocktail for dessert. The trip shack held all the canned supplies and of course the day stuff -- Gumperts was the manufacturer -- Trip Lite punch, hot chocolate, powdered eggs, soups...the stuff was disgusting. No wonder in my first year as a tripper I lost 25 pounds.

The trip shack also held those life jackets, packs and what we called Big Bertha Tents...9 man canvas jobs that weighed a ton when they were wet...and never dried out. You had to cut a ridge pole for the top and two cross poles for the ends at each campsite.

I dedicate this building to all Camp Tamakwa canoe trippers, campers and staff -- in the past, present and in the future -- who leave from these trip docks to paddle and portage in the park. Its an experience and an accomplishment you never forget and its best done from right here.

Finally, I want to return something to Tamakwa which, with permission of Ken Elder, I removed during the 60th reunion when Vic & Dave told me the trip shack was being taken down to be replaced by this new building. It's part of the counter from the old trip shack and it has a bit of Tamakwa history recorded on it. Maybe it can be hung on the wall in the new building as yet another plaque. Enjoy.