Camp Utada

Camp Logo on a bandanna

     I stayed in contact with the Utah guys following the youth leadership conference. I was a senior in high school, and still going to the PA teen weekends. But I enjoyed the weekends so much, I wanted to see what it was like for diabetic camps in other parts of the country. And I used to ski, so when one of the guys asked if I wanted to come to camp out there, to a ski weekend at camp UTADA (Utah-ADA) this sounded like a perfect camp to check out. I'd finally get to see if the magic at the PA weekends was a universal thing or unique to us.

     It was the winter of 95-96, a record snow fall year for our part of PA. I remember, thanks to the snowdays, we were in school until mid June- a feat not easily attainable for the time. Needless to say, the depth of snow was not as grand out in Utah that winter, and I remember the piles of snow at the airport in Allentown were much higher than Utah, and the skiing quality was also much better back home thanks to the seasonal fluke. But I was not really going out there for the skiing.

     I remember being picked up at the airport by Dave, one of the camp directors, and the leader of the Utah clan at the YLC. We stopped by a Subway before making the treacherous journey to the cabin, Camp Kiesel, in the South Fork Canyon where the camp was located. Since we don't have mountains quite like the Rockies back east, I was in awe of the unfinished roads, and the lack of a guide rail, and the plunge to your death steepness of the cliffs. We bounced along the gravel trail leading to the cabin, pulling over where able to allow approaching or faster cars by. If they did have snow like we did in PA, I fear the roads may not have been accessible.

Me outback and up the hillside behind the main hall

     Although it was only 20 years ago, it was a fast-paced visit, and a whilrwind of new names and faces, so I do not remember all that much. Here are a few highlights:

• Although the snow was not that fresh or as well groomed as the natural snow back home was, I took the most pleasure using the rental skiis and going off trail, where the powder was thicker and real
• I did not make any long-time friends, but I remember having to stay over a night at a Mormon family's house before I flew back home (cannot remember if it was a counselor or camper's family). I remember there not being any soda, and the big, fun evening involved making popcorn. There were not many Mormons in Quakertown.
• I remember there being a dance, which is always a crapshoot with a group of kids getting together on occasion for a short couple of days. I'm sure they all knew each other much better than I knew any of them, so it probably made sense. The DJs also played the new 311 tune that I kinda liked at the time, Don't Stay Home. 
• During free time, I liked wandering around the camp grounds, the canyon was very pretty, and the weather was relatively mild for mid January
• I remember trying to fit in, but never really accomplishing it, with the cliques that existed out there. As an outsider, it was very interesting to see and be forced into universal social structures.
• I had my walkman with me, and remember I had just bought Ben Folds Five's first album for the trip out based on a CMJ music monthly recommendation of the song Underground. It was a worthwhile purchase.
• Although I was not blown away by the camp, and did not cement any long lasting friendships over the short 3 days, I could see the parallels as a camper and the friendly dynamics.

Camp Rules and Procedures.