You will enjoy this book about Camp Nebagamon
KEEPING THE FIRES BURNING
A History and Memoir of Camp Nebagamon
By Nardie and Sally Lorber Stein“We drew on our combined 134 years of experience at Nebagamon and decided to buckle down and put our beloved institution’s history down on paper! For 2 ½ years we wrote, researched, interviewed, invited some guest writers, pretty much lived and breathed the book – and now it’s ready for you, the reader!”….Nardie & Sally
344 pages chock full of history, anecdotes,
and over 260 pictures
And PS – Don’t forget to order copies for your father, son, brother, uncle, sister, mother, friend – anyone who treasures his/her memories of Camp Nebagamon. What a great birthday, Christmas, Chanukah (whatever you celebrate) gift for a treasured friend or relative.
…Want a little taste of what’s inside the book?
Table of Contents
Preface and Acknowledgments
Part I: The People
1. Muggs and Janet Lorber, the Founders
2. The Staff and Some of Their Stories
3. The Campers and Some of Their Stories
4. Women at Camp Nebagamon: From the Kitchen to the Boundary Waters
5. Nebagamon Parents
- 1936 Rec Hall with no porches
Part II. The Site
6. The Land and Buildings
7. Caretakers: The Stewards of Camp
Part III. The Program
8. The Evolution of Camp’s Program
9. The Program: Daily, Weekly, and Once-a-Summer
10. Camp Traditions
11. Wilderness Tripping and Some Stories
12. Spiritual Aspects of Camp
13. Singing, Shows, and the Follies
14. Family Camp
15. Other Camps Nebagamon Ran
1960 camp train departs
Part IV. Under the Tip of Iceberg and More Stories
16. Camper Enrollment and Winter Recruiting Trips
17. Food and Food Service People
18. Camper Travel to and from Camp
19. Diversity at Camp
20. The Business of Camping and the Impact of Technology
21. Medical Care and Stories
22. Camp Crises
23. Camp and Village Relations
24. Thorny Issues
25. Hoaxes
26. NebagaDogs
27. Giving Back and Connecting
Part V. Reflections
28. Friendships
29. Reflections of One Lucky Guy: Nardie Remembers
30. Three-Quarters of a Century at Camp Nebagamon: Sally Remembers
Glossary of Nebagawords
{ 24 comments… read them below or add one }
I have just finished reading Keeping the Fires Burning from “bow to stern” so to speak. It reminded me how important CN has been to our family and how many wonderful friendships and memories we formed there. I encourage everyone who has a love for Camp Nebagamon to read it and return to those wonderful days of fun, growth and freedom to be.
I have waited for this book for 33 years, and finally it is here–a loving and detailed history of the institution that, more than any other, formed my character as an adult. Nardie and Sally, you have done a stupendous job, and we current and former campers and counselors–and all whose lives Nebagamon has touched–are deeply in your debt. You have made a beloved part of our lives come alive again in your pages. Twenty bucks plus postage has never brought so much value. Thank you!
Hey! I cannot wait for the book to come to my house! I just got home from camp and it should be really awesome to read about the history of camp! As a camper for my third year this year, I got to experience things I did not get to do in the past two summers. KTFB
I just got my copy of the book, and instantly, I was hooked. Just browsing the pages and seeing all those familiar faces made me nostalgic to get back to camp stat (and I get to go every summer!). My first summer at Camp Nebagamon was 1987, when I was a kid growing up on the Range. I eventually came back as the director of riflery, and many of my truest friendships and fondest memories go hand in hand with experiences I had at the rifle range, craft shop, waterfront, and upper diamond. Any kid–big or small, boy or girl–who is lucky enough to go to CN is in for a lifetime of lasting memories, lessons, and fun. Can’t wait to keep reading… KTFB
The 14 summers I have spent at Camp Nebagamon have been the best summers of my life. At a recent reunion my family (Goldman’s and Riven’s) tallied it up and figured out that we have spent over 100 summers in the Northwoods. I have worked with youth in my career for ten years. Of all the places I have been Camp Nebagamon is the most natural place for children, teens, and adults to live and be together. I can’t wait to show camp to my wife and can’t wait to read this book. KTFB!!!
As the unofficial historian of the Village of Lake Nebagamon I know that without the original Weyerhaeuser Lumber Camp immortalized by Camp Nebagamon for Boys, its founders-Muggs and Janet, then Nardie and Sally, and those who followed, the Wallensteins and Kaplans, the Village of Lake Nebagamon would be a lonely and lifeless place. It is so gratifying to have that history in a wonderful book for all the world to read and enjoy. The Village of Lake Nebagamon owes so much of its prosperity to Camp Nebagamon, its founders, subsequent leaders, staff and kids. It has put the name “Nebagamon” in a prominent place all over the world and we are very grateful,
What a wonderful thing for Nebagamon (both camp and village) to have this history written down. Camp Nebagamon has contributed so much to Lake Nebagamon both historically and economically. The Camp Nebagamon “family” has been like family for so many years. My 86 year old mother, Imogene McGrath, was delighted to be included in their campfire cookouts right up until the summer before she died!
As an author, I am aware of how difficult it is to produce a book. More than that, I know how challenging it is to get people to READ it. But not this one. I know this because I was a camper and counselor at Nebagamon for eight years in the ’70s and ’80s and have been a family camper off and on since 1974. My most vivid memories of childhood are from my summers in the North Woods — and I revisit those memories (and that place) as often as possible. So I can’t imagine NOT reading “Keeping the Fires Burning.”
As a recent camper and counselor, I am incredibly excited to get my hands on this book. Nebagamon has both changed dramatically since the beginning and stayed timeless. It’s that dichotomy that continues to make Nebagamon special. Furthermore, it’s a chance to see a whole bunch of photos from the archives. Straight from people who know and love Camp so much, this book is quite special. Thank you, Nardie & Sally, for creating it.
While I see everyone’s words of praise, all I can think of is a complaint. What took you so long? I’m sure they’ll say it’s the wading through 80 years of history, or the actual writing. But I suspect it was editing down a deserving 15,000-page first draft to 350. Either that, or the spell-checker kept breaking down at “Agikamik.”
As the Camp Family has grown over the decades and quietly permeated its way into all manner of nooks throughout society, I suspect that Camp Nebagamon is the world’s worst kept secret. I further suspect that this book will demonstrate why.
I spent 4 summers at camp in the early 50’s, lived in Baghdad these years since , and came back for visits to camp while my country was at war in 2005 and 2006. Now I live in Jordan.
Camp has been in my memories all these years. What a wonderful thing Sally & Nardie did in order to bring this book to life – and publish this long awaited magnificent memoir of Camp Nebagamon. We are all most eager to see it in final shape, and to reminisce with our camp brotherhood. There are so many anecdotes I remember, and new ones I want to read. CONGRATULATIONS, Steins, for the hard work & efforts you have expended. I feel like Nebagamon is such an important part of my life….Big How to Sally & Nardie.
Keep the Fires Burning………
Nardie and Sally:
For 54 years, I have been telling you Y. (ou’re) D. (oing)A.(a) G.(reat) J.(ob); E.(vrybody’s) T.(alking) (A.)bout (Y.)ou. . .and finally, it’s true.
LOOKING FORWARD TO READING THE BOOK. I REMEMBER SO FONDLY MY YEARS A CAMP 1959-63 AND ALL THE COUNSELORS AND CABIN MATES. A BIG “HOW” TO SALLY AND NARDIE!
What a magnificent memoir for all of us! It’ll be a true joy to relive the summers of 1944-1951 that played a most important role in shaping my life as an adult and at the same time I can renew the post camp memories with my parents. Thanks so much, Nardie and Sally
What could be better than a book to commemorate all those greats summers at Nebagamon? History is important and who better to write it than Sally and Nardie. Chris and I had the pleasure of reading a few early drafts of chapters last summer and it was just grand. We can’t wait to get our copy
As both a lover of Nebagamon and history, I’m doubly excited to buy this. Only one question, though–was at least the first draft written on a Radio Shack TRS-80 computer?
Wonderful! My father, Alan L. “Hoss” Mayer will take delight in walking down Memory Lane of this much beloved camp that he calls “his second home.” Applause to all who worked on this book of memoirs. Now, have you made plans for a second book in 2109?
Ug and Mugg join me in wishing you great success. We plan to make it the number one bestseller on the Yo Yo Islands! Bring back the Smorgasbord.
Keep the fires burning.
AK
The book is a labor of love from a couple who love Nebagamon more than any of us. Having been signed up for camp since the fall of 1929 Nebagamon, has always been a part of my life, as it has for many. It still is to this day.
We owe our gratitude to all of the camp family who have touched our lives and especially to Sally and Nardie for the herculean effort of putting it all down in print.
I can’t wait to order this book for my entire family! I think about you so often!
Let’s face it. This has been decades in the offing; everyone who has been touched by the CN experience will slaver over it, page & picture by page & picture. It’s all about memories, right?
How long can one hold breath, waiting for it to be born?
As directors of Camp Kamaji since 1980 we – with absolute certainty – credit our mentors, Sally and Nardie Stein, for helping us keep Kamaji alive!! With their steadfast support and encouragement in our early days of camp directorship, we were able to bring back the ‘magic’ of Kamaji which will celebrate it’s 100th summer in 2013!! We cannot wait to read “Keeping the Fires Burning” – no doubt there is still much we can learn from Sally and Nardie!
Thank you , Steins, for always being there – with your sage advice, your willingness to help, and your friendship!! How richer you’ve made our lives . . . and the lives of all you’ve touched in your years at the helm of Camp Nebagamon!!
After having spent six summers as a camper when the Steins directed Nebagamon, then another six working for them as directors, I could not be more excited to read about the history, stories, struggles, and triumphs of the place.
As one of the current directors of Nebagamon, I know that there will be much to glean from reading this lovingly and painstakingly written memoir.
Most importantly, I am just really hopeful that there will be nothing in that darn book that will let on to the Camp Family about all of the problems their current director caused in his younger days!
Thanks for putting the book together Sally and Nardie. Can’t wait to read it and share it with the Camp Family…
As a camp director who has known and been mentored by Nardie and Sally, and who loves Camp Nebagamon, I am thrilled to know that your stories and the stories of your camp are in a book, which I will cherish! You are inspirational!