The sleep-away camps of the 1950s and ‘60s sound like the stuff of fond nostalgia – a secluded outdoor paradise of boats, sports, and horseback riding. But Ted Sergi, president and CEO of the Connecticut Science Center, is mindful of the less-fun aspects, too.
“It was a lot of work,” Sergi remembers, and he would know. He started out as a dishwasher at Camp Woodielake in West Copake, N.Y. at age 12, and worked there until the age of 21.
Sergi landed his first job through family connections: his brother was the camp bugler. But between playing “Revelle” and “Taps” for the campers, Sergi’s brother took on dishwashing duties as well. He suggested Sergi come in as the dishwasher’s assistant.
Twelve-year-old Sergi operated the dishwashing machines after the 160 campers and staff finished their meals. When he wasn’t working, he could scamper off and enjoy camp. As a kid from Queens, camp was a chance to get out of the city for eight weeks in the summer, plus earn $10 a week for dishwashing.
“The camp experience did a lot for my independence and responsibility,” he said. “If I didn’t rinse those dishes, I’d have a problem.”
Just the fact of being away from home, without parents, had a big effect on every kid there, Sergi said. You were in charge of doing your own laundry, making your bed, cleaning tents and restroom facilities. It was “rustic,” he said. Everyone slept on thin mattresses and kept their belongings in footlockers.
“I fixed a lot of plumbing with electrical tape, a hammer and big nails – it was a stripped-down place,” he said.And because it was simply expected that kids would pretty much look after themselves, most rose to the occasion.
“It was a place that nurtured young people,” Sergi recalled. “There was a real absence of cliques or bullying.”
Sergi moved up the ranks to become a camp counselor, eventually becoming head counselor at age 18. He oversaw movie nights, basketball games, boating, and of course, countless games of capture the flag. At 21, he wound up as director of the camp – and he brought his new wife back with him. The two of them ran the camp during that first summer of their marriage. Luckily, Sergi’s wife was the outdoor-type, a veteran of Girl Scout camps herself. She was even more enthusiastic about certain aspects of camp than Sergi himself. In fact, she’d do the polar bear plunge into the freezing-cold lake at 6:30 a.m., while Sergi stayed back on shore.
It was a good summer; but the pair were both teachers aiming for higher education degrees, so it proved to be their first and last stint as camp co-directors. Following his career at camp, Sergi became a public school teacher and taught high school math in Bristol for four years. Years later, in 1994, he was named the state’s top educator, appointed the commissioner of the state Department of Education, where he remained until 2003 when he retired. Shortly thereafter, he took the helm of the Connecticut Science Center effort.
Although Sergi won’t be leading every tour of school children who come through the science center’s doors, his work experience means he’d likely be perfectly at home corralling a young mob. “The more you expect of young people, the more they’ll respond,” he said.
MY FIRST DOLLAR
Reader response:
“I went to Woodielake from 1952-58. Loved it! Owner was Marian Fern Moffet. Head counselor was Don Patterson of North Carolina. Horse guy was Henry Appel. I managed to find it about 10 years ago and the visit was a spiritual experience. Thanks to all who made the place so important to us kids of the 50s.” — Dave Broad, North Georgia College
“I also went to Woodielake, and I remember you from the 50’s and early 60’s.” — Bruce Levy
