vintage | Inside the Designers Studio

Back to basics. Isn’t that what summer camp is all about? This past weekend was visiting day at Camp Nyoda, one of the oldest all-girl summer camps in America. Our daughter is a first time camp counselor, after being a camper for 6 weeks a summer the past 8 years. Camp Nyoda is still run the same way it was back when it was founded in 1917. No cell phones, no laptops, no facebook, no twitter. During the week, mornings start off with the camp bugler blowing revelry. Breakfast as well as most meals are served on picnic tables in the rustic dining hall and then it’s off for a full day of a variety of activities. Campers learn life lessons in a supportive environment that encourages independence, personal growth and life-long friendships.

Camp Nyoda (circa 1920′s). It still looks remarkably the same today except for the vintage bathing suits.

I needed to augment the virtual collection of vintage camp paraphernalia I rounded up for this article, so I thought I’d take a stroll around camp, visit some bungs (camp slang for bungalows) and see how the campers decorated their summer home. Here’s a compilation of what I found…

Vintage Cold Flyte Icebox. Use as a serving table, extra seating, storage chest, bottle opener, or an icebox. Found on Esty – $75.00

There are seven bungalows at Camp Nyoda, each with its own name and age group. Leyla (entering 6th grade) was in the bung named “Oececa” this summer for three weeks. Every summer, each bung designs their own plaque for posterity.
Oececa 2012 Plaque – Priceless

Vintage Popcorn Popper. Makes for fun cottage decoration and functional around the campfire too! Found on Esty - $28.00

Behind the Oececa bung is an outdoor lavatory (sans toilet) they share with an adjacent bung. Four (4) sinks for up to 28 girls and all their “stuff” – Priceless

Framed Vintage Bathing Suit. 1920s/30s Womens Gantner & Mattern Co. of San Francisco navy and cream flapper one piece. Found at Petrie Point Designs – $1650.00

Nearly 100 years of bungalow plaques adorn the walls of Camp Nyoda’s dining room. Oececa 1959 Plaque (pictured on the right) – Priceless

That concludes our summer camp / vintage decor round-up. Summer is now winding down. In a few short weeks, we’ll be moving our oldest son into his freshman dorm. While it’s exciting he’s moving on to higher education, we shouldn’t underestimate the value of our daughter’s summer education.

1st year tuition, room and board at GW University – $56,700.00
1st summer as camp counselor developing values like teamwork, acceptance, and lasting self-esteem – Priceless

Back to basics indeed!