Retro Stoked Stokes Trippers — Rumson-Fair Haven Retrospect

Stoked at Stokes in the 1970s
Photos/(left to right) Angela Carpenter, Doug Borden, Peter Mauger, Lisa Ericson

Every year, for more than half a century, Fair Haven sixth graders get stoked to go to Stokes State Forrest for a week of cabin camping and outdoor schooling and socializing. It’s a tradition.

And for the first time in more than half a century, the tradition has been broken due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Today would have been the day that the happy little campers came home from their post-Memorial Day week of adventure with classmates, teachers and parents.

So, we take a look back at some Stokes moments of bunking, hiking, pranking, do-se-doing your partner and all-around exploring back in the 70s, from youngsters to those high school counselors. Remember those?

There were RFH seniors chosen to be counselors, dubbed CATS. Each couple of CATs was assigned to teach/counsel sixth graders in their area of expertise. There were bug experts, hiking troopers, rowing aficionados, swimmers, and story tellers, dancers, singers and guitar players.

There was a square dancing night. And there was plenty of practice that ensued before it. What square dancing song stands out in your memory? And how about those campfire nights? Song always sung? How about the traditional story told? Who got lost in the woods with the compass/pathfinders class? Who was a CAT?