Rebecca Howard March 9, 2010 08:36:10 (EDT)

I would love to hear from anyone who was at the camp in the the mid to late 50s when the Lyons family owned it. I can still remember many of the camp songs, and I still have my red sweater with the awards on it. My little granddaughter loves to hear me explain each badge. Minne Wonka was a... (more)

Ellen (Melon ) Roos March 3, 2010 19:51:40 (EDT)

I was a camper from '57 - 61. I still get a lump in my throat when I think of the final campfire - the line of girls walking down to the exquisite amphitheater - candles lit on the birch bark holders. It was the unspoken sense of the sacred that was so present amongst the pines, the birch, the... (more)

Cindy Peifer Pelizza December 28, 2009 17:51:29 (EDT)

Hello-- I, too, was in Windsong, but it was in 1964. I met Mariyn, from St. Louis, at the University of Arizona in 1969. Barbara McNair, from Evanston was a cabin mate, as well as, Mary Record, Margaret McKeowin, Kit Davis,and Martha Dee. There are many more, but I only went there for one summer.... (more)

Bruce R. Maier October 31, 2009 19:50:48 (EDT)

I would love to hear from campers and counselors that shared the fantastic Minne Wonka Lodge ecosystem with me. I have a huge array of pictures from the canoe trips I led and also from camp life in general.

Bruce R. Maier October 31, 2009 19:21:55 (EDT)

I was a Campmaster during the Lyons era 62-64. Dusty was a dear friend for 49 years. We opened and closed camp...and literally split a ton of firewood together. Dusty cared for my summer house on 4-Mile Lake for 35 years but that pales as compared to his inate kindness.... and his love of the... (more)

Kalinka Carnow October 28, 2009 16:26:56 (EDT)

Wow! This site is great! Hi everyone! MWL is still a hugh part of my heart. I think of the people, sights and sounds in some way every day. I live in Seattle and when it rains here with the ground all covered with pine needles it even smells like it! I love it... My sister Tina is well and living... (more)

Ashley Thomas October 27, 2009 13:03:54 (EDT)

My name is Ashley and I grew up in what used to be the main lodge of Camp Minne Wonka. My parents have now owned the place for 23 years and have done a beautiful job restoring it. It is very cool that there is a website where fellow campers are able to conversate. I love to hear of the... (more)

Carol McNair October 25, 2009 09:34:23 (EDT)

The movie Paddle to Seattle may be of interest to Minne Wonka girls. Here's the trailer: http://www.dudesonmedia.com/PADDLE_TO_SEATTLE.html

Mary (Mutzie) Harms Weir September 28, 2009 13:19:31 (EDT)

Is there anyone out there old enough to have attended MWL in the late 40's and early 50's? During the Lyon's regime?

William Mericle July 23, 2009 00:22:47 (EDT)

Hello Minne Wonka-ites. First of all, thanks to all of you who wrote me your memories of my sister, Karen Mericle, who passed away several years ago (I posted on this site back in 2006 -- how time flies!). And sorry if I didn't reply to you personally. My bad. Anyway, I am actually here in... (more)

Holly Wachs O'Connell July 12, 2009 23:24:36 (EDT)

If anyone knows anything of Molly Jo (Midgie) Beasley, a counselor from 1959-1961 or so, I would really like the info! Also, does anyone know anything about Evelyn "Paddle" Patillo? She was a canoeing counselor then. Any responses would be appreciated!

Holly Wachs O'Connell July 12, 2009 08:40:31 (EDT)

I have just gotten in touch with long lost cabinmates from the early 60's because of this message board! How wonderful! Is Tom Libby by any chance the counselor who was at MWL at that time? All of us in Windsong were in love with him!!!!

Bill Lewis July 8, 2009 11:24:56 (EDT)

Tom Libby is visiting Rose and me for a few days. As expected some MWL talk, and happy memories of trips, campfires, friends.

I remember some of the newer names on this posr - Timmy and Debbie Dick. Amazing that so many people seek out MWL all these years later.

Debbie Dick Swan July 6, 2009 14:27:49 (EDT)

Wow! Talk about a blast from the past! I just got a letter from Timmy (Charlene Timothy) and she included in it this website and messages from both Ann Wham Gerwin and Holly Wachs O'Connell. I too, loved my years at Minne Wonka, and have often thought how much fun it would be to go back and see... (more)

Mary Dee July 5, 2009 10:35:04 (EDT)

Dear Sue,Charlene,Ann,and whoever is interested,
There is a large MWL group formed that I am sure you would be interested in. Check out this site.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MWLGirls/
Mary Dee (Kirchoff now)
Camper 67-70
CIT 71-72
Counselor 73-75

Ann Wham Gerwin June 29, 2009 10:32:34 (EDT)

I spent three wonderful summers 1957-59 at MWL and to this day am transported back by the smell of a wood fire or pine needles. I would love to go back to visit the site and to attend a reunion if there is another one. Campers I remember so well are Charlene "Timmy" Timothy, Holly Wachs, Babs... (more)

Charlene Timothy June 27, 2009 21:27:10 (EDT)

Sorry I missed the reunion. My brother just found the web site. Tonight Ann Wham and I were reviewing pictures of our time there. I spent 11 yrs as a camper, CIT and Counselor at Minne Wonka. Saw the message from Holly and would like to hear from anyone who was a camper with me. I was there... (more)

Sue Conkey May 14, 2009 13:50:01 (EDT)

A close friend found this Website for me, remembering I've often said I wish I could figure out just where Minne Wonka was. I was a counselor (drama) there in '71. I remember all the Hannas and Benny. The other names I'm reading here aren't ringing a bell, although I was looking through pretty... (more)

Mara Graham Dworsky March 13, 2009 22:13:39 (EDT)

I am so glad to have found this website. I have Googled Minne Wonka repeatedly hoping to send my girls there. What happened to the camp. I went there from '72 through '76. I feel as if so much of my childhood memories are there. The woods, the songs, the raspberries! I cannot believe it is... (more)