I’ve written before how the key factor in my management of diabetes was attending summer diabetic camp in Maryland called, Camp Glyndon.
The camp was founded by Dr. Abraham Silver, who was pretty ancient back then. Even with web searching could barely find any information on him, a nostalgic photo of him in 1958 published in a University of Maryland publication. Wow, he looked kind of old 12 years before I even met him in 1970.
But I know he had an infinite amount of care and concern for children with diabetes, and was vigilent about kids learning to be able to manage their own care, to do their own insulin shots. He had a kind of gruff exterior, and I recall one time, when I was more of a loud mouth teen-ager, when he tried to scare me by saying. “If you don’t straighten up your act, you’ll be blind by the time you are 25, and dead by 30”.
Happily, Dr, Silver was wrong on that one.
Not that his statement had any impact; I did the minimal amount of care uuntil ym late 20s, eating what I liked, and pretty mush just taking my daily insulin shot. I am lucky, as modern studies show every bit of good control extends your diabetic life.
It is disappointing I cannot even find any historical information on Camp Glyndon, it is not even in its original location, northwest of Baltimore, I think it is moved to Charles County at Camp Merrick.
In fact, at a high school reunionm one classmate told me he lives in a suburb that was built on the camp land.
I more or less grew up there going every summer from age 7 to 15, then being a counselor from 16-19, and had a lot of “firsts” there. That photo of me is maybe my first year there, getting my stuff dropped off. Check out those cool striped 1970s jeans I am sporting. Stylish, indeed.
There was so much fun activity then, sports, arts and crafts, swimming, campfires in the woods on “Mount Smokey”, Green and White Day, Sadie Hawkins Day, mail call… all that plus learning about living with diabetes,
I did find a photo on a site about the history of diabetes with the caption
Testing urine for sugar is a serious business for the young campers at Camp Glyndon, Maryland. WHO photo by J. Gordon, (Baltimore City Health Dep).
I don’t remember the kids in that photo, but I recognize the old shower/bathroom building we used to test our urine 4 times a day, each with our own labeled test kit and pee cup on the shelves. It was the old 10 and 2 method in a test-tube and a drop of Clinitest tablet, and hoping we got a blue color. It seems almost stone age.
Hi,
I accidently stumbled upon your blog here. I just wanted to tell you that I first attended Camp Glyndon in the summer of 1987, when I was four years old. It was still located in Reisterstown MD. This summer will be my 20th consecutive summer at Glyndon, and I am the Program Director for the first time. I was a camper for 13 years, a counselor for 6. We still call the camp “Glyndon” even though Lions Camp Merrick now houses the program. I have 1000’s of photos from over the years, several scrap books, and I even began making memory webpages. I have loved this program my whole life and it’s good to see a fellow Glyndoner who loved camp and everything it stands for as much as I do!
Just came across your blog and could not resist the urge to tell you that I feel exactly the same- there’s not enough info on the internet about the “old” Camp Glyndon- the one that was actually in Glyndon, MD- not the one on the Eastern Shore. I too was a repeat camper over several summers in the late 80’s and early 90’s and I would love to get back in touch with other fellow campers from that time period! Keep up the good work! I’ll keep your blog as a favorite and check back often…
Good luck!
-Polley
would have thought that all the laps from the dining hall to the mailbox and around the softball diamond at camp would have given you a good start on your life of running.
former camper/CIT/JC here in TN so far removed from that great time & place – keep promising myself to look for more info on sites to catch up with those with similar memories. guess this is a good place to start.
p.s. if it’s good enough for Forrest . . . .
Thanks for finding this site Brian, though it’s hardly a hoisting of the green and white flag! I’ll look into a proper place to host a catch up web site.
When were you at Glyndon?
I went there two or three times. I went there in 1977.
Hey, I was there in ’77! What bunkhouse where you in? (like I would really remember)!
Hello, Alan! This is Manny, from TuDiabetes.com. I learned about your blog because I have seen visits to TuDiabetes coming from here, but I don’t see where the link back to the site is… Sorry to bug with such a silly question.
Anyway: in case you aren’t aware of it, I want to invite you to join http://tudiabetes.com. It’s a growing global community for folks touched by diabetes. Lately there are many people who attended camps as children who have been joining too.
I find the comments to be very interesting. It gives me great pleasure to read about former Camp Glyndon campers. I was a very good friend of Dr. Silver and assisted him in the founding and building of Camp Glyndon for Dibetic Children. Dr. Silver’s first camp was off of Deer Park Road in Randalstown at a site that was a day camp for part of the summer.The session was short and the demand by many in need of a camp experience with Dr. Silver increased and we recognized it was necessary for more two week sessions. I with Ed Myerberg and Dr.Silver visited the Glyndon site and decided this was the place to build a camp for dibetic children. I could write more about my good friend Abe and some of the problems that were encountered in the early years like when the camp was vandalized one Easter Sunday.
Please write me at Gfairway.com if you wish more information. I will be happy to talk about my dedication to the camp. I was known by many as Uncle Gordon and I was the MC at many of the fund raisers at the Painters Mill Theater in Owings Mills.
My best wishes for good health and joys.
I also stumbled on this blog while researching Camp Glyndon. I was siting down with my son the other day, talking about my diabetes, when I told him some of my Camp Glyndon memories. I even found two years books one from 1979, andother form 1987. The small and green year books with black and white photos. I wen every summer from ’79 untill ’88. I also have a samll dull pin that reads “Camp Glyndon Badge of Bravery. I gave My Own Shot Today”.
I had a true impact on my life, and I looked forward to it every year. I felt like a part of my was gone when I found that Glyndon had been sold. I remeber where i was, or what cabin. redwood….oak..walnut….ring any bells?
anyone with memories, pictures, i’m at capemedic32@verizon.net. I can try to scan pictures from my year books if anyone is interested.
Shane Clark
Another “stumble” when researching camp glyndon! Hey Alan, I think I recognize you from that picture on your fist day at camp!
I had searched for some former campmates previously, only to discover they had passed away. Glad to see you are doing well. Oh, and I hate running too, but don’t subject myself to the torture. Glyndon camper, CIT and counselor from 1971-can’t recall…1979 I think was my last year. But I came back to visit since my brother was Asst Director. He keeps in touch with “uncle dan” and mickey, so I do hear that they are both doing well. There’s got to be someone out there who can design a site for the old green and white, isn’t there? Keep up the great work, and would love to hear from any and all former bunkmates. squidsdc@yahoo.com
Thank you Alan and everyone for posting to and constructing this sight. I was looking for some info on Camp Glyndon today and I too stumbled onto this blog. I am a huge fan of Camp Glyndon! I was a camper, CIT and counselor there, from 1988-1993. I was looking for info on Camp Glyndon because my co-worker’s daughter passed away this week, and she too was a camper at Camp Glyndon. In lieu of flowers, my co-worker’s family has asked that donations be made in her daughter’s memory to Camp Glyndon.
I tell you there is no place like Camp Glyndon, a place where you can go and not feel like you don’t have “I have diabetes” tattooed on your forehead, and even if you did have such a tattoo, that’s ok ’cause everybody has diabetes!
Cheers, Erika
I was there from 1976 thru 1982…last place I was in was Dogwood……Miss the campfire night…and Sadi Hawkins Day
I have a few yearbook still….
Hey – I was a camper there in 1974, a CIT in 1975 then a junior counsellor in 1976 and was intrigued to find your site. Didn’t know the ‘old CG’ had moved – I live in Scotland now so haven’t kept up. My daughter is also diabetic and the British Diabetic Association run 1 week camps for kids over here throughout the country as well as family weekends for the whole family to learn more about diabetes. Because of my experience at CG I convinced her to go to Abernethy (in the highlands) and she loved it!
I had a brilliant time at CG and have good memories of the place. Are ‘Uncle’ Dan and Dr Silver still alive?! And what about Lonnie the former Marine drill sergeant – he was the PT instructor – he was fantastic! I remember the old urine testing as well – my daughter moans about the 5 sconds blood test she does now – when I told her about the urine she just said ‘gross’. I have some pictures from my time there – can’t believe it’s been 34 years since I was first there. Spent the bicentennial summer of ’76 as a JC there – my first paying job! The senior camping trip was brill and the food from the campfire much better than the kitchen – sorry boys!
I’ve been fortunate – I had a kidney transplant in 1995 and then a pancreas-after-kidney (guinea pig – first successful in Scotland!) in 2003 so am no longer considered diabetic! Let’s hope they find a cure soon…and a big hello from anyone who remembers me…
Cheerio the noo! from bonnie Scotland
Kathy
I like most of the others above stumbled upon this site and reading the notes above I am flooded with memories most great (a few not so great) of the old Green and White. I was first a camper at Glyndon in 1982 and every summer until 1988 when I came back as a CIT. Then for the next 5 years I worked as a councelor and maintenance (does anyone remember Tom?). My older sister Michelle also worked at, and attended, camp.
Who else can still recall the song… Hey Camp Glyndon thats where we go… I know that the song was there long before I was.
Thanks for the memories. I loved camp Glyndon, and no mater where it is, in my heart it will always be a summer home away from home.
Wow, the Camp Glyndon-ers are coming out of the woodwork- I’ll look into setting up a Ning or Facebook group perhaps. My name memory neurons are dusty, but I know I was there!
Let’s see, Mike, I think parts of the song was
Hey Campy Glyndon, that’s where we go
Swimming, hiking, and ______ to an fro
Learning our A vegetables and our B ones too,
Camp GLyndon, we’re for you
Eeek, I am missing more.
Okay, for all former Campers, I just set up a “Hey Camp GLyndon” Facebook group:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=26427442066
Remember the Alba milkshakes, “The Grove” and the nasty bathrooms. Remember all the hikes and swimming every afternoon and who can forget the Green and White Day. I attended from 81 -86 then was a counselor for several more years. What memories!!!
I loved Camp Glyndon! I was a camper from 1981 to 1988. As was said by the other Erika (not me), it was the one place you felt “normal”…because everyone was giving shots and eating snacks all the time!
Still remember the song (or at least the version from the 80s):
Hey, Camp Glyndon, that’s where we go,
Swimming and hiking, they help us test real low.
We learn our exchanges, about insulin too,
Doctor Silver’s the one to thank, for a camp to go to!
Up in the morning, off on the run
Insulin and testing, they make it so much fun.
They teach us how to care for ourselves to last the whole year through
Camp Glyndon, we’re for you!!
Hi,
spent a wonderful summer 1988, working as a nurse in the small infirmary along with three other british nurses under the watchful eye of Tina a local RN. By day at the sports field, singing and raising the flag and by day testing all the great kids. Sad i can’t remember many names, seemed to remember a boy called Michael Himelfarb. Happy days indeed. hi to anyone who remembers me and best wishes to everyone else.
I was a camper at the original site when it was called Camp Medchi. Horrible place! One bathroom at the top of a hill and the cabins were at the bottom. When it rained hard, the water would flood into the cabins. I was one of the fortunate ones to break ground for Camp Glyndon in 1968. I still have my shovel. I was a camper for ten years from 1964 – 1974. I would love to hear from any campers or counselors from my era. Does anyone remember Uncle Dan? Aunt Bunny? The Markowitzes? The Boggses?
Hi Allison, you were probably in older kid session; my first summer was 1971 in one of those cabins at the bottom of the hill. It rained the first 3 days and I was miserable, but after that I was having a blast. Sure, we remember the Markowitz family- might Bruce be this lawyer? http://www.linkedin.com/pub/4/421/BB2
Wow! i have tears in my eyes reading all of these comments! noone can understand what camp glyndon means to a person unless they have experienced it themselves! i was a camper there starting in 1987, then i was a CIT, then a counselor, and i was lucky enough to be the first program director at the new sight until 2004. As wonderful and memeory filled as nanjemoy was, it was nothing compared to the late nights in the staff lounges, and the group back massages on the steps!!! And what about hte toxic mud puddle? I mean pond! Does anyone remember the smunchies? YUM! And yes, i remember Michaeil Himmelfarb-he was a counselor when i was a CIT.
Hi to all my old camp friends! Get in touch if you like!
Alan, Bruce is definitely a lawyer so I think you’ve found him! I ran into him once when he was working around the corner from me in downtown DC.
Allison, I was also at camp when you were there (1971 to 1979) but like Alan was in the younger folks’ cabins. It’s a real hoot to come back to this site and see all the former campers who have posted!
I often think of the many wonderful memories I experienced at Camp Glyndon. I consider myself very fortunate to have been the last camp director while the camp was located in Glyndon. While our last year on the gylndon property was stressful at times as I tried to maintain a normal camp program in the face of an uncertain future my staff and the campers were wonderful. At this time of year when we give thanks I am thankful for the campers, parents, and staff I was able to meet and make a connection with. I know my staff made a positive impact on the life of our campers during our six years together.
I too grew up at Camp Glydon. I attended from 1979 to 1982, in Reisterstown. I have several fond memories of alot of campers and staff (Uncle Dan, Uncle Lonnie, Bruce, Mickey, Sharon, Steve Rhodes, just to name a few). Swimming was my favorite activity, as well cannoeing. For the years that I was there, I stayed in Redwood, Pine, Redwood, and Pine consecutively. Its nice to hear that others have pleasant memories as I have!
I wanted to pass on that Lions Camp Merrick will be having an Open House event on June 12, 2010 from 11am-3pm on the camp grounds in Nanjemoy, MD. We plan on having moon bounces, music, face-painting, food and lots of fun at the Camp.
We have invited the American Diabetes Association to come as well to hand out info and spread the word to other families living with diabetes. And check out the camp schedule: http://www.lionscampmerrick.org/Schedule.aspx. Please pass on this info to anyone who may be interested!
It’s neat to see all the wonderful comments about Camp Glyndon. Hope to see you in June for open house or Camp in July!
Thanks for the update on camp- If I were closer, I’d drop by, but I live in north central Arizona, about 2200 miles away.
Have a great camp celebration day.
I was a camper at Camp Glyndon in 1980, and 1981 at ages 8-11. I remember uncle Dan and Uncle Paul. Uncle Dan asked me Hey Camper, Do you know what your Hemoglobin A1C is and we spoke about it. I was sad to learn that the great facilities that the camp had on its grounds have had houses built on them. Camp Glyndon served a great need for diabetic children in the Balto-Washington region. Today Camp Possibilities in Darlington as well as Camp Merrick appear to be the two main diabetic camps for the area. The number of diabetic camps is very large these days but the economic crises will and is having an impact on diabetic charities thus robbing diabetic children of the critical opportunity to learn and have fun, things that remain withthem forever. I can still remember so many things from diabetic camps 30 years ago. Several of the kids who did not control their diabetes at younger ages have died because they did not do what they were suppossed to as we all know can be a challenge. Good luck and warm greetings o all Camp Glyndon campers and workers, doctors etc.
Kevin Beck
325 N. Gibson Road
Apt 318
Henderson, Nevada 89014
Phone 702-764-7402
email: Kevin.beck27@yahoo.com
Thanks for chiming in, Kevin. I think I might have been a counselor in 1980-81 but dont remember talking about AICs back then (the memory cells are fuzzy).
I am just one state away, about 65 miles southeast of Flagstaff, AZ.
Hi, I actually moved in Carroll County about 12 years ago, and when I took a ride to see Camp Glyndon in Reisterstown, MD I learned of the relocation, and was very disappointed as I would love to revisit the camp in action during the summers. Anyhow, I was a camper many years ago, maybe in 1972 (when I was about 8 years old) until I was about 12 or 13 years old. I have so, so, many great memories of the numeous tree named bunk houses, the pool, the mail call, Uncle Dan, Uncle Lonnie, and many of the campers. I would love to go to a Reunion and see the campers, CIT’s and Counselor’s who were there when the camp was in session during that time. If anything comes up like that, anyone feel free to email me at dcarter6598@comcast.net.