Like roasting marshmallows to make s'mores, a good summer camp song bridges generations. Musician Ed Badeaux recorded the Folkways album "Songs of Camp" in 1958 while working at Camp Killooleet in Vermont. Every evening after dinner, all 180 campers gathered for 45 minutes of singing along with Badeaux's banjo. In his opinion, nothing created "real closeness of spirit and soul" like people singing around a campfire. Fifty summers later, the tunes are still familiar.
Hear "Sipping Cider," "Wimoweh" and "Hole in the Ground."
Music courtesy of Smithsonian Folkways, the non-profit record label of the Smithsonian Institution. Please click here to purchase or for more information
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Related topics: Folk Sound Recordings
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Comments (7)
Thanks Smithsonian for the Songs of Camp--brought back a lot of memories of my days in the 50's at Ten Mile River Scout camp upstate NY. ....so much so that i started some time ago learning to play the banjo and singing many of the songs in this album.
Posted by Lance dePlante on October 15,2011 | 01:38 PM
I am a Killooleet alum (feature picture). Thank you for reminding me of a time more pristine and void of the woes of the world. Truly there is but one life to live.
Posted by Chris Platek on January 21,2009 | 01:20 PM
I've been trying to get Smithsonian.com/jukebox (about Accordian music) and Smithsonia.com/accordian, on the computer...Apparently there must be something I am doing wrong because I haven't been able to get either of these....Would you please let me know what I should do. The article appeared in the June 2008 issue, and my husband is interested in hearing the music & finding out if there is a place to purchase a DVD or CD.....Thanks
Posted by Gladys Phelps on August 7,2008 | 02:37 PM
Thanks for refreshing my vivid memories of a mere 50 plus years ago when we all sang around a camp fire and at all meals at Crumhorn Scout Camp near Oneonta, NY; what wonderful times and friendships which often take me back to those wonderful times with so many growing experiences...john wilson, camp hill, pennsylvania.
Posted by Attorney John B. Wilson III on August 5,2008 | 08:35 PM
I love reading your magzines, whenever, I can fine one at the Dr. office or wherever i ,fine one ialways ask them if i could take it home,I have alots of old and i mean old post cards books, that ilike to look at now and then , but when ilook at your books ,its just like being in school again, so keep up the good. work .when i get depressed i go fine one of your magazine . since katrina, iget that way a lot iam just learning to use so excue this letter. 77years old and trying to cope thanks.
Posted by betty clements on July 16,2008 | 12:09 PM
I always sing better with a group. So here I am singing along with the group at camp! What memories I have of 4-H camp at Kings Lake near Palmer, Alaska. Some of my best weeks in summer for eight years. Just play it one more time. Thanks so very much. Valerie
Posted by Valerie Anne Demming on July 2,2008 | 02:24 AM
it makes me very sad that my daughters never had t he opportunity to sing these songs I tried singing some of them but to no avail I had a dear friend who knew as many songs as myself we would ry o stump each other on songs
Posted by on June 30,2008 | 07:51 PM
Dear Smithsonian, I just finished listening to the three selections of the Folkways album"Songs of Camp".They inspired me to sing songs with the children in my camp program because I remember how much fun I had as a Camp Fire Girl at Camp Sweolaken when we sang, not just around the campfire, but at meals, vespers, while canoeing across Lake Coeur d'Alene and hiking. Thanks for the blast from the past. Musically yours, Vickie Ito
Posted by Vickie Ito on June 25,2008 | 12:40 PM