Long before there was a UConn nation, there was a Yukon tribe, one of the five Indian tribes that formed the early days of the Southington-Cheshire YMCA’s Camp Sloper.
That tribe, along with the Sioux, Mohawk, Crow and the Algonquin tribes, made up the basic organization structure of the Y’s day camp for boys on East Street.
The camp stands on a 150-acre estate that was willed to the YMCA by the late -Cornelia Neal. The first day camp season began -July 17, 1950, when about 50 local boys packed their lunches and hopped a bus bound for the East Street campsite.
The camp sessions lasted from approximately 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. each day, and began with a flag-raising ceremony, followed by hikes into the hills surrounding the pond and handicraft projects, where the boys were taught the basics of wood crafting and camping
A swim period brought the morning activities to a close. There were two separate swimming periods on the schedule, one for swimmers and one for non-swimmers.
The campers brought their own lunches, and afterwards, there was a story hour and song fest session led by Y Secretary W. David Dellert.
“Mr. Dellert had us spend an hour or so after lunch relaxing in the barn, trying to relax after a hectic morning,” said William Heath, who was part of the inaugural session and a Yukon Tribe member. “Relaxation is a daily routine in my life now, and whenever I’m having trouble doing that, I think back to those days, and what Mr. Dellert taught us. It is a practice that I use every day of my life.”
After lunch, sports and group games filled the rest of the day.
Heath said, “I lived on Kensington Avenue near the camp when it opened and walked up to the red barn to register.
“I really enjoyed my time as a camper at the Y camp. I actually stayed on as a counselor after my camping days were done, and even served as waterfront director for a year in the early sixties.”
Even though it’s been some time since his Sloper camping days, Heath does keep an eye on his old summer home.
“My son lives in my parents’ house on Kensington Avenue, and we can see the expansion going on at the camp,” he said. “It certainly has progressed since I went there, but I sometimes worry that it is going to lose the rural atmosphere that made it such a nice place to be.
“Sloper used to be a place to go ice fishing or skating the winter, but you can’t do that anymore.”
Heath’s fellow Yukon brave, Kurt Johnson, lived on East Street near the camp.
“When I found out it was opening, I really wanted to go there,” Johnson said. “I loved spending the days outdoors with my friends. Remember, people didn’t have swimming pools in their yards back then, so if you wanted to go swimming you went to camp.
“Back then no one had any idea what Sloper would turn into,” Johnson continued. “”It’s so much better now. The staff and membership has grown, and so have the programs they offer there.
“I’m absolutely glad I went there. I bring my grandchildren there every chance I get.
“Being in the first group of campers makes me feel that I played a part in the development of the camp.”
Brian Callahan was 10 years old when he became one of Sloper’s first-time campers.
“I loved it there, but they did put us to work.
“When I went there, the beach was basically in the same place it is now, but it was filled with trees and the ground was rocky. They did bring in some sand, but there were rocks in the pond that we had to step on. We made it a game to see who could throw the most rocks out of the pond.
“Mr. Dellert also had an influence on me. He taught me how to shake hands, using a firm grip and the whole hand. There were no limp handshakes as far as he was concerned, and I feel the same way.”