History of Camp Onaway
Founded in 1911, Camp Onaway is a technology-free, traditional summer camp for girls in Hebron, New Hampshire, on the shores of crystal clear Newfound Lake. Our small, nurturing community is committed to the individual development of our campers, ages 9 through 15.
Camp Onaway was established in 1911 by Mrs. Henry (Mabel Woodbridge) Hollister, whose family members remain connected to the camp to this day.
Mrs. Hollister found the name Onaway in Longfellow’s epic poem, The Song of Hiawatha, which captured the desire of the early 20th century to return to nature. The idea of creating an environment in which girls would be wide awake, to nature and to a strong sense of the spiritual, appealed to her.
Onaway’s story is that of an institution that played an interesting role in the history of women in the 20th century.
Mabel Hollister wanted to prepare women to vote, to stand up for their beliefs and know their strengths. She shepherded camp through World War I and the depression, and her successors, Frances M. Frost and Margaret F. Stiles, brought camp through World War II and the change from relative security of the 1950’s to the rebellious searching of the 1960’s, when Camp Onaway was incorporated as a non-profit educational trust with dedicated Onaway parents and alumnae serving on the first Board of Trustees.
Be Strong
We are not here to play, to dream, to drift.
We have hard work to do and loads to lift.
Shun not the struggle; face it!
‘Tis God’s gift.
Be Strong!
Say not “the days are evil.”
Who’s to blame?
And fold the hands and acquiesce,
Oh Shame! Stand up, speak out, and
bravely–in God’s name.
Be Strong!
It matters not how deep entrenched the wrong,
How hard the battle goes, the day how long;
Faint not, fight on, tomorrow comes the song.
Reflections from throughout the Onaway Eras
Onaway Hymn
From within our chapel walls
Of living pines at Onaway,
God, to Thee we raise our voices
Hear us, Father, while we pray;
Pray that Thou will ever guide us,
Ever keep us in Thy care;
Teach us truth and teach us honor;
Bless Thy children everywhere.
When the evening shadows lengthen,
When the sky with stars is bright,
Father, be Thou ever near us;
Keep us safe throughout the night.
Give us strength and give us courage,
Ever may our faith increase.
Soften hearts of men and nations,
Grant us everlasting peace.
Mrs. Lisa Taylor, Camp Director 1978 - 1983
“The Taylor Awards have been created to recognize the individual worth and inestimable value of each camper. The very presence of each person exerts an influence, the combination of which blends each year into a beauty that is specific to that year and makes it so special. It also cannot ever be exactly duplicated again since the mix of people will never be exactly the same two years in a row. The Taylor Awards will allow the counselors to confirm the gifts of each camper’s presence by recognizing in them one of five special areas of influence: Joy, Energy, Openness, Serenity, and Innovation. They will also be able, by giving examples in those areas, to make sure each camper leaves Onaway with a sense of personal worth.”
- from book of farewell thoughts for Mrs. Taylor, Camp Director 1978 - 1983 (Let Her Strong and Ageless Be, p. 330)
Mrs. Carol Southall, Camp Director 1984 - 2003
“All year long our lives are crowded with noise. There are airplanes overhead, traffic beside us, television in front of us and Walkmen plugged into our ears. We become dependent on noise for company and comfort. We become frightened of silence and being alone with our own thoughts.
Here at Onaway, we can learn the comforts of quiet, the peace that comes from hearing the little sparrow that sings after taps, the busy chickadees who chick-a-dee-dee-dee during rest hour, and the songs of so many birds before the wake-up bell. We learn the importance of quiet in sorting out our thoughts, in resting and in praying. We respect each other’s quiet time by not talking during these special hours.
If each of you can learn to feel comfortable and happy when it is quiet at Onaway, then you will have discovered a gift that will bring you comfort throughout your lives. In silence we get to know ourselves, to listen to others and to feel God’s presence”
- from a chapel talk by Mrs. Southall, Camp Director 1978 - 1983 (Let Her Strong and Ageless Be, p. 345)
Onaway turned 100 years old in 2011 and a grand Centennial Celebration with nearly 500 alumnae, family, and friends marked this extraordinary occasion!
The Camp Onaway History was published, entitled Let Her Strong and Ageless Be: Camp Onaway’s First 100 Years, which was researched and written by camp historian, alumna and trustee, Helen Stokes Greven and edited by alumna and trustee, Susan Jackson. It is the story of a camp that has never lost sight of its purpose and always remained true to its highest ideals.
A note from Onaway’s historian, Helen Stokes Greven:
“I started writing this history in the summer of 2000, after many months of collecting the necessary written and oral information. The early part of this history was compiled from old brochures, camp “logs”, letters, diaries, photographs, interviews with campers from the 1920s and 1930s, (some very good oral history interviews were done in the 1980s when the idea of an Onaway history first came into being), with particular gratitude for the written historical and personal memories of Henry Hollister about his mother’s time as Director. For the later years Trustee Minutes and correspondence, the Onaway Circle Newsletter, Director Sermons and summer and winter reports, some counselor binders of summer schedules and activities, the C.O.D. Notebooks, Song Books, Birch Bark Box contributions, have added greatly appreciated information."
Helen refers to the book as a backpack of memories and invites all curious readers to join her on a journey rich with stories, artifacts and many, many wonderful photographs.
