It’s time for the second Camp Dixie Newsletter! Last time we had separate newsletters for the Alumni (Camp Dixie Echoes) and Current campers (Ridge Runner), now for simplicities sake we are combining them. The new newsletter will be called Dixie Doings, this was the name for Camp Dixie’s original newsletter, we have one copy from back in the 1930’s.

If you have copies of any of the old newsletters, please send them in. Scanning them in and sending via email, or regular mail on CD works best, but we will take photo copies or any other readable format. One simple method is to take a digital photo of each page, the end result is a bit sub par but with most modern digital cameras the text is readable.

We sent Dixie Doings out via email. If you didn’t get your copy, just send us an email and ask to be added to the Dixie Doings mailing list. I will try to post them online here soon after publication, but letting Rhonda email them to you is the most reliable and fastest way.

– Jason

• Dixie Doings 2010 Winter [In PDF format]

The weekend of October 3 -4 will be a busy time in Dixie. Several of you have offered to come and lend a helping hand around camp. Now is the time! We are working on the “To Do” list and the “Can Do” list. Looks like we will have full days and lots of fun. Let us know if you are interested in coming up to help.

Those of you who were at the reunion will remember Chris Neilson.  Chris wrote this and graciously allowed us to republish it on our site.

From Boy to Man

By: Christopher M. “Chris” Neilson

(Chris stayed several years in the mid to late 1960’s)

I came to Camp Dixie as a boy,
where I learned the outdoors was a joy!
At first I was homesick and wanted to cry,
but wanted to stay when it was time for goodbye.

In Lapidary I learned to turn stone into a ring.
I even learned to like to sing!
I portaged canoes down many a big dam,
and that’s when I started to become a man!

In crafts I turned wood into a drum,
I even learned to like to hum!
I even rode horses into the woods,
Where showering in waterfalls felt really good!

I picked fresh berries and made pancakes,
And skied and swam in many lakes!
In canoes, I learned to row.
I also learned to shoot a bow!

I helped bail hay in the fields.
I enjoyed many great meals!
I even learned to shoot a rifle.
I really had an early life full!

We assembled at dawn on the tennis courts,
And played all kinds of sports!
I learned to ski on Lake Rabun,
Where I learned to make a campfire burn!

After dusk there was always taps.
At dawn Reveille!
Sometimes we went
Square Dancing in Mountain City!

The Moss Lady stories would
shiver my timbers!
And all of the exercise made
me quite limber!

Time has a way of slipping by,
All I can say is “My Oh My”!
I don’t think I would be who I am today,
If it wasn’t for my many a stay!

I could go on and on but there’s not enough space,
Suffice it to say I love this place!
There’s so much to say and not enough time.
But I must say my dear Camp Dixie…is really sublime!!!

Best wishes go out to our many families at this special time of year. Hope that you all have the merriest of holidays. Keeping you in our thoughts and prayers.
Happy Holidays.

The Dates for 2009 have been posted. Prices to follow soon.

Also keep an eye out for a new version of the website.

Summer 2009 will be our 95th season at Dixie. To celebrate, we will be having a Camper-Staff
Reunion. We are starting to make plans for this historic event. The reunion weekend is scheduled
for early August. If any of you are interested in helping with the planning or would like to be on the “Search Party”, please let us know. We are counting on our “Dixie Boys” and “Dixie Girls” to help make this a great event.

Merry Christmas wishes go out to all our Dixie Family and friends. We are thinking of you at this special time of year and wishing each of you the very merriest of holidays.

We are starting to look forward to next summer. The 2008 dates are up at the web site and open houses/showings are scheduled. Staff applications are coming in and camp projects are being planned for next spring.

Although winter is here, one might think that things stop at Dixie but not so. There is always work to be done. We are talking about a work week end this spring – making it a family affair. Since several of you have volunteered to help with jobs around camp – why not make it for the family? And we all know that work at camp is FUN..

To all our Dixie Family, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

We have been having trouble with our voice mail. If you have called in the past week and have not heard back from us, please call us again or email us. We do apologize for this inconvenience. We do have space still available in most of our sessions.

Anyone who was planning to attend this Open House should contact Camp Dixie to arrange an on-site, reservations required tour to learn more about Dixie’s summer program.

Last Wednesday (January 31) the snow started falling and by Thursday afternoon, we had 6 inches of the white stuff in Dixie. We thought you all would enjoy seeing camp in her restful winter mode.

You can view the rest of the pictures on our PicasaWeb page.

As pretty as it is, I long for the warm days of summer. So bring on the sun and warmer days, I am looking forward to the summer, our 93rd year.