Manny and Lil Desnet – Kept the Campers Happy

Manny's partners were not very visible so the actual management of the camp was basically a one man operation. Lil kept a close watch on the finances, although there were times when Manny cut corners also. Manny's brother Al Desnet also gave Manny advice but did not interfere with day to day activities. Manny worried about anything that might affect a positive image of the camp to an extreme. After Manny retired from the camp and passed away at an early age, I wondered if his camp ownership had something to do with it. Skipper also had a heart attack and died too young.

The greatest change of the camp under Manny was the emphasis of less communing with nature and more with the “Let’s have fun.” The Early Bird trips changed from outdoor activities to the artificial man made world of the Wisconsin Dells. Of course the country had changed. Sand lot baseball with teams organized like a professional league were very attractive for urban boys. Camp Waupaca had to compete with the Little League professional type uniforms and championships with trophies. Sports attracted more campers than sleeping on the ground with mosquitoes and ticks. Also the excitement of recreation like Wisconsin Dells gave more instant satisfaction than a hike in the woods or a swim in a lake could give. A new kind of camper and a new kind of program was developed to match the times and probably saved Camp Waupaca for several years.

The early Camp Waupaca of strict rules and discipline could not survive as children's environment became more permissive. Children had more freedom and rights than ever before. They were more knowledgeable of the world and that led to questioning more than early campers. Yet the stories of Thump Drag and Sylas Cropsy could still cause shivers up their spines. TV as a baby sitter educated children at an early age and changed parenting for the “me generation.”

The challenge Manny faced was to have a program to fit this new generation. If Camp Waupaca was to be profitable the program needed to give what more campers would like. A more comprehensive water skiing program with water ski trips and mini-bikes were added. Outdoor activities like the exciting playak trips on the Crystal River gave the campers the kind of thrills of water parks.

Seasoned counselors picked up the pace and mentored new counselors to fit programs for the modern campers.

Mike Euer was the right person to manage camper affairs. His policy of sending positive messages to parents and the picture board for Parents Weekend gave a good impression of the camp.

Ron Levine with his pages of statistics and a wide range of competition activities gave the campers the experiences that Little Leagues in the city would have given them. The difference was the exposure to many different sports activities instead of only one experience.

Manny could brag of having two world record programs. Warren's water activities program must still hold the world record for the most campers who learned to swim in one summer (Webmaster’s note: Warren claims to have taught 10,000 campers to swim and ski). Erv Kasian’s craft shop most power equipped camp facility of that type.

Erv's mini-bikes gave campers the thrill of the open road and they flocked to his program.

Wally Tomcheck's musical and theatrical talents and enthusiasm brought culture to the camp. He also developed a camping program that was special for the experiences campers may not have gotten anywhere else.

Wayne Towne might be called the camps utility man as he was called upon to fill in where there was a need.

The spark plug of the staff in my last years at Camp Waupaca was Paul Warshauer. Drive a car in a demo derby to entertain the campers, there’s Paul. Water ski into the camp in a Greek robe, there’s Paul. Lead campers in a rousing song, there’s Paul. Driving down Highway 10 in the dark with a demo car, there's Paul. With Paul there was always a spark just about to spark. I hope that Manny paid him enough or was it that Paul enjoyed his antics so much he should have paid Manny.

Uncle Manny was the gorilla glue that held the camp together. Constantly dealing with egos, personalities, attitudes, and gripes of staff, he always had a smile, even if it was a painful one. Foremost the welfare of the campers and their happiness was always his program for the camp.

Manny was able to change with the times to give campers what they wanted. Sometimes he was reluctant to certain activities, but he listened to the kids and counselors. That is why new cabins were built.

If you listen carefully one can imagine Manny still greeting campers with, “Have you ever had it so good” . . .