Mowglis Memories

Woody Merriman comes from a long line of Mowglis men. His dad and his uncles all attended Mowglis and his father (also Lockwood Merriman) was a member of the Holt Elwell Memorial Foundation Board of Trustees, as was Woody.Like many Mowglis alumni Woody can rattle off all of the important, and prestigious, institutions with which he has been associated in his life and adamantly states that Mowglis was the most important source of who he became as a person. Who he became as a person is a fellow that everyone is fond of, who still hikes and camp but eschews the limelight (if you wondered why we used a 1961 Red Racing crew photo for this podcast it's because Woody is a very private fellow and shies away from having his picture taken!). We caught up with one another at the Mowglis work weekend where I interviewed Woody, with some “help” from my Belgian Shephard Kodi - no, all that panting you hear in the background isn't Woody, but he was kind enough to say that it helped create an air of authenticity so we went with it.

Jay and Sandee BrownCub Parents 1977 - 1987 Sandee's family - the Wooleys - were close friends with legendary Mowglis Director William B. Hart Sr and his college roommate Harvey Russell who wrote the Jungle Song and the Mowglis Goodnight song. The Browns came to Mowglis in 1977 and were Cub parents for 10 years. 1977 was not their first visit to Mowglis which came in 1963, on their honeymoon trip. 1963 was year 1 of the Holt Elwell Memorial Foundation and Director William B. Hart. Sandee and Jay had 25 Cubs in their first year, likely a record number and those numbers remained fairly consistent throughout their tenure. Sandee was named US Conservation Teacher of the year in 1990, she credits her Mowglis experience with inspiring her understanding of the natural environment and her love for it that led her to receive this national recognition.

Mowglis' first female Tripmaster Kate Burgess established a reputation as a leader from the moment she began her tenure at Mowglis and she has continued in that vein as she has moved on in her life. Today Kate lives in Boulder Colorado and is Conservation Coordinator at the National Caucus of Environmental Legislators an organization that works with legislators from all over the country - irrespective of party or state - to help them craft policies in the best interest of their states and of the natural environment.

Dwight Shephard Came to Mowglis in 1963 from his hometown of Wellesley, Massachusetts, as a result of a visit from Jim Hart and his father, Mowglis Director William Hart Sr. He came as a cub under Cub Parent Brooks Benjamin. He was on the Gopher Squad in his Den year and graduated in 1968.Dwight was an avid swimmer and rarely missed a soak at Mowglis. When he wasn't in the water he was ON the water. He rowed crew at Belmont Hill because of his exposure to it at Mowglis where he rowed on the Blue Racing Crew.

Arthur came to Mowglis in 1976 a few years behind older brother Tom on the recommendation of Mowglis Icon Attorney Allyn Brown. A winner of the Senior Tennis tournament and member of the Mount Washington Squad, his fondness for Mowglis runs deep. Today he is a personal trainer with his undergrad degree from the University of Maryland and an advanced degree from George Washington University living back in his old home state of Connecticut.

Taking a page out of the Mowglis' playbook, Mowglis graduate Chris Kriesen has just released a new game called "Kindred" that is worthy of the Mowglis - "unplugged and authentic" label - to borrow a phrase. When it came across my desktop my first thought was that this game would fit easily in a backpack or a back pocket and electricity was not just optional but unnecessary.Knowing Chris, I presumed that both the name and the purpose of this game were very intentional and I was not disappointed. If you've been drinking from the firehose of bad news and dystopia that most of us have faced, this game sounds like a great way to get people communicating with one another again.No APP, no phones, Just communication, pure and simple . . . and perhaps some real community building in the process.

Reinhard "Reiny" Rother came to Mowglis in 1964 as a Cub, joining a group of Cubs that would eventually become the Den of 1969 including future director Bob Bengtson. Though he missed his Panther year because of a family trip to California due to a short-term job his father had taken. Reiny returned for his Den year by mowing lawns and doing odd jobs to earn his plane fare back for his Den year - a condition imposed by his father if he wished to graduate from Mowglis. His father kept his promise and Reiny returned to achieve admittance to the Inner Circle, make the Gopher Squad and row #5 on the winning Blue Racing Crew. He followed his Den year with two years on the Junior Staff before moving on to his post-Mowglis life. He returned to Mowglis for the first time in 1998 when he brought son Christian to Mowglis and then again in 2017 at the invitation of Charlie Walbridge who took him along on the Red Ribbon Trip. His son Christian would follow in his footsteps cutting his own path in the Mowglis story.

Ted Frantz came to Mowglis in 1969 as a Balooite and graduated from the Den in 1972. 1971 was a huge year in Ted's life as he was one of the very few Pantherites to ever be chosen for the Mount Washington Squad and he won a spot on the Blue Racing Crew as the Stroke. That crew would go on to set a course record that still stands today.

Call him Rabbi Unger, Dr. Unger, Professor Unger if you will but Mowglis brothers and sisters refer to him simply as Abe. In 1977 Abe Unger joined the Cubs as a young movie celebrity - coming one week late because he had been starring in and shooting the "Bad News Bears in Japan" movie. Abe was barely aware of all the hub bub that occurred before his arrival, Mr. William Hart, Mowglis Director had manufactured that with newspaper clippings and promo photos but everyone at camp was aware that they were about to be joined by a "celebrity". Abe, however, treated the whole thing as just another life experience and he was soon fully immersed in the Mowglis experience, including starting the "Holt Elwell Memorial Band" with Tomo Nishino and Ian Brown, accompanied by Mr Hart. Their first performance was "Hello Dolly" and though we don't know if they were joined by Mr. James "Iggy" Westberg doing his famous imitation of the great Satchmo Armstrong, I'm guessing that at some point it all came together. I caught up with Abe recently and our conversation was filled with fond memories and a good deal of the life philosophy as written by Kipling: "We be of one blood, brothers (and sisters) all."

Dick Backus came to Mowglis on the staff in 1965, introduced to the camp by his sister who had worked at Onaway. He joined an iconic staff that included the Boicourt Brothers, Robert Ulery, Stu Klein, John Gilbert. Dick laughs when he describes coming to camp as the nature counselor with equipment his father, an amateur entemologist and full time Doctor provided to him - including kill jars - and he was promptly told by Mr. Hart that killing our insect brothers and sisters was not the "Mowglis way" a point of view that Dick admired and adopted himself. As a student at Harvard, Dick had already caught the acting bug and he was actively acting in college and stock circles but he was caught up in the Mowglis spirit and luckily for us he continued to return to Mowglis for 3 years when he could easily have been acting in summer stock. Of course that didn't stop him from bringing his skills to Mowglis and in this podcast he describes a Sci-Fi play involving the camp dishwasher as time-travel machine with detailed costuming and makeup provided by the iconic Stuart Klein! Dick went on to an illustrious career as not only an actor but also a writer.

Julian Kingsley joined the boys who would one day be the Den of 2006 in his Baloo summer 2003. Today he has a young family, a career and a new patent!

EP 57 Mowglis Memories with Ted Mariner (Den 1995). Ted came to Mowglis in 1991 when he joined Toomai for the second half of the summer. He never looked back after that attending for five years as a camper and one year on the Jr. Staff.

Paul Popinchalk came to Mowglis along with older brother Andrew in 1968. In 1968 the two were crew leaders with Paul heading the Blues and Andy the Red Crew. In 1969 both brothers returned with Paul coming back as the crew coach. Although Paul was only on the staff at Mowglis for 2 years his impact has had a very long tail with many Mowglis folks citing Paul as a staff member who had a big impact on their lives. Mowglis also had a big impact on Paul himself. Who rejoices on hiking in the Whites in both summer and winter with his Mowglis brothers and being introduced to rock climbing as well as the White Mountains.

Scott Frantz (Den 1974) is the son of Leroy Frantz who went to Mowglis in early 40s and the brother of Ted Frantz who was a member of the 1973 Den. After Mowglis Scott, who stroked the winning Blue Racing Crew, rowed for Princeton in college, won a national championship, and was invited to row at Henley. His crew's performance was so exciting that a race fan came running over to the boat to greet them at the end of the race. I won't take away the thrill of having you hear about that race and the excited fan from Scott himself.

Chris Hedges is a pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and the author of 14 books. His courageous work as a war correspondent led him to refuse to be "embedded" during conflicts with Iraq and others to protect the integrity of his reporting. He also found himself the target of a bounty on his life from Saddam Hussein following the first Iraq war because he was determined to tell the honest story of the Kurds.

From the lanai of his home in Honolulu Hawaii 1973 graduate Robert Collins Howe shared with me some of his Mowglis memories including a Cub raid on the Den after several of the Cubs had been unceremoniously introduced to the Den Mouse. Mr. Hart was none too happy but the daring dinnertime raid became part of the legend of the summer in Bob's first year.

Peter Kingsley came, officially, to Mowglis in Baloo after 2 years as the child of Director Darwin P. Kingsley. His brother Jim also has a storied history at Mowglis, including a stint as Cub Director back in the early 2000s. In this interview he shares with us his own memories of Mowglis including his fondness for counselor Shad Farouqi of India John Harmon, and Bill Hart Jr. as well as his memories of his father who was director at Mowglis following the retirement of Colonel Elwell. Peter has been an instrumental part of the process to document Mowglis history and is a regular at work days and other pre-covid activities. Peter shares with us the very interesting story of coming to live in NH in recent years in a unique co-housing community in Peterborough as well as his love for contra dancing.

"Rob" Werner (Den 1974) and his wife Marianne Gashnig make their home in Concord NH. Rob is New Hampshire Director of the League of Conservation Voters, a national advocacy organization and a member of the Concord City Council. Rob has made his life's work fighting for the kinds of environmental and human rights policies that Mowglis helped to instill in him. Today, he is a national leader in the fight to slow the ravages of climate change and create a more sustainable future for all of us. Rob was also a critical player in the fight against the Northern Pass Electric transmission project that would have brought 135' steel transmission towers straight down through the heart of the state including the White Mountain National Forest. As the New Hampshire State Director for the League of Conservation Voters, a national advocacy organization Rob works to turn environmental values into national, state, and local priorities. Rob also previously served as the National Field Director of Americans for Campaign Reform. A public policy analyst and advocate, Rob has also organized successful advocacy and legislative campaigns for the American Heart Association, Smoke-Free NH Alliance, and the American Cancer Society. Rob is a 1974 graduate of Mowglis, a graduate of Northfield Mount Hermon School and the University of Vermont. He earned a Masters of Business Administration from Suffolk University as well as two certificates from the Harvard Kennedy School, Senior Managers in State and Local Government and Climate Change and Energy Policy. Rob serves on the Concord City Council, chairing the Energy and Environment Advisory Committee Active in the Greater Concord, NH Chamber of Commerce, Rob serves on the State Government Affairs Committee.. Rob serves on the board of the Harvard Club of New Hampshire and Chairs the Harvard Kennedy School New Hampshire Network. Rob is a graduate of Leadership New Hampshire and a member of the Bow, NH Rotary Club.

Tony Wagner's Mowglis experience played a critical role in his life, helping him develop into one of the most important forces in re-imaging education for the 21st century.Over a lifetime of teaching, experimenting, and refining his ideas, Tony has developed a very cogent and imaginative philosophy about what educational models can be employed to create innovative and independent life long learners. Tony Wagner today is viewed as one of the most important thinkers in the field of education.

George Hulme graduated from the Den in 1970. Greybrother, Mount Washington Squad, Kaa Award winner and one of the highest ribbon counts in Mowglis history. In later years he would serve as the President of the Board of Trustees in a very difficult time. Setting the stage for Mowglis' comeback under the able staff that the camp now enjoys. Along with George his brothers Jonathan, and Bruce, as well as Cousins Rick Hulme, Gordon Marr and Frank McLelland formed the vanguard of what would become a multi generational Mowglis family.

Tom Hazzard Came to Mowglis in 1981 in Baloo and graduated in the Den of 1984. He was inducted into the Inner circle as a Pantherite and chosen for the Gopher honor squad in that same year and Mt Washington Squad in Den. He was also Graybrother in Den. Tom grew up in Rye NY a member of the Howard family of Mowglis. Grandfather Barr Howard, Frank his brother were at Mowglis in the 30s. His Uncles: Bill Howard, Peter, Chris Howard also attended Mowglis in the 60s and 70s.

Part 2 of 2: Stuart Klein came to Mowglis in 1964 as a crafts counselor, recruited by Jerry Hakes from the University of Michigan. His last year was 1972. Famed for the floor to ceiling murals that he created for the Mowglis costume night, and his work restoring the Jungle house gardens, as Crafts instructor and later on Assistant Director to William B. Hart, Stu created a lasting legacy at Mowglis and has been one of the most requested interviews by members of the Mowglis family.

Part 2 of 2: Stuart Klein came to Mowglis in 1964 as a crafts counselor, recruited by Jerry Hakes from the University of Michigan. His last year was 1972. Famed for the floor to ceiling murals that he created for the Mowglis costume night, and his work restoring the Jungle house gardens, as Crafts instructor and later on Assistant Director to William B. Hart, Stu created a lasting legacy at Mowglis and has been one of the most requested interviews by members of the Mowglis family.

Stuart Klein came to Mowglis in 1964 as a crafts counselor, recruited by Jerry Hakes from the University of Michigan. His last year was 1972. Famed for the floor to ceiling murals that he created for the Mowglis costume night, and his work restoring the Jungle house gardens, as Crafts instructor and later on Assistant Director to William B. Hart, Stu created a lasting legacy at Mowglis and has been one of the most requested interviews by members of the Mowglis family.

Stuart Klein came to Mowglis in 1964 as a crafts counselor, recruited by Jerry Hakes from the University of Michigan. His last year was 1972. Famed for the floor to ceiling murals that he created for the Mowglis costume night, and his work restoring the Jungle house gardens, as Crafts instructor and later on Assistant Director to William B. Hart, Stu created a lasting legacy at Mowglis and has been one of the most requested interviews by members of the Mowglis family.

With more than 16 books to his credit and over 400 scholarly articles and essays Daniel Dennett is a world renown philosopher and thinker. Dan is often referred to as one of the "Four Horsemen of New Atheism", along with Richard Dawkins, Sam Harris, and the late Christopher Hitchens. Yet he is distinguished by his modesty, humor and modesty. Dan says that he was first introduced to the notion of philosophy while attending Mowglis when a counselor said to him, "You know what you are, Daniel? You're a philosopher." Dan arrived in Mowglis in 1951 and began in the cubs but Colonel Elwell figured out pretty quickly that he was better off in the pack and within a few days he was a full fledged member of the pack, graduating in 1956.

With more than 16 books to his credit and over 400 scholarly articles and essays Daniel Dennett is a world renown philosopher and thinker. Dan is often referred to as one of the "Four Horsemen of New Atheism", along with Richard Dawkins, Sam Harris, and the late Christopher Hitchens. Yet he is distinguished by his modesty, humor and modesty. Dan says that he was first introduced to the notion of philosophy while attending Mowglis when a counselor said to him, "You know what you are, Daniel? You're a philosopher." Dan arrived in Mowglis in 1951 and began in the cubs but Colonel Elwell figured out pretty quickly that he was better off in the pack and within a few days he was a full fledged member of the pack, graduating in 1956.

Ambassador John J. “Jack” Maresca (Den 1951) In a conversation with  Bill Hart Jr. (Den 1957) we were told that “Jock” Maresca was one of the great crew coaches at Mowglis. Ambassador Maresca negotiated the Helsinki Final Act of 1975 as well as the 1990 Charter of Paris for a New Europe and the Joint Declaration of Twenty-Two States, the two documents that formally ended the Cold War. Ambassador Maresca was sent as a Special Envoy to open U.S. relations with the newly independent states from the former Soviet Union. He has also served as an Assistant Secretary of Defense. Ambassador Maresca has published numerous books, chapters and articles, and has lectured in over 30 countries.

Ambassador John J. “Jack” Maresca (Den 1951) In a conversation with Bill Hart Jr. (Den 1957) we were told that “Jock” Maresca was one of the great crew coaches at Mowglis. Ambassador Maresca negotiated the Helsinki Final Act of 1975 as well as the 1990 Charter of Paris for a New Europe and the Joint Declaration of Twenty-Two States, the two documents that formally ended the Cold War. Ambassador Maresca was sent as a Special Envoy to open U.S. relations with the newly independent states from the former Soviet Union. He has also served as an Assistant Secretary of Defense. Ambassador Maresca has published numerous books, chapters and articles, and has lectured in over 30 countries.

W Richard West Jr. "Rick" to those who know him graduated from Camp Mowglis in 1957, his first and last year as a camper. He returned briefly as a counselor as well. Rick is the Founding Director of the Smithsonian Museum of the American Indian where he oversaw the development and construction of the Museum. While Rick was not trained as a museum curator or director, he spent 20 years as a lawyer after graduating from college and law school, but he proved himself skillful in his new field and after the hugely successful launch of the Smithsonian Museum of the American Indian the Autry was eager to snap him up. Now the CEO of the Autry National Center of the American West, Rick finds himself living in Los Angeles but still thinking fondly of his days in Albuquerque, Muskogee and Mowglis.

W Richard West Jr. "Rick" to those who know him graduated from Camp Mowglis in 1957, his first and last year as a camper. He returned briefly as a counselor as well. Rick is the Founding Director of the Smithsonian Museum of the American Indian where he oversaw the development and construction of the Museum. While Rick was not trained as a museum curator or director, he spent 20 years as a lawyer after graduating from college and law school, but he proved himself skillful in his new field and after the hugely successful launch of the Smithsonian Museum of the American Indian the Autry was eager to snap him up. Now the CEO of the Autry National Center of the American West, Rick finds himself living in Los Angeles but still thinking fondly of his days in Albuquerque, Muskogee and Mowglis.

Bill Hard came to Mowglis in the mid 50s, the son of William B. Hart Sr who had been Assistant Director under "the Colonel". He was steeped in Mowglis history and tradition. He graduated from the Den in 1957 along with his friend Rick West (podcast coming next week). Bill Hart is one of the few who was at Mowglis under the Directorships of Col Elwell, Darwin Kingsley, John Adams and his father William Hart Sr. He was also associated with Mowglis during its two most challenging and tumultuous periods. In the early 1960's it looked as if Mowglis might fall to the developer's bulldozers. John Adams was trying to sell Mowglis - which was still a proprietary company. A young staff member at the time, Bill witnessed the coming together of alumni and friends of Mowglis to save it. Years later, he would lead the Holt Elwell Memorial Foundation during a time of turbulence and enrollment decline to keep the campfires burning for future generations. Today, Bill understandably credits others on the board, many of the alumni, as well as our outstanding Director Nick Robbins and a stallar team of HQ staff for Mowglis ultimate success but without his leadership it is far from certain that Mowglis would have survived.

Bill Hard came to Mowglis in the mid 50s, the son of William B. Hart Sr who had been Assistant Director under "the Colonel". He was steeped in Mowglis history and tradition. He graduated from the Den in 1957 along with his friend Rick West (podcast coming next week). Bill Hart is one of the few who was at Mowglis under the Directorships of Col Elwell, Darwin Kingsley, John Adams and his father William Hart Sr. He was also associated with Mowglis during its two most challenging and tumultuous periods. In the early 1960's it looked as if Mowglis might fall to the developer's bulldozers. John Adams was trying to sell Mowglis - which was still a proprietary company. A young staff member at the time, Bill witnessed the coming together of alumni and friends of Mowglis to save it. Years later, he would lead the Holt Elwell Memorial Foundation during a time of turbulence and enrollment decline to keep the campfires burning for future generations. Today, Bill understandably credits others on the board, many of the alumni, as well as our outstanding Director Nick Robbins and a stallar team of HQ staff for Mowglis ultimate success but without his leadership it is far from certain that Mowglis would have survived.

Bill Hart came to Mowglis in the mid 50s, the son of William B. Hart Sr who had been Assistant Director under "the Colonel". He was steeped in Mowglis history and tradition. He graduated from the Den in 1957 along with his friend Rick West (podcast coming next week). Bill Hart is one of the few who was at Mowglis under the Directorships of Col Elwell, Darwin Kingsley, John Adams and his father William Hart Sr. He was also associated with Mowglis during its two most challenging and tumultuous periods. In the early 1960's it looked as if Mowglis might fall to the developer's bulldozers. John Adams was trying to sell Mowglis - which was still a proprietary company. A young staff member at the time, Bill witnessed the coming together of alumni and friends of Mowglis to save it. Years later, he would lead the Holt Elwell Memorial Foundation during a time of turbulence and enrollment decline to keep the campfires burning for future generations. Today, Bill understandably credits others on the board, many of the alumni, as well as our outstanding Director Nick Robbins and a stallar team of HQ staff for Mowglis ultimate success but without his leadership it is far from certain that Mowglis would have survived.

Bill Hart came to Mowglis in the mid 50s, the son of William B. Hart Sr who had been Assistant Director under "the Colonel". He was steeped in Mowglis history and tradition. He graduated from the Den in 1957 along with his friend Rick West (podcast coming next week). Bill Hart is one of the few who was at Mowglis under the Directorships of Col Elwell, Darwin Kingsley, John Adams and his father William Hart Sr. He was also associated with Mowglis during its two most challenging and tumultuous periods. In the early 1960's it looked as if Mowglis might fall to the developer's bulldozers. John Adams was trying to sell Mowglis - which was still a proprietary company. A young staff member at the time, Bill witnessed the coming together of alumni and friends of Mowglis to save it. Years later, he would lead the Holt Elwell Memorial Foundation during a time of turbulence and enrollment decline to keep the campfires burning for future generations. Today, Bill understandably credits others on the board, many of the alumni, as well as our outstanding Director Nick Robbins and a stallar team of HQ staff for Mowglis ultimate success but without his leadership it is far from certain that Mowglis would have survived.

James Hart (Den 2000) Director of Alumni Relations Mowglis: School of the Open (603) 744-8095 ext. 280 james@mowglis.org www.Mowglis.org Giving New Meaning to the phrase "Paying it Forward" in the spirit of Mowglis. Everyone who has set foot on the Mowglis grounds in the past 50 years knows that the Hart family has a storied history at Mowglis. The "modern" era of Mowglis was ushered in by James' grandfather William Baird Hart Sr. after the formation of the Holt-Elwell Memorial Foundation, Conceived and advocated by Joe Beckford and implemented by giants like Tyson Stokes, US Senator John Hines, Mrs. Helen Elwell, Bill MacDonald, and others. Along with William Hart Sr.n came son Bill Jr., who served on both Junior Staff and Senior Staff and went on to a distinguished career in philanthropy and Historic Preservation; Phil Hart who for many years served as Assistant Director to his father and was both the prime cheerleader for the Mowglis spirit, Mowglis song conductor, Iron fist of discipline and quiet friend to so many. James' father Jim has, in the phrase of Akela to the wolves at the council rock "Has carried the spirit of Mowglis into roles as diverse as Cub Leader, Kitchen Chef, Maintenance man and Mowglis Director. During Jim's early years on staff as head of maintenance at Mowglis, James spent his first summer, he refer's to as his "pre-Cub" summer, at Mowglis in 1993, at the ripe old age of 6. He remained a camper through his graduate year in 2000. With a hiatus in which he took some time off from Mowglis and in the employ of Uncle Sam as a firearms instructor, he returned to Mowglis in 2014 with new Director Nick Robbins. Today he is Mowglis' first Director of Alumni Relations and has taken the relationship between Mowglis and its Alumni to a whole new level with the complete support of Director Nick Robbins.

James Hart (Den 2000) Director of Alumni Relations Mowglis: School of the Open (603) 744-8095 ext. 280 james@mowglis.org www.Mowglis.org Giving New Meaning to the phrase "Paying it Forward" in the spirit of Mowglis. Everyone who has set foot on the Mowglis grounds in the past 50 years knows that the Hart family has a storied history at Mowglis. The "modern" era of Mowglis was ushered in by James' grandfather William Baird Hart Sr. after the formation of the Holt-Elwell Memorial Foundation, Conceived and advocated by Joe Beckford and implemented by giants like Tyson Stokes, US Senator John Hines, Mrs. Helen Elwell, Bill MacDonald, and others. Along with William Hart Sr.n came son Bill Jr., who served on both Junior Staff and Senior Staff and went on to a distinguished career in philanthropy and Historic Preservation; Phil Hart who for many years served as Assistant Director to his father and was both the prime cheerleader for the Mowglis spirit, Mowglis song conductor, Iron fist of discipline and quiet friend to so many. James' father Jim has, in the phrase of Akela to the wolves at the council rock "Has carried the spirit of Mowglis into roles as diverse as Cub Leader, Kitchen Chef, Maintenance man and Mowglis Director. During Jim's early years on staff as head of maintenance at Mowglis, James spent his first summer, he refer's to as his "pre-Cub" summer, at Mowglis in 1993, at the ripe old age of 6. He remained a camper through his graduate year in 2000. With a hiatus in which he took some time off from Mowglis and in the employ of Uncle Sam as a firearms instructor, he returned to Mowglis in 2014 with new Director Nick Robbins. Today he is Mowglis' first Director of Alumni Relations and has taken the relationship between Mowglis and its Alumni to a whole new level with the complete support of Director Nick Robbins.

Luckily for Mowglis, Chris Phaneuf's dad - a pediatric dentist in the Boston area - was the dentist to the Feuer Family back in the 1970s and through the enthusiasm of both the Feuer boys and their parents Mowglis came to his attention. Chris came to Mowglis in 1974 one year after brother Jeff first joined the Mowglis and before brother Greg would also become a Mowglis Man. In 2006 Chris joined the Holt-Elwell Memorial Foundation and would go on to lead the organization during some very turbulent years. His wisdom, patience and love for Mowglis was a major force in the struggle to keep the Mowglis traditions alive.

Luckily for Mowglis, Chris Phaneuf's dad - a pediatric dentist in the Boston area - was the dentist to the Feuer Family back in the 1970s and through the enthusiasm of both the Feuer boys and their parents Mowglis came to his attention. Chris came to Mowglis in 1974 one year after brother Jeff first joined the Mowglis and before brother Greg would also become a Mowglis Man. In 2006 Chris joined the Holt-Elwell Memorial Foundation and would go on to lead the organization during some very turbulent years. His wisdom, patience and love for Mowglis was a major force in the struggle to keep the Mowglis traditions alive.

Chris Kriesen came to Mowglis in 1974 and was in the Den of 1980. As a camper, staff member and later on the Holt Elwell Memorial Foundation Board he distinguished himself. A member of the Gopher Squad in his Akela year and three years on the Red Racing crew among other notable achievements. The Bagheera Society was the brainchild of Chris. A fitting tribute to his long-time commitment to protecting and nurturing the Mowglis spirit.

Chris Kriesen came to Mowglis in 1974 and was in the Den of 1980. As a camper, staff member and later on the Holt Elwell Memorial Foundation Board he distinguished himself. A member of the Gopher Squad in his Akela year and three years on the Red Racing crew among other notable achievements. The Bagheera Society was the brainchild of Chris. A fitting tribute to his long-time commitment to protecting and nurturing the Mowglis spirit.

Perry Smith first came to Mowglis in 1968 and joined his brother Roger who was 8 years his senior and already on the staff when Perry arrived. He was in the Den of 1972 with Frank Mauran, John Mulliken, Lincoln Gamble, Chris Smith and a host of Mowglis icons. As a member of the staff he was assigned to the Cubs, after a few years in the kitchen on Jr. Staff with Chef Ashton "Smitty" Smith. In the early-1990's Holt Elwell Memorial Foundation Treasurer Doug Warwick, who had kept Mowglis on a secure financial footing for many years, despite very limited resources, was looking for someone who would be up to the task and he approached Perry. This was a particularly difficult time for Mowglis. Recruitment had hit a wall, related largely to huge changes in society that were drawing families to send their children to specialty camps and some other unique challenges the camp faced in the final decade of century. In addition to keeping Mowglis' financial balls in the air, Perry has been a tireless advocate for developing a strong financial aid and scholarship program to assure that Mowglis would continue to have a diverse group of boys from all income levels. His strong support in those years and since then has placed Mowglis on much more solid financial footing.

Perry Smith first came to Mowglis in 1968 and joined his brother Roger who was 8 years his senior and already on the staff when Perry arrived. He was in the Den of 1972 with Frank Mauran, John Mulliken, Lincoln Gamble, Chris Smith and a host of Mowglis icons. As a member of the staff he was assigned to the Cubs, after a few years in the kitchen on Jr. Staff with Chef Ashton "Smitty" Smith. In the early-1990's Holt Elwell Memorial Foundation Treasurer Doug Warwick, who had kept Mowglis on a secure financial footing for many years, despite very limited resources, was looking for someone who would be up to the task and he approached Perry. This was a particularly difficult time for Mowglis. Recruitment had hit a wall, related largely to huge changes in society that were drawing families to send their children to specialty camps and some other unique challenges the camp faced in the final decade of century. In addition to keeping Mowglis' financial balls in the air, Perry has been a tireless advocate for developing a strong financial aid and scholarship program to assure that Mowglis would continue to have a diverse group of boys from all income levels. His strong support in those years and since then has placed Mowglis on much more solid financial footing.

Tim Coons came to Mowglis from his home in New York in 1965 along with his brother Henry. Between his first year in Toomai and his Den year in 1968 Tim established himself as a leader at Mowglis including being elected by his Red Racing Crew teammates as their Captain in his Akela year. In addition to this he was on Gopher Squad in his panther year and Washington Squad and rowed on the Red Racing Crew after two years as a coxswain on the racing crew. He capped his year off by being Gray Brother at the Inner Circle Ceremony.

Dwight Newcomb came to Mowglis in 1960 and 1961, unusually, as a member of the Junior staff beginning with John Adams pioneering Yearling program that has restarted again at Mowglis as a means of creating a transition year between camper and staff status at Mowglis. Dwight was close friends with Jim West who was also a Yearling at Mowglis and the two ofthem paddled a canoe together on a long river trip from the Connecticut Lakes region all the way to Maine on the Saco River.

Tim Coons came to Mowglis from his home in New York in 1965 along with his brother Henry. Between his first year in Toomai and his Den year in 1968 Tim established himself as a leader at Mowglis including being elected by his Red Racing Crew teammates as their Captain in his Akela year. In addition to this he was on Gopher Squad in his panther year and Washington Squad and rowed on the Red Racing Crew after two years as a coxswain on the racing crew. He capped his year off by being Gray Brother at the Inner Circle Ceremony.

Dwight Newcomb came to Mowglis in 1960 and 1961, unusually, as a member of the Junior staff beginning with John Adams pioneering Yearling program that has restarted again at Mowglis as a means of creating a transition year between camper and staff status at Mowglis. Dwight was close friends with Jim West who was also a Yearling at Mowglis and the two ofthem paddled a canoe together on a long river trip from the Connecticut Lakes region all the way to Maine on the Saco River.

Show Note: mowglismemories.blogspot.com Jim West, a member of the Cheyenne nation, brother of Rick West (Den 1957) and son of WahPahNahYah (W. Richard "Dick" West) who came to Mowglis as a camper at the age of 11, in 1957. Jim was in Toomai and brother Rick was in the Den the same year. He returned as a "Yearling"/Junior Counsel in 1960 under then Director John Adams. In 1965 and 66 he returned to Mowglis as a Senior Counselor under the leadership of William B. Hart.

Show Note: mowglismemories.blogspot.com Jim West, a member of the Cheyenne nation, brother of Rick West (Den 1957) and son of WahPahNahYah (W. Richard "Dick" West) who came to Mowglis as a camper at the age of 11, in 1957. Jim was in Toomai and brother Rick was in the Den the same year. He returned as a "Yearling"/Junior Counsel in 1960 under then Director John Adams. In 1965 and 66 he returned to Mowglis as a Senior Counselor under the leadership of William B. Hart.

Jim West, a member of the Cheyenne nation, brother of Rick West (Den 1957 (corrected)) and son of WahPahNahYah (W. Richard "Dick" West) who came to Mowglis as a camper at the age of 11, in 1957. Jim was in Toomai and brother Rick was in the Den the same year. He returned as a "Yearling"/Junior Counsel in 1960 under then Director John Adams. In 1965 and 66 he returned to Mowglis as a Senior Counselor under the leadership of William B. Hart.

Jim West, a member of the Cheyenne nation, brother of Rick West (Den 1957 (corrected)) and son of WahPahNahYah (W. Richard "Dick" West) who came to Mowglis as a camper at the age of 11, in 1957. Jim was in Toomai and brother Rick was in the Den the same year. He returned as a "Yearling"/Junior Counsel in 1960 under then Director John Adams. In 1965 and 66 he returned to Mowglis as a Senior Counselor under the leadership of William B. Hart.