Seniors Have Uninhibited Splash at 3-Day Camp

In the swimming pool at Camp Mt. Crags in Malibu Canyon, three summer campers quickly got into a splashing fight. Two of them teamed up on a friend, chiding her for not dunking her head in the water.

“I don’t want my hair to get wet. I don’t have anything to fix it with. Stop. Stop it!” screamed Angela Contreras, as her hair became a dripping mess.

Then, swishing the last wave of water toward Contreras, Sara Durazo cried out with a laugh, “Can you imagine a bunch of 70-year-old people acting like this?”

For the water fighters, all from Pacoima, and 115 other campers from throughout Southern California, Monday was the beginning of an unusual three-day summer camp exclusively for senior citizens, where traditional activities like swimming and nature walks are combined with Bingo and word-puzzle games.

For 26 years, the Salvation Army has run the senior citizens camp at its campground in Tapia Park, near Malibu Creek State Park. There are two three-day camps for seniors during the summer.

Roughing it is not part of the agenda. The campers are served meals in an air-conditioned cafeteria and sleep on cots in dormitories.

“I run the programs for seniors throughout Southern California and haven’t been able to find another camp like this,” said Betty Whiteside, director of senior citizens affairs for the Salvation Army.

“We gear everything to their liking,” Whiteside said. “They can sit under the umbrellas all day and talk or go for a walk if they like.”

About 80% of the campers receive subsidies from the Salvation Army to help cover the $50 camp fee.

The only requirement, Whiteside said, is that all campers wear a name tag that also bears the name and phone number of their doctor, in case of an emergency.

The campers, predominantly women, arrived throughout Monday morning. Some were prepared with sunbonnets, tennis shoes and bathing caps.

Most of the campers were without inhibition, eager to meet others.

“I’m going to try a jackknife dive,” said Jennie Lee, 55, of Hesperia in San Bernadino County, who quickly befriended the Pacoima water fighters. “I used to do it pretty good when I was in high school.”

Although she admitted she needs to lose a few pounds to get back to former shape, her leap from the board, jackknife and plop in the water drew applause from the pool crowd.

“I was a high school diving champion,” she proclaimed.

To spice up the camp session, a railroad theme is carried out through the three days. And the campers do get into it, complete with a costume parade and campfire sing-along.

Nellie Levin, 66, of Hollywood dressed up like a locomotive engineer. She even had a little plastic whistle that sounded like the high-pitched whistle on a toy train set.

“Well, they said to come prepared to carry out the theme. So here I am all ready,” she said. She was especially proud of her denim cap with “Palace Station” embroidered on the visor.

“I got that for $3 at a casino in Las Vegas on the last senior citizen trip I took,” she said.