Mark Showers (perennially an Outpost counselor in the 70s) was so wonderful and patient and talented that inevitably we kept asking him if he would please become a village chief--move up in the camp hierarchy, assume more responsibility, etc. But he always refused, preferring the role of the cabin counselor. "Just me and my boys," he'd say. Thus he might possibly have the record for the most consecutive summers in the counselor position. Not sure of that but he'd certainly contend for such an honor.Showers was universally liked. I don't ever remember anyone saying anything critical or even doubtful of him. (Of how many people can we stay that?)
Mark's signature activity in the mid-70s was the making of an elaboratively carved walking stick. He would make one every two-week session or so. During free time he could be found carving these things. I wondered why. "Why," I thought, "wasn't he spending his free time doing something exciting...or, if not that, then more time with the kids?" And then I realized what he was doing. He'd set up somewhere in the main field, or in front of Hayden Lodge, during his period off and carve away. A fixture there. Before too long five or six kids were gathered around, talking, swapping stories, perhaps carving their own sticks. Showers made these sticks as a means of doing his job even better--in a disarming sort of way. Brilliant. He could talk to any kid, even the most recalcitrant.
The photo shows Mark at the 2001 reunion.
