Years ago I was a camp counselor in White's Landing on Catalina Island, off the coast of California. I describe that summer as "THE BEST SUMMER OF MY LIFE". I was 19 years old and my adult life was just beginning.
It was a CRAZY summer and so much fun! I met so many wonderful people and so many memories that I cherish to this day. We "camped" for about two months in those canvas tents in the picture above and we taught our campers many things as they came to experience Camp White's Landing, which was a Girl Scout Camp at the time. We taught them to windsurf, sail a boat, canoe, snorkel, and we hiked many trails around the camp. We taught them the Girl Scout way of doing things, we sung many songs around the campfire and many s'mores were eaten around those fires. I can still hear the strumming of the guitar of the musically inclined counselors. We could identify the constellations in the sky, the stars were plentiful to see in the night sky they did not have to compete with the city lights.
We would get a day off, once in while and we would take the Boston Whaler into Avalon for the whole day....and boy did we have a great time in Avalon. So many memories were made in town. Going to see bands in the Casino, hanging out at the pier, meeting new people to add to our memories. This past weekend I had the opportunity to go back and be a camper again, it was a Counselors reunion trip.
Camp White's landing has changed a bit but not much. Hurricane Marie last season wiped out the Pier so we couldn't land in Avalon and take the boat into White's so we ended up going by a charter boat and landing at the Isthmus.
The Isthmus is actually called Two Harbors...this is the harbor where our boat docked and we came ashore.
The water was the prettiest shade of blue and so clear you could see the bottom.
There were lots and lots of sailboats. I would love to sail over and drop anchor here and just live here for about a month. Just floating on the water and snorkeling every day.
Or I wouldn't mind renting a little bungalow on the shore, I wouldn't be too picky.
There were lots and lots of palm trees swaying in the wind.
The visitors that are moored in the harbor take their zodiacs or smaller boat to town to hit the one and only bar or the general store.....
or they might get a bite to eat in the restaurant or grab an ice cream cone at the general store.
Looking from the bar you look back and can see the harbor. You can rent kayaks to tootle around the harbor or ride around the itty bitty town.
As I was walking to meet my van, that was going to take me into White's Landing...this cute little house was calling my name..."Tiny Mite"! {that was my camp name, everyone gets a camp name at White's}.
You know I was in love with this house the minute I saw it, with the shell wreath and the beach sign that says, "Life is better at the Beach"...oh I couldn't agree more. Wouldn't you love to live here or just rent this cottage for a week? Where do I sign on the dotted line?
This darling, little shingled house painted blue with red geraniums in terracotta pots and succulents in a wire basket on the wall..I wonder if the owner of the General Store lives here? The general store had the cutest merchandise and I did pick something up for the Cottage on Cullen as a small souvenir.
Just to the left of the French Blue Cottage is the other side of the island, the other Harbor, that's why it's called Two Harbors {the Isthmus}. You can stand in this spot and see both sides of the island..isn't that cool?
Leaving the Isthmus we are on the road to White's Landing on a very bumpy, dusty road. Many of my pictures came out blurry from all that bouncing.
On the backside of the island, here is a campground, not sure which one it is though.
Finally, arriving to White's Landing, this is where we eat at with the gorgeous ocean front view.
It is a bit of a rocky beach but taking a swim in the ocean was so refreshing.
From the beach looking into the campground you can see buildings where you can check out equipment and the tents where you sleep or you can haul your sleeping bag and sleep on the beach too, which is what we did the first night and woke up to this...
this beautiful sunrise! Sleeping under all those stars at night was so blissful, falling asleep to the lapping of the waves on the shore.
It was a beautiful, beautiful morning.
I enjoyed myself this past weekend: snorkeling in the sea, kayaking in the ocean, paddle boarding, reuniting with old counselors and meeting new friends.
Goodbye White's Landing until I see you again! There is a special place in my heart with new memories and new friendships gained on this beautiful trip.
Ein, Swei, Drei, Horsengoggle
Camp White’s Landing was so much fun and taught me being female meant you still could be strong. My two weeks with Maitee and Scat really influenced my life, I was in contact with Sharon, Maitee, but have haven’t heard from her since the horrible Malibu fires.
Posted by: Rachel Wetherill | February 06, 2020 at 08:23 PM
Hi Nancy, Whites Landing was a special place I was there in the summer of 1983 only! Wow what special memories,
Posted by: Gabrielle | February 03, 2020 at 07:12 PM
I loved Whites Landing. I was camper when I was 10 until I was 17. When were you there? In 65 my counselors were Mary Perry, Mary jo Peppler and Nancy Owen who had been on the US volleyball team in the Olympics in 64. I also remember Pivot and Sailor. My best memories are going to Girl Scout camp. I also went to Camp Osiris Ranco in Big Bear from 1957 - 1068.
When were you a counselor there?
Nancy Schier Clayton
Posted by: Nancy Clayton | February 03, 2020 at 06:16 PM
Hi Christine, yes I would of been your counselor, I keep in touch with a few of counselors like Tnumper, Scooter and Chip lives at the camp part time as her girlfriend runs the camp, which no longer is run by the Girl Scouts.
Posted by: Elliemader | May 11, 2019 at 05:56 PM
I think you were my counselor at Tonga. I only went to Girl Scout Camp at Camp White's Landing once (my sister went many years in a row), and I remember we had counselors named Star, Tiny Mite and Scooter. So funny that I would happen upon your blog all these years later when searching the internet to try to figure out what ever happened to that camp. What is at the site now?
Posted by: Christine Elowitt | May 09, 2019 at 04:22 PM
It was a great place to be a camper
Posted by: Gabrielle Mader | November 12, 2017 at 02:40 PM
Funny I was just looking this place up...summer of 1989 was the best as a camper!
Posted by: Denise Kappele | November 12, 2017 at 12:44 PM
Thanks Rue...I know we all had Farrah hair...those were the days...Catalina is a special place I love just being on the beach surrounded by water.
Posted by: Gabrielle Mader | July 21, 2015 at 10:51 PM
Thank you for taking me back to Catalina.... I miss it so....
I loved the hairdos in that old pick from camp. I tried so hard to have feathered hair LOL
I'm glad you had a great time :)
xo,
rue
Posted by: rue | July 21, 2015 at 04:37 PM