Argus Dedication

       This year, the Argus Dedication is to Dave Booth, a camper and counselor at Camp Shohola for over a decade. Sadly, Dave passed away last winter in a car crash. While Dave is sorely missed by everyone that knew him in the Camp Shohola family, his legacy and legend still live on. During his summers here, Dave touched the hearts and minds of hundreds of campers as well as the counselors that he worked with. He was constantly active at camp, running all camp events, classes, and raising camp spirit, and yet he was never too busy to stop and talk with a camper or tell a story with some friends.

       Last summer at camp during his own free time, Dave built and hung two huge swings on the hill just so the kids could have a little extra fun during their free time. Dave never seemed to be sad. He dearly loved everyone and everything about camp. Even when Dave was outside of camp, his thoughts were always on ways to improve both camp and his own abilities as a counselor. To watch Dave work with the kids was something truly special. Every camper thought of Dave as one of their best friends at camp, yet they all respected him more than any other counselor.

       Those of us who had the privilege of knowing Dave all miss him very much, yet we all know that he is constantly with us and keeping an eye on everything. In Dave's memory, we have built a large garden next to the lower office. The garden is very fitting because it is easily spotted and is the first thing people see as they drive up to camp as well as the last thing they see. For many of us, it was the same thing with Dave, to see him sitting there with a smile and nod as you passed by.

       Dave Booth may be gone but his spirit and all that he did for his friends will never be forgotten. For as long as there are campers at Shohola, Dave will still be here with us too. At the end of year campfire, we have a tradition of tying a piece of string around our wrists. On this string, we all make a promise to one day return to camp. Most of us will be adding a new promise to that string and that is to never forget the legend but more importantly the man, Dave Booth.