Draft:Camp Talawanda

• Comment: In accordance with Wikipedia's Conflict of interest policy, I disclose that I have a conflict of interest regarding the subject of this article. Elaw22 (talk) 06:20, 22 June 2025 (UTC)

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Tahoe Vista 1932 -1970

Camp Talawanda, the oldest established girls camp in the Tahoe region, ran for almost four decades, from 1932 to its closing in 1970. Wilma McFarland, known as Birch to campers, started Camp Talawanda in the Tahoe National Forest in Tahoe Vista, North Shore Lake Tahoe.

Talawanda was thought to mean “wind in the pines” or something similar. Camp Talawanda ran for 6 weeks each summer beginning at the end of June until the beginning of August. Thousands of girls and young women attended Camp Talawanda over the years.

Camp Talawanda – The Beginning

Wilma “Birch” McFarland’s desire to develop leadership in women was inspired by leadership classes taken at Modesto Junior College (MJC) and was the driving force resulting in the establishment of Camp Talawanda. Her interest in mentoring girls led her to organize the first Girl Scout troop in Stanislaus County in Pinecrest which she ran for three years until she launched Camp Talawanda. Service was an important part of Wilma’s upbringing. Her uncle, Dr. Edgar Helms, had founded the Goodwill Industries in 1902.

Wilma “Birch” McFarland at Camp in the 1930's

In 1926, Wilma was promoted from her position as Professor to Chairman of the Domestic Science Department at Modesto Junior College. Notably, she was the first woman to be the Chairman of any Department at the College. Understanding the importance of inspiring leadership in women, Wilma started teaching a leadership class in 1932 at Modesto Junior College – the same year she launched Camp Talawanda.  Spending time at a camp promoting leadership in young women, run by women was a life affirming experience for girls.

Wilma “Birch” built the camp with the help of her brothers, Daniel, an engineer, and James McFarland who owned a construction company in San Francisco, after receiving a special use permit for 2.7 acres from the US Forest Service.

“We looked at many places and the forest service offered us the site near Lake Tahoe. It had enough level spots for the varied activities of a girl’s camp and for the buildings. We have a dining hall, three large sleeping lodges, two small ones, four outside bath houses, cabins for the nurse and cook, a post office and a laundry.”

1930’s

In the beginning, the camp had 3 lodges: Pine Tree Lodge for senior campers; Quartermaster Lodge for junior campers; and Cedar lodge for the youngest campers. Initially, the camp accepted girls from 10 years to 20 years old. Later the age was changed to accept girls from 7 years old to 16 years old.

Camp Talawanda entrance 1930’s. Birch is standing in the middle.

Classes in crafts, dramatics, riding, archery, tennis, and nature walks were offered to the campers. The nature walks were led by Professor Frederick (Pop) Knorr who was the first professor of the Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Department at MJC and the founder of the Modesto Garden Club in 1924. Every afternoon there was swimming and rowing at Lake Tahoe. Older campers told of how they would swim across Donner Lake.

Camp surprises included overnight hikes to Fallen Leaf Lake; hikes and bicycle rides around the Lake; beach suppers; banquets; water carnivals; visits to historical sites like Donner Lake and the ghost towns from Gold Rush days.

Beach outing King’s Beach 1930’s

1940’s, 1950’s and 1960’s

Camp continued during World War II but was moved to the Presbyterian Conference Grounds at Zephyr Cove during 1944 due to concerns about the roughness of the road to camp wearing out the tires on the food delivery trucks. Rubber was strictly rationed during WWII. New tires were not available to consumers. Businesses had to apply to the local rationing boards for tires.

By the 1940’s, there were 6 lodges: Cedar; Hemlock; Nook; Chipmunk; Village and Pine. Camp Talawanda continued to excel at inspiring and training young women to be leaders. Birch and Ellen McFarland carefully chose the counselors for their skills, and their ability to be exceptional mentors and coaches to the campers. Camp Talawanda started a  program called CIT – Counselors in Training. At the end of camp when the senior campers in Pine had turned 16, the exceptional campers were invited to return the following year as Junior Counselors to be trained by the Senior Counselors and Directors. Being selected to return the following year as a Junior Counselor was a great honor.

Sally Leahy, tennis instructor, in the center teaching tennis to campers.

Camp Talawanda also started a day known as CBC or Campers Be Counselors. Each counselor chose a camper to be them for a day: to dress like the counselor; to lead all the activities and sports the counselor was responsible for during the day, and to take care of all the campers in that counselor’s lodge.

Tutoring was available, so girls could come to camp rather than staying home and going to summer school. An extra riding camp extension in Placerville was in operation during the 1950’s.

   

Riding Nevada Mustangs in the forests at Tahoe Vista

Talawanda Players present one of their plays with Katie Haynes, Kristi Tarnutzer, and Dorrie “Mousie” Newton at campfire for the entire camp. Sets by the Arts and Crafts club.

Map of Camp Talawanda (Look closely - you can see the Big Dipper).

The road to camp on North Avenue had a steep incline known as the Big Dipper. You can see the small indentation on the map. Campers would scream with laughter as the camp truck barreled down the incline and up the other side. You can see the indentation on the map if you look closely.

1966 - 1970

At the end of camp in 1966, Birch retired as Director and gave the camp to her adopted son, Jim Helms. Camp closed in 1970.

Camp Song written in 1936

The camp song was written in 1936 by Marion Costello.

Broad as the skies above you,

Deeper than Tahoe's blue,

There is a feeling beyond concealing

That no other Camp will do.

Who could wish company more jolly?

Where shines the sun more brightly?

Happy the hours spent in these woods of ours,

And the campfire and stars by night.

So let us sing out of Talawanda praises thousand-fold

You'll hear our chorus echoed from the pines and cedars old

Search and you'll find no better up or down the Coast

No camp like Talawanda ! That's our boast!

Singing was an important part of camp. There was singing in the camp truck wherever campers went, there was singing at mealtimes in the Dining Hall. If a camper arrived late for meals, you can be sure everyone would sing: “Better Late than Never; Better Never Late,” Get Your Elbows Off the Table….we have seen you do it once and you look just like a dunce…”  The most singing was at campfire each night. There were songs for senior campers and songs for the smallest junior campers. For the last song of the evening, everyone would cross their arms and hold hands while singing “Day is Done.” Birch would say “Good Night” and then everyone would say “Good Night.”

Campfire singing last song of the night ‘Day is done.” 1960

Legacy

Camp Talawanda’s real legacy was its young campers who grew up to be women embodying the values learned at camp. The Camp Motto was: self-sufficient living means learning by doing, living and sharing with others.

Wilma “Birch” McFarland’s dream of developing leadership in young women came true as Camp Talawanda girls grew up to be doctors, nurses, a U. S. Senator, attorneys, teachers, professors, artists, writers, businesswomen: one who revolutionized the swimwear industry, journalists, environmentalists, animal rights advocates, and more. Many became mothers who instilled the values they learned at camp in their daughters and granddaughters.

Famous Campers

Anne Cole attended camp from 1943 – 1945. She revolutionized the swimwear industry inventing the tankini, pairing swimsuit separates, introducing bold color palettes and offering women sophisticated yet comfortable swimwear.

Dianne Goldman Feinstein attended camp from 1946-1947. Dianne Feinstein became the first woman mayor of San Francisco and the first woman US Senator representing California.

Lake Tahoe Protection

Senator Feinstein’s commitment to Lake Tahoe goes back to her youth as a camper at Camp Talawanda. She worked to protect Lake Tahoe, launching the Lake Tahoe Restoration Act which launched the Lake Tahoe Environmental Improvement Program, one of the most comprehensive landscape-scale conservation programs in the nation. After the first Summit, she united public and private sectors to save Lake Tahoe. In 2000, she cosponsored the Lake Tahoe Restoration Act, a 10-year, $900 million cleanup effort. She also spearheaded renewal of the Lake Tahoe Restoration Act in 2016, which since enactment has provided an additional $110 million for further environmental projects. Senator Feinstein’s tireless work on behalf of the Tahoe partnership has ensured future generations are able to enjoy the same beautiful lake where she spent many of her childhood days.

“Camp Talawanda holds a special place in Lake Tahoe’s history and in my heart. I understand it was likely the first all-girls camp in the Basin, which is indeed notable. But, having attended as a young woman myself I can attest first-hand that Talawanda was so much more. There were few places like it, where city girls like me could come together to ride horses, play sports, jump into the Lake without a care, learn how to rough it in the woods, laugh late into the night under the stars, and so much more. It was empowering, enriching and joyful. It’s one of the reasons I, and so many other young women, fell in love with Lake Tahoe for a lifetime.

Camp Talawanda is well worth commemorating. I believe people for generations to come will be delighted and inspired to know more about its rich history, its contributions to Lake Tahoe’s legacy, and the women whose lives it helped transform. “                                                                                    - Dianne Feinstein, United States Senator-

References

Special thanks to Shirley McFarland (D’Andrea), Maurine “Bunny”  Robinson (Audel) ,Susie Fisher (Purdy), Ed Hodges, Nancy Stromswold, the archivist at the Gatekeepers Museum Tahoe City, Lake Tahoe, Lindsey Scannell, Ellie D’Andrea Lawrence, and Carole Murphy for editing, and of course, the collection of Wilma Birch McFarland and Ellen McFarland (Newton) donated to the North Lake Tahoe Historical Society, Gatekeepers Museum.