I
Aggielife
The Battalion
Page 3A • Tuesday, January 20, 2003
Former and current students look back as Fish Camp’s 50th anniversary approaches
» FISH CAHP
BACK
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By Julie Siddique
THE BATTALION
It all started in 1954 when a man named Gordon Gay, a former
Texas A&M student activities director, took a few young men camp
ing. Little did he know that this trip would mark the beginning of one
of the largest and most spirited activities on campus: Fish Camp.
Next fall, A&M will celebrate Fish Camp’s 50th birthday and will
host a Fish Camp Reunion on Sept. 10-11. It is Fish Camp’s first for
mal reunion, and everyone who has ever been involved with Fish
Camp has been invited to come out
sx " and join the fun.
Rvtu Divoi •THE BATTALION
In the past 50 years, Fish Camp has grown into an independent stu
dent organization that involves approximately 6,(XX) people each year,
including roughly 4,500 freshmen and 1,500 counselors and staff
members.
In fact. Fish Camp is the largest voluntary extended orientation
program in the nation and has been recreated by other universities
around the country.
“Other schools have programs like Fish Camp, but as far as 1 know,
few schools’ programs are nearly as strong or have lasted for so long
and made such an impact,” said Ryan Alexander, a senior kinesiolo
gy major and Fish Camp counselor.
Fish Camp serves as a model of excellence in orientation programs,
said Alexander.
“Every year, universities from around the nation come to visit
A&M and Fish Camp to start a similar program at their school or
improve an existing one,” said Dave Stanfield, an A&M graduate
and former Fish Camp counselor working on the reunion.
The Fish Camp Reunion this fall will be an opportunity to cel
ebrate the success of the organization and appreciate the people
who have contributed to it over the years.
“So many people have contributed and given to the organization
and it will be an opportunity to appreciate them,” said Brad
Henderson, a construction science management student and former
Fish .Camp director. “We are looking forward to an opportunity to
bring everybody back.”
The reunion will commemorate generations of Aggies and the evo
lution of the Fish Camp organization.
“The reunion will be an opportunity to see how Fish Camp has
evolved over the years,” Henderson said. "In 1954, A&M was still
an all-male cadet school and now we have an increasingly diverse
campus.”
The reunion will also help create a network of former Fish
Camp participants.
“We hope to bring the network together so that we can raise
money for scholarships to help students who can’t afford Fish
Camp,” Henderson said. “We want to help give back to the organi
zation.”
While much has changed, such as the size of Fish Camp and the
demographics of participants. Fish Camp’s original goals have
remained the same: to provide an accepting environment to all new
freshmen.
"The reunion is going to be huge for A&M," said Lacee Lynch, an
industrial distribution junior and director of Fish Camp for 2(X)4.
“Things have changed so much in 50 years but Fish Camp’s mission
and values have remained the same.”
Fish Camp’s mission since its beginning has been to welcome
freshmen into the Aggie Family by creating a support system that
allows them to build relationships and share in the Aggie Spirit.
Several students agree that Fish Camp has been largely successful in
achieving these goals.
“When I came to Fish Camp, I wasn’t really an A&M fan, but
Fish Camp made me realize that I made the right decision,”
Alexander said. “I was impressed by the upperclassmen’s interest in
freshmen. We were important enough for them. We were a part of
the community. That really impressed me.”
Over the years. Fish Camp has played an instrumental role in
developing Aggie spirit and identity, Stanfield said.
“I didn’t realize it at the time, but Fish Camp is what started my
love for Texas A&M. 1 knew after Fish Camp that Texas A&M was
different from other schools (in a good way),” Stanfield said.
Fish Camp has also provided a safe atmosphere for freshmen to
become familiar with the school and its many traditions.
“1 think Fish Camp was a place we could let our guard dow n and
open up and be receptive to the love that A&M has to offer,” Lynch
said. “Fish Camp was a place we could discuss our fears and mis
conceptions about college. It was a starting point for building rela
tionships and confidence.”
Stanfield said Fish Camp has provided 50 years of students w ith
memorable experiences.
“It was definitely a worthwhile experience, it was an opportunity
to feel accepted, experience a sense of belonging.” Henderson said.
In addition to a sense of belonging and comfort. Fish Camp
provided an opportunity to meet people and make good friends.
Lynch said.
“Personally, most of my friends and my roommate I met through
Fish Camp. Fish Camp has shaped my entire A&M experience.”
Alexander said.
Tentative plans for the reunion celebrations include a staff
social. First Yell and Midnight Yell Practice on Friday. On
Saturday there will be a director breakfast, mini-reunions for
different camps and years, a barbeque. an all Fish Camp tailgate
party, the football game against Wyoming and Haywood live in
concert.
Reunion organizers are also considering putting together a photo
mural and a timeline of Fish Camp over the years, Henderson said.
The plans are still in the development stage.
All the main events are planned, but the details for each of them
are still coming together. The 50th Anniversary Web site,
http://rishcamp.tamu.edu/50th/50th.htm. will stay updated with the
most current information about the reunion.
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