Carolyn Stiles, Joanne Gianniny, and Allison Stiles

00:00 I'm Carolyn Stiles. I am 30 years old. It is Friday, July 16th, 2021 and we are in Rochester, New York, and I'm here with Allison, Stiles. My sister and Joe, Anthony Grammy my grandmother.

00:23 And I am Allison, Stiles. I am 32 years old and today's date is Friday, July 16th, 2021. We're in Rochester, New York, and I'm here with Carolyn Stiles, my younger sister, and Joe, and Ginny my grandmother.

00:42 I am Joe Angelini. I have 93 years old.

00:47 Today is Friday, July 16th, 2021. I'm in Rochester. I am the grandmother to Allison and Carolyn Stiles.

01:04 Great. So, G today. It we're going to talk about Grammy Camp. Much beloved tradition among the grandchildren of the family. And we're so excited to remember this this special time in our lives and talk a little bit more about the story behind it. So maybe we can start out by just talking about what Grammy Camp is. So could you just break down? What? What is Grammy camp camp at? We have a cottage at Lake George. I somehow decided that it would be fun to take the grandchildren, which I had.

01:54 Barbecue, I think at that point.

01:59 Mirror probably. Well, I probably took.

02:05 62 Lake George for this dumb Grammy camp.

02:12 I had read like alarm. I had read about a woman who had a little camp or well, I don't think she called, but it was taking her grandchildren to a museum.

02:33 And there was music at this Museum and she wanted to have the children, learn to or

02:43 2.

02:48 Play there. I'm sorry. Anyway, I wanted them or she wanted them to draw by being responsible.

03:03 Kind of thinking that sounds like something and I can hang something. That would be delightful to hear. Well, that was the beginning of the socks. I was the Grammy camp and I continue to think about that and how it might be from and how I could bring in other things because it seemed that seems kind of short. So anyway and it grew, and then pack, and I had children that had to be 6 years old.

03:45 So that meant there were four of them that works at least six years old. Actually, there were two six year olds and 28 year olds, I believe. And

04:01 So,

04:02 We had one until and tell us about the structure of a Grammy Camp. So what it entailed over the course of a week.

04:16 Well, I tried to keep them busy all the time because it needed to be busy all the time and we had a lot of different things.

04:30 Waiting at Water Sports, of course and swimming in the helping them learn. Maybe if they, someone is proficient as others, but they were all pretty good. There was water skiing, there was carts and crafts, kind of always every year. I had some sort of thing to do. It might be needing.

05:00 From something. I remember this big piece of what, I mean. It was supposed to be a rock.

05:14 Yes, the rug. Yes, and you had to put a design on the rug.

05:22 I'm wondering, I love it all. And so G when you came up with all of those activities and you created this Grammy Camp. What did you hope that the camp would achieve for us and for you?

05:43 I guess I am a closeness. I wanted to

05:51 I loved it. When the grandchildren, loved one another and new one another. Well.

05:59 As well as me. I thoroughly enjoyed that face that dividend as well.

06:12 I had my oldest grandchild. Mark was my counselor.

06:20 He he help me out with everything and we were just kind of plan together, and if he was valuable.

06:35 Well.

06:37 Yeah, just special time. So that first-year remind me, how long the first year was first year was one week. Okay, and it was just for grandkids. Did it go as planned?

06:54 I would say yes, it went as planned.

07:01 It was It was kind of hard to know exactly what is planned. It went as planned and went well and didn't sell well that I wanted more next year. So the next year.

07:24 I did it for two weeks and I thought this is too long.

07:37 The second one was too long, just a little bit.

07:42 And so the following year and did it for 10 days and it was perfect, it really that length of time. I don't know. It just seemed how did how did Grammy Camp evolved over the years? So one of Aleutian was amount of time that you decided on. We kind of perfected the perfect amount of time. How else did it evolve over time or change?

08:15 Well, it

08:20 A group, of course in the number of things that we did and the sea.

08:30 More water, sports more things like I had a ring to throw in the water to save someone if someone someone would pretend they were drowning and then someone would throw them the ring and pull them in. There was water skiing every morning, but I don't know whether I think everybody likes it to a certain extent for the water skiing. Tell us a little bit about the water. Skiing. What time did we get up? That was when the when the lake would be.

09:25 And so that was the best time to water ski.

09:30 And Allison, what is your recollection of water skiing in the morning on my gosh. I remember us all Gathering down at the dock and we had the lineup of who got to go first. You got to go 2nd. So whoever was slaloming got to go first oldest to youngest usually and then you get down to the people who would be younger and using two skis. And then eventually for the people who aren't water skiing at one or two, you got to use the zip sled, remember, which was like the like a kneeboard, right? When you could, you could stand on it or kneel on it. And I remembered that you were so wonderful and patient. Because you would take every single grandchild out around as many times as they wanted to go, which sometimes

10:30 Was only just outside the bay before we pointed that we wanted to go back or is it sometime it was many times around and you would go through every person even the youngest who was only on the zip slide and would go probably about 5 miles an hour around and around and you were so patient and supportive and I loved it. It was so fun.

10:58 Anything else that you remember care about that, that slip slide really stands out. The zip side was the best. You felt so powerful, being able to stand up and pretend that your water skiing, but it was so accessible and we did take advantage of going around and around you created, you know, we had chores that we would do each day that rotated and you had activity, has plans and different challenges that we would work Torrid, like, rowing across the bay on her own or being able to, you know, swim out to the doctor raft and back alone. And I'm curious. Did those parts evolve over time? Or how did you decide? We're going to have chores and we're going to have a piece.

11:58 Everybody should.

12:02 There's something not not just me so they were from

12:13 The other things that evolved, you know, there were you remember the bird?

12:21 Finding our rather. I had picked out certain birds in that bird book that we have up there and

12:30 Wanted you to find them and if you found them, you got to mark down that by your name on the chart.

12:39 We have few charts charts for swimming, chart for $1.

12:49 I'm curious with the chores Caroline's, which was your favorite and your least favorite chore.

13:05 Oh my gosh, I would love to hear everybody's favorite chore, but mine was burning the trash for sure. Hands down burning. The recycling was the best. That was you got to like, head out to that little fire pits. That was away from the house. You got to bring the matches and their Cycles. The burnable one and it was so fun and it was by far the easiest or so you have so little to do when that was yours that they that was the best I could with that sweeping, the floor was not that big of a deal it either cleaning up was my least favorite. What was yours out? Then I have to agree with you and I think I think many of the cousins at also agreed burning was the best and good memory Grammy. We did have to sweep to but we still we got to play with that fire and you know, it was worth it.

14:05 Turn recyclables anyone and I agree. My least favorite was was the cleaning coming up. Yeah, I love that. Have to cook. Yes, and I like the cooking your ghostly. That was a fun one. That was a fun one. And I remember I that two of my favorite meals, one, where the corn Toasties in the morning, those were the best. And when those are out, it was definitely time to go to Cloverdale because we needed more corn Toasties. And the other one was

14:44 The belief that we had at least once during the week, that was always really fun. And I'm not sure why. Because when you actually look at that, it's relatively, like, just the other food-related that I loved was that actually the Glen Island weekly trip. The one Glen Islands trip where we were each allowed to get something, something fun. And you get the boat out to the, to the island. And that little general store. I love that. I would always get the strawberry Charleston chew and along those lines. The other outing that we would get to do with our trip to cleverdale the General Store, and we each got to get bring our allowance with us.

15:44 And Grammy remind us. We had to spend under $1 and Allison. How many people spent under $1? I think probably maybe one probably Max and sometimes me the dollar Max with the under and everyone else would be over with their own money and we all got in the car. And you'd say, did everyone spend $2 and he said, yes.

16:28 Those are, but those are the important things that you're just need to let us get away with.

16:36 I guess you have no Grammy. I have another question for you, at the end of each trami. Can you would put on a play for our parents? How did that come about?

16:55 You know what? I don't know. It just sort of happened, 1-year. It just seemed something that I don't know. Maybe it would have been a couple of the older kids like Amanda and Lauren thought it would be fun. I, I kind of think they might have been the play When the plague came about is that when the sort of parent weekend, we had a little bit of a celebration, when parents came up and we serve, we made him serve dinner. We did this play and we sort of showed our parents, what we have learned throughout the week. Did that evolve when the plague came around or was that always how you set it up with a little bit of something?

17:51 I'll have them. See what what you've accomplished and I'm curious, if the two of you remember, any of those plays in particular, any that stand out in your mind, songs that we staying or skip that we did 100.

18:15 Submarine, the whole series of Disney songs. That was great and all dressed up like a Disney character to what are you created? That? You found the clothes and my clothes are all things and made costumes. Yes. We are. We found clothes and Amanda would bring up other dress up clothes as well. And you get all all decked out. Yes. It was such fun. I think there was this really beautiful mix of structure and free time that allowed us to figure out.

19:15 Do what we wanted for the end-of-year play and schedule the time to practice and make that come to fruition over the weeks. Mixed with this, you know, learnings of the specific art projects that we were doing that week, maybe swimming exercises that we had to complete throughout the week and the challenges that we are sort of presented with was such great development learning to work with other people around you or just be with those people and learn from them. It was a I think a really nice mix but you were you created. I also love that we had the opportunity to learn a lot of really special Family song, singing at night around the campfire, or in the 10 allowed us to have a special space to to really learn those. I wonder if we should stay.

20:15 Maybe he's not always around. You always think the Ragga music to the catalyses way. I can forward you the state to pay it again or any such a pain in the higher, the loot and I love those songs to Grandma.

21:15 We did some hiking, I remember that Mark, let us on a hike to Paradise Bay. You dropped us off at Sandy Bay or something. And then we hiked from there to Paradise day and you met us there. I think ya some years and we would go to lunch at the Algonquin. We get our 1 Special lunch out and get all dressed up and get all set to go across in the Chris Craft. And Joanne was remembering nice outfit life jackets.

22:03 We also had quiet time and what did that quiet time? Allow for you. While we were spending some few an hour or so. In the tent. Just winding down. What did you do during quiet time?

22:28 Plan something whatever needed to be thought about for the afternoon.

22:36 So it was just a rest time for everyone.

22:51 Well, you remember those little magnifying about this didn't do a really big, I wanted it to be. I want a book from down the swamp Dock and looked at it through that and hugs. I don't know what they were videos today.

23:51 You brought the science in a little bit with having to identify leaves and birds. And you also brought that in with the scavenger hunt a bit. You came up with some great restaurants. Yes. So we did the scavenger hunt and that was identifying all of the different plants and collecting and coming back. That's right. And treasure hunt. You came up with some great Clues. How did you come up with those fun riddle Clues?

24:36 I don't know. I'm just trying to make things rhyme.

24:41 And that that might be some of the things I would do during class. And I'm, what, what was the typical price for the end of end of the treasure hunt?

24:58 Oh, dear. What kind of chocolate candy bar?

25:03 Snickers and Allison. What else was in the airplane, airplanes that we got to put together and try to make them. Do loop de loops and inevitably someone's would end up stuck in the woods somewhere or under the house on the roof on the roof, right? It was the same every year. Do I love to be loved getting those balsa? Wood airplanes, another piece that often happened during Grammy camp for those who are old enough was learning to drive the golf cart. Can you, what, do you remember about teaching, grandkids to, to drive the golf cart and any mishaps?

25:55 Well, that was a scam.

26:02 You know, alright today. What did we have to work? What did we have to?

26:14 Learn to be able to drive the golf cart on our own. Well, obviously be observed. Doing it safely carefully.

26:27 And remind me to get your life. And we were issued actual little card. Yep. That we would keep their actual license. I probably still have mine at home somewhere. I don't know if I have mine somewhere, but I need to find out if I'm allowed to be on the Grammy G. Are there any?

26:59 Any proud moments, our favorite moments that kind of come to the surface. When you think about Grammy camp?

27:15 This is,

27:19 When you all,

27:23 Wanted to come back.

27:26 And we did in October of 2017.

27:39 But we went up there, everybody that could, and I would say that.

27:48 That was very special. So special and you even I think there was one or two great-grandchildren that came up that weekend as well Helen and maybe Harry i m too many of the activities that we usually do. We repay the trade during real. Can't believe we did and so G. That's a memory that really sticks out for you. And and I I hear you saying a proud moment because you realized how much we all love that that we wanted to come back, you know, 15 years later and do a reunions of a Grammy Camp. I'm curious. Carolyn. Do you have any particular memories also stand out for you from Grammy campus?

28:48 A favorite moment or just an image that really represents Grammy Camp to you.

28:59 You know, I think being able to be with are our cousins and to develop such strong and and special relationships is

29:12 One of the biggest things, and I would say a memory that stands out to me is I'm her cousin Blake taught me to play backgammon, and I never learned to play before, but that's such a special family game and Blake and I weren't especially close. But through Grammy Camp. He we had this opportunity to

29:41 Be together and overlap and he noticed that I didn't know how to play backgammon and he was so patient and kind and that was something that I might not have been able to. That's not an experience. I'm I might have had if it hadn't been for Grammy camp with this to focus week as being together and helping and supporting one another, not in a formal way. It's just how it goes when people are together. You kind of see needs and you know, you get to know people in different ways and I really am I really had a much different view of Blake.

30:24 Which was just so cool. Yeah. Yeah, just cuz he was older and I didn't know him. So, how about you Allison? What what do you think of the memory? That stands out? Oh gosh.

30:38 A memory that really stands out to me with Grammy Camp was every night. When we would get into the 10, the big tents that fit probably eight of us at a time. I need turn off the light and the flashlight and Grammy would read to us and I just can't picture being all nestled in my sleeping bag and just listening to your soothing voice, reading a book to us as we fell asleep and maybe tax would come in the background as we be listening to Yuri Eden. It's just such a special moment. Just feeling all of his family around us and just

31:20 This is really lovely moment together. Really special G in the last 10 minutes that we have. Do you have any questions for us?

31:40 Wow.

31:49 What was the impact?

31:53 Impact, the camp had on you.

31:59 What was the impact that camp had on us?

32:05 You know, I think about Camp that's saying we've done that.

32:15 To Carolyn's point this opportunity to be together with family in this really wonderful concentrated way, you know, I think something that you and who always did for us was was model the value and prioritizing a family. And I think Grammy Camp is just a wonderful example of how you did that. So having, you know, 10 days to be so close with cousins, even though we grew up in the same city, you know, our paths would cross at times, but we all had our own lives to you and having that special time together really allowed for electron was saying he's deeper connections with cousins. If you and just was one more, just example for us of how important family is and how to make become creative to bring us all together.

33:10 And I really just appreciate that so much love it. You know, one thing that I just thought of that was a very special culmination of Camp was when about three months later. Usually, in October, maybe November, we would take a Grammy day and you would have printed all of the photos that you took that week and you would have printed like doubles and triples of them. So that we each had a copy of all of those photos and then we would sit down and have it. We would have pizza and probably pop or something which was exciting for us. And and then we would make photo albums of that week that you're and caption them. You would have so much double-sided tape all over the table and Pages for us to put in. I love that bringing together. You got to step back.

34:10 That moment for a minute of Summer and that years memories and experiences and an altogether review laughing and remembering things that had happened. Then that was so special to cut a rounded out. And I love that all my elbows. I just found them actually a month ago, cleaning out. It was so fun to look through will have to get those out. I would have to adapt its belly. Misspelled words. Thank you for.

34:59 Thank you for Grammy Camp. Thank you for being part of it, major. I mean, I know loved it. It was so special.

35:16 Thank you. I'm so glad that you thought it was. Yes.

35:24 Doing a g nice to sit down and talk about it.

35:31 Definitely.