History of Cedar Lodge
Lakeside Farm CampEddy and Stella had a dream. They
dreamed of starting a summer camp where campers would design
their own program and then spend the summer learning the skills
needed to implement the program of their choice. The Programs
could be anything. From planting crops, to building a canoe. Eddy
and Stella believed that learning to create things with your
hands were as important as learning to create things with your
mind. They put very few restrictions on the campers, and tried to
pave the way to make their camper's dreams realities. The year
was 1964. Eddy and Stella had just purchased 150 acres in
Lawrence, MI and had opened up "LAKESIDE FARM CAMP FOR BOYS" with
a capacity of 12.
Eddy and Stella met at "CAMP FARR" where Eddy was Program manager
and Stella, a young widow, had come with her young son, Chuck for
a week mother's camp. It was love at first sight, and soon Stella
was giving up her life in Chicago and moving in to a camp wife's
life. Eddy and Stella had 3 of their own children with in the
next 12 years; David, Sally and Amy. For 15 years the Edwards ran
the year around programs and Summer camp for Camp Farr agency
camp.
In 1964, Eddy and Stella felt they were ready for a change. It
was time to branch out on their own and find a place where they
could be their own bosses and implement some of their ideas. They
found that place in 2 farms owned by the Nicholas brothers just
north of Lawrence, MI. The property was purchased and 1964 saw
the beginning of Eddy and Stella putting their dreams to
work.
 The
philosophy of the camp was simple; a chance for children that are
use to working with their brains to work and play not only with
their brains, but with their hands. The target audience was
primarily drawn from the University of Chicago Laboratory School
and surrounding areas. It was a small group (5-10 campers the
first several years) and all boys. Campers would sit down at a
group meeting at the beginning of each week and decide what they
would like to accomplish. They may plant a crop, build in canoe,
put in a well, whatever they could imagine.The only rules were
that they had to research it, discuss it and participate in the
building\care process. In addition, Lakeside Farm was set up as a
Farm, complete with livestock, crops, a garden and chores.
Many changes came over the years. In 1968 Eddy and Stella decided
to go coed. As the years went by and camp grew, more structure
had to be added to the program to assure some continuity. The
original ideals and dreams that Eddy and Stella began with
however, remained the same.
 Camp
Watervliet
In 1975, Eddy and Stella took over running
CAMP WATERVLIET FOR GIRLS in Watervliet, MI Watervliet had
previously been run by Henry and Velda Tatter. When they retired,
Henry and Velda sold the camp and the new owner, though wanting
the camp to continue had no desire to run it themselves. They
approached Eddy and Stella and an agreement was reached. Camp
Watervliet was a totally different type of camp then Lakeside.
With a capacity of 120 girls and a expansive facility, Camp
Watervliet ran much more of a traditional 50's type camp. They
had a strong riding program and were known through out the
Midwest for their high standard. Since Eddy and Stella's
daughters, Sally and Amy had both taken a keen interest in
riding, this seemed a perfect match. From 1975 to 1979, both
camps were run by the Edwards on their respective grounds. The
programs stayed as they had for years.
Cedar Lodge in Watervliet
In 1979
it was clear that a decision had to be made. Camp Watervliets
program had become somewhat out dated and enrollment was
suffering. Lakeside, on the other hand had grown to the point
that it was bursting at it's seams. Should they close up
Watervliet?Build an entire new facility at Lakeside? Eddy and
Stella decided the right thing to do would be a drastic change.
They put Lakeside's property for sale, moved to Watervliet, and
started the process of buying the property to combine the two
camps. LAKESIDE FARM CAMP and CAMP WATERVLIET became CAMP CEDAR
LODGE.
The program changed too. Eddy and Stella sat down with their
family and core staff members and tried to iron out the best of
both camps, while implementing the ideals that had started them
out so many years ago. Many hours were spent to curtail the
program for a much larger camp then they had previously dealt
with. In 1980 Eddy and Stella opened Camp Cedar Lodge in
Watervliet, MI
Cedar Lodge stayed in Watervliet for 3 years. The camp and
programs were a success. But time was against them. The Lawrence
property did not sell, and something always seemed missing. After
3 years and much agonizing, the Edwards family decided that the
Watervleit property was missing something special that the
Lawrence property had had. It was not something that you could
specifically put your finger on, but the feeling was wrong. It
was missing a spark. After much soul searching in 1984 the
decision was made to move back to Lawrence from Watervliet, take
back over the old camp property and start all over again. The
name stayed as Cedar Lodge. The program implemented 3 years
earlier stayed on, and all the staff made the move with the
camp.
Cedar Lodge in Lawrence
 From 1984 until
present has been a work in progress. The Edwards family does not
only believe in the principal of "hands on" experience for their
campers, but they believe in living their lives in the same
fashion. Consequently, All the building that has been done at
camp since 1984 has been done totally in-house. The only
buildings at that time were the blue farm house, the dining hall
and 1\5 of the existing barn. Those 3 buildings had to be totally
renovated and remodeled. Everything else at camp: The fencing,
the other 4\5ths of the barn, the indoor riding arena, the
cabins, Stella's house, the shower house, have been built by the
Edwards, their staff, their workers and their friends. This makes
Cedar Lodge a true family operation. This gives Cedar Lodge it's
feeling of home.
 Since that time, some 20
years ago, a person has a chance to reflect. Truth be told, the
buildings do not make the camp. If you were standing on the hill
and overlooking camp, where now stands the girls unit, or if you
looked around you and imagine you saw no cabins. If you looked
behind you and did not see the showerhouse. If you looked below
you and there was no Dining Hall, No horse complex, no arts and
crafts, no jungle gym. Camp would still be there. That special
feeling that you feel when you look over camp from the hill, or
when you sit down at the lake at night has nothing to do with the
buildings and very little to do with the program. It is the magic
of the land. Visited by Indians so many years ago, you can feel
the same breeze by the soft summer wind, and listen to the
peepers as they lull you to sleep. That is the magic of Cedar
Lodge. That is the spark. That is why the Edwards came back to
make a camp in Lawrence, MI and that is why they stay.
Won't you join
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