Camp Tales - Can You Hear Me Now?

Have you ever tried to make a phone call in the middle of nowhere? Have you ever wandered around with your phone out in front of you trying to find a spot where you can get a single bar as you watch your phone at "no service"? Live at camp in the middle of now where and you will understand.

At the Ohio camp I called home for more than one summer cell phone rage was a big hit or miss. We had a land line that rang into the staff quarters, but it also rang into the kitchen and the office. Some cell companies didn't get any service at all, many of the locals had a service that that was sketchy, but most of us had to climb a big hill and wander around until we found that lucky bar that allowed us to check messages and get calls out. I had a system of going to the large wooden cross at the top of the hill and then walking away from it in multiple directions until I found service. Once I got service I could move around more, sometimes adjusting as needed.

Most summer camp programs don't allow campers to have cell phones, but staff is a whole different story. Trips into town often involved cell phone message rings going off the closer into town we got. I found that you might wander a bit to get ell phone reception but you could get a great view in the process.