Historic Hood River
Yallani Charms
Notes
Museum staff member Grace shares this image of a Camp Yallani charm bracelet from the museum collection. We’ve seen many images of Camp Yallani before, but this artifact personalizes the experience.
Camp Yallani, a Camp Fire Girls summer camp located on the shores of Kingsley Reservoir that operated from 1937 to 1976. Campers spent their days swimming, learning crafts, and developing outdoor survival skills, making Camp Yallani a highlight of the summer for many young girls.
The woman who donated this bracelet noted that it took her several summers to collect all of the charms; potentially each one marks a meaningful camp experience or achievement. Can any of you offer insight into the significance of these charms or share memories of Camp Yallani?
Thorn
Anybody know the origin of “Yallani”?
BethH
I attended Yallani from 1965 (you had to be 8) to 1971…? My last 2 yrs, being in the the older group of girls, we would do a 3-4 night backpack trip before our week of being at camp started. Lots of great memories and it opened the world to backpacking to many girls. (In my family, a backpack trip was our family vacation!) also I worked as a counselor for a couple of summers.
I’ve never seen one of these bracelets – way before my time. My Mom and Aunt (the Gordon twins) I believe attended camp and then worked as counselors, late 30s- early40s? My Mom, Marian, was camp Director for a few years in the late 60s.
I don’t know where the name Yallani came from but many summer camps have similar names – I’ve met other women who attended camp and we know mostly all the same songs- our camp name would be inserted into the lyrics.
L.E.
In 1954 Edna Plog Hart, who had been a teacher at White Salmon. Camp Fire Girls owned Yallani. Edna was executive director of the organization and involved in running Yallani.
There were 4 weekly session. Cost was $20 a week. Bingen and White Salmon girls were invited to attend.
Peter
It looks like there was more than one “Camp Yallani” associated with the Camp Fire Girls, and they say it means “mountain”
https://campfiregirlscamphistories.wordpress.com/tag/camp-yallani/
Cecelia Parker Goodnight
I began attending Camp Yallani in the late 40’s continuing into the 50’s and coming back as a counselor after starting college. I certainly remember the Gordon twins. Many friendships were formed between girls in the upper and lower valley as well as from Mosier and The Dalles. Although the focus was on crafts and outdoor activities I still remember learning manners in the dining room with such ditties as “like a ship away at sea, I dip my spoon away from me” when eating soup. That subject had never come up at home!