Former campers, counselors, youth leaders, Forest Service personnel and families connected to the Braddock Lakes/Hay Holler Youth Conservation Corps Camp are invited to attend the first-ever reunion of the camp on Oct. 24.
Hosted by the Willow Springs Historical & Genealogical Society and curator Alex Biehl, the event will begin at 1 p.m. on the second floor of the Charles Ferguson Building, 127 N. Harris St. in Willow Springs.
The afternoon will kick off with a potluck meal and an opportunity to reconnect and reminisce about summers spent at what was Missouri's first Youth Conservation Corps camp. Following the meal and socializing, interested attendees will travel to the former camp location at Braddock Lakes. There, a long-sealed time capsule will be opened for the first time in decades since its burial.
A Legacy of Conservation
The Braddock Lakes Youth Conservation Corps Camp opened in 1971 after the U.S. Forest Service acquired the former Braddock Lakes fishing resort in Douglas County, southwest of Willow Springs. Originally established as an all-girls conservation camp, it provided teenagers with the opportunity to work on projects throughout the Mark Twain National Forest while learning about natural resource management and conservation.
During their time at the camp, participants built trails, improved recreation areas, restored historic sites, conducted environmental studies, cleaned rivers and streams, and constructed the Missouri Children’s Forest located on AP Highway. They also formed friendships that have lasted a lifetime, said Biehl.
The facility was operating under the name Hay Holler by the 1974 session. This name change followed a 5-inch cloudburst in November 1973 that caused the Braddock Lake dams to fail and the lakes to drain. The camp continued operating into the early 1980s.
Reunion Details
Anyone planning to attend, or bringing a dish for the potluck, is asked to contact Biehl to assist with planning. He may be reached by phone or text at 417-252-3361, or by email at ozarkshistoryarchives@gmail.com.
Attendees are also encouraged to bring photographs, yearbooks, camp memorabilia and other items to share.
by calling or texting 417-252-3361 or emailing ozarkshistoryarchives@gmail.com to help with planning.
Biehl is currently conducting interviews to preserve the camp's history and encourages anyone with memories of the camp to reach out.
A commemorative history book written by Biehl will be available at the reunion. The book chronicles the camp's legacy through historical research, newspaper articles, enrollee and staff lists, photographs, camp projects and personal stories. Donations will be accepted to help offset production and printing costs.
“For many, the reunion will be the first opportunity in more than 40 years to return to the place where lifelong friendships were formed and unforgettable summers were spent,” Biehl noted. “If you or someone you know attended the Braddock Lakes/Hay Holler YCC Camp, we hope you'll join us for this special day of memories, friendship and history.”
