Written by Chris Tomaino
In 1965, my father, Bruno Tomaino, became the Program Director at Camp Waganaki, hired by camp owner Miller Bugliari. Camp Waganaki was founded in 1919 and originally wasn’t located on Lake McWain, but moved there soon after. Miller and my father were both teachers from northern New Jersey, and like many summer camps, the staff was made up of teachers and coaches enjoying their summers off. Ed Muzik from Camp McWain served as the Waterfront Director, and his booming voice and whistle calling “SWIMMMMM!” echoed across camp.
Ed’s father, Emile, was once the shop counselor, and many of the Whichard boys also worked at the camp. I was a camper alongside David Muzik for many years—we even shared summer birthdays. Birthdays were a big deal at camp: you’d get tossed into the lake first thing in the morning and later celebrated with a birthday cake made by Chef Larry Caret. Larry was a camp legend, often called into the dining hall from his kitchen to a standing ovation and this chant:
“Larry Larry, you’re a wonder
And when you’re old and grey
All the girls will say by thunder
You were something in your day.”
We arrived at camp a week before the campers and stayed a week after to help shut things down. Having the camp to ourselves was fun, but nothing beat the excitement of the buses arriving from New Jersey, bringing back old friends and introducing new ones. I was the oldest of the Tomaino boys and started living “down the hill” at camp when I was just eight years old.
During my years as a camper, Bill and Woody Hanger were my counselors at different times. Camp life was full of activities—from riflery and archery to swimming and woodshop. A special treat was walking with your cabin mates to Springer’s General Store to spend 50 cents on a massive bag of penny candy. New campers were often pranked into touching the electrified cow fence at Springer’s Farm.
The highlight of the summer was parents’ weekend, especially if you got invited to dinner at The Country Way Restaurant in Norway for their Smorgasbord. Other major events included hiking trips in the White Mountains and canoe adventures on the Saco and Androscoggin Rivers. As I got older, I became a CIT and then a Junior Counselor, helping with a cabin during the day and every other night.
Having every other night off was a big change. We’d head into Bridgton or Norway to explore and try new food—or attempt to sneak beer into the CIT cabin without getting caught by my dad, which was no small feat. My time at Camp Waganaki on Lake McWain was deeply formative. The life lessons and friendships I made there have stayed with me and are something I continue to treasure today.
