Mowglis Memories

 Randall Gibson is a Mowglis Man who has led a facinating life, traveling across the oceans of the world in a concrete construction ship that is still afloat to this day, founder of one of the very first environmental institutes (Developing BioSphere Two) Ecotechnics and a member of the Explorers Club.

A very interesting sidebar to this conversation is that Randall's ancestor was Confederate General Randall Gibson who became a leader in the post-war movement to expand the rights of African Americans. Wait until you hear who was his Civil War opponent.

Erik says he was a mischievous kid . . . not a bad kid, just mischievous. Usually, he was set right by counselors like Doug Merrill, but every now and then, he found himself on the Director's Porch answering to Bob Bengtson who also seemed to understand that Erik was not motivated by malice, but really by the joy and the missteps of being a kid.

It isn't always easy to follow an older brother at Mowglis but Caleb says his relationship with his brother George was even better at Mowglis than at home in New York City. George looked out for him for the one year when their camper experiences overlapped, and Caleb jumped in with both feet and quickly developed a reputation as a boy of substance, destined to be a man of substance.

He and Gregg Goss earned their Wolf's Paw awards in their Den summer. Wayne King, who was Tripmaster, fondly remembers a night hike together up Mount Cardigan as part of that process. 

Caleb almost skipped his Den year because he felt he had accomplished all that he had set out to do by the end of Panther. Fortunately, Phil Hart interceded, suggesting that he could go for the prestigious Wolf's Paw. Caleb was so glad that Phil had talked him into returning. 

Today he serves on the Holt-Elwell Foundation Board of Directors and helps steer Mowglis' future from that vantage point. Caleb's mom, Betsy, was also a member of the HEMF Board during the years when Caleb and George were at Mowglis. 

Caleb's fond memories of Mr. Bill Hart and Phil Hart along with Andy Popinchalk, Paul Brown, Pete Saint John, Jeff Shaw and the Goehring Brothers color his memories to this day. He also developed a fondness for Colonel John Hill who was a loyal member of the Mowglis family and would spend a week or two every summer. 

Caleb understands the importance of stories and tradition and in his business he helps long-standing family businesses to tell their stories. His family business is over 190 years old so he understands. 

An unbounded curiosity and enthusiasm for life are the hallmarks of his life, and Mowglis was a big part of helping him develop those traits.

Shortly after we recorded this podcast we received the sad news of Caleb's father, George's passing. The Mowglis family extends their condolences to the entire White family and our gratitude for the many blessings they have bestowed upon Mowglis over the years - including two terrific sons. Brothers of the pack.

Jim Beckford came to Mowglis in 1953 and graduated from the Den in 1956. Though he was the first of the Beckfrd family to come to Mowglis, the family has, since then, developed a long and distinguished history with Mowglis.

Jim's brother Joe played a critical role in the transition from Colonel Elwell's leadership to the Holt Elwell Memorial Foundation, now responsible for the leadership of Mowglis.

Jim has had a long and distinguished career as an educator and administrator since his Mowglis days. 

Eric Adell - A Mowglis Man and a Contro-King. Somewhere, in the deepest, dankest, corner of the underground that is the crawlspace of Graybrothers Hall is a spot where Eric Adell, Dan Lincoln and Tom Sculco crouched next to one another, rubbing their hands and plotting about how and when they would do a deal with one of their many connections in the underground contro world of Mowglis. Even now I find myself laughing and imagining Paul Brown and Andy Popinchalk smiling as they plan for how they are going to catch these scoundrels in the act or uncover their stash. . . Brownie licking his lips in anticipation because this is one of those acts more akin to piracy than policing. He and Andy will haul up the Jolly Roger and get to enjoy the booty if their search is successful! Eric Adell - Den of 76 has all the stories of achievement that other Mowglis share with each other but they also have the glint in their eyes of the Mowglis Bucaneer, King of the Underground Mowglis "Contro-Economy"

Dan Lincoln first came to Mowglis because his dad, Ed Lincoln had been the Watermaster at Mowglis and brought Dan on a trip to see Mowglis and to take a few slides down Soup Bowl Glide in Groton. 

His dad only had to ask once if he thought he might like to come to Mowglis, he was a yes from the get-go.

We marveled at the way that the competitive spirit - so hot and fired up during crew week - could yield so quickly to the camaraderie once again with the singing of the crew song as the oar was raised up the flagpole.

Now practicing law in Southern California, Dan is also a principal in a company called "MedWand" that allows doctors to track the health of their patients online.

Dan described Mowglis as the moral compass in his life. He still finds himself asking the question, "What would Mr. Hart do?"

"Frank" Williams and his wife Nandi are among the newest members of the Holt Elwell Memorial Foundation. Frank came to Mowglis in 1979 from his home in Philadelphia. He cried himself to sleep his very first night at Mowglis because he was afraid that he wouldn't be happy here . . . he cried himself to sleep on his last night because he didn't want the summer to end. Could there possibly be a better vignette of how Mowglis can impact the life of a young man?

Frank was immediately one of the most popular boys at Mowglis. There was something magical in that smile that just seemed to win his dorm mates and the staff over from the very start. 

He still keeps an axe sharpened and at the ready for that tree that falls on his land and a bow and arrows for target shooting now and then. 

Don't get him started on the number of family members he has shared the Mowglis experience with over the years, beginning with his cousin Frank Barnett. You won't be bored, but the recitation will take a while, just the same.

We hope to catch up with Nandi for a separate podcast soon to get the benefit of a mom's perspective

The Evolution of a Teacher, Coach & Mentor

Mowglis Director of Alumni Relations

As a Cub at Mowglis, he was known as Bart and many years later, when he returned to Mowglis on the staff he had grown into his full name Bartolo - more than a mouthful for those of us who had referred to him by his nickname but fortunately over his first few years at Mowglis his nickname devolved back down again. From Coach Governanti to Coach G and finally to just "G". Today, in addition to his work with Plymouth State College's Lacrosse program, he's Mowglis Director of Alumni Relations but that barely covers the hats he actually wears. 

This podcast is a bit dated because I came down with a case of covid that took me off the board for a few weeks. Mowglis has now opened for the summer so the summer is in full swing.

Bart has one of the most interesting histories at Mowglis because he has a foot in both Camp Mowglis and Camp Pasquaney. He also has a deep history with Camp Mayhew, a camp established back in the 1960s for young boys considered "at-risk". Mayhew was founded by his father Tony Governanti in conjunction with both Mowglis and Pasquaney. 

Such a deep history with the great camps of Newfound Lake - including Onaway - gives Bartolo a very special insight into the essence of both the camps and their important place within the broader community. 

Since joining the full-time team at Mowglis Jay Gulitti has been challenged again and again and he always seems equal to the challenge. In this podcast we review some of the highlights.

Ep 112 Double Emmys on his Trail from Mowglis mark Jordan Kranis' Path 

Jordan came to Mowglis as a Cub in 1980, joining his brother Andrew who was in Toomai. He quickly established himself as a friendly and capable fellow and would continue on through the Mowglis program graduating in 1985 and stroking the Blue Racing crew two years in a row.

Since leaving Mowglis he has established himself as a documentarian and producer, winning two Emmy awars and being nominated for a third. He is currently the long-time producer of the "Big Brother" reality TV series producing more than 100 episodes.