Mowglis Memories

Depending on how you calculate it Richard Morgan has been a familiar face among Mowglis for 3-6 generations. More than any other Member of the Mowglis family, Richard has been a constant presence sometimes on a daily basis, sometimes for two or three weeks each summer along with nearly every weekend. 

His trombone, along with that of Bob Bengtson, has spurred Red Racing crews for generations to say nothing of his participation in the brass choir.

The son of artisan potters from Sandwich he came to Mowglis under the watchful eye of Director William B. Hart Sr. who clearly saw a long-term gain for Mowglis in the presence of this New Hampshire boy. His presence has been instrumental to Mowglis for more than 50 years. His modesty belies an impressive intellect and a keen sense of observation of human nature. At the University of New Hampshire he spent most of his spare time in "Power Alley" where the most accomplished and outstanding students of UNH ran student organizations like the New Hampshire, UNH's student newspaper; WUNH the acclaimed radio station in an era when student-run radio was in it's infancy; The Memorial Union Student Organization that organized and brought music and speakers to campus. Many of the skills he developed in those days he has brought to Mowglis, helping to build the infrastructure for a safer camp and for better communications within the Mowglis community.

Jamie Orr (Den 1975) came to Mowglis in 1972 - a camper in Baloo - and graduated from the Den in 1975. Given the nickname "Gung Ho" ( we think by Pete St. John his dorm mate) for his eager and undaunted embrace of the Mowglis spirit and ethos, Jamie went on to row for the Red Racing crew, be selected for the Mount Washington Squad and earn the coveted Wolf's Paw (by the skin of his teeth!). After his years at Mowglis he achieved a moment of "fame" in NH with his copyrighted "Eyup, Love New Hampsha" bumper strip that found its way onto more than 10,000 cars. Today James is acknowledged as the premier teacher of dance in the upper valley of NH and Vermont.

His website SwingJamie.com lists all of the different styles of dance that Jamie teaches. Styles that he earned and learned in a period of years living in Los Angeles, Aspen Colorado and then back in the Hanover and Enfield area in New Hampshire.

Pablo Nieto came to Mowglis in 1998 a second-generation member of the extended family of brothers, and cousins lovingly referred to as "the Mexican Mafia" for the way in which the family dominated the scene at Mowglis.

Art Sculco celebrates his years at Mowglis but is more than a little bit wistful about the good fortune of Mowglis under the leadership of Nick Robbins. His 1982 Den reunion according to Arthur was even better than he could have hoped. He reports on it in this Mowglis Memories Podcast.

Pablo Lloyd came to Mowglis in 2013 along with his brother Alexander. In the summer of 2021 and 2022 he returned as a member of the Mowglis staff, following in the footsteps of his dad Tom who came to Mowglis as a young camper and then returned to become a member of the staff. Pablo obviously cherishes the memories of his year as a camper but his years on the staff have really made it all come together for him.

All the Way to Mowglis from Area Code 69148 - Singleton Bender Jr.

Jr. Bender came to Mowglis in 1968 from his home in Piney Woods Mississippi. Mr. Hart had made a conscious effort to begin diversifying Mowglis and reached out to leaders in the African American community seeking out boys who would have an interest in attending Mowglis. Today he is living in the San Francisco Bay area and has been for many years. Junior relays a few tales from his days at Mowglis that I had not even heard about!

Dr. Tomoharu Nishino, “Tomo” to most of us, is the epitome of quiet competence. He’s always been that way even as a cub, even when he was playing “Hello Dolly” along with Ian Brown on the trumpet and Abe Unger on the guitar! (He’s also obviously a good sport - who doesn’t take himself too seriously!)

Since the position of Akela is already occupied by Mowglis Director Nick Robbins it is difficult to place Tomo in a specific role, vis a vis the Jungle Book, but perhaps it is the role of wise old Baloo who zealously guards the pack from his position as wise and respected teacher. 

For a man of such accomplishments: Cox of the winning blue racing crew, member of the Mount Washington Squad, and now President of the HEMF Board of Trustees, Tomo is a modest and quiet leader to whom we all look for his wise leadership.

In this podcast Tomo marvels at the amazing staff who occupied the Mowglis firmament in his camper days, including Mr. Hart and , while acknowledging the amazing Mowglis campus and the great traditions, especially attributes the Mowglis Spirit to the men and women who - over the years - have given so much to make Mowglis, Mowglis.

Mowglis Memories Podcast

The Winding Road to Mowglis Spirit

A Conversation with Tom Lloyd

1982-84, Staff and crew coach 1993, Trustee - Holt Elwell Memorial Foundation

Tom came to Mowglis in 1982 with his best friend from elementary school Michael Lampson and he remained through his Toomai year. Michael convinced him to come and it was only later that he learned that his family had a long history with Mowglis.His Grandfather also attended Mowglis (1910 & 11 camper and in the 20’s as camp doctor) as did his great uncle, though he didn’t discover it until after he was already a Cub.

After a stellar high school career at the Shipley School where he helped power one of the best high school crew teams in the US, including being invited to race at Henley in England, Bob Bengtson convinced him to return to Mowglis as crew coach in 1993. It didn’t take much convincing, Tom was already a loyal Mowglis and this was his chance to “give back.” As it turns out, his experience was as transformational for Tom as it was for the boys he coached and within a few years Tom joined the Holt-Elwell Memorial Foundation Board of Trustees, helping Mowglis through a very difficult period, reflecting a changing world transforming from one era to the Internet age. 

Tom’s sons Alexander and Pablo both went to Mowglis, Pablo is now on the staff.

Al Reiff is a name that spans a lot of time at Mowglis. The tongue in cheek title of this podcast really just ties together the Al Reiff we know and love and the long-time teacher of Mathmatics at the Taft School (38 years - though looking at him you'd never know it!). Al remembers his Mowglis experience from his early days in Cubs and Toomai as well as sharing many of his thoughts on the Mowglis experience.

James came to Mowglis in 1980. His dad is Arthur Bradbury who was a camper and staff member including a number of years as Mowglis Watermaster.. James rose through the ranks to become tripmaster for 2 years.

From his position today at the Georgetown University Climate Center James Bradbury takes the science that he has learned over the years, beginning here in New Hampshire and later at Colorado College (BS), the University of New Hampshire (MS) and UMass Amherst (PhD) and turns it into policy and strategy to help the states address the many challenges of Climate Change. 

James attributes his love of the natural environment to his years at Mowglis, School of the Open, where he developed skills that have paved the way for a life of purpose bringing him to today when he is a leader in environmental policy around the challenges of Climate Change.