Camp WaBak Song
Traditional Stuff 8 Comments 
camp wabak, songs, traditions
(h/t to Lois Graves for sending this to me!)
Did you know Camp WaBak has its own song? It was written by Jean (“Happy”) Ligon in 1968:
Song of WaBak
Back in the hills is a camp we know
It’s been there long and we have learned to know
It’s a place to learn, to love, to grow.
Shining sunlight greets the day;
Rain may come, but clouds will blow away
And sun will smile as campers play.
WaBak, WaBak, where the wind blows free;
WaBak, Camp WaBak,
It’s a home for hearts, for you and me.
Osborne* watches small ones cling
To their cabin nestled by the campfire ring
Where the ghosts of campers sing.
Ramblers live in deep green halls,
Hear the sound of whistling wind that calls,
And sleep to rushing waterfalls.
Through the night the whippoorwill
Joins with frogs in nature’s nighttime trills
As Gypsies sleep up on the hill.
Twinkling stars join in the song,
With rustling breezes through the whole night long
While faithful Big Boy watches on.
WaBak, WaBak, where laughter echoes through the day.
WaBak, Camp WaBak, we only wish that we could stay.
Pioneers dream on their way,
Looking on to happy future days,
Yet play the games that children play.
Friends are made along life’s path;
Some will stay and some will pass,
But WaBak friends will always last.
Flickering embers burning low,
Reflect the dreams and light the glow
Of peace that WaBak campers know.
On quiet waters of the lake
Float tiny, glowing boats that gently take
The wishes WaBak campers make.
WaBak, WaBak, guarded by the mountains high
WaBak, Camp WaBak, we say so long, but not good-bye,
We say so long, but not good-bye.
*Osborne is the mountain across Gap Creek Road from camp at the entrance road into camp.
Addendum 8/25/21: Want to hear from the song’s composer about how the song came to be? Check out this interview of Jean from the Friends of Camp WaBak newsletter!
Addendum 6/26/16: Here’s a 6/24/16 recording of the Camp WaBak song as sung by Scribble, Smiles, Major, Polo, Boca, Honey Badger, Brave, Spock, Nike, Blue Fin, and Gamzee:
Here’s the complete version led by Jean and the ladies from Troop 151 of Greenville, SC:
Addendum 2/22/21: Have you joined Friends of Camp WaBak yet?
I worked at WaBak in the summer of 2011. It never worked out for me to come back, well not yet anyway, and I loved seeing this song again! I could remember most of the words but not all of them. So thank you for posting this!
I LOVE camp WAbak, and I knew most of the counselors in the recording.
I miss camp.
ahHh i’m so happy i finally found the lyrics to this
I missed camp this summer
i miss wabak so much i go every year and summer of 2020 wouldve been my 8th year and i miss everyone in the recording
This is such a special song! Brings back so memories and it’s nice to be refreshed with the full lyrics!
I went to camp wabak two years ogo and once this year, i remember the first time i went and we did baby boats I knew absolutely no songs except for this one. I can sing this now just by hearing the tube of it. Also if any of my councilors see this, I miss camp i want to go back. –