The Polar Bear tradition is believed to have started in the 1950s by Herb Birch and Ben Bennett, two woodshop staff members. Every morning, the two and some other folks would get bright and early before the first bell around 7 am and meet at the Cove Dock. Then when the first bell rang, they would yell out “One for the money! Two for the show! Three to get ready! And four let’s go!” Then everybody would jump into Lake Webb. Once everybody was in the lake, all would sing aloud “Oh, what a beautiful morning, Oh what a beautiful day, I’ve got a beautiful feeling, Everything’s going my way!” This is from the “Oklahoma” musical. Finally, to make sure the whole camp would wake up, they would end up yelling “Cock-A-Doodle-Doo!” out loud, impersonating a rooster.

There is now a statue of a polar bear to commemorate the Polar Bear tradition, and it is kept in Abbott Lodge.

 

 

There was a  special “50th” anniversary Polar Bear for the Polar Bear tradition, as Herb Birch hadcelebrated 50 years of 7 am dips. Check out the poster in the History Museum that features several Polaroids from the event! Here’s a sneak peek!

The Polar Bear tradition lives on, in memory of Herb Birch, but also as a tradition that Kawanheeans young and old, at camp or not can participate in.