Ranger Jim "Mr. Jim" Efinger Celebrated at Camp Koch
For 21 years, Jim “Mr. Jim” Efinger served as Camp Ranger at Girl Scouts of Southwest Indiana’s Camp Koch. To honor his service, a dedication ceremony on was held on Sunday, May 7, 2023, at Camp Koch in Cannelton. Current and former Girl Scout campers, camp staff, friends, and family gathered to share memories and thank Mr. Jim, who was present to enjoy the ceremony. Two benches dedicated to Mr. Jim and his late wife, Joyce were also unveiled at their new home next to the lake.
About Mr. Jim:
As Camp Ranger, Jim maintained Camp Koch’s hundreds of acres year-round. But when he wasn’t mowing, trimming trees, clearing trails, making repairs, or keeping the lake clean, he was checking on campers, transporting staff up the steep hills in his truck after a long day, helping in the kitchen, and acting as a father figure for the hundreds of Girl Scouts who attended camp during his tenure. According to a 1996 The Evansville Press article, Mr. Jim and his wife Joyce became “as integral a part of the camp experience as the trees and mosquitoes.”1
When Efinger retired in January 1996, over 80 people attended his retirement party in the dining hall at camp. Jeannie Harl, then Publicity Director for the council, told The Evansville Press, “Jim’s been a father figure, uncle, counselor, and best friend to more than one girl. Sometimes, I am sure; he has been the best male role model some of our girls ever had.”
Reflecting on his time at camp, Jim said he was most proud of making Camp Koch more accessible and “less mysterious” to those outside of Girl Scouts in the local community. He loved the property and wanted to share what he called a “local treasure” with more people. He had a passion to ensure that the camp was preserved for future generations. “I am most proud of how well we’ve kept this place up. I am leaving it in better condition than I found it,” he said.
1 Corrigan, Sara Anne. “A Job Well Done.”The Evansville Press, January 22, 1996.
