The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1912-02-29
Members of Y. NJ. C. A. in
State to Purchase Phan-
tom Lake Property.
KEHOSHA BOYS INTERESTED
Plan Is to Make Permanent Summer
Camp for Members of the Association
in Wisconsin, Part of Money Neces-
sary Has Already Been Raised.

If the plans of the Y. M. G. A. of
the tate mature properly the associa-
ton will own the property on which
ITS summer camp is situated at Phan-
tom lake by the time the camp opens
on June 20. The property consists of
some fourteen acres that is now part
OF the A. j. Chafin farm. For ten
years or more the association has been
renting the property for summer camp
purposes and plan is now on foot to
purchase the site and make extensive
improvements to the buildings that
occupy the grounds.
The purchasing price is $4,000 OF
this amount $4,000 has been donated
and the association members are
sanguine that the balance will be
readily acquired from the many
friends throughout the state.
Many years ago this plot of ground
on phantom lake was used for Good
Tenlplar camp meetings an dthe build
5 ings that are now on the grounds were
created for the camp meeting purposes
5pd are wholly Inadequate to accom-
MEDIATE the crowd of Y. NJ G. A. boys
who go out there in greater numbers
each summer. The camp was first es-
tablished by the local Y M G. A. and
was opened for few weeks each sum-
NOR. -Four years ago the project was
taken up by the state association and
the purchase of the property will be
in the name of the state association
The buildings consist of two log cab
ms that are used for dining room,
kitchen, store room, office and recrea-
tion hail. The sleeping quarters are
all in tents and last year it took some
where in the neighborhood of thirty
tents to accommodate the boys. The
popularity Of the place is best shown
in the record of the attendance. The
first year eighty boys went out, the
second year 129 boys, third year 100
and last year 312 boys from all parts
Of the state spent their vacation at
the Y. M. G. A. camp.
When the property is purchased the
buildings will be geshingled, floors will
be put in all the tents, new tents will
be purchased, new roadways will be
built, a baseball diamond laid out and
new tennis courts added. Several i'm
provements were made to the grounds
last year. New swimming piers were
built, cement boxes were built around
the two springs and various kinds of
athletic devices were put in.
The camp opens somewhat earlier
than usual this year, the first delega-
ton will go out on June 26. The
camp will remain open until early in
September.
The camp has been a most potent in
fuence in #he promotion Of boys work
throughout the state. Not only has it
been a good place for boy to have
an enjoyable and beneficial outing, but
it has been an important factor in
training leaders in boys work and has
been valuable laboratory for the
demonstration of proper principles and
methods of work with boys.
There are physical advantages from
outdoor life, pure spring water, plenty
of nourishing food, carefully directed
exercises, athletics and aquatics.
There arc the social privileges of get
ting acquainted with boys from differ
ent parts of the state, enjoyment of
evening entertainments and varied
amusements The educational advan-
tases are many, including life saving
instruction, nature study, practical
talks and Illustrated lectures and sex
instruction AS a result of the thor
ough instruction in life saving and
examinations, III life saving diplomas
have been awarded by the United
States volunteer life saving corps, to
those who have passed the examine
ton in camp All these privileges
coupled with the strong moral and re-
ligious influences, have made the camp
al ideal place for q boys vacation.
Tht Order Of the Phantom Square is
an organization organized and conduct
ca at the camp during the last two
years and has been most decided
bencft to many At the boys. Various
tests, physical, social, mental and NOR
al, are prescribed, which, if a boy
passes, he is admitted to the order. 4
bronze pin is awarded to those who
BASS the first degree, a silver pin for
the second degree and gold orc FOR
the third Ninety different boys
have won the bronze pin, twenty-five
the SILVER and one the gold.
The Elks are making active prepa-
rho annual o1oa4;n,, xr,h io5,