Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1913-08-05
ON-AWAY CAMP.

/
But in the mind of many boy who
spent two delightful weeks there, the
strains of that camp song are ever
present. With it came the memories
of the nights around the campfire,
the funny stories, the crazy songs, the
"On-AWay Splasher,' and the grue-
some ghost stories.
| No one, who has not been through
the experience of two weeks camp
such as is conducted by the Young
Mems Christian association at Phan-
ton Lake near Mukwanago, Wis, and
this year second camp at On-A- Way
Island on the Chain-o'- Lakes near
Waupaca, can fully appreciate the ad-
yantages or summer vacation spent
in that way. One of the prominent
business men of this city who has for
several years been interested in, and
has had boys in the camps, remarked
that he knew of no place where a boy
could receive the practical training
and moral training combined with a
good time as he can in two weeks in
such camp. He considers two weeks
in camp worth more to the boy than
six months at home.
Plans for the camps are not made
| in day or week but are the results
of years of study and experience in
camps of this nature. Months before
tho can1p onapc OH rlapc fOr aool, dov
are carefully made, SO that when the
camp opens all details are taken care
of and all that remains is to carry
out the schedule. The aim of the
camp is to provide the most helpful
vacation to the boys: vacation that
shall not only be full of the things
that boys most enjoy, but vacation
that shall also be Of very practical |
benefit along the four lines of devel-
opment of the boy, namely the physi- |
cal, mental, social, and moral. EN-
phasis is continually placed upon this |
fourfold development in the boy.
ORGANIZATION.
The camp is run under the auspices |
of the State Young Mems Christian |
association. State Boys Work Secre-
tary W. H. Wones or better known as
Daddy" is the Governor of the |
camps. Two men who are known as
Camp Director and Assistant Camp |
Director are responsible for the ac-
tiVitipC 0f tho poSi1oc fhoca
men, each tent group of seven boys is
in charge of a man who is known as
the "Tent Leader" An elder boy in |
each tent acts as his assistant These
tent leaders compose the body known
as the camp Senate and meet daily to
discuss the camp problems. Another
representative body of boys, one from
each tent, compose the Camp Assem-
bly, and meet to give the boys own
views of the camp.
PROGRAM
A definite schedule is arranged for
each day and is carefully observed
This program tends to develop the
habits of promptness and order in the
boy.
At six O'Clock the bugel sounds
with 81 can't get them up, / can't
get them up" etc. Immediately the
camp is awake and from all tents the
half-awake inhabitants rush out clad
in their swimming suits and fall in
line behind their leaders. Five min
utes after 'reveille, assembly" is
blown and for each boy who is not in
line at that time the tent-group re-
ceiVes one demerit Needless to say
that the slow ones in each tent are al
ways rushed out by their more ener-
getic companions. After vigorous
setting up'' drill a plunge in the
lake serves as the morning toilet. At
7:l5 the church call is sounded and |
the boys assemble in their tents for
the morning Bible reading. At 7:30
comes the most popular call of the
camp, namely the call to meals. I'M
mediately after breakfast the an
nouncements for the day are given
and then the folding organ is brought
out and chapel services follow A
large chart upon which the camp
songs are written is hung up one end
of the tent and the way the boys
sing the ''Smile Song" New Amer
lea" Onward Christian Soldiers"
and others of these stirring songs
would put many a paid choir to
shame. A short ''pass word meeting
is conducted by one of the leaders
and is followed by a short period of
prayer and very large number of
short sentence prayers are offered
daily by that group of boys gathered
in the big dining tent.
Camp duty is the word after break
fast. Two boys from each tent wash
the dishes and reset their tables
The others go to their tents and put
out the blankets and bed-clothes to
air. One tent is detailed for squad
duty to put the grounds in first
class condition. All the waste mater
ial is picked up and the stock of wood !
for the day is cut.
The balance of the morning is used II
for recreation. Indoor and, outdoor
base ball leagues play off their games,
games in the quiet pitching tourna-
ment are decided, some go boating
and fishing, while Others calmly sit in
the shade and write long letters and
innumerable postcards to their
mothers, sisters, and other fellows
sisters at home. Thus the morning 4
passes quickly away,