Charlevoix county herald. (East Jordan, Mich.) 189?-1953, 1913-06-14
Vacation Camp
County Y. M. c. A. Gather al
Big Beaver.


psrativelY new thing and the best
thing. A go as you please camp or a
do as You please camp soon becomes a
place of moral deterioration. Charac-
ter building might be given as the
purpose Of the Y. M. &. A. camp. 1t
is to be camp uf ideals, not a sum :
mer hotel or suplanter of the home.
The principal reason for its existance
is the providing OF safe place where
parents can send their boys for sum-
mer vacation, where, under the leader
ship OF Christian men. they may be
developed morally. physically. men
tallv and socially. The day OF the ex-
treme rough-house camp has passed.
BOYS have discovered that real fun
does not mean hurting and discomfort
ting others, but consists In making
others happy. the boy who gets the
most out Of camp is the boy who puts
the most into camp.
Growing things need the out of
doors. Growing boys need room ana
range. The medicine OF the hills, the
streams and the woods will rest tired
nerves and return every boy To his
home with increased vitality. Boys
need to place themselves where nature
can speak TO them. They should get
close TO the soil. They ought to be
toughened by sun and wind, rain aud
cold. Nothing can take the place Of
stout physique, robust health, good
| blood, firm muscles, sound nerves for
these are the basis fer character and
efficiency. A trained brain is handi-
capped by an unframed and unde-
veIoped body,
| Parents should think Of the camp,
not as a luxury or good time only.
but as something that is planned TO
meet the need in the lives Uf real
| boys. Many boys viii come back with
a vision and inspiration of usefulness
In their lives.
Equipment is not, but leadership is.
| the foundation upon which a success
ful boys camp is built. An adult lead
er for six boys is necessary. These
leaders have absolute Of all details
concerning their respective groups and
are at liberty To settle all questions
that arise unless their importance
makes it seem wise TO refer them 10
the camp director. In securing camp
leaders the aim of the committee is u
secureyOung lnen OF unquested char
acter and moral leadership, men OF
culture and refinment, who are good
athletes and understand boy life.
Here is a form Of altrstic service that
should appeal to purposeful men.
Charleyoix county is, OF all the Or
ganized counties in Michigan, the
best supplied with delightful camping
sites. Along the shores Of Pine lake
there are many and OH the shores OF
Deer and Thumb lakes are camp sites
that would make the secretaries OF
southern counties full Of envy. After
considering all OF the available sites
on the maib land Beaver Island came
up for consideration and investigation
IT was found on Investigation that
the island possessed all OF the attrac,
tlons OF any place on the main land
and had numerous additional advan-
tages that made II, by far, the most
satisfactory place 10 locate the First
Annual Charleyoix County Y. M. G.
A. Boys Camp. The site chosen liet
between Font lake aud the shore o1
lake Michigan about two miles from
the village Of ST.. James. Here there
Is a clearing large enough for tn,
BASEBALL games and the track meets
that are an Important part OF th'
camp life. The site was donated b.
|. W. j. Gallager who has volunteered
To do all that lies Ia his power u
make the camp success and thus 10
sure the happiness OF the campers.
Camp will open on the afternoon o
July eighth and close at noon on tn,
eighteenth. THIS arrangement will
, make IL possible for all the camper
70 return home that Afternoon. Tues
day July fifteenth will be Visitor
Day and arrangements are being mad
! FOR an excursion To the island on tha
r day thus making 1t possible for parent
members OF the county committee an,
, all other interested parties To visi
the camp. However IL this date is no
satisfactory To all who wish To ylsi
the camp they will be welcomed o
any day that the camp is in session.
A limited number of boys twelve
thirteen, fourteen and fifteen years o
age, may make application on tn
form provided Application will b
, accepted in the order received unit
] the limit has been reached. All ar
: plications must be in the hands OF tn
county secretary, a. b. Ball, Boyn