The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-06-15
SUMMER CAMPS
FAvO RED
FORD.C.
Recreation Grounds Under
Municipal Supervision Seen
as Need for Children.
By GEORGE FRANKLIN.

By GEORGE FRANKLIN.
Summer camps for children are
none too plentiful around Wash
ington, according to social work
ers.
Estimates made by them as
well as by health officials and
school heads place the number OF
children in the city who would
be benefited by living each sum-
mer for several weeks in the open
at upward of $4,000. Taken col
lectively the capacity Of the camps
already organized will not accom-
modate more than Is per cent Of
that number, they say, and as a
result consideration is being given
q plan to establish q municipal OF
association camp, under proper
supervision, where entire families
may secure camp sites at a mod
crate cost.
Confined To Members.
With the exception of Camp Good
Will, maintained by the Associated
Charities in Rock Greek Park off
Military road, and that of the Sal.
walton Army. located midway be-
tween Washington and Baltimore,
none OF the camps provide quar-
tiers for both boys and girls and
their parents.
Girl camps are operated by sew
eral organizations but attendance
Is confined to members. The same
may be said Of all Of the boys
camps with the exception Of that
under organization by the Boys
the United States Marine Corps
quarters at Quantico. This camp Is
open to any boy, whether ne be a
club member or not, at q weekly
rate Of between four and five dol.
lars. Boys camps under super.
vision Of the Catholic Church and
Boy Scouts are maintained In the
vicinity Of the city, but az in the
first instance admission is restricted.
The plan to organize City Camp
ing Association, az outlined by
those sponsoring 1t, embraces among
other features the taking over Of q
permanent location as q camp site.
It Ii proposed to include not less
than 100 acres In the tract located
adjacent to the District Of Colum.
bia, either on the Virginia side of
the Potomac or in Maryland, within
easy reaching distance OF the city.
The association membership would
take in families In moderate cir
cumstances who refuse consent to
their children going to segregated
camps during the summer and also
decline to make application for
admission to either OF the Existing
camps providing accommodatione
for mothers and their children.
AS was pointed out there are
hundreds Of families in the city
whose circumstances are such that
they cannot afford to maintain prt-
vate camps, provide the necessary
! sanitary conveniences and police
protection, and who also object to
separation Of the family during
the summer holiday period. This
is the element 1t 10 expected to IN
terest in the formation OF the City
Camping Association along lines
followed out in several OF the West
ern cities.
Boys Club Prospers.
Open to any boy meeting TIT
simple qualifications established toi
admission, the camp established BY
the Boys Club Association, o
Quantico, il declared to be the near
est approach to the idea OF Cit!
Association Camp carried out SO Ia
by District Of Columbia interests
. It is on-sectarian and non-national
is administered under proper super
vision which extends to all caml
activities, and is operated at a cos
making it available to a vast major
ity of the boys.
1--WE can take care of all the boy
who wish to camp with us," sai'
Frank r. Jelleff, president of tn
Bows Club Association. plans arr
afoot to secure the cooperation Of
the Navy Department and through
the latter the use of tents for thu
camp. The club has a membership
of approximately 500 boys, but clul
membership is not exacted OF CAM
patrons. Let any boy come and WI
Twill tent him and sec that he re
ceives proper food and supervision.
In connection with the Boys Clul
Association, which Will become tn
beneficiary, the proceeds OF thu
Washington.C Cleveland ball game, t
be played June Fl, at the American
League grounds, Seventh ant
Georgia avenue, will be turned ovel
to the club. Practically all Of thu
organizations in the city are boost
ing for q big attendance at thu
game and present indications poin
to a record breaking gathering O
fans as we'll as supporters OF boy
movements of various kinds.
The ball game ie one of the few
sources Of revenue enjoyed by thu
association. A baseball, autograph
ed by Babe" Ruth, obtained II
New York for the club by T. Ed
ward Murtaugl1, will be auctionet
off soon for the benefit Of the
club.
Members Of various societies
have endorsed the City Camping
Association idea. It is not antici
pated, however, that organization
action will become a feature OF the
associations formation as the ides
is to make the latter widely repre-
sentative and maintain 1t free from
control by any organized interest.
personally I favor the City
Camp Association idea" said
George w. Winslow. secretary OF
the Kiwanis Club. but the club
could not take official action In
that direction as it is already aid
ing the Associated Charities camp
1 can understand the desire OF
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