Evening star., 1925-07-05
YOUTH DELIGHTED
MCAMP,'GOODW WILL
Noisees4of All Kinds Add to
Funsof Kids. and Heads
Of Outing. /?

THIS is a story of sounds, of noises.
Ths sounds occur in regular rota-
ton from" early morning to late at
night and emanate from a wooded
ridge in the Businesses of Rock Creek
Park.
They are noises. for the most part,
familiar to the ear of the average
person, discordaut at times and yet
not calculated TO unnerve the timid
or rasp the ears of even the most
esthetic.
Shrieks of childish laughter.
Howls of teething babies. The gurgle
of milk down parched throats. Bugle
calls. Snatches of song The splash
ing of suds in bathtubs. Cries of
protest. The clatter of dishes and
siIverware. Youthful voices raised in
unison in patriotic recital. More
bugle notes. flushed voices. Silence,
broken now and then by sporadic
outbursts of infantile wailing, snores
and crooned lullabies.
144 Youngsters in Camp.
1t is the story of Camp Good VIII,
the Associated Charities Summer rest
and recreation camp for needy
urchins of the Nations Capital. A
story that tells of worries eased, pains
and aches ameliorated and hunger
tugs satisfied. 1t is a story of the
development Of better citizens.
The laughter, the cries and the
howls are of 144 separate and distinct
varieties, furnished by that number
of youngsters. who are enjoying life
in the open during the Summer hot
months at the expense of grown-ups
Of charitable disposition and a
recollection of childhood days.
Just as the ages of the children
vary from 2 months to u years, so
do the peals of laughter, the express
sions of delight and the occasional
protestations embrace a wide range
of pitches. The protests, however,
rapidly are becoming scarce as the
youthful guests grow more accus-
toned TO the strange life of luxury
into which they have been plunged.
Opened Last Wednesday.
The camp opened last Wednesday
with 144 children and 20 mothers. of
several nationalities. in attendance for
the first shift OF two weeks. Wednes-
day night Supt. William F. Mengert
and his able assistant, Mrs. Mengert,
spent a rather restless time. AS the
dark shadows of night fell gloomily
over the hillsides Of Rock Creek Park
the children became lonesome and
homesick. They wanted their moth
ers, their own beds, their homes. But
the discontentment was far less wide
spread than Mr.. and Mrs. Mengert
had anticipated, thanks to a clever
piece of strategy engineered Wednes-
day afternoon with purposeful DELHI |
GRAFTON. The stunt consisted in tiring
the youngsters out with an unusually |
strenuous round of athletic events, !
including a long hike.
When bedtime came they were so |
ready to close their eyes that they |
could not long fight off sleep or lie
in contemplation of their foreign sur
roundings," Supt. Mengert explained. |
Day Begins at 615 AM.
The camp day begins at 6:15 am. |
with reveilIe. At $40 the tenters turn
out for setting-up exercises, conelud |
ing with an Impressive f1ag-raising /
ceremony The four children whose |
tents are adjudged the best-appear |
ing for the day win the honor of I
hosting the colors. Breakfast is at z |
for the children more than years |
old and at 7:25 for those younger. |
Toothbrush drill takes place at 1880 |
and policing of the tents occurs from |
8 to $50 am, followed by tent inspec-
ton.
From to 1890 the campers are
taught craftsmanship, woodlore, etc,
and at 1910 songs of a patriotic |
nature are sung. The shower baths |
are stormed by the boys at II o'clock |
and at 11:45 there is sounded the first |
call for dinner. After the MONDAY |
meal there is q rest hour. followed by |
games, hikes and various forms of |
sport. Supper is served at $50 and an
hour later the flag is lowered. mark
ing the approaching end of the days |
activities.
From 6:35 to there is community
singing and entertainment in the open
air pavilion. The call to quarters
sounds at and taps follows promptly
at 7:15 pm. After the young ones
are snug in bed the mothers are pro-
vtded with an hour of recreation and
entertainment, and at 8 everybody
turns in"
Meals Popular.
The most popular place on the pro-
gram is accorded the three full meals,
formulated by Miss Edith Nichol,
camp dietician. with view to giving |
the undernourished children what their
bodies need most. An average break I
fast consists of oranges, oatmeal,
scrambled eggs and milk. Dinner in
Cludes roast lamb, mashed potatoes,
buttered carrots, wheat and whole !,
wheat, bread, milk and sherbet. A
typical supper embraces Creamed
potatoes, cabbage salad, white and
raisin bread, milk and sliced pine
apples.
~ ne CnllQTen III Ile HTSL group Will
remain in camp for two weeks, and |
then give way TO a second "consign-
ment," from a different section of the
city. Each group is weighed before
registering and then again upon leav
ing. Last year. out OF about 500 chill
dren who visited the camp only 20
showed a loss of weight. The others
gained from one to seven or eight
pounds each. The facilities of the
camp are entirely free to the guests.
who are selected by the Associated
Charities. A new swimming pool will
open this week.
The staff of the camp, in addition to
Supt. and Mrs. Mengert and Miss
Nichol, includes two nurses for the
babies. All have their hands full
from morning to night, but 1t is work
they thoroughly enjoy.
Noises Music to Staff.
Even the many and varied noises
that the day brings forth is real
music to the ears of the sympathetic
and understanding members of the
camp staff.