Evening star., 1933-05-01
Thinking About Camping.

The boys and girls Ct washington
are beginning to think about camp
ing. Hundreds Of them already have
arranged to spend some portion Of the
Summer IN the woods Of Maine Oh
Vermont. the hills Of New Hampshire
or Western MASSACHUSETTS,. Still ether,
anticipate a holiday in the Adiron-
oacks. or the Catskills, or at congenial
places in the neishborhood Of ths
Great Lakes. These have registered
at one or another of the splendidly
equipped and efficiently managed pri-
yate camps which have the status oi
Summer schools. Their vacations will
be spent in ideal surroundings. friend
ly company, under the guardianship
of experienced directors and teachers
councillors and tutors. 3hey will live
twenty-four hours day out Of doors
they will have meals prepared with
proper regard to the science of dietitics,
they will be instructed in swimming and
riding, the arts and crafts. They will
return home filled with new strength,
new ZeSt for life.
Many adults also, of course, will be
preparing for the particular kind Of
camping which especially appeals to
them. On the one extreme Of this
group there are the men, who. like
those at Camp Roosevelt, Luray. will
be fighting the depression in the forest
army organized by the Government;
on the other there are those who, able
to finance their own flight from the
city, will motor to some appropriate
retreat for at least few days Of re-
lief from routine labor and care In an
environment suited to their mood and
inclination. Whole families will 60
camping during July and August. and
they will have the time of their lives, )"
as the saying is.
But what of the children whose
parents are financially unable to send
them away from the heat, the dust and
tunate years there have been many
camps in the neishborhOod OF Wash
ington where the young people were
accommodated at small cost under the
general management OF the Community
Chest and its cooperating agencies.
But this Summer. as it now appears,
in CrpQk
Camp Pleasant at Blue Plains and Camp
Happyland, near Annapolis, cannot be
operated. The reduced return Of the
Chest campaign has eliminated all camp
activities except those which are COM
pletely self-supporting, and the refugees
mentioned have been social help
camps, dependent upon the phAan-
thropic instinct of the more fortunate
classes of the people.
Some scholarship" arrangements
may be made possible through policy
of mutual aid Oh the part OF the Girl
Scouts. the Boy Scouts, the Girls
Friendly Society, the Washington Boys
Club, the Christ Child Society, the
Y. M. C. A., the Y. w. c. A. and other
organiza lions and various institutions.
A few children could be taken care OF
IN this way, approximately one-halI OF
the normal fee being paid for each In
diyiGual child. But funds are scapt,
and not much can be done, conditions
being IS they are. unless gifts are Oh
fered for the specific purpose. 1t may
be hoped that those who still are pcs
sessld Of means TO help will wish to
contribute. Ten dollars will give an
underprivileged girl or boy glorious
s;ay in a camp. and the inye .ment
Invariably produces abundant dividends
in terms of health, stimulated morale
and happiness.
1he whole problem is brought to the
fore by the Camp Exposition to be
held al the Y. w c. 4. May and g..
All Other important phases Of the sub
ject are to be presented. The pubic
is invited to attend. Presumably many
Who are thinking about camping VIII
take advantage Of the opportunity the
Two days program of lectures and dem-
onstra.ions will afford.
in,