The Wyandotte herald. (Wyandotte, Mich.) 1879-1943, 1938-09-16
Second Article
on Camp Life

(Note: This is the second of two
articles describing the experiences Of
local people for whom camping was
arranged by the Family Protective as
seciation)
A previous article described the part
which the Family Protective AssOcia-
ton plays in making summer camp ex-
perience more valuable TO local boys
and girls by careful referrals and by
urging campers to pay at least part OF
their way This article will describe
the way In which this local community
fund agency helped two more boys and
a family to have greatly needed camp
ing opportunities.
After two summers at the University
Of Michigan camp, Tommy Is begin
ming TO think about earning his own
way through college instead Of merely
dropping out of high school His home
life had given him little incentive TO
accomplish much of anything. For years
his life had been spent in living with
one or the other of his separated and
unemployed parents. Each tried con-
stantIy TO antagOnize him against the
other Last year the Family Protective
Association paid the whole camp fee
from its community fund grant, but
this year Tommy earned half Of the
fee After experiencing good food, re-
creation and the wholesome example OF
the camp leaders the boy has received
a splendid report from the camp coun-
cillOrs. A councillor who likes Tommy
has promised to help him when he
comes to college. Going TO camp was q
real turning point in this boys life.
George" ran away from the Univer-
sity camp once, but now he works
there, George is only Is but his step
father has refused to be responsible Tor
him. Instead Of developing self-reliance
from his experience, George had turned
into a bitter, sulking boy with few
friends. After careful study, the Fam
lily Protective AsSOciatiO caseworker
decided that camping would be the best
way to help the boy learn how to fight
life's battles without the help which ne
would normally have from his parents.
George was induced to earn $500 to-
ward his fee and the agency paid the
rest. Runaways and many hard ad-
justments with the other boys marked
the first weeks at camp, but at the end
Of four weeks he asked the agency for
another term which was financially i'm
possible. Two days after his return,
George disappeared only to turn up at
the camp where he was given job to
earn his own fee and spending money.
On the basis of the start which the
camp has given this boy and the ex-
cellent reports Of the councillors, the
agency hopes TO carry on the job OF
helping TO overcome Georges bad start.
Families, too, went TO camp. The
- OhnsOn'S" six children range in age
from 10 to two. Mr.. johnson is able to
get little work and sometimes they
have been Ion relief" Mrs. Johnson is
not well and a vacation was advised
by the doctor and visiting nurse. How
was a vacation. however needed, to be
arranged for this family? Because it
was realized that the recommendation
for admittance was carefully made by
the Family Protective Association the
mother and children were accepted at
Bay Court, a camp on Lake st. Clalr.
There, for the same amount which 1t
cost the family. to live at home, Mrs.
Johnson was with her children but free
from the responsibility for their care
and had her first chance to really rest
and play. The mothers added weight.
and better yet. her improved health,
slyeak volumes for the value OF this
opportunity.