Evening star., 1939-09-03
Benefits Of Camps
Sponsored by Chest
Are Enumerated
Health Of Nearly 5000
Children Aided,
Wo!ter Reports


Community Chest agencies, have
brought recreation and better health
to nearly 5000 children, it was re-
ported yesterday by Hugo w. VOL
ter, camping expert.
Mr.. Wolter has just assumed the
post of recreation secretary Of the
Council of Social Agencies, central
service and planning organization
of the Community Chest,
Health gains have been among
the benefits accruing to the children,
Mr.. Wolter said. reviewing his ex-
perience as director of the two Fam
lily Service Association camps showed
this summer. Frail bodies filled
out, the children gaining from a
to II pounds during their camp
stay. White drawn faces had
changed at the end of two-week
period into tan and smiling ones.
Legs and arms had gained new
strength from hiking and SWIM
ming.
Most important, however, Mr.
Wolter said, is the fact that at
camp the children have a chance
to grow up independently-a
chance to express their true per-
sonalities without the formal pres
sure usually present in the modern
scheme of living.
Program Kept Flexible.
The children returned home hap
py, ready to face lifes problems
Many of them for the first time
had individually found a place for
themselves in group. The songs
the stories, the games and the pro-
gram of happy living are things that
are not soon forgotten
Bringing about changes in atti-
tude and the building of self-con-
fdence in the case of unhappy, So
called problem children are two
of the aims in a modern camping
program. Mr.. Wolter said. The
needs of individual children are
analyzed, and the program is kept
flexible so as to meet those needs.
He cited the case of l2-year-old
boy who was recommended for camp
because ne couldn't get along at
school and was in trouble with the
police.
George was lively, full of pep,
but he seemed to be in the middle
of trouble all of the time. He hated
his teachers and policemen and was
afraid of them.
Yet, returning home today, after
four weeks at camp, his decided
change of attitude caused the neigh
bors to ask: What has happened to
George? He seems so quiet and self
possessed
Outlet for Energy.
The answer is that George, at
camp. had found an outlet for his
overf1owing energy. He became a
song leader, led in hikes and in dra-
matics. He discovered that not all
adults are his enemies.
Every time child overcomes a
problem by facing it, he gains great
ly from the experience, Mr.. Wolter
said This applied even to the
common problem of inconsistencies,
always present in camp, and one
that showed itself in many ways.
Teresa, for instance, became i'll
and ran a temperature every day
at rest hour. until she suddenly real
lied that instead of having good
time she was straining to go home.
Then Teresa relaxed and enjoyed
herself.
Coeducational recreational pro-
grams, allowed an appreciation OF
the capabilities of the other sex
without ridicule, in free situation,
is another benefit children derived
from the ChopaWamsic area camp
program, Mr.. Wolter said. Boys and
girls held campfres and dances to-
gether so that such an appreciation
could be reached.
Children gained satisfaction, too,
from the various skills they learned
at camp" Mr.. Wolter said. They en-
joyed the mastery of swimming
craft-work, Indian lore, nature study
and many other things that are
opOIlIdIlCOuSly d pdl VI ouoNooA AAAS
Combined in the single project of
camping, they learned something OF
forestry, conservation, outdoor COOK
ing, pioneer living.
Manners and social habits, too,
underwent a change. The children
learned how to set a table, how to
wait on others graciously. Food
likes and dislikes became 'babyish'
at camp. Daily baths at camp en-
couraged standards of personal
cleanliness. Pride in appearance
was further fostered by the dental
hygiene work, through which the
child could have his teeth cleaned
and inspected at camp"
Camps Listed.
Camps sponsored by Community
Chest supported agencies during the
summer are:
Kamp Kahlert, Sudley, Md, spon-
sored by the Y. w. C. A.
Camp May Father, Mount Solon
Va, by Girl Scout Council of the
District of Columbia.
Camp Clarissa Scott (coloreO near
Highland Beach, Md, by Phyllis
Wheatley Y. w. G. A.
Holiday House Girls Camp, on