Evening star., 1941-02-15
Child Training Camp
Bill Seen as Blow 10
Plan for District
Compine Association Unit
Choirmon Fears Repetition
Of Old Mistakes

A chlldrenS training camp bill
sponsored by Representative Sch
vert, Democrat, OF New York would
strike a serious blow at any program
OF recreation in the District which
might be worked out by the pro-
posed nine-man recreation COM
mission now under study by the
Board of Education. Hugo w,
Wolter, program chairman of the
Washington section of the American
Camping Association, said today
The bill came In for heated dis
cussion before the more than 1000
persons attending the annual con-
vention at the Wardman Park Hotel
The bill, which would provide
S490 900 900 during the next five
years for recreation camps to i'm
prove youths physique and morale
throughout the country, stipulates
that funds for the program would
be placed under State educational
authorities and in the District spe-
cifically under the Board of Educa-
ton.
Sees Drawbacks.
Mr. Wolter said that, placed under
boards OF education, any training
camp program to better the ply
sique and morale Of American youth
would resolve itself into an eXten-
cio oF ol,
programs and school class schedules.
The bill simply would move the
school into the country or into the
parks and Fairgrounds he said.
The recreation commission bill.
which has been approved by the
Park and Planning Commission and
District Commissioners. stands a
good chance of going through, he
said. The Board of Educa ton. he
added which is to pass upon its
provisions before it is introduced
on Capitol Hill, seems to favor the
principle involved ed-amalgamation Of
all leisure time activities pursued on
public lands and with public faciii-
ties in the Nations Capital
The bill he said would place un-
der the Board of Education exactly
the type of program the bill to create
a commission is attempting To di-
vorce from education and map out
along lines to serve all age groups
and not Just school children.
Discussed at Length.
Thursday night the convention
discussed AT length the training
camp bill after il was presented for
consideration by DR.. n. P Nelson.
executive secretary of the American
Association for Health. Physical
Education and Recreation
Although no formal action was
taken ov the convention and a con-
tinuation of study of its provisions
voted, the consensus OF the dele
gates was. Mr. Wolter said. that
while its basic principles are worthy.
such a program should neither be
placed under educational authori-
ties nor under Federal control.
New officers Of the association
were elected at a business meeting
Yesterday. as follows. TAYLOR Stat
ten, director OF the Staten Camps,
Ontario, Canada, president and Miss
Barbara E. JOY. director of the Jov
Camps in Iowa, vice president
Other officers Of the association con-
tinue at their posts
After dav spent in considering
the practical side of organized
camping camp techniques and pro-
grams the convention heard a dis
cussion of the problems Of camp
leadership and leadership training
by DR.. Ebert K Fretwell. Columbia
University teachers college and a
panel.
Today the convention was to con-
tlnue discussion of camp technioues
and problems and the annual ban
quet will be held tonight AT 7 O'Clock