Evening star., 1942-03-15
BY JACQUES FUTRELLE, Jr.,
Travel Editor.


Travel Editor.
The summer camp idea-vaca-
tions for children away from home,
as we'll as away from school-has
progressed steadily in the United
States in the last two decades. 1t
was in the 1920s that, seeping down
from the wealthy stratum, the
movement spread among the white
collar income class Of families, who
decided to afford the luxury" of
getting their youngsters from under
their heels and from under the
wheels of roaring city traffic. OF
late years, the plan sWelled over into
the field of the less privileged youth,
whose need for outings became more
strongly promoted by welfare groups.
Though not nearly as general as
the future promised they will be.
summer camps today-with the first
summer Of Americas S war approach
ing-come to the rescue of parents
not only as a healthy recreational
outlet, but as place of refuge for
their children. AS yet, the acreage
and facilities are limited enough to
keep the summer outing idea on an
individual basis; that is, accommo-
dations are not nearly ample for the
tide of youth that would be involved
in wholesale evacuations Of the fu-
ture generation.
To what extent boys and girls will
be sent from the wars target areas
because of the possibilities of air
raids cannot be estimated before the
first bomb is ready to fall and the
mass movement gets under way. For
individual children, parents are
making their decisions on develop
ments. In the background is the
knowledge that strategic cities along
elaborate blackout preparations, and
yesterday came the announcement
that the Children's Bureau Of the
Labor Department, cooperating
with the once of Civilian Defense,
has drawn up plans for evacuations.
Perhaps influencing parents now
as greatly in the summer camp de-
cisions as to the potential air-raid
danger are two offshoots OF today's
fcritical times-"war nerves." that
take root more easily in the unstable
emotions of children. and the de-
mand Of volunteer services on the
time OF adults, who cordially well
come the chance to farm out" re-
sponsibilities toward their children
to capable minds and hands.
Some measure as to the appeal of
summer camps to children and par
ents during the first summer since
Pearl Harbor will be gained by
watching figures from Maine, a bell
wether in placing camps for boys
and girls on health standards set by
the State.
From the beginning. the summer
camp idea gained the interest Of
Maine citizens and State legislators
and oficials. Looking forward to
giving Maine reputation In this
type Of educational recreation
which might with little exaggeration
be called a public service-the State
Legislature in 1927 required the an
nual licensing Of all camps. The
duties Of inspection were placed in
the division of sanitary engineering
of the Maine Bureau Of Health. Its
experts are assigned to visiting the
camps each year to check the source
of their water supply, and before
the season opens-usually early in
June, after schools close-the drink
ing water Is analyzed, the safety
Of bathing beaches checked. Hous-
ing inspection eliminates the chance
that makeshift cottages are pro-
vided. Ventilation Of the cabins
must meet the requirements estab-
lished by the sanitary engineers,
kitchens and dining rooms must be
adequately screened and foods
stored on approved methods to
guard against contamination. Proper
disposal of waste material also is
demanded.
AS for Names climate, the State
Development Commission relays
this report, quoting the United
States Weather Bureau:
Maine has the most healthful
climate in the United States and
equals any in the world, not only
in summer, but also, contrary to
popular belief, In the winter. Sun