The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-04-28


OPA officials in all parts Of the
country, recognizing that camps are
an integral part Of American life
and are making a valuable contri-
button to the war effort, are work
ing closely with camp directors.
Already most camps have CON-
pleted arrangements for train and
bus transportation not, to be sure,
in the private cars of former days
nor in any conveyance on the
crowded weekend Immediately pre-
ceding July 4th. But time and nee
essary space have been assigned
And over $500 600 American chill
dren will again go to summer camps.
This year food production and
conservation will play a major part
in the program as they did last year.
Most camps last season raised their
own vegetables. The majority CO.
operated with narby farmers to pick
hundreds Of thousands of pounds
of fruit and vegetables. For in
stance, several private camps in
Maine had agreements with local
farmers to pick the string bean
crops as they ripened and get them
to the packing companies. In Wis
conSin, Boy Scouts picked over q
quarter of a million pounds of cher
ries. Near San Francisco, Girl Re-
serves picked 10000 boxes of prunes.
In Vermont, to put it in the words of
a farmer whose crops had been har-
vested by camp girls, They worked
right smart"
This year, with many camp en-
rollments already filled, more boys
and girls will work right smart
on the farms. They will also have
greater responsibilities in a share
the-work program of the camp it.
self. This sharing includes not
merely such humble tasks as dish
washing, policing grounds, and
cleaning cabins, but also the fun
and responsibility of planning camp
ing trips, lookout suppers, camp
fire ceremoniaS, swimming meets,
outdoor plays, and all the special
camp activities. Some camps, OF
course, have always encouraged such
participation In the planning and
operating of programs. One camp
for younger children in New Hamp-
shire has town meeting and elects
camper officers to be responsible for
the water front, the past office
the forestry activities, victory gar
denS, and tennis matches. Others
have governing counsels of elected
campers and counselors. This sea-
son there will be even more Of such
democratic practices.
War conditions have also brought
about far greater cooperation be-
tween children's camps and all plans
Of local community life. Even last
year work on food production was
only one Of the many shared prof.
Gets. Camp children helped nearby
towns and villages to raise money
for War Bond and Red Cross drives
Older campers took their turns at
airplane spotting, forest and fire
patrol, and organized treasure hunts
for scrap iron and metal. More
camps, too, shared their recreational
facilities with their country neigh
bors. One New England boys camp
for instance, made a practice of In
Wiling the village boys on Saturday
afternoons to come for baseball
game, swim and picnic supper. A
girls camp in the Georgia mountains
held an all-day fair to which the
mountain folk came from miles
around for games, contests, supper
and square dancing. These are but
samples Of a trend in camping. While
there is no less emphasis on wood
lore, skill In sports and development
Of individual leadership, there Is far
more emphasis on neighborly
sharing.