The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-08-19
CAMPERS TEACH
OBJECT LESSON
IN INTECRAT|ON

A four-yesr project in the Detro
Girl Scout office has eliminated II
program Of complete indignation
80 ell campers At the LOCAL Cir
Scout camps, Metsmors and Cedar
Lake. A visit 10 Camp Metamora
the 30o-acre site valued AZ S7500t
acquired completely by gifts and
donstions and built around a beau
t,ui lake with beach frontage or
two sizes Of the lake. Is enough &c
convince one OF the success az ne
VENTURE and the fact that no
thoughts az any kind OF differences
en,er the young minds OF the camp
Cr<
The ste itself is beautifully
wooded section of rolling hills,
Campers, Of approximately 1852 each
period. are divided into groups OF
20 10 IS persons. called units There
ere seven established units and two
troop lodges for winter camping
Each unit has been given a name
They are: Happy Hill. youngest age
group; Trade Winds. the oldest axe
group: Windjsmmer, next 10 the
Oldest age group. with Sky Meadow.
Pine Lodge Gypsy Lodge and
Deep Woods between. The units are
divided only on basis Of age and
interest groups.
Activities are arranged for the
girls IN proportion 10 their ages
and previous camping experience,
Ranging from very simple acivl-
ties OF learning camping 10 prir1i-
tive camping where nearly al me
facilities used are made and col
lected by the campers.
No FormaliIed Glasses
There is no formalized study Of
nature study. which is taught
through practical application. For
instance. the kinds OF trees are
taught not by simple naming Of
specimens. but by teaching what
kind OF wood is best for starting
fires. or making red Goals or which
kinds make the best tent stakes,
etc. Other types Of nature study
are taught in comparable manner.
Each unit has one counselor 10
every four 10 seven girls. They
sleep in tents scattered over a small
area. The daily schedule includes
q period OF swimming. three bal
anced meals. rest periods and su-
pervised play The older campers
plan their own menus for two
meals a day. and carry the food
from the lodge 10 the unit in a
pack basket and prepare il in their
own units. The other meal Is eaten
in the central building, called the
lodge. with the younger campers.
The younger campers eat all their
meals al the lodge.
The Trade Wind unit has built an
outdoor grill of stone where they
prepare their meals. Each unit gath
ers its own wood and stores it.
CTS Building Unit
The CIT. tCounselor's In Train
ing) unit is now building a camp
site from the ground UP a short
distance from the other unit sites.
They had, the day OF our visit, al
ready dug and lined with stone an
underground food cache and COW
cred II with leaves and twigs. Near
ly completed was workable
made of young saplings, an outdoor
toilet made of young saplings and
concealed with shrubbery. and a
leen-to.
Fellowship Marked
II Is particularly gratifying to
note the congeniality of AL the
campers and TO note no evidences OF
friction or conflict There are sp-
proximately ten or twelve colored
girls in the third period.
Special commentator is due Miss
Catherine v. Richards, executive
secretary OF the Detroit Council OF
Girl Scouts for her un,iring efforts
10 work this project out 10 sue
cesstul conclusion, TO Mrs. Ray
Hatcher for her work in the pres
ent one-yesr project on indignation.
and the host OF fine counselors who
acted as our hosteSses the day OF
our visit 10 Camp Metamora, in
GLIDING Misses Naomi Nelson, Car
olyn French and Catherine Rich
ards. as well as the entire staff OF
the Detroit office in taking this step
an line with the declared policy Of
ahe National office