Author: California Young Men's Chr Associations

Publisher:

Published: 2015-08-04

Total Pages: 46

ISBN-13: 9781332156719

Excerpt from California Men, Vol. 2: Boys' Number; 250, 000 Boys in California, What's a Boy Worth in California?, October, 1911 Over 800 Boys In Y. M. C. A. Camps This Past Summer Too much emphasis cannot be laid upon the importance of the Summer Camp work with Boys in the Young Men's Christian Associations today. The clean, manly, healthful, invigorating life in God's Great out-of-doors opens the way for the leaders to exert a most vital influence on the lives of the boys. The following facts and views taken from the reports sent in to the State Office by the various Associations shows that the California secretaries realize the vast importance of this feature of their work, and it is to be hoped that each year's experience may serve to make the succeeding Camps more effective and more perfect. We take this opportunity of urging that Camp Directors send in a full and comprehensive report each year to the State Office on all phases of their Camp work so that such reports may be mutually helpful to the various Associations in the State. It is most gratifying to note that no serious accidents have marred the pleasure of the Camps this past summer. The Camps have all been conducted in a masterly manner and the Directors are deserving of much credit for their work along this line. Sacramento - Two camps of one week duration each were conducted by the Sacramento Association. The Boys Work Director writes that "there were no tents, stove, cook or other marks of civilization. We rolled in our blankets and slept on the bare ground. The cooking was done by the boys over an open fire." There were nineteen boys in camp and the greater part of them never had the "open life" experience before. One unique feature of the Camp was the taking of ten poor boys, after the regular campers had returned. The ten boys were taken free of charge and their expenses were defrayed by as many business men who gladly entered into the plan. See pictures, in group, of camp dishwashers. Riverside - Thirty boys went to camp at Laguna Beach this past summer from the Riverside Association. The cost to each boy did not cover the expenses of the camp but the deficit was made up by entertainments given by the boys themselves. A daily bulletin, called the "Dairy" was published each day during camp and a perusal of this "Dairy" shows that the fellows had a royal good time. Santa Barbara - Rincon Canyon was the site chosen by the Santa Barbara Association for their summer camp this year. Twenty boys enjoyed the life in the open from June 19 to 30. Fee practically defrayed expenses the boys being charged $5.50 for the period in camp. In the way of suggestion, Physical Director Lau, who had charge of the camp, writes: "In relation to Bible Study, I found that I could keep every boy from shirking the study by having it come right after breakfast before anyone left the table." See pictures in group. Crockett - Mr. Runyon, the Secretary of the Crockett Association, took time in the midst of his important Industrial work to take eighteen boys to Pine Canyon for a two weeks' camp. The camp fees were $5 for each boy, which covered railroad fare. The camp account was closed with $51.35 balance toward next year's camp. Mr. Runyon had no helpers with him this year. Only four of the boys were over 14 years of age. In addition to the summer camp, Mr. Runyon took thirty-five of the boys from his town for a day's outing in a tug boat on the Bay. See camp pictures in group. San Diego - Although the work was disorganized on account of Building Campaign, the San Diego Association took sixteen boys on a one week's camp to Flynn Springs. The fees - $3.50 - covered the expenses of the camp. The boys rolled up in their blankets each night and slept close to mother earth. See picture of boys making their beds in the accompanying group.