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Summer camp stresses the positive
Situated on land rich in history and purchased with funds donated in memory of Will Rogers, the camp has made a lasting difference in more than 100,000 lives. Will Rogers admired and trusted the Salvation Army and gave thousands of dollars to help its mission, especially when it came to young people. In 1939 the property now known as Camp Mt. Crags was purchased for $30,000 with money raised by the Will Rogers Memorial Sanitarium to aid underprivileged children- a top priority for Rogers. The camp began that summer and was officially called Will Rogers Memorial Camp. Army camping begins On June 26, 1939, the Salvation Army started the summer camp program, giving an outdoor experience to 1,100 boys and girls that year. The first week of camp was for boys only, and the summer continued with a variety of seven-day camps, including several weeks just for girls and a specific week for music camp. The camp fee in 1939 was $1 per day to cover all expenses except transportation. The purpose for that first camp was to assist in building the lives of young people. The activities that first summer included swimming in the concrete pool, baseball, football, horseshoes, tetherball, table tennis, archery, badminton, volleyball, fishing, photography, leather braiding, woodwork, plastic work and copper work. Each morning started around flag raising, calisthenics and breakfast. Each evening ended with a council ring and a campfire. According to some of the old-timers who were there that summer, during the evening council ring campers would enjoy wienie roasts and a watermelon treat and repeat the camp pledge. If the weather permitted, campers would participate in "night bathing in the pool." Times have changed Today we have indoor plumbing, Internet and golf carts at summer camp. In the "good old days" water was pumped from a deep well into a concrete reservoir and was tested regularly by the County Health Department. Sixty gallons of milk was delivered every day from a local dairy. Sleeping mattresses were placed outside near the pool every day, hoping the sun would kill potential germs, since polio was a concern at the time and it was uncertain how to prevent it. The camp's outdoor latrines had to be cleared each week by staff to prepare for the new camp. The swimming pool had no filters and needed to be emptied and refilled every so often to maintain some cleanliness in the water. Focus and mission remain Today, 68 years later and after 100,000 campers have experienced this wonderful place of refuge, a lot of changes have occurred- and yet the focus and the mission of camp remain the same. The camp exists to serve the young people of the communities of Southern California. The primary goal is to provide a Christian camping experience that will quicken the spirit and change the lives of our youth. Camp builds resiliency and selfconfidence and enhances physical, social, educational and spiritual needs. Although most kids don't ask their parents to send them to camp to build their character, with the unique program and the wonderful staff, somehow camp creates a place where kids have fun building upon their life skills. A lasting difference Chance was a 16-year-old girl who attended camp for a long time. During an evening campfire program, Chance shared that her father died when she was a baby and her mother struggles with drugs and alcohol- leaving her to be the leader in her home with her younger siblings. She does not have time to get involved in school or with friends. She has been coming to Camp Gilmore and Mt. Crags ever since she could remember. Once she became a teen, she was afraid she was going to be too old to come. When camp started the Wilderness Camp for teens she was very excited and signed up. She said that without camp every summer, she would not have the time to relax and enjoy life. She added that camp had been a place of refuge in her life over the years and she doesn't know where she would be without coming here. Monique was 15 years old and came from a divorced family. She had a difficult time with this divorce: she gained 70 pounds in 6 months, became very reclusive and was doing poorly in school. Because of financial difficulties, her mother called the Oxnard Salvation Army, hoping that Monique might be able to attend camp or find another program that might help. Monique was completely against the idea. On the way to camp, she wouldn't speak to anyone. She said she would not be participating in the activities in any way, shape or form. When camp ended, she was a totally different person- talkative and friendly and full of life. She talked and laughed all the way home with the other kids. When her mom picked her up, Monique ran up to give her a big hug and thanked her for making her go. Her mother says that whatever happened at camp made a lasting change. The Salvation Army's camps in Malibu canyon are here for anyone. We want to reach out to families in need and offer a camp experience for those who can only pay a little or nothing. We also have room for any child that wants to go to camp. In order to do this, the Salvation Army does need support from the public. One of the ways we are letting folks know about this program is we are hosting a 10K/ 5K Trail Run and Family Nature Walk on Sat., June 16. For more information on this event, go online to www. SalvationArmy5k.org. Take advantage of this day to come see the camp and participate in the runs and/or the family activities at camp. If you can't make it, you can still sponsor someone to run or sponsor a kid to go to camp this summer. Don Mowery is the resident director for Camps Mt. Crags and Gilmore. |
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