HomeMy WebLinkAbout1976 08-11 Camp Silver Maple - where kids have a riot THE REVIEW THE REVIEW Wed.,Aug.11,1976
amSilver Maple
wh ere s ave a riot
by Kamy Ide Rock-painting,and making and pain- youngster to feel an appreciation for Bowen is"Birch."
ting clay beads and regular sing-alongs of nature.We want to expose them to the Bruce Anderson,assistant director of
Old"Cowboy Joe"is a hero there,and camp favorites,like"Cowboy Joe"also outdoors and give them some basic skills Maplewood Community Services, which
the"Up,Down"song is a favorite.Kids keep youngsters busy. so they can work and be comfortable operates the day camp program, ex-
hunt for dinosaur eggs and eat a version During the week,youngsters can earn outdoors." plains, "We want the camp to be a fun
of a banana split,cooked over a campfire. two awards,the Good Camper Award or place for kids."He noted the emphasis
That may sound like a child's fairy tale, membership in the One Match Club,given Counselors at the camp are all given has been on keeping the camp simple and
And maybe it is.It's Camp Silver Maple, to youngsters who can start and maintain camp names.Lee Dean,a college senior, that activities conducted at present camp
where local kids by the dozen spend a fire with just one match, is "Beaver." Tony Ducklow, a Corn- sessions are much like those conducted
summer days. Use of the saw, knife, hatchets and prehensive Employment Training Act many years ago.
For$8.50,a youngster gets five days other camp utensils are also taught (CETA)worker,is"Wolf."Ed Webster,
and one night at the camp,plus a Camp during the week, completing his master's in recreation,is As Neely says,"We have a lot of fun out
Silver Maple T-shirt, In that five day Neely notes, "We try to get the "Woodchuck," and college senior Jean here."
period,a kid will learn about the outdoors,
about stars,about making a fire.A kid r ? �,
will learn the favorite Camp Silver Maple x ?' i } 1 '
songs, and will make a camp flag 1
Something kids have been doing and x + a: r
loving for years and years.
Camp Director Donna Neely(known as f x5 .-
"Rodent"at the camp)explains the camp 1
first started back in 1962,where she was
just a volunteer.She worked at the camp • =
from 1962 to 1971 and now 1975 and 1976. * "� a "� e
t.
Each week, a group of about 30 < • ,. m ,
youngsters attends the camp.A bus picks "`` °'. ! �+
them up at home in the morning and takes
them out to the camp for a day's fun and
then brings them home.
The youngsters camp out over Thur- / ' {
sday night,and,this year,every Thur-
sday night has brought rain. ;' t
At the camp,there's one counselor for �.
every eight children,most of whom fall in - •
the eight to 12 year old category.Many A i
return year after year. - ` ,
Activities each day begin with a flag- as 1 ;r r's._ 411111Y
raising ceremony and each day brings
special activities. Monday is "Get- •
Acquainted Day," where youngsters _ r ;l
familiarize themselves with the camp. +, _- ..", 1 -
Tuesday brings canoeing and a nature --
study.This year a favorite Tuesday game
is"Predator and Prey,"in which children READY TO SING—Campers at Camp Silver Maple sit'round the campfire and get
assume the role of either one or the other
in a play hunt. ready for an afternoon sing.
Counselors then explain the web of life I
and the role of both animal types in the
environment.
Wednesday brings swimming in the
afternoon.
Thursday means a progressive dinner
' to each of the four picnic tables which
circle the main camp. Each group of
youngsters hosts one table and other
campers.
The Thursday night campover ac-
tivities include star study,spook stories
and a bear hunt.
Friday morning is the last camp .I
session,as youngsters go home at noon.In
that morning,youngsters cook breakfast
and then go on a hunt for dinosaur eggs,
known to grown-ups as watermelons,