APOLOGY: This year I am going to write a Homeletter at the end of the first four days of camp. There are numerous matters to be discussed. This issue will not be typical of those to follow as there is a maximum of explanation and a minimum of news items.

BILLS: You will find enclosed the bill for the camp fee. You will note that this is divided into two halves because some boys are here a month only, while others will decide later how long they will stay. The vast majority are here, of course, for eight weeks. The short term rate is $55 per week, making the first four weeks $220. The second four weeks for boys who have been here the first half is $180. Tutoring is at the rate of $100 the subject or 2.50 the hour. This, incidentally, is less that it was twenty—five years ago when the camp was established.

INCIDENTALS: There are no extra charges. Personal expenses of a reasonable nature are charged to the boy’s account. An itemized bill for these expenses will be rendered at the close of camp.

CORRECTION: As a bookkeeper, I am an excellent camp director. Therefore, please have no hesitation in calling to my attention any errors in the bill. Such suggestion will be received as a help and not as a criticism.

REPORTS: You would normally get a report covering the camp week. The councilors hand these in to Head Councilor Chandlee by Sunday morning at the latest. He goes over them carefully and hands them to me. I go over them, making comments where I feel like it. The teachers in the summer school also hand in weekly reports which are likewise inspected and annotated by the Director.

NUMBERS: We have seventy—nine boys in camp at present. I already have a half dozen registrations for places in the second half of camp. There are others pending. We have beds in the tents and seats at table for eighty-five boys. While we would not refuse a boy as long as we had a place, the present number is very satisfactory because it allows some leeway in keeping the proper age groups together. 

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DISTRIBUTION BY TENTS: The normal complement of a tent is a councilor with five boys. It is not always possible to keep to that figure because we dislike to mingle in one tent boys of various ages. Thus, we have been compelled to have two six—boy tents. This involves the use of one double decker. The tents are devised by the Army to hold eight boys. On the other hand, our Mac Williams in Tent 12 is lavishing his extensive talents on three boys. The tent list, as it stands, is a masterpiece of arrangement on the part of the Head Councilor. If you got any complaint from your son about his habitation and companions, please let us knew and we will do what we can by way of adjustment.

ARRIVAL: Forty-two boys came in with Bob, arriving at camp about six o’clock after an unusually fine trip. The Graham brothers, who have been at Hyde Bay in previous years, came in by train on Friday, having been very considerately detained by their parents on account of a rash on Hilles which proved to be harmless. I can’t tell how much we appreciate such parental action. The rest of the campers came in by automobile at various times accompanied by assorted groups of family and friends.

HEALTH CARDS: If you haven’t sent in the health card, please do so at once.

INSURANCE: According to my records, thirty—five campers have taken out the camp insurance. I strongly recommend this. It has proved very efficient and convenient in the past. I hope that you will send in your application if you have not done so. If you are covered, please let me know the company and type of coverage.

TUTORING: Sixteen boys are tutoring. Nine of them have two subjects; the rest are carrying only one subject.

GLOSSARY

HACKER: a 22 foot motor beat of that make.

NEBO: 50 acres owned by camp six miles away on a mountain top.

RUSSELLORUM: The cabin devoted exclusively to wrestling.

GRAVELEY: The beautiful point on the lake two miles away, where tents camp overnight frequently.

RING: Bob’s springer spaniel.

HANS: Mr. Mercer’s elongated canine.

DAY MAN: The councilor on the beach responsible for everything.

NIGHT MAN: Two councilors put the campers to bed, staying with the 8:30 group and continuing all evening until the 10:30 boys are in bed. Councilors perform this duty in rotation.

ST: This is our 12 foot dinghy, with outboard motor, which the boys learn to run and are allowed to operate at stated times.

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OUR 1951 STAFF

THE COUNCIL: Tent 1 — Blaise deSibour, here for about a dozen years as boy and man.
      Tent 2 - Bobby Russell, just graduated from Gilman, contemporary of Blaise, whom he will join in Princeton next year.
      Tent 3 — Duncan Robb, recently graduated from the Westtown School and entered in Syracuse University.
      Tent 4 — George Callard, who has another year at the Gilman Country School. His specialty is sailing.
      Tent 5 — Goodwin (Goody) Cooke, is a Harvard man who assists with the swimming.
      Tent 6 — Steve Bullock, of Williston Seminary, has had many years of camp experience.
      Tent 7 - Tom Offut, just graduated from the Gilman School, is a new councilor this year.
      Tent 8 - is under the direction of Cubby Forman, a councilor for his second year after many years as a camper. He is in the Richfield Springs School.
      Tent 9 - is under the veteran, John Rouse, of Johns Hopkins University. He has been with us many years as camper and councilor.
      Tent 10 — Marshall Severance, a classmate of Duncan’s at Westtown. Another new councilor.
      Tent 11 — Dave Mohr, who has risen from the status of camper and U. L. to a councilor, with a special assignment of assistant in dramatics. Dave will be a senior at Gilman next year.
      Tent 12 — finds Mac Williams, as previously mentioned. Mac is a former camper who follows his brother Hunt as a Hyde Bay councilor. Mac just graduated from the Gilman School.
      Tent 14 - Richard (Puffy) Evans — (The “Richard” should really be in parentheses.) Puffy has been with us for many years as boy and councilor. This veteran councilor, the right hand of Chiefie, has just graduated from Princeton. His extensive portfolio is headed by sailing.
      Tent 15 - Sandy Cassatt would be a senior at Gilman next year if he had net elected a military career. A camper last year, Sandy has charge of our horseback riding.
      Tent 16 — John Hurst, erstwhile of Gilman and mere recently, captain of the Princeton Freshman Wrestling Teem, will have charge of tennis.
      Tent 17 — Phil Pratt, a member of the Harvard Varsity Swimming Team, will direct our waterfront activities. He enjoys the distinctions of being tailor than the Director.
      Tent 18 - Leslie Manning dates back farther in Hyde Bay history than any other member of the council. Many years ago, he was with us as a student, and later, a councilor. After his Air Force experience and four years in the Amazon jungle, Leslie has entered the teaching profession. His duties include music and drama.

MARRIED COUNCILORS: In addition to the seventeen tent councilors, we also have two specialists who are married and reside in cabins in the camp. Ronald (Bud) Feinen, just graduated from the Rochester Institute of Technology, will have charge of handicraft. His wife,

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Rosalie (Ro), is secretary to the Director. Mr. and Mrs. Richard Geist occupy the cabin On the hill, built some years ago for the Kiphuths, Dick will have charge of our numerous trips, in which activity he has had much experience. Ro takes Heb’s place who is in the Army now.

HIGH BRASS: George M. Chandlee, Jr., known in camp circles as “Chiefie,” is again Head Councilor, as he has been for many years in the past. Bob Pickett is Assistant Director. Betty Pickett is camp nurse again. Mrs. Pickett does all the numerous things she has done for the last twenty—five years at Hyde Bay. The Director has only to survey this splendid council in a year of scarcity of councilor material.

FACULTY: The summer school is manned, just as it has been for many years in the past, allowing, of course, for the experience, dignity, and skill which come with each passing year. Mr. Edward T. Russell is the head of the summer school. He and Mrs. Russell live in the cottage which has been their summer home for many past years. Hard by them, in another cottage with a tent annex, live the Mercers: Thomas McC., Sr., of the English Department, Mrs. Mercer, and their three children. Mr. James L. Dresser, who was with camp in its first year twenty—five summers ago, lives with Mrs Dresser and their five children in a house which we call “The Jym,” up near our house about three miles from camp. Mr. James H. Barriskill covers the French and Spanish, and is the only nocturnal inhabitant of the tutoring school.

IN THE KITCHEN: Jimmy and Ernie are back with a friend of theirs, new to Hyde Bay, whose name is William. It’s Jimmy’s thirteenth summer with us.

SUMMARY: I believe you will agree with me that this is a remarkably fine staff in any year. Taking into consideration the difficulties of this era, we are indeed a fortunate camp.

GLOSSARY

SHADOW BROOK: A stream much like a southern bayou which is much frequented by campers.

STRAWBERRY MOUNTAIN: Rises steeply some 800 foot directly back of camp, It’s constantly explored by hikers.

THE RAFT: This is a 10’ X 12’ float, supported by six barrels, which is anchored off the dock.

THE TOWER: This is a platform on long posts reaching into the bottom of the lake. It supports a diving beard, ten foot tower, and a slide.

THE LODGE: This is the building, hard by the dining room, where boys gather at all times. The center of interest is usually the piano.

YOUNGEST: Jurgen Geist and Rusty Pickett, born on the same day almost fourteen months ago.