THIS PUBLICATION: Since 1931, some four years after camp Hyde Bay started, the Director began to write this weekly epistle. Encouaged by many letters and comments of appreciation he has resisted the inclination to discontinue. It aims to tell the story of the week at camp, as a boy might tell it if he could do so with no more effort than dictating.
MAILING LIST: We send the Home Letter to the parents of all campers, to grandparents or other relatives when such a request is made. To former campers or parents of sane if they request it, to former councilors several of whom have already made the request.
INNOVATION: For the first time in the history of the camp we started this year on a Friday. That throws out the time honored schedule of Home Letters. We have always sent them out on Tuesday covering the complete previous week. This year we shall do the same after this edition, which will be merely an introductory sort of a receipt for one or more of your sons arrived at camp with some explanatory, detai1 which may help new parents. This edition will also be accompanied by the camp bills. They will indicate what several of you have paid and the amount now due. It has been our custom to bill you, twice. The first time for the first half at the short term rate of $280. The second sent out after the first four weeks with the second half fee at $170 making the required total of $450 in the event that the boy stays the full time. The option is offered to pay the entire fee at this time.
INCIDENTALS: boys are allowed to charge various items for which they would normally pay cash. The bill for these is sent out after the end of camp.
REPORTS: Hereafter on a Tuesday you may expect the Home Letter and a report from the tent councilor. If the boy is tutoring there will also be a report from his instructor.
NUMBERS: We have 78 campers enrolled at the moment with three more coming a bit late, one of whom is being held up on account of exposure to a contagious disease. This is an excellent number from the point of view of the campers and the councilors. It is the smallest in many years which is not so satisfactory from the standpoint ofthe management.
COUNCIL: To care for these 81 boys we have 22 councilors. This year for the first time perhaps ever, every one of the councilors has been at Hyde Bay before. The six councilors in training are all promoted from last year senior U.L.s. This we regard as an ideal situation. We are very fortunate in our council this year.
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CHRONCLOGICAL STORY: To give new parents an idea of the nature of the letters which will follow, we will here start an account of Friday, Saturday and Sunday which will therefor not be included in your letter of next week.
FRIDAY, JULY 26th: This was our opening day with of course not a typical camp program. First boyy to arrive on this day was Alan Howell although two Davids, McManus and Pickett had reached here some days before. By far the largest group arrived shortly after lunch. Twenty-three came up from Washington, Baltimore and New York under the expert leadership of Bob Pickett. The New York Central has taken off practically all its passenger trains and is selling the once magnificent Albany station. As we awaited one and a half hours for the train bearing the boys we wondered if they had not removed all their trains. Taxis awaited this group at Fort Plain and rapidly covered the seventeen intervening miles to camp. It should be said that there were showers of an atmostpherical nature as well as the above mentioned downpour of campers.
ENSUING SATURDAY:The meteorological conditions were unchanged. It was overcast with alternating showers and sunshine. It was hot and quite humid for this altitude. Swimming conditions were excellent and many “D” tests were passed. An entire new game thought up through the long winter months by Jack Garver was played most of the afternoon. The councilors hid and their tents searched for them. First place went to tents 3 and 7. The first “C” test was covered by Henry Sawyer. In the evening we saw the “Crimson Pirate” brought again to Hyde Bay by popular request.
TESTS: Our first and easiest swimming test is to go out around the raft some twenty—five yards from the end, of the dock. We call this “E”. “D” requires the camper to circumnavigate the tower. This is probably 150 yards. “C” involves swimming to a neighboring camp quite a distance down the lake. “B” is still longer and requires certain strokes. To pass the test a boy is taken across the bay to a wooded point where he enters the water and swims back to camp accompanied asare all the tests by a councilor in a rowboat.
THE SABBATH: The weather was more of the same with the addition of a breeze. While the Catholic boys went off to their service in town, driven by Mrs. Pickett, the Director conducted the usual camp service. There was a thorough—going inspection of all the tents. Our first baseball practice was held under the direction of coach Mouldy and his assistants Stan Houisler and Doug Coupe. Some promising material was noted. Councilors Hendee and Rodgers made the first trip of the year to the famous Sunken Islands. Jeff and Charlie had boys out sailing.
SUPPER: It is our custom to eat the evening meal every Sunday informally out of doors. This gives the kitchen staff a Chance to rest and Bob a chance to display his culinary talents.
SPECIAL TREAT: Normally the boys who live in the neatest tent are taken to town in the motor boat along with the mail. As the tine was too short for such paragons of neatness to emerge, a drawing as held which resulted in campers Pine, Gardiner, Hyde, Green Farber and Tommy Dickinson taking the ride.
