HOMELETTER HEADING: In our first pre-camp Homeletter, you read that our printing office was burned, to the ground which included all our cuts for both printing and pictures. We have now used up our supply of pre-fire Homeletter paper; and, since it is a long process of getting new cuts made, we are using this new heading in the Interim. We may or may not decide to continue with it after we have used it a few times.

MONDAY: Our first thunder storm of the season woke us all up about 6:00 a.m. All tents were closed and secured preparatory to rain, but very little ultimately fell. Strong winds prevailed most of the rest of the day with a few more showers appearing in the evening. The total amount was of very little value in our dry conditions. With this type of day, we sent out two Farmer's Museum trips and two Baseball Hall of Fame trips in the morning. In the afternoon, we held our first Sallfish Regatta with McKee Lundberg finishing with the fastest record. Shortly before supper another Lookout trip headed out with Walt Rogers, Charlie Tracy, and Jock McQuilkin as the leaders. Simultaneously, Bill Howland and his tent boys paddled to our new overnight spot on the lake, which we have called The Willows--(two elderly willows edge the point of the camping spot.) The rest of the camp joined in the nightly game.

JULY 10: Clear, cool, and windy. The morning was spent with Junior Life Saving classes, play practices, and the other various camp activities. Another Susquehanna trip was also included in the morning doings. This one was under the direction of Doug Coupe assisted by Chuck Pierce and Bob Cunningham. After the rest period at about 5:50 p.m., another Sailflsh Regatta was held with a new champion, Carl Geiger. Twenty-six boys made the first trip to Woodland Museum. This is a new museum just opened this year, the theme of which is based on James Fenimore Cooper's historical novels. It is most tastefully done with several exhibits, nature trails, an old fashioned steam railway, and horse trolley. Many wild flowers are planted along the trails and all the trees native to this section are name-labeled. This, we feel, is a very worthwhile stop for visiting parents.

MOVIE DAY: The Susquehanna trip returned shortly before milk and cookies--having had a fine trip with no mishaps. We began to give our "B" tests in swimming. .In the afternoon, we had another game in the "Subway Series" between the N.Y. Mets and the N.Y. Yankees--the Mets coming out on top 11-6. A Farmer's Museum trip went to Cooperstown with twenty-six aboard. The remaining campers enjoyed sailing, a few went on a riding trip, and a few did water skiing. After supper, Red Skelton entertained us in one of his films entitled, "Watch the Birdie."

THURSDAY: A little rain, but barely enough to keep the dust down for a short time.' Another group of twenty-six left with Dick Carlton and Chuck Pierce for the Woodland Museum. Bob Pine and Lawry Pickett packed milk and cookies and hiked down the road on a fossil hunt, taking fifteen campers with them. The group had lots of walking with not too many fossils and returned just before lunch time. In the afternoon, the camp was divided in half and all participated in water basketball. A free candy bar was the prize for each member of the winning team. A bus load of ULs and Junior Councilors journeyed to the bowling alloy for an evening of exercise and fun.

FRIDAY, THE THIRTEENTH: Clear, and lots of wind for sailing. At breakfast, the camp was greeted by former councilor, Jack Garver and his family who are here for a brief visit before continuing on to Nova Scotia. Jack has been Invited to enter several of his fine paintings in two art exhibitions in Cooperstown, where he has shown in previous years, with notable success. After breakfast, an Up-the-Lake trip departed with Hunt Billiard, Halt Rogers, and John Young at the helm. Jack Garver joined the trip at its halfway point. Another Sailfish Regatta was run off with...still another new speedster. Rusty Pickett. At 5:00 p.m. the first Nebo trip boarded the Bus, Land Rover, Truck, and Station Wagon under the leadership of Bob Cunningham, Lawry Pickett, John Mercer, and Archie Coupe. This group was the largest' group ever to mount the mountain, numbering twenty-eight in all. Nebo is a forty-five acre small mountain about seven miles from-camp, which we own. This is a very popular trip with all-it provides a facsimile of wilderness along with a panoramic view of the surrounding countryside. This notorious day ended in complete defiance of the existing superstitions--no untoward incidents or mishaps.

SATURDAY: In the morning, Bob Rockwell took six campers to a horse show in Utica. This is the largest of its kind in central N.Y. state and was muchly enjoyed by the spectators. After a morning of sailing and swimming, the "twelve-and-under" baseball team went to Chenango, a neighboring camp -down the lake, to soundly win by a score of 14-8. The baseball team went by bus; thirty-odd other campers made it on hoof or by canoe to provide an enthusiastic cheering section. The weekly tent plays provided us with an entertaining evening. Josh Shoemaker was judged the best actor; Ricky Coupe did the best job, according to the judges, as an actress; and, Tent # 15 walked off with a carton of Hershey bars for the outstanding play ofthe evening.

SUNDAY: The morning was occupied, as usual, with getting clean clothes from the laundry, sorting out and. listing soiled laundry, trunk inspection, hot showers, and church with a fine talk by Barc Feather on the Fourth of July and its relationship and implications to Hyde Bay. Barc's history background provided some most interesting material. After rest period, the whole camp participated in a greased watermelon battle in the swimming area. A goodly number of parents visited their offspring and camp.. We were glad to have such a delightful day, weatherwise. After our usual outdoor supper, Tents # 4 and 10 were taken to Cooperstown as a reward for their weekly high inspection marks. They also took the Sunday letters to families to the post office. On the return 'of the inspection trip, we viewed the Sunday night movies on Glacier National Park and Squaw Valley, the scene of the 1960 winter Olympics. As an added innovation, we also added the movies of one of last year's Trenton Falls trips. All then retired after a busy day.

A word of thanks to all those who have been so prompt in sending us their check for their son's tuition.

Enclosed is the card to return which designates the time and day of departure from camp of the first month boys. The changeover day is Friday, July 27. It would be of great assistance to us if the August boys coming in could arrange their arrival times to be afternoon.

The plays to be produced this Saturday will cone from Tents # 53B, 9, 10, and 5. You are welcome to attend if it fits into your plans.