To all my Camp Wyomoco family, Camp Wyomoco will soon start its 50th season providing great summer camp experiences for children. Camp has changed a lot over its 50 year history but in some ways it is much the same as it was when it opened in 1964. Camp committees, 4-H Educators, Camp Managers, Camp Directors and camp staff have always been dedicated to providing kids a safe, fun learning environment, the three parts of the Wyomoco Braid. I have recently been reviewing the old camp committee meeting minutes and thinking about the long journey to where we are today. In 1963 the first 2 cabins were built at a cost of $588 for materials and donated labor. The pond was dug and 49 truckloads of sand were dumped on the new beach at a cost of $10 per load. In 1964 the first campers came to Wyomoco but only 4-H members were accepted. Campers paid $20 for a week at camp and boys and girls came to different weeks. There were no flush toilets back then. By 1966 camp was growing with 5 cabins, over 300 campers and 8 weeks of summer camping. 21 counselors and 12 support staff handled the program, kitchen and maintenance. In 1966 they struggled with finding enough staff members and ended the season with a deficit. In 1967 camp was opened up to non-4-H members for an additional $1.00 fee, there were 12 ½ cabins and they were still looking for qualified staff. There were 230 girls and 76 boys that were registered by June 1. In 1970 the camp fee was $30.00 for a week! Photography class was introduced. Camp used a tool shed for arts and crafts. In the early 70’s staff began sleeping in cabins with campers and bird watching was added as a class. The first planning for the bathhouses was in 1971 with completion in time for the start of camp in 1972. In 1973 Horse camp had 115 campers and had to turn away others. The basketball court was built. The health department instituted new regulations that limited the number of campers in the small cabins to 8 instead of 10 or 12 giving each camper more space. The menu for 1973 consisted of 2 meats per week! New cabins were needed but the cost was so ‘high’ that the camp committee debated going to tents. In 1974 Horse Camp had so many participants that it was split into two 4 day groups. The Youth Conservation Corps came to camp in the mid 70’s. Camp had a garbage incinerator for waste disposal. In 1977 cabins had emergency exits installed. Some girls lived in a trailer/RV in girl’s village while waiting for new cabins to be built. In 1979 camp started an off-site canoe trip program. By 1981 the camp fee was $70 per week. In the Mid-80’s horse camp enrollment was dropping but main camp was steady. Buildings were beginning to show wear and tear and were replaced or repaired. Campers and staff came and went. More cabins were added. Camp celebrated its 25th anniversary in 1989 with a chicken dinner. The food budget was supplemented by government surplus peanut butter and cheese. In 1990 a tree took out cabin 3 and it had to be re-built. In the early 90’s under a new director, staff had to follow stricter guideline leading to some staff turn-over. Another boy’s cabin was built and the horse barn was built. 8 grass carp were added to the pond in 1991 (1 really huge one removed in 2013). A theater was added to the dining hall in the early 90’s and a nature trail was developed. Camp was full many summers. The Bailey lodge was built and dedicated in 2000 replacing the staff trailers. Enrollment was still strong but did decline slightly in the early 2000’s. New programs were added to attract more boys to camp. Camp saw many improvements in this decade including a new canoe shed and a tack barn in the horse stall area and new horse rings. In 2003 we hosted staff from several different countries including France, Germany the UK and Denmark. In the last several years enrollment has begun to rebound again. New themes and program have been started and old ones retired. Campers keep coming back and learning new skills and ideas in a safe fun environment. 2013 saw another group of international staff that added so much to the camp family. A note in the camp committee meeting minutes from 1993 states: “changing traditions, policies, implementation styles, etc. all require much attention and do not always come easy.” No matter what the challenges and changes, the people who are connected with camp, whether they are on the camp committee or the 4-H Agents or the seasonal staff, have kept in mind that camp is for the camper and all we do, we do with that guiding principle in mind. We invite you to come back to Camp Wyomoco and visit us for the 50th Anniversary Open House on Saturday August 2 from 1 to 3 PM. I hope to see you all there!
Posted on: Wed, 02 Jul 2014 23:07:14 +0000
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