Tuesday June 18 : New York

Written by:

Rob van Oosten Hondsdrafstraat 1 1441 PB Purmerend The Netherlands

1 Introduction.

When I was in training to become a teacher ( In the Netherlands that’s the Teachers Training College ) there was an advertisement for Counselors in the United States. Together with my friend Raymond we applied and after a sollicitation talk and the approval of our college we were allowed to go . Working in a summer camp for about 9 weeks and a round trip for 4 weeks. At that time I was 19 years old and did not spend such a long time away from home. I went to several European countries with my parents and was on a holiday in France with another friend ( for a month) the year before. My parents and girl friend ( Gerda to whom I ‘m married ) did not really like the idea but did not stop me.

The experience of working in Camp Hurley is one I will never forget. It was a long and hard summer and I lost beside the sweat also a lot of weight. It was a period in which I foumd out that working together is not as easy as it seems to be, working with children can be difficult and it means that you have to invest in yourself and others. So to work in Camp Hurley with these difficult kids has been fundamental in my life. Every year, maybe every month I think about that period and I tried to go back there 6 years ago. I then found out that the camp did not exist anymore. By using a Bullitin Board (http://www.brooklynonline.com/ ) I made contact with Bill Mason and after the opening of the Hurley (http://www.geocities.com/camphurley/home.html home page I found back some counselors of the same period.

I started to make a translation of my diaries ( I made two: one for Gerda and one for my parents ) and made a new combination in this translation. I added some suggestions from Steve Weisman ( a former counselor) and finished it in July 2001.

Today I am a Vice Principal of a school for Special Education ( Children with Severe Behaviour and Learning problems such as A.D.H.D. and Dyslexia).

In the near future I will add some more pages to this diary. If you are interested just give me an e-mail ([email protected]) . If you have suggstions or comments please let me know.

I hope you like reading this diary and that it brings back the good memories of Camp Hurley which was in my eyes an exceptional and educational camp both for children as for staff.

Take care

Rob van Oosten.

Some of the photo’ s come from the Hurley home page. Others were made in the summer of 1974.

This is a translation of my diary which I kept during the summer of 1974. It started on Sunday , June 16 and goes on to September, 27 of that year. This part is telling the story of working in Camp Hurley for the period 21 June - 29 august.

Departure from Amersfoort on Sunday June 16 from left to right : my mother, Jose and Raymond, Rob and Gerda.

Tuesday June 18 : New York

There are a lot of Camp directors in the Tower Hotel, our two day conference is coming to an end and everybody is having interviews (soliciting for a job). My first interview was with Morris, and he was asking a lot of things about my background and experience. But he’s also telling a story of a young and progressive Camp which is different from the other camps because of it’s goals and population. It is based on a socialist philosophy. Tomorrow I’m going to have a second interview with him in a learning center. ( United Community Centers).

Wednesday June 19

The U.C.C. owns and operates this camp and they do have their own children learning center ( for children in the age 3 –5 ) in the East New York section of Brooklyn. (Now called the Morris L. Eisenstein Childrens Learning Center)

3 After a tour and more information we had a second interview, there were some more counselors, also from Holland and other European countries.

The directions for working are: it’s multi- cultural and non-sectarian there are many deprived children there is a majority of non – white children you have to learn the children to work together teach the children respect for nature so it’s gone be a challenging period!!

Thursday June 20

They want me to work at Hurley, That’s great. This evening I have to go to the address of an American counselor, because we’re going to the camp on Friday.

Friday June 21

Marla Kleine, Alan Singer and Morris Eisenstein

We left the apartment this morning at around nine o’ clock and went to the learning center. There we were loading a yellow school bus and a little van with things for the camp. After a trip ( 4 hours) , because of the traffic in New York we arrived at the camp site. We unloaded all the things and will stay with the counselors in one cabin. And the end of the afternoon we were introduced in the philosophy of the camp. There is a complete book which we are going to read and discuss. In the evening we did some folk- dancing, which really tires you. In the next week we are going to prepare the camp, that means clean the bunks and the woods around and discuss the way of working.

4 This is really serious!! This evening I had a good talk with Bill ……one of the Negro counselors, who told a lot of the discrimination which still exist here. I can’t imagine this is happening at home.

Saturday June 22

Woke up at 7.30 and breakfast at eight. This morning we’re going to discuss the philosophy. But first we did some reading. In the afternoon we walked the camp, the cabins, the lake, the recreation hall and the arts and crafts center.

The lake (Waterfront, before summer started)

After dinner we did some folk-dancing and later on Hank Lowinger was playing his guitar and so I started to learn some songs which we’ re going to sing which the children.

5 These are the songs we did:

Pick a Bale of Cotton Blowing in the wind Down by the riverside Donna, Donna ( On a wagon bound for market..) Go down Moses . Hava Naguila He's got the whole world Keep Your Eyes On The Prize (Labor song) Michael Row Your Boat A Shore Rise and Shine (and give God your glory glory) Sloop John B Sixteen Tons Swing Low , sweet chariot The house of the rising sun Tom Dooley The Times they are changing This land is Your land , this land is my land This Little Light Of Mine The Ink Is Black Un Zee Ma (African freedom song) Where Have All The Flowers Gone We Are Soldiers In The Army (Religious based song)

So we had an evening by the campfire.

Sunday June 23

Rise and shine. At 7.00 o’ clock one of the clock radio’s turned on, so we had to get started. There were pancakes for breakfast( they are different , small but thicker ,and with maple syrup). I really like them. Afterwards I had to work in the kitchen, and clean up.

Than we had our first meeting on the goals of camp and the relation to the philosophy, Morris was leading these discussions and he was very engaged / involved. ( sometimes I got a little scared about the vividness of the discussions). You have to be very aware of the things you’re saying and the meaning of it, because everybody is asking ‘ why’ questions. Some of the discussions were very emotional. The idea is that realization of your situation can make you help to change it, and you play an active role in it. ------You can’t work here on an automatic pilot.----- The class struggle is a hot issue and returning in a lot of discussions, the children who are coming to Hurley don’t have much chance because of their backgrounds and the racial discrimination. Some of the children can’t pay the costs for the camp and they are sponsored by the Union and welfare programs. Money for organizing extra things is not available, and your program must be based on agreement within your group and close to earth.

6 A basic principle is that to survive you need: clothing , food and shelter. After lunch we played volleyball and did some more folk-dancing which is also an important part of the day program, the goals they strive after with the dancing is learning that you can have fun together despite the racial - difference and that it is good to work – dance together ( a kind of integration, and it fostered the concept of respect and appreciation of other peoples cultures) After dinner and doing K.P. – (Kitchen Patrol) we left for Howard Johnson, to catch up with some more new counselors.(from Germany and Denmark and the Netherlands) It was late when we returned to Hurley, so we went to bed straight ahead.

Monday June 24

Is that clock- radio programmed to get us earlier out of bed?? It started early today ; 6.30 a.m. Breakfast this time at 7.00. The new counselors are introduced in the philosophy, and the program director Joe Kling is taking serious part in the talking and his eyes light up. (passionate, but some times single minded). Barbara Leopold and her sister are more quiet and Barbara is tempering the discussions. When I sit there, I realize, you can hear the different viewpoints from the history of the participants. Sometimes it looks that there is no middle of the road. The ideology is based on a socialist vision of the society and I never realized that there was a third way in America. (because of the period of the cold war and the communist prosecution in the fifties by Senator Joseph McCarthy). Some counselors are doubting about staying here, they came overseas with other ideas and are not prepared for this kind of summer camp. I find it a challenge, but some times fatiguing. This evening we did a Russian Ball – Room dance and of course we had a campfire and singing. Hank is doing a simple but good job on that guitar. Late again……

Tuesday June 25

There is a strategy of brain- washing us, ( and it really raining cats and dogs) …. that alarm goes off at 6.00 o’clock !! help.. We took a shower together and went fresh and clean to the breakfast. Today is partly recreational. The school bus is functioning a tour bus but it’s not that comfortable. The surroundings are beautiful, the Ashokan reservoir, Kingston with an old Reformed Dutch church ( built in1646 and rebuilt in 1896 ) some small rivers with hills and a lot of woods. There is a possibility of taking a hike with your group but you have to get enough extra staff and control over the group. I wonder if I can manage that. After returning to Hurley we were sitting in some small groups and discussing the items, be aware of the problems of the children’s community and society. motivate your thoughts, and say what you mean. accept other people/ children and their differences. And see it as an enrichment of the society be constructive be responsible be willing to change yourself. don’t always accept the meaning of the majority, be critical work together ,in harmony with nature learn to work together.

7 These points were discussed with Theo and Hans and some other counselors. It was not an evening outside because of the rain so we stayed in the recreation hall and lit a fire there. So it was past midnight when we found our way back to the bunks.

Next morning housekeeping activities: searching our Laundry from left to right Theo, Hans

Wednesday June 26.

Okey, not to early this morning, house keeping things and activities, and we have to do some things on the camp site. Old wood has to be pulled away and the canoes had to be cleaned and the house near the waterfront needed to be cleared away. So we were outside for a good part off the day and I had a healthy appetite at lunch. It’s merely physical work, and I’m not used to that, but it’s also fun working together. Alan and Hank were instructing on how to use a chain saw, but most of the jobs needs to be done by a two man saw and the end of the morning there were blisters on my hand. After lunch there was a discussion about camp structure and how to deal with the kids in accordance with the ideas of camp. It was a very emotional afternoon, Joe could not keep control of himself and started to shout to some counselors about not being involved and not showing enough involvement and disinterest for the philosophy. At the end Morris was called to bring back the discussions to a more appropriated level. Joe lost a lot of sight with his way of breaking through.!

After dinner there had to be done something about he atmosphere, so we had a folkdance but the tension was felt there too. We went to bed late and many counselors were dissatisfied. I did not sleep well this night, it touched me deeply that people who want to organize a camp for underprivileged children could hurt each other in this way. I don’t know if that is necessary to reach your goals.

8 Thursday June 27 and Friday June 28 ( my 20 th. birthday)

It was rise and shine at an early hour, and after breakfast there was another debate. Two counselors decided that they did n’t want to stay in the camp and they had to leave fast. (There are 15 foreign counselors). At eleven o’ clock Morris made an end to the discussion and called for a hike.

After we ( 28 counselors / staff )packed our Backpacks we left with the bus. We decided to take a short but steeple hike for about three miles. During the walk it started to rain and the bunk (lean-to) where we arrived after the hike was to small for everybody so we had to improvise with canvas and put up another lean-to. It was hard to cook because the wood was very wet. It took some time for dinner and afterwards everybody sat together in the wooden lean-to. We did a lot of singing to get warm that evening. The night was cold and at six we had to rise. After we packed we went back to the bus. It was slippery and wet and it was not without danger. Back in camp everybody was drying up by the fire side. In the afternoon we had some time off in Kingston to do some shopping. I bought a new flashlight and some extra clothing. I also bought a dark grey Hurley shirt. After dinner there was a big surprise for me, the kitchen staff had made a birthday cake with candles for me and my name and happy birthday was written on it with whipped cream in Dutch and English. That evening we really had time for ourselves so I had to write my diaries and some letters for home.

Saturday June 29.

In he morning there was an explanation on how to organize you day program and find some daily point for your week and three week period. In the afternoon there were a lot of volunteers from the community center assisting by preparing the camp. Also some staff members were there. The atmosphere was different, I felt like a foreigner instead of being a part of staff. At the evening there was some dancing and talking but it was not very intimate. Many counselors went to bed early because tomorrow we are going on with preparation.

Sunday June 30.

It’s really raining today and we have to do some painting in the recreation hall.

I hope it will be dry before the children arrive. It is not certain how many children there are coming and also is uncertain if we have enough staff for all the activities. They don’t want to hire more staff from the World Travel Exchange because of the costs. Perhaps some staff members from the Community Center will assist. There are some rumours that there is not enough money to organize the whole period and pay everybody. I don’t know but it is making people uncertain. In the afternoon the volunteers left and there is still some work to be done. Those two days were really hard working days and I learned a lot about handling tools. In the afternoon I had to work together with Alan and he explained a lot of things to me. In the evening there was a last chance to discuss some things and questioning. Tomorrow we will receive the children, I will have the youngest boys group ( children in the age around 9 or 10 years, and most of them will be for the first time away from home for such a long time and for the first time in a summer camp). I am glad that it’s dry again so perhaps we can go swimming. We’ll see.

Monday July 1

Check your watch, and put it back for an hour, it’s starting.

There is really excitement in camp. The bus arrived much to early, but they are here. After a welcoming word from Morris and Joe the groups were formed and had to bring their luggage to the bunks. Wow, do they have a lot of luggage!!, big trunks.

I have got seven boys, with the next beautiful names:

Donald Rose from Manhattan Cesar Maldonado jr III Bronx Wesley Elliz III Queens Stephan Randolph Bronx James A. Powell Queens Jason Stridiron Bronx Steven Lockett Queens

In the afternoon everybody had to do a swimming test, which they all passed, and we walked the camp. Eating together and passing the food to one another is very difficult, also asking something polite without using a curse is hard for these boys. There is ‘some’ work to do. The goal is to achieve working and playing together . We are going to do our best.

This first evening at our cabin was hard, most of the boys never slept outside and they are making a lot of noise and do a lot of talking. It’s also the excitement and of course it’s a bit thrilling to. So after a few warnings they slowed down and finally turned to sleep. I have to wake up a few boys before I go to sleep because some will wet their bed. Around twelve I went to sleep.

Tuesday July 2

Jason was having an asthmatic attack, I did bring him to the infirmary. Morris said that he was showing off. So he came back to the group.

10 After breakfast and cleaning up we had to make our day program and bring it to Joe.

The Infirmary.

The idea for the day was; Fishing Folk dancing Swimming Collecting wood for the fire And playing on the basketball court The activities took much longer as we were thinking and some times the boys are giving each other names and as a result they start fighting. I really have to discuss with them but also tell them the rules. In the evening we had an extra staff meeting about Independence Day and activities.

Wednesday July 3

During the night we had a lot of rain. So everything was very wet and rain still dripping from the trees. ( My mother says that in the woods it always rains two times and she’s right). We are in the Performance group for tomorrow so we are practicing a dance.

Joe Kling at the water front

I’ m glad that I have some assistance from the older girls group because to concentrate and dance together is very hard. The day program was swimming in the afternoon and arts and crafts. The boys are not really tired in the evening and I’m telling bed time story’s in English (YES!!)

Thursday July 4 : Independence Day.

We did a lot of practicing today and also the other groups were working hard, but it was very busy and much noise. The older boys group made a special issue of : The Hurley Link, a small newspaper on yellow paper with some information and drawings.

The children did not respect each others performances very much. After a few warnings from Joe and other staff members Morris decided that we could not go on in this atmosphere. He warned everybody that he would stop the show….

And after another 10 minutes he did.

There was a lot of arguing and discussions, but it wouldn’t help. Everybody returned disappointed to their cabins and had to go early to bed. The boys were having a hard time with the discission and could not be convinced that their behavior and also from other groups was the reason of stopping the show.

Their values are so different from mine. They don’t have much respect for each other and if they have the chance than they would fight with each other, that looks the only way to regulate their aggression. They are also fighting to know who is the boss and Cesar and Wesley are in pole position.

Friday July 5.

Because of what happened yesterday the activities for today were simple, first bring back the structure and walk the camp with your group. If they did behave you could do some parts but the mood in the camp was depressed. Joe was coming to the groups and pointed out that their behavior was a serious problem, the children hardly listened to him. In the afternoon we did some playing on the ball field and it brought back some happiness. But at dinner time we had another lecture from Morris regarding Respect and the meaning of Independence Day. The older children could agree with Morris and some groups apologized. I hope that this will help the children to look at them selves and take more responsibility and listen to each other, but sometimes they still react very physical. We are trying to get permission to go on a hike tomorrow with some other groups.

In Hurley there is hardly any news from the outside world but today was told that ; The Watergate affair could seriously force Nixon to resign Our American counselors are very busy with that and some of them are very outspoken about this subject. They want him to leave the White House and call for another election.

Saturday July 6.

The program director decided that there would be no hike. This is giving a lot of stress and also is the waterfront director ill so we can’t go to the waterfront today. We did some gardening today and we did hide and seek around our cabin. Later on we did some games together with the group of Hans. They don’t play and know soccer here, so we tried to teach them some rules. And Hans was the Goal - Keeper. The educational aspect was brought in by telling that playing by rules is the same as living by rules. But the children do have a very short span of attention and sometimes they really don’t want to listen. At night two of the boys wet their beds. After a cleaning up, which they must do it was again late.

When the children slept the night watch took over so I had some time to go to the dining hall.

I’m very tired of this first week, and also uncertain. I had a long talk with Barbara which really helped me.!! , she is much more experienced and giving me some ideas but also very realistic about the ability to change children during this period. I’m having respect for her way of handling the group and also for her way of reacting to Morris and Joe. She has organized her thoughts and expressing her feelings very sharp.

Tomorrow we are going to try again with new energy.

Sunday July 7

A Sunday morning out in the woods. We did search some wood and did some gardening. In the afternoon we had a snow-cone. The children really loved this and were very enthusiastic. We had to build a campfire for the evening and break some wood. The older group from Alan helped us with the saw and together we build a nice fire. After dinner we played at the field and later we had a nice evening at the fire, with a lot of singing. The children who have been here earlier know a lot of songs and they ask Hank to play it. Some of the songs are sung beautiful, so you got a chill on your arms and feel real warm inside. There was a good spirit his evening. Everybody felt proud and happy.

Monday July 8

Today we made a good start, the boys were very enthusiastic about going fishing. So that was a good idea from Jason. There was enough equipment and so after breakfast and cleaning up the bunk we went to the waterfront. It was nice and warm weather. The boys were fishing and they were really quiet and concentrated for about an hour. Then Cesar spotted some salamanders and together we were searching for more, which we really did find and we also found a turtle. It was fun to talk about having respect for living creatures and the boys really did show respect. This morning went fast and the boys were happy. After lunch we went to the shower. As we were taking a shower, there was an all camp meeting called by Joe and Morris. There were some older groups ( teens) which had misbehaved during the night( going from tent to tent). As a result Morris forced us to walk two by two and pointed out that the rules should be obeyed. He also warned the older groups. He wanted them to be an example for the younger ones and said that the night watch would be more sharp on this kind of incidents.

After dinner there was still a storm of protest in Camp. The older groups would not accept the rules and found them unfair. There was another meeting with the teens and the arguments seemed reasonable. The rules are brought back to normal procedures.

This evening was on the night watch, because I have a day off tomorrow, I slept in another place (Frog House)

Tuesday July 9

I had my own breakfast without the children and Morris brought me to Kingston. I have to be back in the park at seven. I bought some things, did some shopping and enjoyed the weather. In the early evening I had dinner at a Steak House. A day like this refreshes your energy and helps you to take more distance from the children and their problems.

If you listen to the stories they tell about their background, the neighborhood they live in and the criminality they experience in daily life you understand more about their behavior, but by understanding alone you don’t help them. That’s one of the theme’s at Camp, don’t let things happen to you, you can play an active role in changing your environment. If you look at what happened yesterday from this perspective, the teens did a good job and need to be supported.

Back at Camp Hurley the mailman did bring some post for me. That’s great !!

Wednesday July 10

This morning the boys woke up early and they had a lot to tell about yesterday. The rules for walking two by two were again introduced because of another incident during yesterday. I don’t agree with it but it’s camp rule. I will hear from the other counselors what happened.

We did sit together in front of the cabin when everybody was ready and had a quiet conversation because the bunk next to us (from the group off Beatrice) was still sleeping. They enjoyed the silence and the birds making noises, off course some squirrels were running around and later on we saw a raccoon near the ball field. The boys really wanted to go on a hike and I promised that I would ask again. This morning for the first time in five days the waterfront was open again and everybody wanted to go swimming, so we had an all camp swim which made it very busy down there. We did not get the permission to prepare for a hike but we could make a walk to the bridge. We did walk through the woods and some other staff members came along. Everybody hoped that we could see a deer, so we walked very quiet and hid at a passing point, but nothing happened. Back at the Camp we did have a special meal (I don’t know the name but it was from Israel.) The children did not like it very much but they had to taste it.

In the evening we had another camp fire , it was a wind-still evening and a lot of stars were in the sky, this evening you also could see Venus which I’ve never seen before in Europe and most of the children were really impressed.. The children were really enjoying the night and we stayed out a little longer.

Thursday July 11.

We had to clean up our cabin and the shower and washroom. We are working within the Theme Freedom for banquet day, that is the end of the first session and we are in the arts and craft department sawing some wooden animals. It’s hard for the children to work with a small - fret saw and I’m happy with the assistance from the counselor and with the help of some older boys. We want to make some horses, a bear, some cows and birds. The boys could make their own choice but it’s hard for them to finish it. When they are busy they want to change the subject, but that’s not possible. They have to learn that they finish on what they started. The motivation is sometimes below zero, but we are helping a lot. Later on we are going to sand paper it and paint it, if possible I want to wax it. For Jason with his asthma this is not a good project so he is working outside and we do support him more. At the evening we had another night with a lot of singing. The boys went to bed early, the older groups were allowed to stay a little longer. The children found it hard to accept this and with some mourning they went to bed. When I told a story as they were laying in bed everything was all-right. I did have some time to work on my diaries and letters, but we also have to fill in some forms about the children’s behavior. ( So….. late again working under the moon- and flashlight.)

Friday July 12

The day started unusual: The Teens organized a strike against Staff, before the Dining Hall they were stopping everybody and nobody could go in for breakfast. They found that staff was not taking them serious and did not listen to their arguments. I found it more a strike against Joe and Morris because they have sharpened the rules for walking two by two. So there was an argument between the counselors and the teens about involvement and the rules in Camp. After some time we were allowed to have breakfast because the younger children did not want to listen to the teens any more and they started running and yelling. There was an agreement that in the morning a group from the teens and from staff would talk things over. So from staff Alan and Hans went to this meeting along with Joe. There were some older girls and boys from the teens and they started negotiations. I took the rest of the morning and the groups were split up, so I had a group of 13 boys.

After lunch there was a meeting in which the arrangement was laid out.

No more walking two by two. Respect for difference of opinions. No more bullying More responsibility for older groups in their program.

But now this had to by confirmed by Morris.

In the afternoon there was a better spirit and the guilds organized an all camp swim and at the end there were snow cones. After dinner Morris brought up his view on the propositions. He agreed with them but said that the two by two rule was still active and he pointed out that we could earn that point by showing that we don’t need such rules. During the evening Camp - fire the discussions were still going on ……..

15 Saturday July 13

We are preparing an article for :” The Hurley Link” . An interview with some counselors about there backgrounds and were they are coming from. It is hard for the boys to write down the questions so I help them with it. We want to ask some foreign counselors some questions. So we split up our group in three and every group is going to question a counselor and write a little story about it. The questions are about where they come from, how old they are, about their family and about camp. It’s hard for them to make a story and the writing is very difficult and slow. In the afternoon we did take a shower.

In the evening we had a movie about Anne Frank, it’s strange to see this movie in English. The theme is : where oppression and fascism and racism can lead to. After the movie there was a long discussion and questioning. The foreign counselors were asked about their point of view. I told that my father was in concentration camp during the second world war and was picked up during a raid. ( razzia). The older groups were very interested, and I found it a pity that I had to take my group to the cabin. There after I laid them in bed, they asked me to tell more about my father’s history and they were very interested.

Tomorrow we are going to help the kitchen staff with a Dutch vegetable soup. I brought a recipe in a Dutch cooking book with me and we are going to prepare it for the whole camp.

Sunday July 14.

After cleaning up and the laundry we were helping in the kitchen with the vegetables. It was fun because some of them have never helped in the kitchen with preparing a meal and they really don’t know how to handle it. After lunch with our soup( which was really nice ) Morris called that the two by two rule was over. The idea was applauded.

There is a ‘Union’ formed in camp and they are trying to write down the rules and do the negotiations. Some older children are leading the talks like they have always done this. ( I’m really amazed about their power of persuasion and how grown up they can argue).

We had an all camp swim and the children had a lot of fun this afternoon.

During the swimming I had some time to talk with Joe. He wanted me to do some more working with the children and some less playing. When I told him about our program and the amount of time that it costs to clean up and do the laundry he was really amazed. ( Most nights two boys or more wet their beds!!) And we have to clean the lavatory every day because of their misuse of it. He s really pressing me but I find it hard to do more as I’m doing now. At night I was on duty ( O.D. checking the cabins) with Theo. In one of the cabins there was nobody and just as we found the boys Joe turned up and took the boys to the ball field. They had to run it in the pouring rain, I don’t agree with this kind of punishment , it looks like a concentration camp at that moment, but Joe was becoming verbally abusive to Theo and me and after we said some things we slinked off. So I had two serious disagreements with Joe today, he really does not like that. I hope this will not have an effect for our working together in the rest of the period.

16 Monday July 15

This is the first day of the last week of this first session. We finished our article for the Hurley Link. The children are proud on it and I hope that it will be placed in it because it means something for them. We also are practicing our Dutch dance which has a relation with some other European Countries and we are making maps from the countries were the counselors come from. They will be used as a background for the dance. We are practicing the dance called. : The river the Rhone.

This is the Dutch text and English translation

De rivier de Rhone is een wilde vloed. Wil je mee erover Kijk dan hoe dat moet!

Met z’n tweeën in galoppas Naar de overkant Maar niet in de diepte kijken Hup we zijn aan land. In English The river Rhone is a wild flood Do you want to pass it Look sharp, how you could

With two in a gallop To the other side Don’t look down And you will pass (it) all right.

It’s difficult for the children to sing it in Dutch although we do sing it a lot of times, so I made this translation. We sing and dance at the same time and Lucy is giving me some help with the practicing. The steps and movements are not that difficult but to do two things at the same time is difficult for most of the boys. Some of them don’t want to give hands to each other or dance together so it is not going very easy. Joe passed by when we were practicing and when he watched the boys dancing he came closer and became very angry at a few boys because of their behavior.

It helped for five minutes…

Before dinner we took a shower and after dinner it was raining again, so everybody went to their cabin were the boys played and they went to bed early. Tomorrow I have a day off and I wrote down what there still has to be done for the Fair at the end of this session. You never know ahead who is taking over the group and I found that is hard because it’s easier to talk things over.

Tuesday July 16. An early departure from Camp because Morris wants to be early in Kingston. No time for breakfast so I bought some fruits and sandwiches and went to the park. I finally have some time to write in my diaries and send some letters and post- cards.

17 In the afternoon I went to the YWCA office and met a few other counselors from New York. Their experiences are so different, you can’t compare it, but we had a pleasant afternoon. In the evening we went together to the American Beef House with free salad and Beer. This was really fun and uncomplicated. It’s good to have a day off, it gives you back your energy. I guess I have lost weight during this first session. Seven was the pick up time so I had to hurry back, when I arrived nobody was there and a half hour later Morris came driving down like a mad man. I thought that he had forgotten me so it was a fast drive back without communication to Hurley.

In camp there was some post for me. So our letters just crossed , a pity.

In the evening I had to work on my administration,( which I don’t like to do). Everybody who is not on O..D. is working on these reports. It takes a lot of time and I don’t know what they are going to do with it.

Wednesday July 17

In the morning we did our laundry and cleaned up our cabin. In the afternoon we worked in the Arts and Crafts Center finishing our products for Banquet day on Sunday. We were also working on our country maps, they are colorful. In the evening the guilds were successful. We had a nice evening out and a good night.

The Garbage Shed

Thursday July 18 Just a few days and the end of the first session is there. We are packing our things and working on the dancing and handcraft articles. You really have to motivate the boys to finish it. A few of them are working very independent but the most do need your assistance and you just can help on at a time. Because of the nice weather we decided to sleep outside. Around five in the night it started to rain so we had to pack up and hurry to the cabin. When it starts raining it really rains here.

Friday July 19

It is still raining so cleaning up and dancing in the recreation hall. But many groups wanted to practice so we just had a little time to do our practicing. You feel the tension growing for

18 tomorrow. In the evening we had a very good atmosphere at the camp fire. The teens were singing and did some dancing and everybody was very enthusiastic. There was warmth and companionship and everybody felt proud of the achievements.

Saturday July 20

The finishing morning, everybody is working hard for the presentations and there is a little market where the products are shown and sold. The recreation hall is decorated and the Dining hall too. People from the Community Center are coming over for one or two nights and helping with the organization and preparing the booths. If you have a group of children of this age you can’t be busy with two different things. The children do need all your attention. In the afternoon we had ; ‘ The grand march’ and demonstrations from each group. The level in folk dancing is very high and my boys were really motivated when it was their turn. After dinner there was an enormous bonfire and we were out there till 1.00 o’ clock.

Sunday July 21

It was an early ‘ Rise and Shine’ this morning at 6.00 But after breakfast everybody was ready. The luggage was brought to the front and most of the boys are brought back by bus and there are some parents to pick them up. You don’t have much time to talk with the parents because the new group is coming in at the same time.

For this second period I’m having the Youngest boys group ( 6 boys from 6 year and older). We walked the camp and after dinner we had an all camp folkdance and swim and because of the nice and hot weather we decided to sleep outside. With this youngest group I can ask some of the teens to help me out because they can’t do everything by them selves. So they helped me to bring down the sleeping bags and extra clothing. It was an early rise next morning because of the cold, I managed to shake up the fire so when more children and staff woke up we had a warm fire.

Monday July 22

After cleaning up our site at the fire we went to our cabin and made our program for the day. They wanted to go frog hunting and swimming. Of course we had the guilds in the evening and after dinner we did some dancing. The tempo of this group is much slower. When you walk back from the waterfront to the recreation hall you have to take your time because it’s very hard for them to walk the hill.. In the evening I was in the Baking Guild and we made some muffins and cookies, but it’s not enough for the whole camp. There was a short evening program and all the children went to bed early. Tomorrow another day off, together with Theo.

Tuesday July 24

It’s a pity that I have my day off today, just starting with a new group and then you go away for a day. But in Kingston I finished my reports from the first session. And I did some writing to my parents and girl friend. Theo had the afternoon off so we met around three and went for a drink and later on to the beef house. We had a long talk about functioning in the camp. Both of us found it hard to reach the children and to get done what we wanted to do for a day.

19 Perhaps we want to do too much and is it more the process for the children by working and playing together ( which is not easy either).

Slow down and relax ....but we found that some of the kids are very temperamental.

We will try to do some things together with our groups. Theo is having an older group and perhaps they can help each other.

Wednesday July 25

We try to do a lot of nice things but on a very slow tempo, the rain was terrible. For the evening fire we have to collect wood so we became soaking wet although we had some rain clothing (poncho’s). For the kids they were to big so they looked like gnomes but we did have a lot of fun. After this we could take a hot shower and sit inside. There was a cosy fire and the teens and oldest boys and girls came back from there ‘Four Mountain Hike’ ( 16 miles). The teens were beaten by the oldest boys ! and they did not like that. In he evening it was dry again and so we went to the camp fire after the guilds. Everybody was tired so we went to bed early.

Thursday July 26 STRIKE, STRIKE KITCHEN STAFF IS ON STRIKE.

That’s the surprise for this morning, the kitchen staff said that the children had no respect for their work. No breakfast this morning. That’s very hard for the group and some of the children started to cry. An all camp meeting was organised and a delagation was sent to the kitchen staff to negociate. After an hour they came back and an agreement was made. More help by the cleaning up and by the preparation was apart of the deal and more respect for the food has to be shown by the manner of eating. The counselors have to coach the children in a more positive way. We will try to, but some times it is so loud in the hall that you have to shout to reach the children. I hope it will work. Lunch was prepared and afer lunch the kitchen staff came out to an applause. In the afternoon we did a walk with the children along the river to the lake, we did see some frogs and the children thought that they saw a deer. So it was a good walk. We skipped some pebbles over the water, counted the jumps and did have a lot af fun. In the evening we had to do the laundry. We did get some assistance so we went to bed aroud 9.30.

The Waterfront in 1979

20 Friday July 27

We woke up at seven and were in time for breakfast. I was not feeling well this morning and had a sore throat and it felt like I had fever. So I went to the nurse ( Stella) and I had a fever and had to stay in the infirmary for today. I think I slept the most part of the day, some times you wake up and hear the children play but that was far away.

Saturday July 28 I woke up because Joe was running in and said that there was an all camp meeting. My temperature was still a little high but he wanted me to come.

Today we are going with the whole camp to a folk dance festival in Albany.

So we have to prepare for a trip and leave in two hours. The trip was hot in the old school bus. The children were busy and talking loud during the trip.

But at the festival it was great; an integrated group of dancers and the children were well behaved.

The Camp Performing Group earned a lot of success. Everybody was enthusiastic and felt proud. Leaving the festival in Albany. This was a superb experience.

Sunday July 29

Today I was ‘On Duty Counselor’ so after lunch and dinner our group has to help with the cleaning up. We had beautiful weather so we ate outside and the boys were helping very well. They even got a compliment from Joe!! This cleaning up from the bunk takes a lot of time so you don’t have a day pogramme. We were sceduled for the laundry and with this group I should have laundry done each day. Some older girls were helping me because they like to play with the youngest boys and pamper them. So I’ve got some time to clean up the bunk, you can’t expect from these kids that everything is very well organised so I took two at a time to clean up their beds and cubbies. And the end of the afternoon it was neat. In the evening we were singing outside and the Camp performing group gave another show and invited children to dance with them. So it was very cosy evening and the boys found it hard to go to bed. In the cabin I’m telling bed time stories every evening and they like to listen to that. When I was finished and went back to the recreation room Joe came to me and suggested to change the day off to tomorrow so that I could go with some other counselors to Woodstock. He offered to take the group himself.

21 Monday July 29

With a Gremlin ( American Moters) and 6 counselors of to Woodstock. The car is a little small for this amount of people but we arrived. It was a fine day out. Walking , talking and shopping in the many small stores. There was a nice atmosphere in the village. We had a lunch near the river just outside the village. I bought a new T- shirt ( With a flower –power theme ) and a newspaper to read about Watergate affair which is still a hot issue. They want Nixon to resign and probably he will do this within the next month. Back in camp we had a fire and we had bought for all the staff a donut.

Tuesday July 30

We were in time for breakfast and afterwards we did some laundry ( Joe didn’t find time to do it yesterday). The kids were a litle wild at the table so I had to warn them to behave. For this morning we have to find the wood for the fire place do some gardening and in the afternoon we cleaned the surrounding of the cabin and we went to the waterfront. It was a very hot day more than 30 degrees Celsius so we have to stay in the shade. After dinner as always the guilds. I am assisting in the Arts and Crafts center. We are already preparing things for the last day and the quality of the products is better than it was the first round. We don’t have much material and if we want to do something special you have to order it and plan it carefully. So we asked for paper mache and balloons to make masks. The children are working hard on it and it’s getting colorfull.

In the evening when I brought back my group there was a little mouse in the cabin, when we arrived it rushed to the lavatory part and disappeared. The boys had to check it before then went to bed, so the bed time story was about the wild mouse. Later on filling in some foms from the children and talking with Dan and Joe about yesterday. He agreed that it is a very difficult group and he felt that you had to keep them on a leach to keep them together . We did talk a long time and I felt some respect from him for the work I’m doing with this group.

Wednesday July 31

Visitor’s day is coming up so we have to clean up the camp. The day program was simple some ball games on the field and dancing some easy dances. Since we went to the festival the children are more interested and motivated in this so we give it extra attention. I brought some Dutch records with me and we are practicing the dances which these songs. Some times we walk through the camp singing the songs. The group is behaving in general very good except when w’re at the table. It feels like they are afraid that they won’t get enough. ( Struggle for life). They don’t want to wait and you have to satisfy their needs immediatly. If not..... So there was a fight on the table during lunch and I could not stop it in time . Morris was just walking in and picked two boys ( William and Ronald ) up. They were trembling when Morris spoke to them and they had to sit at his table. After lunch they came back and they were very impressed. They afternoon went fast with working together for visitor’s day and taking a little walk. After dinner and cleaning up there was still time to sing some songs at the campfire. The older children are spreading around and trying to teach the songs to the younger children.

22 We had a lot of succes today with : Sixteen Tons and two Dutch songs: A Ram Sam Sam and Toembai and of course :This Land Is Your Land. When everybody is singing and the fire is on and a beautiful night with the moon then you feel the spirit, hopeful and with joy.

Thursday August 1

Another day preparing the camp and bunks. All the leaves around the recreation and dining hall had to be picked up, we also did some gardening. So we were working hard together this morning. In the afternoon we were working on the masks and having a dance. Instead of the guilds we had an all camp swim with the moon and some spotlights. We also made a fire so when the children came out they sat down and talked a little with each other. It was a pity that we had to leave to bring the children to bed.

Friday August 2

In the morning we did the laundry and cleaned up our bunk and we did hide and seek around the cabin and later on some ball games on the field. So the morning went fast. The last few days we have beautiful weather so for the afternoon we had another swim organised. Dinner was early this evening. The whole camp went out to Kingston to get an Ice – Cream. The school bus and the truck and some private cars were loaded and off we went. At Stewarts they were not prepared for so many children and the staff there panicked a little. But everybody did get an Ice – Cream. Back at camp it was bed time so after telling a story I sat down before my cabin and relaxed a little until the children were sleeping.

Saturday August 3

It was an early rise this morning Morris is checking all the cabins so it had to be spic and span. The day program was not hard. We did a game of skill with spoons and fir-cones and some balance games. In the aftrnoon together with the group of Theo some ball games. This evening the children had to go to bed early and teens are taking over the bunks because there is a party for the staff. So we had a folk dance party with some snacks. It’s one of these rare moments to talk to some people because during the day you are constantly busy with your group or the group is keeping you busy. The staff has integrated very well so we had a pleasant evening together.

Sunday August 4

Breakfast at 7.30 hour , so wake up around six to be ready. After breakfast we went to the ball field to sing and dance together. Around 10.00 o ‘clock the parents arrive and the children show them the camp. Not all the parents were there so a group of children are hanging around with the staff. We had an early dinner around 11.30 : chicken and some German gravy. Everybody is enjoying the meal and it feels like a big family. We did keep it dry till just after this dinner. But then it really started to rain. Everybody was running to the dry spots so the departure of the parents was delayed. After a half hour it was more or less dry. So everybody was saying goodbye. It was time for the traditional Volleyball Game between Staff and Teens. The children are all suppporting the teens. But they could not win it although it was a close finish. Both won one set but in the end Staff won the third game easy.

23 Then there was a game between Foreign and American Counselors. It started to rain again but we had to finish the first game, everybody was drowned when the American counselors won this set. The revenge will be on another moment. Tonight I sleep in the frog house tomorrow another day off.

Monday August 5

Again to Woodstock and some driving around. It’s beautiful here. In the afternoon back to Kingston. We went to the park to write some letters. Later on we went to an Italian restaurant and had Ravioli. You really need these days to get new energy .

Tuesday August 6

The children were glad that I was back. We made a day programme, gardening, practicing our dance and singing and working on the decoration for Banquet Day. Our masks are nearly finished so we are making some flags with the colors of the countries from which the counselors are coming from. We also made some flags from the countries where some of the children come from.

The theme is ‘Work’ so we talk about the unions and the importance of being organised. One of the issues is the coming of many Mexicans to the USA. There was an incident by crossing the border and so we talk about the right of having work. For some of the boys it is hard to participate in the talking but there are few who are more involved and interested.

It was a good day and we ended with a campfire with some Mexican songs.

Wednesday August 7

Today we had to work in the garden and clean the gutter next to the path, you can imagine how the boys looked at the end of the day, especially when they found some clay. In the afternoon we prepared the campfire and we had a swim. So the shower time was short today. The dancing is going all right. We are preparing a Dutch double circle dance. Our group is to small ( in amount ) for this so I’m doing this with the group of Theo. The two circles are turning in different directions so we give the children one place to start from and always with the same partner. ( They had to choose themselves to find out with who they want to work/ dance together.) But it’s hard to coőperate. In the evening the Banquet guilds are working. The arts and craft center is filled with masks and flags. Both from my group and from the guild. It was a beautiful quiet evening with a nice temperature so there was a calm atmosphere in camp.

Thursday August 8

Today we started to pack the stuff of the children and cleaned the cabin. Later on we had a swim and practiced the dance. It was hot again so it was not going to fast today. Due to an electricity break down we were late in for lunch. It is not certain how many children will stay and which group I will have in the last session. After the guilds we had a staff meeting because of tomorrow. Morris is telling what he expects and some questions were asked. Joe is assisting with the practical solutions. The children are tired and so is staff.

Friday August 9

Banquet day. In the morning we ate outside the cabin, eggs and blueberry muffins. The children from the Learning Center were over this week and picked the Blueberry’s. This group left this morning So after we said goodbye we only had short time to prepare for the party. Everything had to be shown and was hanging on lines and trees. It started around 4.00 o’clock with the dancing. All groups showed their dance. The older children are very good in it.After this we had the Grand march to the dining hall and there the Camp Jug Band welcomed us . Everybody is sitting on a different place, his name is on the table and staff is bringing round the food. Then we had a banquet which is as always very good. The kitchen staff is doing a lot of work for this. After the banquet we had a play by the older groups : Waiting for Lefty. It is a pity that there is no good music installation with microphones. It’is hard to understand and although my group is sitting in front you can see when you look around that in the back they are missing the story. And off course we had a huge bonfire with really big trees, made by the group of Steve.

The fire on Banquet Day.

It was a pity that it started to rain a little so we had to break up to early.

Saturday August 10

After breakfast became clear that all my kids would stay for another period and that there would be 2 new kids for this group. The busses arrived around 11.00 o’clock. We brought back the luggage of the newcomers to the cabin. After lunch we unpacked and went to the garden ( watering the corn ,tomatoes and peppers) and had a swim. In the evening we had an all camp programme and an early stop to go to bed.

25 Sunday August 11

We had a ‘sunny’ programme for today: prepare the fire at the waterfront and collect wood and start a new dance and some new songs. Joe suggested to go on a hike with this group to the reservoir. He would arrange that an extra counselor or group would go along. The children were very enthusiastic and together with another 3 groups we went off. ( Marla Klein, Ruben Rodriguez and Michael Engel ). These groups are close to the age of mine. We walked for a few miles, for the younger kids it was very hard. A few older kids were fighting and Michael decided that his group could not go on. We sat down and had a serious discussion with the children about walking together. We did try it for another half hour but than we decided to go back when one of the boys was kicking another. The way back was not in a good mood and when we arrived at camp we talked with Joe and Morris and they said that these boys could not follow the program for this evening. (They had to sit on the steps : Step Guild). In the evening I got a telephone call from another Dutch counselor,my best friend Raymond , that he was off tomorrow in Kingston. So I gave him a call back to meet tomorrow.

Monday August 12 and Tuesday 13.

Day off to Kingston. I was a little late but so was Raymond so we met just in time. He is working in a Lutheran Camp (Camp Trexler in Southfields ) and is having a very good time. We talked a lot about our experiences and the differences are very big. In this camp eveything most is programmed in advance and there is a daily scedule for your programma. The children are from other backgrounds and there is enough money for things you want to do. If you need materials for the arts and craft it will be there next day. They have sailing boats and canoes and the camp is only for boys. There is another camp close by for girls and sometimes they are doing things together. There is more staff available. He was very anxious about my experiences. We layed out the differences and the difficulties in working with the children with the philosophy in the background as a base for your acting. So we had a very good conversation and later on we had a few drinks and dinner together at the Italian restaurant. It was nice to talk to him. His camp is finished on the 26 th and Hurley ends at friday the 30 th. He will arrange that we are together in the tour to New Orleans - San Antonio – Dallas and Niagara Falls. Something to look forward to. Morris came with the jeep and brought Raymond back to the bus station. Back to Camp where the children were sleeping at the waterfront. They were sleeping already ( around 10.15 hour). So I had some time to work on my diary next to the fireside. In the background you hear the ducks and crickets. There are some more groups sleeping here and around 12.00 o’clock we went to sleep. During the night I went out a few times to keep the fire going. The next morning the water was steaming and a few geese were swimming around. When the children woke up they were still there. When we start packing up they flew away. A lot of stuff to bring back again but we came in time for breakfast. After we finished we went to Kingston by bus with some other groups to the library. Our goal is to find more information about the functioning of the brain as part of our project. We found some books but most children are not able to read so the interest of the boys was especially for books with pictures. We found some good and easy books. Back in Camp it was lunchtime and afterwards we did do some folkdances and re - organised the bunk because of the night outside. It is not easy for the boys to keep it clean and it costs a lost of time to make it look all-right.

26 After dinner we had the guilds. This period we are going to work with clay and also make shields with animals like snakes and lions on it. The boys were tired and wanted to go to bed. (The everage age is around 6 year.) When I was writing at the steps of the dining hall they were fogging against insects inside so we went to the arts and crafts center to talk and write a little longer.

Wednesday August 14

We started this morning before breakfast with one of our books. I read it out loud for them and some of them want to read it too so we are sharing our information. Lucy came along and asked what we were doing so early. Today K.P. ( Kitchen Patrol) so someone else is taking my group along for that time. There were no special activities for today : swim, prepare the fire ( which we do almost every day) clean up the ballfield and watched the older boys play Baseball. Before dinner we went to do our dances and we did together with the group of Lucy a chair dance. They found it a lot of fun and could hardly stop when it was time to eat. Banquet is this time on a Thursday and the guilds are already preparing things because the end of camp is a two day long celebration. I’m tired so I try to go to bed early in the next few days.

Thursday August 15

It was hot again and I don’t feel very well. We started with some reading again and later after breakfast we were making some drawings from the brains from human and animals. Sue is arranging that we are going to examine a frog. After the drawing we did some Dutch games Pinkelen ( which is on commands making movements with your hands) and Amerikaans Liften ( also a game with action with your hands ). The boys do like these games so we do them a lot. After lunch my headache became worse so I could not work this afternoon. After a few aspirins and a few hours of extra sleep it was over. In time for the guilds. Early bed again this evening.

Friday august 16

Working on the toys for the end of camp happening The boys need a lot of help with the sawing. So together with a few teens it’s working better. After lunch we went to practice our dance and did some gardening before we went to the All Camp Swim. After dinner there was an extra staff meeting with Morris calling off the guilds. He explained thet there was little interest and involvement. There was a though discussion about the role of the Guild Fair. He said that it is just a part of the day and there is more to give attention to than working for the Fair. He accused staff of being superficial and not able to get more involvement from the children. This was serious and a lot of emotions were brought up both from American Staff as from European. Some counselors went away and did not want to discuss with Morris. He decided to call off the Guild Fair and would tell it to the campers next morning. So working in the guilds this evening was a little strange...

Saturday August 17

After breakfast in the dinning hall Morris informed everybody about his decision around not holding the The Guild Fair. It was not really excepted by the teens and some older children.

27 Around 11.00 the Guild Council decided to call for an all camp meeting to hear the reactions from campers and staff. Morris was present and listened to the arguments. He agreed at the end of the meeting that the fair would go on.

After lunch there was another Staff discussion and the teens were playing with the children on the ballfield. After a long discussion we agreed to go along with the fair. Some counselors were still angry at Morris words from yesterday and they wanted him to apologize for what he has said about involvement. They will go to him to talk this out. Margit ( she was Danish Dramatic Counselor ) organised Callisthenics for the whole camp and all the energy came out. After this stressing day all the children went to bed early and so did Staff. I was sleeping around ten.

Sunday August 18

A new start again. Reading another book to my group, racing across the Ballfield and some other games.In the afternoon we watched a Volleyball game and tried to do it with my group and worked on some toys for the Fair. And the end of the day Laundry and showers.

During the afternoon we started to build up some tents for the Guild fair.

In this group the racial differences are felt. There is one Puerto Rican boy who is not really at ease between the other kids. Sometimes he disappears to another group where another nephew is. One of the boys is scaring the other kids all the times by yelling and shouting and sometimes biting. William is always stealing food from other kids or taking too much. These problems need attention and talking does not always help, but I’m trying to be alert anticipate on incidents. After dinner we had a short staff meeting about this day and suggestions were made for tomorrow and the week to come. Mostly a staff meeting is when there has been an incident or something special, but not on a regular base. Maybe this should have been done more. It gives you support and you feel that you’re working together. We agreed to do this each evening after dinner for 10 minutes. Tomorrow is my last day off so I slept in the Frog House.

Monday August 19

Again out , just driving in the surroundings with Mike ( Michael Engel) and Ellen .... I did not see that much around here. We had a picnic by one of the lakes. Our last visit to Poppa Joe. Back to Camp and helped to bring the children to bed.

Tuesday August 20

This morning we examined a frog. Sue had prepared this for the group and they were interested and the children listened very well and made some drawings. And they tried to write down some words with it. The level of the children is very low and they have to learn a lot!! In the afternoon we were working in the garden, on our toys and went to the lake front. The guilds were a success this evening everybody is working hard and the shields are getting very pretty. Some clay figures are beautiful and they will be baked in the oven. It’s a pity that we don’t have paint here which really finishes it ( Ceramic paint ) When we went to the bunk the children were enthusiastic jumping and running.

28 We finished the day with a bed time story which I make up every evening. ( The accident in Dead Town Valley).Afterwards writing on the reports.

Wednesday August 21

We started the day with Callisthenics, so everybody was out of breath. Then we had some time to rest while we were reading our books and later on we worked on the wooden toys. ( a jig saw puzzle and animals) . We made a fire ready for this evening for our bunk and in the afternoon there was an all camp swim with snow cones. After dinner we went to the guilds and the boys could hardly wait for the fire and story by the bunk. So when the pajamas where on we lit the fire and Lucy’s group was sitting with us. The story had to be continued. So around 9.00 o’clock we went to bed. And I went along with them.

Thursday August 22

Today we moved our materials to the tent on the Ballfield, ( there are 10 tents build up) we are finishing the toys but we don’t have the right paint so you can see the results everywhere.

It’s hard to clean the boys after painting ( we used turpentine). In the afternoon we did practice our dance and it is going to work. The children are having fun and they are more serious with the dance. It is still hard to remember all the directions for them but the first part of the dance is going well. Before dinner we had some time left over so we played hide and seek ( a Dutch version called Bussietrap). After dinner we were having a nice fire with some European songs : Cockles and Mussels and The wild Rover, Shalom Chavarim and If I had a hammer. The older children do sing some songs in a canon and you get the chill of that.

29 Friday August 23

Callisthenics is now a regular part of the day programma. Margit is building on a complete show and making it more complex and sometimes a little bit to hard for the younger children. But it’s still fun and we are sweating all over. The other activities for today : Swimming, playing and running on the Ballfield and working in our tent. Ronald tried to paint the tent poles. And we had to stop him from doing that. After the guilds there was an extra staff meeting in which Morris laid out his ideas for the last week. Afterwards the staff is practicing an English Country Dance called : ‘Trip to Paris’

Saturday August 24

A regular day : working on the toys and playing on the Ballfield. In the afternoon : Callisthenics and snowcones afterwards and an all camp swim. In the evening Guilds. Eating together is still difficult for the boys. Just passing each other the food is not easy. But I rearranged the table so William is sitting next to me. He is more under control. (I think he is hyperactive).

In the evening dancing again with the staff . It is a nice but complicated dance.

Sunday August 25

Working in the tent on the Ballfield. Lunch and dinner were outside. With lunch it was very cosy on the field. All the groups were sitting all over the place and there was a lively atmosphere. Joe and Morris were walking around and there was a big smile on their face. So, I think we’re doing okey. We had a cook out in the evening and afterwards a swim. The last week is starting and everybody is working on a grand finale. I hope that this tension won’t be too much for the boys. Sometimes I got a feeling that I nearly lost control of this group. It is hard for them to stay together when we are working in our tent on the Ballfield, sometimes when they see the older teens (girls) they run to the girls and don’t want to come back. If I ignore it they still stay there until the girls bring them back.

Monday August 26

We made the decorations for our tent and some for the Recreation Hall. It is warm and it feels like there might be some rain. I hope it will stay dry because not everything is on a dry place and with some drawings made of waterpaint ..... Some older boys are helping me with the decoration and cleaning the boys. In the afternoon we did some gardening and had an all camp meeting about the Fair and what things still have to be done. In the evening I had the step guild. This is in front of the Program Director’s Office. ( Joe’s Place). After the guilds : dancing time!

Tuesday August 27

The preparations for the fair are being made but the weather expectations are not so well. In the afternoon the rain started and there was so much wind that some tents were blown over. We did n’t have this kind of weather. So we spend a part of the day in our cabins ( cleaning and packing up.) Later on we went inside to the fire because it was cold and wet. With some singing and dancing we brought back the right mood.

30 In the evening we did the last round of the guilds. Finishing and hanging the products in the Dining Hall ( Shields were very beautiful). Afterwards back to the cabin where I told a very long story before they went to sleep. It’s cold tonight and sometimes there is lightning. I stayed in the bunk to finish some writing and went to bed early.

Wednesday August 28

The first day of the Fair. We prepared some games for the children: Jumping and running on the Ballfield.There were some performances by the Drama Guild and Folk Dance Performing Group. The weather changed and we could eat outside and had an afternoon filled with companionship and warmth. Children were helping each other and the games were fun. Some things are done in a competition. ( so some children were very fanatic). But the spectators were enthusiastic. In the evening we had a big bonfire ( made by the eldest group) and Hank was singing all his songs. The camp was sitting around the big fire. And it was late.

Thursday August 29

The second day of the fair and the last day and night in camp.

Everybody was dressed up and there were some more presentations.We picked some flowers and there were some more games to do. We did a final Callisthenics and one of the counselors was a magician and amused everybody with his tricks. There were some gifts for the counselors from the children and Morris made at the Banquet his final speech about the goals we achieved in camp. And were we had to strive for when we are back in our own neighbourhood and school.. Everybody felt happy and warm after his words and we ended the evening inside with a big fire with some snacks, singing and drinks. The evening ended late with some dancing from staff and kids together. There were some popular records ( Blues and Rock and Roll). So with our flashlights on we went back to the bunks shouting goodbye to everybody and promising to come back.

Friday August 30

It was Rise and Shine at 6.00 o ‘clock. Everybody had to bring the luggage to the front. The teens are helping us cleaning the beds and the cabin. A breakfast at seven and the buses arrived at 8.00 o ‘clock. There was a lot of crying this morning but a half hour later all the children were gone. The staff started to have an evaluation of camp afterwards and Joe was trying to lead this session. All the periods passed and some remarks were made. We discussed the activities and in general everybody was satisfied. There were suggestions to programm more in advance and think about some more activities and the role of the guilds had to be worked out more. Specially for the younger kids there is no playground and it’s hard for them to go on a hike or trip. Around four we had a lunch and there was suggested that we could stay until Labour Day. But for most counselors arrangements were made for their trips by the Association For World Travel Exchange.

So we had to leave. Addresses were written down and it was a very emotional moment. The blue bus was bringing us back to New York, Alan and Evelyn are bringing us and some more luggage to the Learning Center.

So there we said goodbye and left to the subway. Back to where we started from : The Woodward Hotel.

We were flying back home at the 27 th of September and it was a very big surprise that most of the American Counselors were waiting there for us at the Airport to say goodbye. This was really overwhelming. So it was hard to say goodbye again. Thank you for all the support !!