Figure 1.--This is a photograph of all the English refugee boys at Camp O-At-Ka during 1941. We are wearing the camp uniform. I am the scruffy blond boy in the front row on the left. I don't know why my brother, (right centre, back row) has that grimace. I have always felt it spoiled the picture, which was published in the Camp Year Book, which I still have.

One of the characteristic of America I probably did not appreciate at the time but do now, is their generosity. We evacuees were hosted in a variety of ways, one of which was Summer Camp. It was decided that we should go to summer camp. An important part of an American boyhood is summer camp. So my brother and I and several other of our group were packed off to Camp O-At-Ka on the shores of Lake Sebago, near Portland, Maine. Britain did not have summer camps like America. It was something I had never heard of before. Being a city child, I didn't know much about camping, and learned a lot of Natrure Craft there. I was not a Boy Scout so all the outdoors, nature stuff. We had now been in America for a year and were well along in the Americanization process. Being surrounded by American boys all day long was a further step in my Americanization so to speak. Some of the younger boys had trouble being away from home for the first time. My brother and I, however, were becoming increasingly independent by this time.

American Summer Camp

Summer camp is a long established ritual for American boys which has roots in the late 19th century. It is a tradition that has now spread to many other countries. It is noted in lesser annals of the American national saga that organized camping for children began just a mite over a century ago, in 1861. Founding father and spiritual leader of summer camping was one Frederick W. Gunn. The two most important groups involved in American camping have been the Scoutsm both Boys and Girl Scouts anf the YMCA/YWCA. The Camp Fire Girls, now Camp Fire were also important. Many private camps for affluent children appeared in the 1920s, some earlier. Many of these camps also had uniforms, often short pants. For some boys, the only shorts they wore were their simmer camp shorts. Many other camps did not have uniforms, but boys often wore shorts. Many camps in 1920s through 50s had camp uniforms that all the boys wore. These were often the expensive fee-paying camps for children from affluent families.

Announcement

One of the characteristic of America I probably did not appreciate at the time but do now, is their generosity. We evacuees were hosted in a variety of ways, one of which was Summer Camp. It was decided that we should go to summer camp. An important part of an American boyhood is summer camp. So my brother and I and several other of our group were packed off to Camp O-At-Ka on the shores of Lake Sebago, near Portland, Maine. Britain did not have summer camps like America. I knew nothing about summer camp until we were packed off. I think it was a case of 'you will like it". I learned much later that we evacuees paid nothing!

City Boy

Being a city child, I didn't know much about camping, and learned a lot of Natrure Craft there. I was not a Boy Scout so all the outdoors, nature stuff. We had now been in America for a year and were well along in the Americanization process. Being surrounded by American boys all day long was a further step in my Americanization so to speak. Some of the younger boys had trouble being away from home for the first time. My brother and I, however, were becoming increasingly independent by this time.

Our Impression

They were right. I did like the camp. My brother was not as happy-go-lucky as I was. I am not sure he did like it, although we went the next year too. I think our accent had difted towards upper class Boston, by then so we were not really seen as foreign nor did we feel foreign any longer.

The Camp

Camp O-At-Ka was on the western shore of lake Sebago. The Camp was founded in 1906 as a traditional boys summer camp. The lake location meant that there were all kinds of boating and swiming activities offered. It was a Christian Foundation and the Director and Asst. Director were both Clergymen; Episcopalian I think. One or two others were clergy also. There was a Chapel which we all attended on Sundays. We had a resident Doctor and Nurse and a small Infirmary. The Camp still exists as is run on the same basic philosophy. Many new facilities have been added sonce Graham and I were there.

Organization

The Camp was divided into three separate units, Juniors, eight Cabins, Middlers, seven cabins, and Seniors, six cabins. We were divided by age which corresponded roughly to Elementary school, Junior High, and High School. Each cabin had 8-10 boys with a councellor and a Jr. Councellor. In my first year I was in the Juniors and my brother was a Middler. The next year I was a Middler and he a Senior. There was one other English boy in my cabin, but he was a bit younger than the rest and very home sick. (He is the boy in the middle front row). His name was Michael. Most of us stayed for eight weeks but there was a small change over half way. Each Unit was quite distinct. Each had its own wash house, but there was a communal dining room, recreation Hall with shop for spending pocket money. This was limited to the same for each boy so no spoiled little rich kids could flaunt their wealth. We slept on double decker bunks. The Junior Councellor slept in the main cabin with us, but the Councellor had his own compartment. They were usually college students.

Chores

The Middlers and Seniors had to take turns doing some of the camp chores, like peeling potatoes, and waiting on tables, because labour was short due to the Draft. I remember one of my chores was laying a log fire in the Directors Cabin each morning for a week. His wife showed me how to do it first time. I can still lay a pretty good log fire.

Daily Activities

The facilities on site were comprehensive and our routine very busy. We had revellie at 7:00. Breakfast about half past, then back to clean the cabin and make our beds. We were occupied all day doing crafts, or sport, boating (Canoes or sailing), Rifle range and Archery There was an athletic field, tennis courts, and baseball diamond. There was a swimming area with a board walk around three sides. There was a diving platform further out in the lake, but we could only use that if we could swim 25 yards in a set time. We had a varied timetable so the facilities could be used by each age group in turn. I could write a book about it I think. I grew up very quickly and learned to be independent. I could paddle a canoe and sail a boat single handed in my second year. We used to go off site cabin by cabin. We would paddle our canoes along the shore to camping areas and sleep under our upturned canoes with a gound sheet to keep out the elements. I could swim a bit before I went, but became quite proficient after.

Bean Picking

A Camp activity we all loathed was bean picking. I don't think this was not a normal camp activity. It was our little bit for the War effort. America entered the War after Pearl Harbor (December 1941). Farm labour was in short supply during the War. Thus we did our little bit. We used to go enmasse to a local farm and pick wax beans. We were paid slave labour, about a cent a pound. It was back breaking and very hot. If you were good you could pick about half a dollars worth in a session. If it had been strawberries we could have eaten some. None of us fancied raw wax beans.

Camp Theme

Many American summer camps have themes which are incorporated into the camp program. Today there are different kinds of camps like computer or math camp. In the 1940s, camps were more similar with a focus on outdoorf activities, but with a range of themes. At the time Native American themes were popular. And even camps that did not have Native American themes had Indian Lore activitives and handicrafts such as making mocasins. There was no Indian lore Camp O-At-Ka, but there were related handicradts. The camp theme was interesting the very English Knights of King Arthur's Round Table. Curiously back in England, we boys were more likely to play cowboys and Indians than Knights of the Round Table. (Probably in part a reflection of Hollywood's impact.) The cabin names reflected the Knights of the Round Table theme. I seem to rememeber some of the Councellors in Kinights regalia for some occasions.

Evening Activities

In the evenings we all met in the recreation hall called the Great Hall., for various entertainment, or went along the shore to a barbecue area and cooks sausages and hamburgers on our own camp fires. Camp songs were a great feature. I taught my daughters many of the songs, which we used to sing on the car. We had a film each Saturday night.

Meals

The camp had a dining hall where we ate our meals. Our regular meals were served here. It was a proper dining hall, we sat down and were served our food. We also had campfire meals too. There is a photograph of us having our Sunday meal. We are all formally dressed so this would be our Sunday lunch. We had all been to Church, hence the formal dress. My brother is in the foreground doing his stint as a 'waiter'. Note the white jacket. Normally of course we wore our camp uniforms. By this time we were thoroughly Americanized as regards food. Had we gone to summer camp when we first arrived, I am sure I would have a lot to tell you about the food. But by this point we were well acustomed to American food. And we had begun eating like Americans as regards the cuttlery.

Chapel

The Camp had a chapel and we all went en masse to Sunday service. I don't think that there were many Catholic boys and I don't recall any special provisions being made for them. I think the services were perforned by the Rpiscopalian (Anglican) clergy, but it was more of an inter-denominational service than an Espisopalian service.

Parents

I don't remember a perents day. Parent days are a majir feature at modern camps. But transport was not as easy at the time as it is now and we were had a very isolated location. We were over 100 miles from the homes of most boys and travel wasn't that easy. I can't remember how we travelled there. I think by train to Portand and were met by camp transport. Some parents did visit, but there was no organized parents day. One parent used to visit once a summer, in dramatic style by private seaplane! I think their boy was a Senior, I didn't know him.