Canadian Camping (February 1949) – Putting First Things First in Camping

This is an excerpt from Canadian Camping magazine, February 1949.

Putting First Things First in Camping
Wilbur K. Howard, Boys’ Work Secretary
Ontario Religious Education Council, Toronto

A successful camp depends upon the discovery of what is the first in camping and then upon putting it first. This sounds trite but it’s right. A little more difficult is how to determine just what does come first in camping.

There are some confusing contrasts in the field of camping. some say that camp should offer the camper adventure, spiced with the sting of danger and the thrill of risk. Others say that camp should offer security. some point to camp as an opportunity to get out of doors. Others, meanwhile, are building deluxe dining halls and comfortable cabins. some belong to the rough-it-school, the let-the-rain-beat-in-your-face school. Others press hard for greater safety, better sanitation – keep your feet dry. Some tell us that camp is important because it is a complete change from school.Others are equally vocal in asserting that camp is the most significant twentieth century educational technique. Some contend that camp should offer campers a permissive atmosphere – freedom from supervision. Others are busy defining the responsibilities of Camp Directors, program directors, unit directors, counsellors, assistant counsellors, counsellors in training, campers in training for counsellors in training. Some have maintained that camping is simple living in the outdoors. Others have avowed that camping is the adjustment of the individual in a highly complex community which involves the adaptive social function of anxiety, the professional services of such experts as psycohologists, psychiatrists, group workers, case workers, dietitians, doctors, nurses, and counsellors who can fill in form 249D8. There are those who tell us that camping means getting away from the city. On the other hand, there are those who say: “Straighten those trails!” “Prune those trees!” “Let’s go into town for a spree!” Some maintain that camp should present to the camper the joys of rest, sleep and leisurely living. Others are firm in the belief that camp should give the camper hills to climb, stiff swim tests, back-breaking portages, trails that are cooked, callouses on the palms. And then there are those who hold out that camp should take the camper away from the strains and stresses of civilization only to be completely frustrated by those who contend that camping must save the world.

However, in spite of confusing contrasts and conflicting opinions, there is one important common factor in the field of camping – human personality.  The end product in camping is not a tin of tomato soup, a plastic bowl or a frigidaire.  It is human personality.  It would seem reasonable to suggest, then, that what we put first in camping is the highest development of human personality.