While camping before the Depression and World War II was seen as a way for young people to extend their skills and extend their education, it evolved from a middle class activity to a summer program for all economic levels. Camping grew during the years after 1945 and parents encouraged their children to return to nature, especially in organized religiously affiliated camps like the YWCA.

Marilyn Levine, born in 1925, remembered Maqua as the best experience of her life. “I adored it”, she said, “but it was Depression time when I went in 1933 or 1934, so I could only go for one week.”

Dorothy Bonnen was in the ninth grade when she attend Camp Maqua in 1942 during Depression times. It was the only time she had been out of Bay City and it was her first time on a bus and a lake.

Notes left behind in the archives indicated the YWCA sent some of their staff to conferences that pinpointed the war years and the effects it would have on camping. Older people with experience were sought for positions and standards were kept high for their qualifications

.”Ask what the value of camping is in these times,” “children are losing security”, “camp plays a significant role”, “stabilizing effect of friends”, “be careful not to teach militarism and label it patriotism”, “don’t let teachers and social workers enlist”, and “keep our centers open” were notes jotted down as suggestions from a luncheon with no date.

In her report from the national camp meeting, Adelaide Macauley told of the food problems that would confront the camp in 1943, necessitating more than ever the selection of a good cook. “I compared our salaries for counselors with other camps…ours were 50% lower. Due to the emotional strain some children may feel this year, it was stressed that good leadership must be secured even though it means paying higher wages.” (Surplus money was suggested to pay the larger salaries.)

The rationing board was also contacted to see whether campers could bring their rations stamps. The oldest daughter of the camp doctor, Helen Hasty, began camping at eleven years old in 1943. The war years at camp meant Helen’s Mom had to send some ration stamps up to camp, but recalled the war didn’t affect her personally as a little girl.

A February 11 camp committee meeting in 1944 indicated the season was successful, “despite all the difficulties arising from the scarcity of leadership, food rationing, transportation problems,etc.” and the report stated registration reached capacity for every period. Notes from Miss Olsen, who had attended the Camping Association in March 1944, indicated the need for children to attend camp again, especially when children were subjected to the “strains of war”. Most of the conference appeared to concentrate on salaries and leadership, which would bring about the character training and opportunities for those children who were able to camp.

The end of the war brought a relieved society, a  baby boom and a growing economy, which increased camping for the children of the U.S. Pat O’Tool said, “Of all the other crazy things I remember—eating watermelon at camp as a treat at the end of the war.”

If you camped or were on the staff during the Depression or war years, did you bring rations stamps? What do you recall of those years?