Kenneth Edward Bingham

Groton School Camp, 1893, Squam Lake N.h.: a History of the First Summer Camp for Underprivileged Boys Kenneth Edward Bingham

GROTON SCHOOL CAMP, the first summer camp in the U. S. for the "underprivileged boy" of the city, was established in 1893 on Willoughby's Island in New Hampshire along the beautiful Asquam (Squam) Lake. This Camp, as well as other social programs for wayward and neglected children, became a hallmark of the Progressive Era (1890-1920). Many of our child-related laws and attitudes about the child blossomed during this period, as "reformers" articulated a new vision of what childhood could and should be. While this book includes a general history of organized camping in the U. S. and what led up to it, these pages also capture the day-to-day activities at Groton School Camp. The portal into early Camp life is supplied by fascinating photographs and the original Camp journal, written by the Camp founder, Endicott Peabody (also founder of the prestigious Groton School of Groton, Massachusetts) and his brethren. We can only appreciate how far we have come when we look back at where we started. Bingham's story takes us from a time of changing attitudes towards the "child"-in the late 1800's-to the genesis of the Camp idea-on through the Groton School Camp years-and finally to the current Mayhew Program-an organization for at-risk boys. (All profits from this BOOK go to the Mayhew Program)