Figure 1.--The caption here reads "RA Boy's Camp doctor demonstrates first aid. I am not sure what "R.A." stands for. This photograph looks to have been taken in the late 1930s or early 40s. Note the old sneakers that ine boy is wearing.

While we still have limited information, we believe that summer camps first appeared in the late 19th century. We believe that America was a leader in the summer camp movement. Many private summer camps were set up in the northeast. Some counties like American and France had programs to provide summer camp experiences to poor children, variously supported by private charities. The YMCA played a very important role, especially for boys from families that could not afford an expensive private summer camp. Later Police Boys Clubs set up many camps. Many of the private camps had basic uniforms, usually "T"-shirts and short pants. Uniformed groups like the Scouts and Camp Fire also had important summer camp programs. Many American boys from the 1920s-50s only wore short pants when they were at summer camps, especially boys in northern states. Swiming and boating were especially favored activities as were crafts. Some camps had programs in basic first aid. Since the 1970s, American camping has become much more diversified with quite a range of specialty camps.

American Summer Camp Movement

While we still have limited information, we believe that summer camps first appeared in the late 19th century. We believe that America was a leader in the summer camp movement. Many private summer camps were set up in the northeast. Some counties like American and France had programs to provide summer camp experiences to poor children, variously supported by private charities.

Youth Organizations

The YMCA played a very important role, especially for boys from families that could not afford an expensive private summer camp. Several hundred YMCA summer camps were established throughout the country. Later Police Boys Clubs set up many camps. Many of the private camps had basic uniforms, usually "T"-shirts and short pants. Uniformed groups like the Scouts and Camp Fire also had important summer camp programs.

Private Camps

Many private camps were established. These were often family concerns. Thi appears to hve been especially common in the Northeast, but thre were private camps in many other areas as well.

Activities

Camping, swimming and boating were especially favored activities as were crafts. Some camps had programs in basic first aid. Since the 1970s, American camping has become much more diversified with quite a range of specialty camps.

Uniforms

American summer camps were founded in the late 19th century. We know nothing about these early camps, including the clothes worn at camp. The YMCA played a major role in founding camps. We know nothing about their camps in the 19th century, but note uniforms at some Y camps in the early 20h century. There were also private camps founded. After the turn of the 20th century with the founding of many youth groups (Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, and the Camp Fire Gurls), many more camps were founded. We know more about the camps after World War I (1914-18). All the youth group camps required uniforms. It was also very common at the private camps to wear uniforms, although they were generally very basic. I'm not sure why uniforms were so commonly adopted at these camps. Many of these private camps were expensive and attended by children who went to private schools that required uniforms. Both boys and girls wore uniforms. Almost all early camps were single gender operations. Many American boys from the 1920s-50s only wore short pants when they were at summer camps, especially boys in northern states. Middy blouses were very popular for the girls; uniforms, but to my knowledge were never worn by the boys. An middy blouse unform at Camp Kehonka is a good example of a girl's camp uniform. Girls at first commonly wore bloomers with their middy blouses. these middy blouses. We note one example of a girl at a camp from the 1930s. This was at the time the style of gym suits used a most high schools. Bloomer camp uniforms were common through the 1930s, but by the 1940s short pants were becoming increasingly common.

Created: August 5, 2002
Last updated: 11:57 PM 5/1/2005