Been recognized that the camping situation, offering as it does opportunities to live together and share the responsibilities and freedoms of simple outdoor living, is one of the best training schools in democracy. In the camp there is opportunity to build health and to establish in the child a feeling of self-sufficiency and self-reliance that will be invaluable in these times when children are left increasingly to their own devices. Increasing recognition is also being given to the significance of the camp as a training school for the unusual demands created by war. NEW OPPORTUNITIES THE JOB OFFERS FOR DEFENSE SERVICE The camping job offers many opportunities for service today. These include: 1. Opportunities to help girls: a. Who are in danger of being deprived of their normal recreation and childhood fun by being in a place where every-day tasks of living give pleasure. b. Who have been deprived of usual sources of entertainment and spending money by teaching self-reliance and resourcefulness, and those activities that are self-entertaining, satisfying, and inexpensive. c. Who are worried and depressed by world events and the attitudes of adults by placing them in a setting that tends to reduce strain and rest nerves. d. Who are forced to economize by teaching them thrift in every-day living through the wise choice of food, clothing, etc. e. Who are new to the community by placing them in a “society” where they can be absorbed quickly, thereby reducing their feelings of strangeness, loneliness, and insecurity. f. Who are left increasingly to their own devices by teaching them to enjoy the out of doors, which they can enjoy even when alone. g. Who have new burdens to carry at home by training them to be self-reliant and resourceful. h. Who are refugees or evacuees form war-torn countries by taking them into a simple living situation that will make them feel at home. i. Who are becoming intolerant by giving them opportunities to live with and learn to understand girls of other nationalities, races, and creeds. j. Who are increasingly exposed to regimentation by demonstrating to them in all their living conditions and relationships the democratic way of doing things as the normal way of life. 2. Opportunities to meet the demands of the military and industrial victory program: a. By constantly bringing to the attention of the campers in the opportunities for thrift that camp offers-opportunities they can transfer to their homes, such as preparation of simple food, wise choice of food, and using materials at hand. b. By demonstrating the possibilities of conserving natural resources, such as a reforestation, and canning food found on the site. c. By demonstrating how girls can save money for defense through finding pleasure in activities that do not cost money. d. By demonstrating how girls can help to release adults for defense work. e. By bringing to the attention of girls the demonstrations in health, nutrition, and safety, they are constantly receiving in camp. 18 3. Opportunities to prepare for war emergencies: a. By using the camping situation (made to order for the purpose) to teach emergency skills, such as first aid, living simply out of doors, cooking for large groups of persons, moving large groups from place to place, and simple entertaining of groups without equipment. b. By using the camping situation (excellent for this purpose because girls are actually living together) to teach emergency methods and organization, such as disciplined teamwork, efficient movements of groups without confusion, democratic leadership. c. By using the camping situation, which offers opportunities every moment of the day, to teach emergency attitudes, such as cooperativeness, calmness, patience, fearlessness, sharing responsibilities according to ability. d. By cooperating with Offices of Civilian Defense in planning for the use of the physical camp site in times of possible emergency, such as attack on cities, air raids, and fire. These outlying sites would make invaluable places for housing and feeding large numbers driven from their homes. THE PART THE COMMUNITY CAN PLAY The Girl Scout camp, so important at this time, is self-supporting. That is, it relies on its camp fees for the major part of its maintenance. The community can help to maintain the camp, therefore, by sending its girls there for periods during the summer and winter months (many are opened for winter week-end sports). The community can also help by finding ways for the girls to put into practice techniques, skills, and attitudes they learn in camp. Little is learned in camp that cannot be used outside of it. This is particularly true at this time when democratic attitudes, self-reliance, service, and preparedness for war emergencies are all important attributes. USE THIS SPACE TO LIST YOUR SPECIFIC LOCAL NEEDS. 19