CITES CAMPING EXPERIENCE TO BE OFFERED
Editor, The Times:
An unusual and imaginative experience is being offered to the teenagers of this area with the formation of the Innisfree summer Camp on a 25-acre site on the Delaware River at Damascus, Pa. The camp is open from June 27 through Aug. 22 to young people of ages 12 to 18, without social, economic or racial restrictions. It is staffed by Montclair High School teachers and other professionals, offering a wide range of recreational, artistic and educational opportunities.
What makes it unusual is its basic philosophy geared to giving campers the opportunity to learn more about governing themselves and others by offering a structure that provides optimum conditions for self-directed responsibility. The campers and the staff together will develop a daily and weekly program to meet the needs of the individual and the community. It is a completely democratic community -- one person, one vote.
Its founders have explained that "we are concerned with developing in ourselves the skill to understand ourselves and to extend ourselves in a reals spirit of community to others... We conceive of our program as hopefully developing in people the inner strength that comes through awareness to deal with the world at large."
In this day of student unrest and alienation from our social structure, such a program of developing the ability to govern themselves and share in the governing of others should have the highest priority.
It is this emphasis on developing both individual responsibility and community awareness that makes us feel that the Innisfree program is indeed deserving of support. And it does need that support, for in one respect it is the same as other Summer camps -- it costs money. And many young people who will be eager to accept the challenge of this unique experience will be unable to do so without scholarship aid. We feel that not only they but our whole society can benefit from their participation in this program.
Further information about the camp may be obtained from Bud Rue, 746-xxxx, or Clarke Maylone, 239-xxxx. Inquiries about contributions may be directed to Sanfurd Bluestein, 746-xxxx, or Peter Malcolm, 746-xxxx.
ROBERT A. LEE
CATHARINE T. LEE
Mtc., May 4, '70
LEARN HOW PEOPLE LIVE TOGETHER
Editor, The Times:
As parents of one prospective "camper" we write to support an innovative Summer experience planned for Montclair young people aged 12 to 18. A group of Montclair teachers with years of experience and varied competencies are enthusiastically investing their time and other treasure in a two-month program that will encourage student responsibility for their own learning. In a style similar to the Summerhill school bu[t] modified to fit the needs of the local situation. The "campers" at Innisfree will share in the decisions of their life together and the "Counsellors" will not isolate them from the consuequences of those decisions. This may not be the way the staff itself would interpret their planned program but to me it sounds like an excellent way to learn of many things, not the least of which is yourself and how people live together.
In participant centered learning it is important to have diversity among the "campers." Money can be well used for scholarships to make the registration even more interracial and inter-economic than it now is. As parents of one "camper" we suggest you phone Bud Rue at 746-xxxx to request information or to support the venture for although the bulk of money has now been raised, an amount up to another $10,000 will increase the impact of the effort.
INNES and
MURRAY MacINNES
Mtc., May 5, '70
THE INNISFREE PROJECT
Editor, The Times:
The Innisfree Project which has recently been initiated by an enthusiastic group of diverse people in Montclair is a tribute to this town. The project deserves the support of all citizens who are interested in seeing youthful efforts to develop leadership flourish.
Under the combined direction of several devoted teachers in the publich high school along with the help of some determined students from the school, a non-profit corporation has been formed to operate a Summer camp for teenagers that will run an 8-week session this Summer. Many teenagers will pay their way entirely. Others will depend upon scholarship aid to make attendance possible for them. Because the success of the project depends upon diversity of the group, such financial help is essential to assure attendance of campers from all segments of society. Any experience that acceped only those who can afford to pay their own way would be limited in scope.
The project will be under the direction of Mr. "Bud" Rue and several other high school teachers and will include the presence of a Psychologist and Nurse in attendance. The program will be based on "Summerhill" type precepts and will be governed by decisions openly arrived at by all members of the Summer community. Drugs and alcohol are forbidden by a group decision.
The interested parties have given of their personal resources and charitable givers have helped make possible the purchase of a rural camp site in Damascus, Pa., overlooking the Delaware River. Much more money is now needed to help with scholarship aid. Those who are interested should consult with Mr. Rue.
U. Mtc., May 8, '70
SANFURD G. BLUESTIEN, M.D.
FOR A REWARDING SUMMER EXPERIENCE
Editor, The Times:
Some teen-age kids probably work best in a structured world where they are pretty much told what do and when. But some other teen-age kids honestly want to assume the responsibility of deciding what they want to do for themselves.
A dedicated group of young high school teachers, wives and friends are starting an eight-week Summer camp next month on the Delaware River about forty miles above Port Jervis with this latter thought in mind. With a ratio of one staff for every five campers, nobody's going to get lost, and no monkeyshines of an irresponsible nature will be tolerated. But the kids will be able to choose from a host of educational, artistic and recreational programs to do what he or she pleases.
The fully-equipped camp site is a former rocking-chair Summer resort, which a farmer and his wife just got tired of running. The equipment that all goes with the property is unbelievable: complete, new linens, full institutional kitchen, walk-in freezers, black smith forge, juke box, complete array of hand and power tools, potato peelers, ice cream maker, fully-furnished apartments, 500 ft. deep well, TV, large recreation room, library, hundreds of ancient useful and useless items of antiquery. You have to see it to believe it.
It seems to many of us to be a great place to go for a most rewarding Summer experience. I plan to spend several days there myself. Maybe you know kids who would like to go. Call Bud Rue, director, 746-xxxx or me at 746-xxxx/xxx, if you have any questions.
Mtc., May 11, '70
PETER MALCOLM
FOR INNISFREE PROJECT
Editor, The Times:
I should like to call the attention of our community to The Innisfree Project and to urge that they support it on behalf of our young people.
I have met many of the people engaged in this project and I am deeply moved by their dedication and enthusiasm.
In these sad times what could be more gratifying than to provide our young people with even a brief respite from tension and confusion and perhaps, ultimately, a chance to find themselves and their place as citizens of our community.
If you care, call Mr., 746-xxxx.
Mtc., May 18, '70
(MRS.) WALTER WAGGONER
