There were no records of pre-camp directives in the files until the sixties, when reports were left in the files of the Bay City YWCA, so it is unclear whether the same type of schedule was used for previous years.
Alice Bishop’s first period in 1961 as camp director began with pre-camp training sessions on June 28 until July 2, with twenty-six staff members. Her program included hints on effective counseling and the reading of the staff manual. There were always unexpected issues to deal with and she wrote, “Last summer the cook broke her leg on the first day of camp. This summer the cook had her luggage lost by the Greyhound bus company and was without menus and clothes for a week and a half.”
Seven members of the camp committee and board of directors, as well as vendor, a banker, hardware owner and frozen food company owner were in attendance for the Friday night cook-out that particular summer. It was a perfect way to see how the camp and staff operated for those who had a direct or indirect part in the camp’s smooth operation.
The report from director Dorthe Balaskas in 1966 was an informative and comprehensive peek into what the summer sessions were like for staff and campers alike. Pre-camp began in September with the executive director and some of the committee members to discuss the upcoming season. If a director were to be asked to return, this meeting would be the normal time for such an invitation. A contract and job description of the duties would be given out. “The immediate supervisor is the executive director,” Dorthe stated, “—you will find that you will turn to her for assistance and guidance many times.”
The director usually arrived at camp three days before the staff, just to set up. The caretaker checked the food inventory, which arrived around the middle of June. Dorthe’s report mentioned she had checked with the druggist, gas station, grocer and hardware to determine how each business wanted to handle the purchases over the course of the summer. She even met with the Webb family about the horses.
There were schedules included in the report with the itinerary for each day of pre-camp, which included training, meetings, inventory, swim tests program set-up, campfire demonstrations, manual discussions, nurse appointments, fire drills, work-shops, visits to each separate activity area or building, caper charts, trips to church and even the free time and trips to Lumberman’s Monument had been itemized.
Dorthe, as all directors probably did, greeted her staff on the first day, handed out all the bed linens and assigned cabins. The staff was given time to settle, unpack and she assigned three cabins for time for them to get acquainted.
Camp schedules were handed out, physical exam forms and YWCA memberships were handed in, and at this time insurance could be purchased. The staff was given ample time to inventory, prepare their lesson plans and create their bulletin boards. According to Dorthe, the waterfront staff had the toughest job, setting out lines and hauling rafts and boats.
