Read Article 100 Years Ago: 1921 Better take your oilskins along with you if you go camping or to the beaches over the Fourth. 50 Years Ago: 1971 Getting out into the woods with a tent, and being able to build a fire and cook food is the dream of almost everyone during the summer months, especially the children. Wouldn’t it be great to walk along a trail and learn to identify trees, flowers and animals, and be able to stop at a cold spring for refreshment? What about waking up with the sun? Or sitting around a campfire? That has been the life of twelve Auburn girls, ranging in age from nine to thirteen, since Wednesday. The camping program is sponsored by the Auburn Parks and Recreation Department at East Auburn. Boys camp from Sunday to Wednesday, and the girls from Wednesday afternoon to Friday. For the girls, this is a unique experience, since most camping programs involve only the boys. But given their chance, the girls have gone all out for fun activities. Councilors Tizz Crowley, Rosemary Vassar and Linda Barker have worked activities such as arts and crafts, archery, swimming, boating, pony riding, nature and singing into their busy schedule. The day starts at 7:30 a.m., but as Miss Barker said, “It usually starts a lot earlier. “When there aren’t organized activities going on, the girls are free to explore on their own. The tents have to be cleaned daily and there are other chores to be done. Three youngsters are housed in each of the nine camping tents. Special nighttime events include skits and singing around the campfire. Each day starts and finishes with flag exercises. The girls that are thirteen get the honor of being junior leaders and help the counselors supervise the younger campers. Fire drills are a frequent occurrence as a safety precaution. Each tent has two water buckets out front which are to remain filled at all times. Gene Keene, assistant director to the Auburn Parks and Recreation Department, explained that “Here we are geared to having fun.” I feel no program has been more successful. The kids have had fun, and that’s how we “measure the success of these programs.”