Camping

In Short

First published in 1911 under the pseudonym "Biddy," this detailed non-fiction account chronicles the rhythm of a summer camp for city boys set deep in the Maine woods. Written by Alexandra G. Lockwine, a registered nurse, the book covers the entire seasonal cycle—from the frenzy of purchasing athletic supplies in New York to the final return train ride. It has survived as a rare, authentic look at early twentieth-century American youth culture, capturing how structured outdoors life was used to build character, resilience, and camaraderie in growing boys.

The Story

The narrative begins in late spring as city boys eagerly flip through camp prospectuses, imagining themselves as star athletes while buying specialized gear alongside supportive fathers. The excitement builds to a fever pitch at the crowded train station, where anxious parents bid emotional farewells and hand their sons over to the camp directors and instructors. Once aboard the special train bound for Maine, the boys immediately begin shedding their formal city clothes, signaling a total shift into outdoor freedom.

Upon arriving at the camp, the boys step into a structured daily routine designed to build independence. For many, it is their first time away from home, requiring them to manage their own personal hygiene and learn self-reliance. Days are punctuated by crisp bugle calls that order the camp’s activities: morning lineups, letter-writing sessions back home to parents, scheduled swims in the cold lake, and afternoon sports.

As the midsummer heat sets in, the boys engage in a wide variety of organized pastimes. On land, they participate in friendly wrestling matches, track-and-field events like the broad jump, and lawn games such as quoits and shuffleboard. On the water, they master rowboats, canoes, and dories, learning how to handle choppy conditions and work as a cohesive unit. Evenings are dedicated to quiet indoor games—checkers, dominoes, and lotto—or lively campfires filled with college songs and theatrical performances by the camp's literary society.

Beyond the main grounds, overnight camping trips take the boys deeper into the forest. There they learn to construct outdoor fireplaces out of wet sand and cobble stones, catch and cook their own meals, and practice environmental stewardship by leaving their campsites clean. Later in the season, visitors—including nostalgic fathers who eagerly throw themselves into camp life alongside the children—arrive to observe the boys' progress.

The summer draws to a close with high-stakes track meets, elaborate theatrical shows using scrap costumes, and an formal awards ceremony where cups and medals are distributed. As packing begins, chaos ensues as boys struggle to fit their belongings back into trunks. The book concludes with the quiet, reflective journey back to the city on an overnight sleeper train, as Biddy and the faculty proudly return a healthier, more independent group of boys to their waiting parents.

How It Unfolds

The voyage begins Excited boys pore over equipment catalogs and shop for leather athletic goods before braving the chaotic train depot with their anxious parents. Once the train departs for Maine, the children shed their stiff collars and begin adjusting to life away from home.

Settling into the wild The campers adjust to sleeping four to a tent and adhering to a strict schedule of bugle calls. They trade indoor baths for refreshing dips in the lake, learn to write letters home, and conquer early bouts of homesickness.

Sports and outdoor skills The summer progresses into active athletic programming, including wrestling bouts, track events, and boating techniques across various watercraft. Overnight wilderness trips teach the boys to build stone fireplaces, cook meals over open flames, and care for the surrounding forest.

Evening camaraderie and visitors Nights feature campfire sing-alongs, indoor board games, and student-led vaudeville performances. Parents and adult visitors arrive at camp, with some grown men happily shedding their business attire to join the boys in swimming and rowing.

The final curtain The season culminates in competitive track finals, prize distributions, and a camp-wide theatrical play staged with homemade crepe-paper costumes. Trunks are packed, and the boys board the night train back home, returning to the city transformed by the summer.

The People

Biddy (Alexandra G. Lockwine) The camp nurse and author, who acts as a warm, maternal figure for the campers. She comforts homesick boys, helps them dictate letters home, bandaged their injuries, and watches over their personal growth with quiet pride.

Jimsey A young, tender-hearted camper experiencing his first time away from home. Overwhelmed by "himevay" (homesickness), he dictates a touching letter to his mother asking her to visit, while learning to grit his teeth and adapt to tent life.

The Adult Visitor A weary city businessman who visits the camp and temporarily reverts into a joyful, big-hearted boy. He sleeps in the same basic tents, eats the simple food, assists the younger boys with their chores, and leaves thoroughly rejuvenated by the experience.

The Camp Director and Instructors The dedicated leadership team responsible for supervising the boys. They manage the daily routine, direct athletic training, participate good-naturedly in silly evening skits, and maintain order with steady patience.

In Its Own Voice

"Right under the surface the love for the open prevails so strongly, that every little while a man who has been brought up according to our standards breaks loose, takes to the road and lives a life of freedom..."

— Biddy introduces the innate human urge to abandon city comforts for the outdoors.

"I don't want to come home, but, mother, if you are passing this way, won't you stop in for a little while?"

— Young Jimsey dictates his raw, homesick thoughts during his first week in the woods.

"Wouldn't it be nice if we just tried to leave the woods and shore as nearly like we found it, not an eyesore, but a pleasure to go back to again?"

— The author reflects on environmental respect during an overnight camping outing.

What It's Really About

Beneath its cheerful chronicle of summer athletics and tent living, the book is a thoughtful critique of modern urban living. Lockwine argues that the "thin veneer of civilization"—represented by cramped brick apartments, overprotective parenting, and rigid schedules—suppresses a child’s natural need for wild spaces and physical exertion. The narrative explores how independence is cultivated not through harsh discipline, but through communal responsibility, exposure to nature, and the freedom to make small mistakes. It champions a progressive approach to youth development that balances structured play with emotional warmth.

Why Read It Today

Camping offers a delightfully vivid period piece that captures the birth of the American summer camp tradition at the turn of the twentieth century. Readers interested in historical social customs, childhood education, or early environmentalism will appreciate Lockwine’s observant, humorous tone. Her voice is remarkably direct, free from stiff Victorian sentimentality, and filled with genuine affection for her young charges.

The book's minor hurdles include early 1910s phrasing, occasional digressions into period pop culture references, and brief dated cultural comparisons typical of its era. However, these elements do not diminish the overarching warmth of the text. What stays with the reader is the enduring psychology of youth—the pride of learning to swim, the ache of first-time homesickness, and the lasting bond forged by shared adventures around a campfire.