A Manufactured Wilderness: Summer Camps and the Shaping of American Youth, 1890-1960

by Abigail A. Van Slyck

Book Overview

Since they were first established in the 1880s, children's summer camps have touched the lives of millions of people. Although the camping experience has a special place in the popular imagination,... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 081664876X
• ISBN13: 9780816648764
• Release Date: October 2006
• Publisher: University of Minnesota Press
• Length: 296 Pages
• Weight: 2.30 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 8.8" x 8.9"

Customer Reviews

Fascinating. It's just a shame it stops at 1960.

This is a book about the history of summer camps in the United States, with an emphasis on architecture and camp planning, that would be enjoyed by anyone who has been a summer camper or staffer and should be required reading for camp board members & camping professionals. Among other things, the book describes how in the early days leaders would just take kids out into a field on someone's farm and they would set up camp; as time went on structures were made more and more permanent. Also, huge, centralized camps gave way to smaller community groups scattered within the larger camp, a change in camping philosophy that was reflected in camp layouts. The chapter on Native Americans and "Playing Indian" is especially excellent. CONTENTS: Introduction: Summer camps and the problem of modern childhood -- Putting campers in their place : camp landscapes and changing ideas of childhood -- Fun and games : the serious work of play -- Housing the healthy camper : tents, cabins, and attitudes toward health -- Feeding an army : mealtime rituals at camp -- Good and dirty? : girls, boys, and camp cleanliness -- Living like savages : tipis, council rings, and playing Indian -- Epilogue: Summer camps, modern architecture, and modern life.

Camping is More than a Tent

We think, A Manufactured Wilderness should be required reading for any person who is considering spending their life in the field of camping. Selected parts would also be helpful reading for agency camp boards to help them see their camp in a broader context. This book is camp history, illustrated with pictures and landscapes, that will remind readers of the beginnings and changes in camping prior to 1960. We commend this book. It should be on the library shelves of every school that teaches camp courses. The 7000 plus camps in the US plus those in other countries should have access to this marvelous and rich history that is written across all camping boundaries as a reminder of a rich heritage. The camping experience may be more valuable now in its many forms than it has ever been. This is a treasure of a book.