Camps

United Community Services Special Programs Department Records

drice — Fri, 25 Apr 2014 15:47:16 -0400

The United Community Services of Metropolitan Detroit has its origins in the establishment of the Detroit Community Union in 1917. The Union was reorganized into the Council of Social Agencies of Metropolitan Detroit in 1932, and merged with the Detroit Community Chest in 1951 to become the United Community Services (UCS). UCS operated alongside the United Way for Southeastern Michigan (United Foundation until 1989), which was primarily a fundraising organization. They merged to form the United Way Community Services in 1995, which merged with the United Way for Oakland County to become the United Way for Southeastern Michigan in 2005. UCS was an umbrella organization for a wide range of social welfare agencies in the Metropolitan Detroit area, and sought to promote social services (including child care, family, health, recreation, and community planning) through the centralized planning, coordinating, and budgeting of those agencies. The Special Programs Department oversaw UCS program initiatives and programs that were not necessarily related to other existing UCS departments or which were not permanent additions to UCS programs, such as temporary initiatives and special summer programs. The Special Programs Department consisted of, at various times, the Metropolitan Camp Council, the Volunteer Action Center, the Metropolitan Detroit Coalition for Blood Pressure Control, the Summer Programs department, and unemployment and work experience projects.

The United Community Services Special Programs Department Records consist mostly of correspondence, minutes, and reports related to the Metropolitan Camp Council and general campership initiatives, in addition to information regarding special summer programs. Included in the collection are materials from participating camp agencies, such as the Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, and Camp Fire Girls, as well as materials from UCS administrative committees.

Subject Focus: Merrill-Palmer Summer Camp

drice — Thu, 11 Sep 2014 00:00:00 -0400

With the school year now upon us, the Reuther Library presents a look back at summers past as recorded in the Merrill-Palmer collections. As Edna Noble White, first director of the Merrill-Palmer Institute, once said, "The children of a nation are its greatest potential asset." This belief was reflected in the Institute's main role, which was the understanding and interpretation of the individual from birth to adulthood. read more »

The Merrill-Palmer Outdoor Summer Program, Dryden, MI, brochure

drice — Wed, 03 Sep 2014 11:08:55 -0400

Front cover of a brochure for the Merrill-Palmer Summer Camp.

(32324) Horseback riding at Merrill-Palmer Summer Camp

drice — Wed, 03 Sep 2014 09:24:20 -0400

Snapshot of two children readying a horse for riding at the Merrill-Palmer Summer Camp.

(32325) Boy camper at Merrill-Palmer Summer Camp

drice — Wed, 03 Sep 2014 09:40:35 -0400

Snapshot of a boy leaning out his cabin window to water flowers in a window box.

(32326) Swimming at Merrill-Palmer Summer Camp

drice — Wed, 03 Sep 2014 10:23:02 -0400

Snapshot of campers and counselors on the dock watching swimmers in the water of the swimming area on Brooks Lake at Merrill-Palmer Summer Camp.

(32328) Tug-of-War or Raising the Flagpole!; Merrill-Palmer Summer Camp

drice — Wed, 03 Sep 2014 10:35:40 -0400

Snapshot of Merrill-Palmer Summer Camp counselors and campers pulling on a rope.

(32329) Into Brooks Lake, Merrill-Palmer Summer Camp

drice — Wed, 03 Sep 2014 10:40:30 -0400

Child dives into the water of Brooks Lake at Merrill-Palmer Summer Camp.

(32330) The Olympian Games - Archery, Merrill-Palmer Summer Camp

drice — Wed, 03 Sep 2014 10:47:21 -0400

Snapshot of children and a counselor in ancient Greek costume demonstrate archery skills while families look on.

(32332) Group photograph, Merrill-Palmer Summer Camp, 1938

drice — Tue, 02 Sep 2014 16:34:48 -0400

Group shot of counselors and campers attending the Merrill-Palmer Summer Camp in 1938.

(32333) Three Boys in Tent, Merrill-Palmer Summer Camp

drice — Wed, 03 Sep 2014 14:00:00 -0400

Snapshot of three boys in the entrance of a tent at the Merrill-Palmer Summer Camp.

(32334) Counselor Reads to Boys in Cabin, Merrill-Palmer Summer Camp

drice — Wed, 03 Sep 2014 14:05:11 -0400

A counselor reads to boys in their cabin before lights out at the Merrill-Palmer Summer Camp.

(32335) Roasting Marshmallows on a Campfire, Merrill-Palmer Summer Camp

drice — Wed, 03 Sep 2014 14:12:28 -0400

Girls stand around a campfire roasting marshmallows at Merrill-Palmer Summer Camp.

(32336) Counselors and Campers on the Grounds, Merrill-Palmer Summer Camp

drice — Wed, 03 Sep 2014 14:25:15 -0400

Counselors hold hands with campers as they make their way through the cabin grounds at the Merrill-Palmer Summer Camp.

(32338) Family Camp, Merrill-Palmer Summer Camp, Boy Playing Trumpet

drice — Wed, 03 Sep 2014 10:55:52 -0400

Boy playing the trumpet at the Merrill-Palmer Summer Family Camp.

(32342) Counselor and Campers Meet Outside Cabin, Merrill-Palmer Summer Camp

drice — Wed, 03 Sep 2014 14:16:27 -0400

A counselor leads a group of female campers in a daily meeting outside their cabin.

(32345) Arts and Crafts, Merrill-Palmer Summer Camp

drice — Wed, 03 Sep 2014 14:20:38 -0400

Two girls and two female counselors work at an arts and crafts table, sewing leather goods at the Merrill-Palmer Summer Camp.

(32347) A Map of Merrill Palmer Camp Near Leonard Michigan

drice — Wed, 03 Sep 2014 11:02:23 -0400

Copy of a hand-drawn map of the grounds at Merrill-Palmer Summer Camp made by Joan Millington.