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North Woods Camp

History

North Woods Camp for boys was purchased and founded in 1929 by The YMCA of Greater Boston. The individuals spear heading the project for the new camp were Gilbert H. Roehrig and Robert T. P. Storer.  Located on the shores of beautiful Lake Winnipesaukee, the camp has 200 acres of forest, fields, and miles of trails and ¼ mile of waterfront with a large sandy beach.

NORTH WOODS CAMP FOR BOYS HISTORY HIGHLIGHTS

1930 31 campers, First Year
1947 65 campers, War Canoe donated by the parents
1948 85 campers, 20th Anniversary
1949 92 campers, built rifle shelter (Now Senior 7), Parent's Day cancelled because of polio epidemic
1950 102 campers, 50 acres of land purchased adjacent to the Senior Section, 3 Beetle sailboates added to fleet, Junior Section LT built
1951 104 campers, sub-committee on long range planning met and recommended 17 projects to improve camp
1952 108 campers - First trips to Pine Island, Senior LT built, Chef's cabin built
1953 117 campers - the 25th year - Glenn Hodgdon's first year as Maintenance Director, Built new cabin in the JR Section, First communication system between the Hall and the Farm House
1954 110 campers - New waterfront dock from Hussey, A hurricane hit and smoe 35 trees were lost, Basketball courts cleared and leveled 
1955 115 campers - Purchase of the Stake Body Truck, which is still in use (as of 1978)
1956 114 campers - New bridge built to replace Horner's Bridge. Merrill recommends that Parents' Visiting Day be established, eliminating free visiting, First telephone line to the Great Hall
1957 112 campers - Purchase of the present Loon (The boat used to shuttle boys to Pine Island), at a cost of $4800
1958 108 campers - 30th year - Forestry Patrol started by Art Seamons.
1959 118 campers - First Mercury sailboat purchased, Tennis bang board built, Farmhouse roof reshingled
1960 Purchase of first aluminum canoes
1962 Acquisition of the Hardie property, first Parents' Day picnic, CIT program initiated
1963 Installation of lightning rods on all buildings, constructionof lower ballfield wall, purchase of the first water-ski boat, a   boston whaler
1964 Kitchen boys' cabin built, addition of Trail 8 cabin
1965 Cherokee built, porch added to senior lodg3e, Landscaping of circle at the Farmhouse
1966 Founders lodge built and dedicated
1967 Land cleared for four tennis courts
1968 New rifle range and Senior 8 added, CIT cabin built, firts use of new tennis courts, Pine Ledge built
1969 Introduction of horseback riding program, with riding ring, trails and stables; P.V.C's first season, basketball court   hardtopped
1970 Purchase of aluminum Waterfront dock, built firewood shed
1971 Lights installed on tennis courts
1972 Rowboat dock built, concrete steps added on Great Hall
1973 Construction of housekeeping cottage for senior section head
1974 Acquisition of a bus for camp trips
1976 Great Hall screened in
1977 Acquisition of new waterski boat with 90 hp engine
1978 Land cleared for new ballfield and program building

 “Life at North Woods is so organized and led as to approximate the best features of a well conducted family.  Every effort has been made to encourage spontaneity, nurture achievement, respect for individual differences, the attainment of excellence in some chosen field and exploration over a wide range of possible interests…”

“ North Woods is dedicated to the task of finding for boys a more healthful balance between the unavoidable disciplines of life and the expression of the boys’ free spirit. “  -Gilbert H.. Roehrig, 1935

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