Index of articles for Girls and Boys Camps in Washington County PA Genealogy and Family History

Focusing on the lives of any person or family who has lived in Little Washington, Washington County, Pennsylvania at anytime throughout history to recent times, through data and family stories.

Camps in and around
Washington County, PA

Index to Camps

Summertime, summertime! Time for fireworks, sleepovers, and camping out--or if you're a lucky girl or boy, you might enjoy a summer-long camp experience with your peers.

Residential summer camps began in the USA in the 1800s as a way to re-connect boys with manly endeavors and for the physical benefits of nature. At least as early as 1900, community activists in Washington County Pennsylvania began working on the needs of city and rural youths.

Kennedy Crumrine presided over the first planning meeting for forming a YMCA on April 21, 1890, with J. M. McBurney, secretary. In the group's first endeavor, two members (male) from each church were asked to join forces to encourage membership. Within a few months, on November 4, 1890, women of Washington created the 'Women's Auxillary of the Washington Young Men's Christian Association'. By 1909, Miss Etta Reed (Mrs. Lloyd W.) Mowery and Miss Jane Hobbs secured help from two members (female) of each church to elicit interest in creating a YWCA. The YMCA and YWCA offices occupied many buildings their early years.

However, the YMCA and YWCA camps occupied themselves for 20 years or over 20 years, respectively, in the same rural locations they originally established. The YMCA Camp Buffalo was founded near Taylorstown in Buffalo Township on Buffalo Creek near the site of the old fort, while the YWCA Camp Adelawan was located on a very small tributary of Buffalo Creek near Route 40 West outside of Claysville in Blaine Township. Elsewhere I have written a short description of life at Camp Adelawan; I'm awaiting more information to write about Camp Buffalo.

The year after (1946) Camp Adelawan opened in 1945, Camp Wahoot made a "gift" to Camp Adelawan of an outdoor barbeque with chimney on which they embedded a dedication plaque (see picture). Nothing is known about Camp Wahoot, but some local people call it "Camp Wahooey". Possibly Wahoot was a nickname for Camp Buffalo?

Sources:
The Washington Reporter, Washington PA, 150th Anniversary Edition, Friday, August 15, 1958, Section III, Page 22, "Local YWCA To Mark 50th Year in 1959".
The Washington Reporter, Washington PA, 150th Anniversary Edition, Friday, August 15, 1958, Section II, Page 33, "YMCA Established Here In 1890".

Note: I'm seeking factual information from newspapers and records, as well as seeking *your* memories about these camps so that I give a well-rounded presentation about the camps. If you want to contribute anything about a camp, please email me.

Camps in and around Washington County, PA

Index to Camps

Camps in and around
Washington County, PA