GIRL CITIZENS’ CAMP.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVI, Issue 104, 1 April 1926, Page 7

GIRL CITIZENS’ CAMP.

OPENED AT AWAPUNI TO-DAY,

DOMINION WELL REPRESENTED.

The annual camp of the Dominion Girl Citizens’ movement opened at the Awapuni racecourse to-day and at an early hour this morning Aliss Bridgeman, National Chief Councillor, who will bo in charge of tho camp, assisted by local members, was busily engaged in preparing for tho reception of tho delegates.. The strength of the pamp is expected to attain a total of 85, representatives coming from as lar afield as Whangarei, Auckland, Gisborne, New Plymouth, Wellington, Christchurch and. Dunedin, some of whom will npt actually arrive in' Palmerston North until to-morrow. With the exception of the counsellors, all the campers will he girl citizens between the ages of 14 and 20 and they will ho housed in tho Racing Club buildings. This morning, the region of the stewards’ stand was a litter of stretcher beds, bedding and chattels of all descriptions, bat order was quickly being evolved, and this evening will find the camp in full swing. While tho stewards’ stand will servo as the main sleeping quarters, those members who prefer the open ail- life will have their beds placed on tho balconies and in the main stand itself. The Racing Club has also kindly placed at the disposal of tho campers tho dining hall- under the main stand, together with rooms for administrative purposes and, when interviewed by a “Standard” reporter at the camp this morning, Miss Bridgeman spbko in eulogistic terms of tho grounds and appointments, adding that all that remained to assure the girls enjoying a most pleasant stay was fine weather. While tho latter was not at all promising early this morning, it was hoped that it would be possible for the campers to hold their first camp fire this evening in tho old river bed which adjoins tho grounds. With the ca up established, the delegates will be divided into groups, each of which will select its own leader who will be responsible for the discipline of those under her charge. In addition, various committees will bo formed to attend to such matters as music, hospitality, recreation, health "and cup events, the last-mentioned being in the nature of a championship over tho whole term of the camp, points being allocated for the standard of work revealed.

The mornings will be occupied in Bible study, discussion of the code of the movement, organisation and the making of plans in connection with the incoming year’s activities, while an important feature will be tie leadership training for counsellors. The afternoons will be devoted to sport and recrea'tion, dramatics, story telling, the composition of an original girl citizens’ song, poster cv." wing and uniform parades. A fund of interest is expected in connection with these competitions, and on Saturday evening it is intended to hold cut under the trees in the grounds a dramatisation of a story told by the National- Chief Counsellor on the preceding day, points being allocated for dramatic qualities revealed, intonation, grammar, etc. The art of story-telling is also encouraged, the nature of the story being governed by the ago and sex of the hearer, such being declared by the judge prior to the teller entering upon her task. It is also interesting to note that, in connection with the original song competition, the present song, which is freely used by the movement throughout the Dominion, was the composition of the Wellington delegates at an earlier camp. On Sunday morning it is the intention of the campers- to march in uniform to St. Andrew’s Church, where they will attend Divine Worship, while a visit will be paid to Girls’ Hock House at Awapum later in the week, it being the intention of the campers to institute a system of correspondence’ between the trainees of that institution and the delegates following the latters’ return to their homes. A cordial invitation is extended residents of the town and district to visit the camp any afternoon or evening.