Friends of East Campus

The idea of a Freshman Camp first takes form so that students will learn practical fundamentals of camp management and programming. Field Science and Camp Craft become part of the freshman course work

The first overnight Freshman Camp is held in May and the first permanent building, Pukwana Lodge, is erected in October.

The Southwestern style lodge is officially dedicated. Wo Peen presents a program about articles and apparel used in Native American rituals to 300 people. Wo Peen demonstrates some of the dances of his people and chants prayers to the Great Spirit.

The first planting of the “Cathedral of Living Trees” takes place. Trees are planted in the shape of a cross. Today, there still is an evening ceremony during Outdoor Pursuits that occurs at the Cathedral of Living Trees.

Charles B. Frasher becomes the director-teacher of Camp Leadership and Field Science, culminating with the 10-day laboratory phase of the course Freshman Camp.

Throughout the years, Freshman Camp will be held from five to 14 days with students living in small groups in tents.

Hurricane winds blow down thousands of trees at East Campus, equaling 200,000 board feet of lumber. About one-third of the trees are used to build 10 cabins and the rest are sawed into portable lumber and used for repairs on campus.

A total of 21 cabins are completed, built from the lumber from the trees that came down in the 1938 hurricane. Those cabins are used for the following four decades for Freshman Camp.

Massachusetts state teacher certification requirements force the physical education department to drop three classes, including Camp Counseling, which included Freshman Camp. The Camp Counseling course is reduced to two semester hours and Freshman Camp is renamed Outdoor Pursuits and designated as a one-credit course. Camp is reduced to seven to eight days with no day off away from the campsite. No longer an all-college requirement, it still is required by students in the School of Health Physical Education and Recreation, and open to all students on a space-available basis.

A large amount of acreage, including the upper ball field and campsite, is leased to Baystate Diversified Health Systems in order to build Reeds Landing, a continuing care facility. Over the next two years, students at camp plant 500 hemlock trees along the ridge, preserving the natural outdoor look of camp. East Campus adds an outdoor pavilion and challenge course, which are integrated into Outdoor Pursuits.

An October snowstorm hits before most of the leaves fall from the trees, leaving more than $1.2 million worth of damage and threatening the possibility of cancelling Outdoor Pursuits the following spring. East Campus has to close its facilities to outside groups until the more than 500 fallen trees and 1,200 damaged trees could be cleared. Camp is able to reopen in May 2012, just in time for Outdoor Pursuits.

An outdoor restroom and shower facility are built just north of the Southwestern style building thanks to funding spearheaded by the class of 1962, partnerships with several local community organizations, and other alumni and friends of the College.

Numerous supporters, including the class of 1962, raise $20,000 to replace the aging council ring for its 55th Reunion. The new council ring is finished in May in time for Outdoor Pursuits.