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CENTENARY NATIONAL CAMP - 1957
DOE LAKE, PARRY SOUND, ONTARIO
On February 22nd 1857, Robert Stephenson Smyth Baden-Powell was born, 100 years later, millions of boys and girls celebrated the Centenary Year of the Founder of the Boy Scouts and Girl Guides.
In 1954, at the World Conference in the Netherlands, it was agreed upon that 1957 would be celebrated by 4 World Camps. Canadian Girl Guides extended an invitation along with the Philippines, Switzerland and Great Britain.
From all parts of Canada and from 40 other countries of the world there were 1,600 girls assembling on the 8th of August, 1957 at Doe Lake, Provincial Training Centre, Parry Sound, Ontario. The theme of the camp was "World Friendship" to help girls continue to enlarge their vision of Girl Guiding and Girl Scouting.
The opening ceremonies were brief, but impressive. A group of Guides from each of the 41 countries took their places at a signal and stood at the base of the tall flagpoles which carried their nation's flag. At a single word of command, each delegation tugged at her rope and the flags blew out in a blaze of colour. Once the flags were unfurled, 1,600 girls gathered in a circle and the World Flag was raised by a Canadian Guide, an honor reserved for a representative of the nation hosting.
Mrs. W. Rankine Nesbitt, Chief Commissioner officially opened camp, in the center of the circle of Guides, she spoke of how great things have small beginnings, and International friendships were being formed at Doe Lake that would contribute to world peace. Special guest, Countess E. Bernadotte Vice-President of the World Association addressed the girls on just how alike the people of all nations were.
Evening of camp was opened with a ceremonial campfire, as a symbol of friendship Guides from every country brought a piece of wood with them to place in the fire. A Canadian girl from Vancouver used a piece of wood brought back from the Philippines World Guide Camp to light the 1st Doe Lake campfire and 40 other guides followed with wood from their own countries in a show of peace and friendship.
Camp was divided into 4 sub-camps named after Indian tribes, Micmac, Iroquois, Cree and Bella Coola. These sub-camps were then divided into units and then patrols. Every camper had the opportunity to swim, canoe, go on out-trips to Algonquin Park, and trail hiking and short overnight trips. Girls were given an opportunity to look closely at things ‘Canadian', artificial skating rink, RCMP officers', native Canadian animals, maple sugar bush, with its taps and trees and courtesy of a Canadian farmer they got to sample real Canadian Maple sugar.
As a memento of this camp each Guide at camp received a Guide doll. Guide dolls were dressed and presented by Guides not camp. Details of each uniform conform to regulations for each country of origin.
As the camp came to a close 1,600 girls would take home with them a special place in their hearts for Doe Lake and for the friends that they made.
Sources used: Girl Guide Supplement to Huntsville Forester, Thursday Aug. 15th 1957
National Camp Reports, 1957. GGC-Archives Box 52 |
