A snack was served each day at 3:45, before the buses were loaded.
In the 60’s through the mid 70’s vanilla ice cream cups (with wooden spoons) and popsicles were most common. Popsicles came in Lime, Banana, Orange, Red, Grape, Three-colour (red,white,blue). Sometimes, Mr. Freeze Pops.
On occasion, fruit was served. Usually plums or watermelon.
Below, Jetsons and Zoolus having popsicles before boarding the buses:
Some other snacks through the years…
Bert beside the newly constructed I-Pool in 1957. Photo is taken at the east end of the pool looking north. In the background, the future nurse’s office is on the right and the Peewee (Muppet) area is to the left.
Campers around the I-Pool on the first day of camp – 1957:
1959:
1960:
1966:
1988:
I-Pool, 1964:
The “Bertmobile” There were actually two. The carts were ca. 1973 Club Car “Caroche” golf carts acquired from Oakdale Gold & Country Club in the late 1970’s. The main cart – #27 – was used most often and is shown in the following photos:
This is the actual notepad clip from the steering wheel of #27 (seen in the photo above and enlarged below): It was removed from the cart after the summer of 1993 and still exists!
Inside the battery compartment:
There were many (at least 50) of these benches made on-site by Fio Parravano and his staff in the late 1950’s. They were used in the Arts & Crafts and Pottery cabins and were also found in most camper cabins as well.
This one was in the photography shed and was autographed by staff in 1982.
More Benches:
The camp ceased operations after the summer of 1993. In 1995, the city demolished many of the camp buildings and features.
The pools were excavated and removed rather than filled in.
The following buildings were demolished:
Kitchen, Outdoor Patio, Nurse’s Building, Locker Room, all pool buildings, all cabin buildings – except one in each unit area, Garages, Jr. & Sr. A&C, Pottery, Photography, Nature.
The following features were demolished:
All treehouses, all playground equipment (except one swing set in the Muppet area) Mini-Golf. the Tennis and Basketball Courts, Outdoor Stage, Baseball Fence.
Remaining Buildings & Features:
Both A-Frames, commando course, paddleball wall, 3 cabin buildings
Of course there is Doug Barr – from 1989 (I’m going to guess that he is singing “Rubber Boots!):
And a music specialist from a few years earlier. On the outdoor stage (with the apparently outdoor piano!):
And a music specialist from a few years earlier. On the outdoor stage (with the apparently outdoor piano!):
By 1990, when these photos were taken, the pools were showing their age. Each year there were repairs required to the concrete structure. Since the pools were not covered during the winter they had to be drained and cleaned each spring. Most years the pools were also painted.
The photos below show the pools in spring 1990 and the work required to prepare them for the summer.
Brand-new camper backpacks from 1993:
These replaced the classic camper bags for the final summer.
In 1992, Jennifer arranged to have the camp featured in an advertising publication called “The Registry.” This is the write-up and photo:
Forest Valley Day Camp 1956 - 1993 
