The working starts around six o’clock when the sun pokes above the horizon. Since the camp is right at the site we can start digging at around 7:00, after a breakfast of granola and powdered milk. The temperature remains rather cool until 9:00am or so when the sun really starts to bake us. Daytime temperatures average around 120F. At sunset someone starts up the stove for dinner and work will slowly come to a close. After dinner some will stay to read in the library tent or write in their journals. At day’s end I’ll go back to my tent, set up my cot and sleep outside under the stars. Sometimes I can even see the Andromeda Galaxy.

--- 11/3/97, Rud Sadlier to Mrs. McIver’s 1^st grade, Roosevelt School

What do you eat?

For breakfast we usually have granola made with powdered milk, dried fruit, and instant coffee or hot chocolate. We have lots of snacks --- granola bars, crackers, beef jerky. For lunch we eat leftovers from dinner the night before. For dinner we have either rice, pasta or couscous topped with some kind of sauce. To make the sauce we use soup mixes, dehydrated vegetables and spices.

Everyone takes turns cooking. Most of the time it’s really good but every once in a while it’s not that great – like the time two cooks tried to thicken their stew with garlic powder!

--- 11/6/97, Gabrielle Lyon to Ms. Kenner’s 6^th graders, Triumphant School

Where do you go to the bathroom?

This is what our bathroom looks like. (see letter)

Sometime people don’t dig their holes deep enough so you have to be careful where you step! Our shower is a bag or water with a sprinkler.

--- 11/13/97, Jeff Ogradnik to Ms. Marinier’s 5^th graders, Sward School

How do you see without electricity?

Even though we don't have electricity we have some lights. We have solar-powered batteries and a few solar powered lamps. When the moon is out we don't even need flashlights to find our way around camp!

--- 11/6/97, Allison Beck to Mrs. Lesher’s 5^th grade, University of Chicago Lab Schools