UMP – Unit Maintenance Project
By Pati Egan
Each unit had a little job they were responsible for doing each day. This was called the Unit Maintenance Project. It was felt that if the campers took ownership of performing a daily task, they would be more likely to take care of Camp’s property. These were not hard jobs and usually a different cabin of Campers in the unit did the task each day. This was usually done after lunch. The philosophy of this is noted in the old Souvenir Books.
Projects that were included were cleaning the Chapel, sweeping the old walkways between the Chapel and the Dining Hall, and picking up trash, and sweeping the paths by the Administration Building, plus other projects.
Unit Leaders would have to supervise this project. Just like now, the Unit Leaders were very busy and needed a break after lunch. In the 1980s it was decided to add this into the schedule as a half hour activity. It was combined with an extra half hour swim period. This way every unit was guaranteed at least one swim period a day and the Campers were taught responsibility for a section of Camp.
Every day that the Unit Maintenance Project was completed earned the Unit two points toward the Golden Arrowhead.
Some of you may remember a similar project called Unit Improvement. This was done weekly and was in the schedule. To encourage the campers to do a good job, 10 points would be awarded toward the Golden Arrowhead. These two activities combined would earn the unit 20 points. All units did these projects; all Units earned these points.
Campers did take pride in doing these tasks. The spirit of keeping Camp looking good has carried on to this day. I don’t think the campers do the Unit Maintenance Project anymore, but Camp is always amazingly clean all of the time. The Units always look sharp. Heepwah to those who set the groundwork for keeping Camp free of litter and looking sharp – today’s campers are carrying on this tradition.
Back in the day it was called Unit Maintenance Project – today it is called Stewardship
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