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Seattle City Light Skagit Youth Camp Records, 1991-1996

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Seattle City Light
Title
Seattle City Light Skagit Youth Camp Records
Dates
1991-1996 (inclusive)
Quantity
1 cubic foot, (3 boxes)
Collection Number
1208-03
Summary
Records relating to the Skagit Youth Camp run by Seattle City Light, 1991-1996, including memoranda, reports, promotional materials, and meeting minutes. Camper recruitment, program proposals, finances, and staff are among the subjects covered.
Repository
Seattle Municipal Archives
Seattle Municipal Archives
Office of the City Clerk
City of Seattle
PO Box 94728
98124-4728
Seattle, WA
Telephone: 2062337807
Fax: 2063869025
archives@seattle.gov
Access Restrictions

Records are open to the public.

Languages
English
Sponsor
Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.
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Historical Note

Seattle City Light provides electricity and electrical and conservation services to its public and private customers. It is the largest public utility in the Pacific Northwest. Public responsibility for electrical energy dates to 1890 with creation of the Department of Lighting and Water Works. In 1902, Seattle voters passed a bond issue to develop hydroelectric power on the Cedar River under the administration of the Water Department. Electricity from this development began to serve Seattle in 1905. A City Charter amendment in 1910 created the Lighting Department. Under the leadership of Superintendent James D. Ross, the department developed the Skagit River hydroelectric project, which began supplying power in 1924. Both public and private power were supplied to Seattle until 1951 when the City purchased the private electrical power supply operations, making the Lighting Department the sole supplier. The Boundary Project in northeastern Washington began operations in 1967 and supplied over half of City Light's power generation. By the early 21st century, approximately ten percent of City Light's income came from the sale of surplus energy to customers in the Northwest and Southwest with the remainder of City Light's financial support coming from customer revenue. The current name of the agency was adopted in 1978 when the Department was reorganized.

The Skagit Youth Camp was operated by Seattle City Light's Community Relations Division under Director Mary D. McKinney between 1991 and 1996. The program was a response to Mayor Norm Rice's directive to city departments to maximize resources on behalf of the city's youth. Each year, the program operated seven five-day summer camp sessions for economically disadvantaged, "at-risk" youth (ages eight to fourteen) from Seattle and the Skagit Valley.

The camp utilitized City Light facilities at Newhalem and Diablo and aimed to contribute to the mental and physical well-being of the children by providing them with outdoor recreation and living experience, as well as educating them in environmental awareness. Activities included hiking, swimming, canoeing, sports, drama, and arts and crafts, as well as drug and alcohol awareness. The Skagit Youth Camp also participated in the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Summer Food Service Program, serving breakfast, lunch, and a snack to qualifying children five days a week during the summer months.

The camp was headed by the Camp Director, who oversaw its operation through an On-Site Director, Program Leader, Health Services Coordinator, Administrative Specialist, and seven camp counselors. In 1997, operation of the Skagit Youth Camp was transferred to the Department of Parks and Recreation due to budget problems. The Parks Department ran the summer camp for one season; it was discontinued the following year.

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Content Description

The Seattle City Light Skagit Youth Camp records include administrative records, meeting minutes, correspondence, memoranda, end-of-season reports, and promotional materials. Camper and counselor evaluations, parent handbooks, and correspondence from parents and campers are also included. Issues covered include program proposals and development, enrollment, fundraising, camper qualifications and recruitment, staffing and organizational structure, budgeting, the Summer Food Service Program, and the transfer of the camp to the Parks Department.

The 1990 edition of the American Camping Association's Standards Organizer for Day and Resident Camps is also included; this publication serves as a tool for organizing the materials necessary to achieve camp accreditation. It covers standards for personnel, site and facilities, aquatics, health care, and various other aspects of camp administration. Skagit Youth Camp officials' responses to the standards, as well as relevant information such as correspondence and interview questions, are included.

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Use of the Collection

Preferred Citation

[Item and date], Seattle City Light Skagit Youth Camp Records, Record Series 1208-03. Box [number], Folder [number]. Seattle Municipal Archives.

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Administrative Information

Arrangement

Records are arranged alphabetically by subject.

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Detailed Description of the Collection

The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Campers (Persons)--Washington (State)
  • Camps--Washington (State)
  • Recreation--Washington (State)
  • Youth--Services for--Washington (State)

Corporate Names

  • Seattle (Wash.). Dept. of Parks and Recreation
  • Summer Food Service Program (U.S.)

Geographical Names

  • Skagit River Valley (B.C. and Wash.)

Form or Genre Terms

  • Correspondence
  • Memorandums
  • Minutes

Occupations

  • Camp counselors

Titles within the Collection

  • American Camping Association. Standards organizer for day and resident camps

Other Creators

  • Personal Names

    • McKinney, Mary D. (creator)

Finding aid prepared by Seth Dalby and Shannon B. Lynch
2004

CC Attribution
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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