1955 was the first year of the Camp Lowden Aquatic School. This was not the National Camping School for
Aquatic Directors; this was a program for boys. The Aquatic School was a three-day weekend for
Explorers only and consisted of canoeing, swimming, and lifesaving. The first year they had Red Cross
lifesaving. The second year the Thompson Canoe people came and finished a canoe during the weekend.
Howard Fox came and taught wilderness survival. The final test was to portage a canoe from the waterfront
to the pool (sounds like a good way to get the canoes brought up from the river!)
There were black patch segments depicting aquatic specialties; in later years the segments were white.
This was a reasonably popular program, but key staff organizers moved on due to graduation, college, etc.,
and the program was ultimately discontinued. The program did continue at least through 1960.
