CAMP DE-LA-SALLE: FROM THE FIRST DREAM TO A SECOND LIFE BY DENIS DE VILLERS
Brother Laurent Hamel, FSC, had a dream, which was to invite young people from urban settings to experience the joy of nature during the summer. In 1952, when Catholic scouting was in full swing and its development was openly supported by ecclesial and political authorities, Camp De-La-Salle had a successful first year in Vaudreuil, Québec. THE HISTORY OF CAMP DE-LA-SALLE THE BEGINNING OF A DREAM Without wasting time, the De La Salle Christian Brothers bought a 35-acre estate with about 15 cottages on the shore of Lake Rouge in Saint-Alphonse-Rodriguez in Lanaudière, Québec. In 1954, 140 young campers took part in the first summer at the permanent site. Recruitment was easy as the vast majority of young people came from schools where the Brothers taught during the year. For many, the camps were an extension of boarding school. Stays were meant to be for a long time (three weeks or the entire summer). The lifestyle and organization were reminiscent of those of the residential school. The daily routine included hygiene, activities, meals and group sports. Morning prayer and
Mass were important parts of the experience. The children were happy and made friendships to last a lifetime. In short order, the camp grounds were expanded in order to welcome more campers and a chapel was built. These young people came from cities, especially from the underprivileged neighborhoods of Montréal and the surrounding areas where the Brothers were present in primary schools, high schools and pre-university institutions. Every Brother who led the camp improved and developed the camp’s facilities. The staff members were all Brothers who taught in schools in Longueuil and Montréal.
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