Seventy Years of Integrated Summer Fun at Mt.

by Debbie Lerman, for the Shuttle

Allens lane art center, celebrating its 70th Anniversary this year, was founded by a group of educators and activists who were committed to social and racial justice. That commitment was reflected in the arts classes offered to children from Germantown and Mt. Airy beginning in 1953, and in its summer camp, which started the same year and was the first integrated summer camp in Philadelphia.

In archival documents recently discovered at the art center, a report on the 1965 camp stated that it had been “widely accepted as an organization of quality by a discerning public.”

It goes on to say that the camp “is truly a service organization concerned with the welfare of people. Its climate of wholesome human relations, the availability of wholesome creative experiences, a well-balanced program with consideration for the cultural as well as the physical aspects of human development, concern about health and safety, the joy of participation, and the furtherance of spiritual values are clearly recognized and generally accepted.”

At the time, the day camp consisted of three divisions: nursery, regular camp and a counselor-in-training program.

Every year since, the camp has served hundreds of children from surrounding neighborhoods, with programs in visual and performing arts for ages five through 13. The CIT program continues to attract young leaders and emerging artists.

Carla Saunders, a CIT from summer 2021, described the camp as her “summer home away from home” since she was five years old. “Only this year, when I became a Counselor-in-Training, did I realize all of the hard work that went into making this camp such an awesome place,” she said, adding, “Allens Lane Summer Art Camp Forever!”

Chloe Collet, another longtime camper, found her passion for acting at Allens Lane, which she attended between ages seven and 13. She starred in four end-of-summer camp productions and “really shined on stage,” according to her mom, Molly. Now 15, Chloe is perusing an acting career and is represented by CESD Talent Agency in New York City. She is also pursuing her acting with a private coach and through education programs at the Atlantic Acting School, also in New York.

For information and registration on this year’s camp, visit allenslane.org/summer-camp.