These pictures of camp life were published in Life magazine 80 years ago today, August 15, 1938.  They show girls, ages 8-16,  at a camp in Branchville, CT, one of three camps sponsored by the magazine and serving about 500 youth.

The magazine quoted Aubrey Williams, head of the National Youth Administration: “At a time when the youth of many countries is being hoodwinked into easy regimentation, our task here in America is to turn youth away from marching columns and uniforms into pursuits where self-reliance and independent thinking are taught.”

Housing options at the camps were varied. Of the 85 girls at the Connecticut camp, nine were housed in the tepee shown here, while others lived in long houses or covered wagons.

Most of the children served by Life’s camps came from New York, some of whom are shown above arriving by train.