Code,110003
Subject,Ronald F. Dodson
Date,4/24/2010
Interviewer,"Erin Bell, Joshua Hill, Jonathan Nash, Chris Jenkins"
Abstract,"Ronald F. Dodson attended Camp Mueller in 1957 and 1958, at age nine and ten.  Dotson lived in the Rawlings neighborhood and credits his Camp Meuller experience with promoting his lifelong love of the outdoors.  Dotson discusses his memories of camp, the rain that spoiled his second year,  and the excitement of getting ready to attend camp.  He also recalls the anxiety that he felt at being away from home for the first time and the experience of getting to know fellow campers, lessons that helped him with other life experiences.  Dotson calls Camp Mueller the ""best known secret"" in Cleveland, noting that he did not realize until recently how many other children in the city had attended camp.  He urges people to support camps and parks that allow inter city children to experience nature."
Special Notes,
minutes:,
0,"intro, Ronald F. Dodson, born 1948 in Cleveland,"
1,lived at 79th and Rawlings in 1957 when first at Camp Mueller
2,"playground and other social activities in neighborhood, counselors and playground attendants hired by city"
3,attended camp two years at age 9 and 10
4,"sent by Mother to camp with his sister and a cousin, not sure who decided they should go"
5,"mosquitoes and rain discouraged Dotson to come back a third year, but enjoyed the outdoors"
6,"went out hiking by himself away from cabins, ""I thought I was in heaven with all these woods."""
7,"being stuck in a cabin during rain, nice to be away from city, but did not have enough to do inside during rain, hard to keep eight year olds busy indoors"
8,length of camp sessions
9,"preparing for camp, list of items campers should bring, excitement of getting ready,"
10,"being dropped off at Phyllis Wheately, excitement at seeing big yellow bus, anxiety at leaving family"
11,"good feelings overrode the bad, adventure of the unknown"
12,"not able to sleep the night before camp, first experience at being in an open environment, no buildings or fences, no traffic noise.  ""the beginning of my love affair with the Cleveland Metroparks."" spent the rest of childhood going out to the parks as often as possible"
13,""""
14,"joined the Boy Scouts to camp, camping at South Chagrin reservation with a friend and no adults, love of outdoors"
15,"saw article re Camp Mueller reunion, posted on Facebook and found other friends who had attended Camp Mueller,"
16,"dining experience at camp, long walk to dining hall, good food, open air promotes appetite"
17,"sleeping arrangements, cabins, tents"
18,"no radio or TV or video games, kids played outdoors all summer, at home or camp"
19,""""
20,"encouraged to write letters home, coached by counselors on content of letters"
21,"athletic activities more for older, bigger kids"
22,"competition between cabins, campfires at night, cabin raids by older kids"
23,"quiet nights, kids were tired so slept well, even with mosquitoes"
24,"wildlife, mostly amphibians, no four legged animals,"
25,"friendships made at camp usually did not continue at home, kids came from all over city, did not attend same schools"
26,importance of promoting parks and outdoors to inner city kids
27,"asked to rate modern camp, Dotson admits he does not know enough about currant camp to rate, but gives a 7.5 based on what he sees."
28,"socialization at camp similar to basic training in Air Force, thrown in with group of strangers,finding out how to get along with other campers, respect for persons and property"
29,""""
30,"Camp experience taught him how to get along with all kinds of people,"
31,"element of rejection, felt like he was being sent away by mother"
32,"reiteration of list of items needed for camp, and how to identify them"
33,"Camp Mueller seemed to be an open secret, no advertising on radio or paper, but ""everybody seemed to know about it."""
34,"attended St. Andrews, church may have promoted the camp"
35,feelings and thoughts at seeing camp again after fifty years
36,"Dotson had forgotten about camp until he saw advertisement for reunion and interviews, return of memories of camp"
37,documentary on CVNP jogged memories of camp
38,"noisier at camp due to encroachment of civilization, remembers camp at more quiet and full of natural sounds"
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