Collection 330 in the Evangelism & Mission Archives is the Records of Moody Memorial Church, one of the oldest and largest independent churches of Chicago, Illinois. Part of that collection is Photo Album VI, an old and dilapidated scrapbook with this introduction pasted onto its inside front cover:

THIS BOOK OF PICTURES REPRESENTING THE FRESH AIR WORK OF THE Moody Sunday School (during the years between 1903 and 1905) is presented to the Moody Sunday School and to be kept where the officers and teachers of the Sunday School may have access.

The pictures were taken by G. P. Rockwell who at that time was Superintendent of the Fresh Air work under the direction of A. F. Gaylord who was Supt. of the Sunday School. The book was made by Mr. Rockwell and after many years of care, become the property of the Moody Sunday School. The book is very dear to his heart and many pleasant memories could be recalled through the pictures and the wonderful fellowship of the School and dear Mr A. F. Gaylord.

Needy boys and girls were selected by Mrs. A. F. Gaylord for the occasion of a vacation out in the country. Groups of about 75 were taken on the Northwestern Railroad to Ravinia, Ill. and Glencoe, Ill. Each group was kept there under the care of a competent Christian workers for about two weks [sic]. Then they were carried back to the city much to their worrow [sic]. Often another group would take their place and thus the work was carried on during the entire summer,

Physical training were given the boys and girls daily. Big, hikes were given the groups each week end sometimes daily. Occasionaly [sic] they were given a taffy pull or hay ride to Fort Sheridan but every day they were taken to the lake where they splashed and ran and were taught to swim. Each child was given some work to do about the home and every one of them looked forward to the night time when they gathered for their evening devotions before going to bed. Thank God many found the Christ at the Camp for the General Supt. Mr Gaylord insisted that the spiritual work should come first.

Starting in the late 1870s, many “fresh air” programs for children in urban poverty were established throughout the United States. Sponsored by suburban cities or local newspapers, as well as churches and mission organizations, these programs organized visits for children living in U.S. cities to the fresh air of the suburbs and country, usually for two weeks, although some ran longer. Moody Church’s fresh air work began with a special trip promoted by their Sunday School Association to a suburban estate in the summer of 1899. The success of that venture led to a series of one and two week trips the following summer. By the second year of the program in 1901, their Fresh Air Camps hosted more than 206 children from June to August.

Although these scrapbook pictures have no captions, they nevertheless provide a glimpse into the striking contrasts between the life of the city and the country at the turn of the 19th century. As one Moody Sunday School worker argued, “It is because the officials of this church and Sunday School recognize that ‘a holiday by the Lake,’ is one of childhood’s rights that the work of the Fresh Air Camp is continued from year to year” (Moody Church News, May 1923).

Similar to other early fresh air programs, Moody Church first hosted their camps on suburban estates, where facilities often had to be stretched to house the children. By the 19th century, and especially the post-war era, this impromptu camp setting had given way to two different trends in fresh air work – the model of individuals or small groups hosted by suburban families and that of established camps in more remote or ‘wilderness’ locations. Around 1914, Moody Church moved their fresh air work from the suburbs of Chicago to their newly acquired campground “Restawhile,” in scenic Cedar Lake, Indiana.

By 1924, increased financial difficulties for the church temporarily closed use of the Cedar Lake campground. The Sunday School moved the focus of their summer outreach back to the city, expanding their local Vacation Bible Schools program, which ran every weekday from June to August at the Chicago Ave Church. When the Cedar Lake camp re-opened in 1925 under the new management of three Moody Church elders, the fresh air program was integrated with the Sunday Schools’ existing Vacation Bible School program and the annual family and children’s camps at Cedar Lake.

For more on the many outreach programs of Moody Church, browse the finding aid for Collection 330: Records of Moody Church. You can also explore additional collections documenting the history of Christian camping and outdoor ministries through the records of Christian Camping International, Pioneer Ministries, Honey Rock Camp, and InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, among others.