Honoring Our Mission, the Farm Women's Vacation Camp

“The Farm Women’s Vacation Camp” was an extension service provided by Washington State University back in the 1920’s, while the university was still Washington State College. Here, women were empowered and learned important skills such as child development and health improvement. 

WSC wanted to share its important research findings with Washingtonians for the betterment of the state. These camps were inclusive; one print advertisement read, “All farm women in the state are welcome to attend this camp.” To ensure WSC reached as many women as possible, they held camps in different parts of Washington and each one often included a handful of counties. They even organized special trains that transported campers directly to the Pullman camp location. 

To encourage all women to attend, the farm women’s vacation camp was labeled “a real vacation and a genuine good time,” and the opportunity to leave responsibilities at home and jump into new friendships, new knowledge, and community learning gave them exactly that. Most of the teachers for this camp were rural leaders and WSC specialists who volunteered, so the farm women were receiving college-level expertise on subjects like nutrition, child development, sanitary practices, and beautification. Miss Eulalia Belle Alger was among these specialists. She began her role at WSC as a clothing specialist, later became a nutrition specialist, and finally became the assistant director of extension. 

Rooted in Purpose 

Lack of mass production, limited resources, and often isolating circumstances meant that women often had to make their clothing and furnishings by hand. Easy access to medical care and knowledge was limited, so understanding sanitation on a farm was practically life or death. Women had to source and prepare all their family’s meals- often without the convenience of an accessible grocery store. 

The camps focused on teaching practical skills to support these women in their day-to-day lives. During this weeklong event, the farm women were given their own beds to sleep in and had all their meals prepared for them. Aside from educational lectures, they participated in recreational group activities like swimming, athletics, and craft-making. But the best part was that no children were allowed in the camp. That’s right, the camp brochure even advertised the gentle suggestion “that children be left in good care at home or with neighbors” because this was meant to be a rare vacation for these women. 

These women didn’t see the camps as educational; they saw them as an opportunity to better their quality of life and form a community. With all the daily tasks that came with being a homemaker, farm women did not always have spare time to attend social gatherings, let alone a vacation. So not only did the Farm Women’s Vacation Camp assist these women in life and building connections, but it also gave them a break from their daily duties. When groups of women gather regularly, their health and longevity dramatically improve. 

From Camp to Commitment

Because other camps were also held at the same time, the campers would get together at the end of each session for the purpose of teaching each other what they learned about different subjects during their stay. Each camper became an expert on one subject by the end of camp, sharing their new expertise with each other empowered these women not only as homemakers, but as community leaders, reflecting a broader vision of female empowerment.  

For those who were unable to attend a camp, not to worry! To benefit people throughout the state, club songs, stunts, and stories went on to be broadcasted through KWSC, its State College station, along with 78 radio segments focusing on advancements in agriculture and home economics. Additionally, the college released 2,195 agricultural news and feature stories, averaging 183 per month. These efforts were aimed at supporting local farmers and extending a broader reach throughout the state. 

The Farm Women's Vacation Camp is another great example of WSU providing practical education for all, which has been a part of WSU’s mission since 1890. Washington State College went out of its way to educate rural Washington women, provide scholarly inquiry that benefits society, and shared expertise to positively impact the state and communities.