The Holt-Elwell Foundation Era

John Adams’ personal injury, low enrollment, and financial strain forced the sale of Mowglis again in 1962. Adams could have sold to a developer but he wanted to preserve Mowglis as a camp. The death of Col Elwell in 1962 brought together many formidable Mowglis men who forged a plan to save the Camp and […]

The Interlude Years

While the historical record for this period is thin, we know that the Camp was bought and sold twice. Darwin P. Kingsley, III, a former counselor and assistant director, bought the camp from Col. Elwell in 1953. In 1958, Kingsley sold Mowglis to John C. Adams of Wellesley, Massachusetts, an executive with Boy Scouts of […]

The Elwell Era

Col. Alcott Elwell became Assistant Director in 1920 with Mrs. Holt and began to influence the development of the Camp program. His academic and military backgrounds are strongly reflected in the values Mowglis holds today. It was Col. Elwell who formalized “Industries” to develop boys’ in-depth skills in their chosen activities and who added “School […]

The Holt Era

Mrs. Holt focused on designing the program, recruiting staff and boys, blazing trails, and raising dormitories and infrastructure. Most of today’s buildings date from her era. Hiking, singing, watersports, 15-mile walks to Plymouth for haircuts(!), crew and the multiday Long Trip were all features of a boy’s summer, many of which remain. It was also […]

Origins

The establishment of Camp Mowglis was the result of the convergence of the positive experience of a young man at a camp, his mother’s vision, a famous author’s imagination, and association with her friends who knew, loved, and purchased land around a beautiful lake. The camp movement had just begun, promoting vigorous outdoor experiences for […]