Some 361 children have been having the time of their lives this summer at the first four two-week sessions of Camp Hallinan, in Athens.

The 80-acre facility, named in memory of the late Archbishop Paul J. Hallinan, is sponsored and operated by St. Joseph’s parish. The camp was organized by the Parish’s Social Action Committee.

The camp was established to provide a creative educational experience in cooperative, egalitarian group living in the out-of-doors for disadvantaged children of the Athens area. It utilizes the resources of the natural surroundings for recreation, group living, education and social adjustment.

Camp Hallinan is an inter-racial, inter-denominational summer day camp which is open to all boys and girls between the ages of 6 and 15.

Facilities, which was originally developed by Father Dale Freeman, consist of 80 acres of woods, a one-acre lake for swimming and boating, several baseball and activity fields, and permanent buildings for indoor activities.

Supervision is provided by camp director Susan Evans, and seven counselors including a registered nurse and waterfront doctor. The regular staff is supplemented with volunteer counselors as well as parishioners whose special interests or training help broaden specific aspects of the camp program.

Professional counselors from seven states who are enrolled in an advanced NDEA Institute in Guidance and Counseling at the University of Georgia this summer are providing daily counseling services to children at Camp Hallinan. Each day 12 counselors, all with master’s degrees and counseling experience in public schools, visit the camp to work with a variety of campers in small group sessions, usually composed of seven youngsters.

The camp is also privileged to have the volunteer services of Dr. William Boardman, director of the Psychology Clinic at the University of Georgia. Early in each camp session he discussed the children with special problems with the camp counselors and offers suggestions on how they can best be handled.

The total cost for each two-week session is $2.90, which includes 40 cents to pay for milk. Lunches are provided for children who cannot furnish their own. The children are provided with free transportation to and from the camp daily on a bus loaded to the camp by St. Mary’s School, Anderson, South Carolina.

Like most church camps, Camp Hallinan is in need of funds for its development and continuance. Any donations can be sent to Camp Hallinan, 134 Prince Avenue, Athens, Georgia 30601.