the same. The aspects of the Valley are always changing. The Farm is above the 

 fog which occasionally drifts up the valley during the night and shows like a great 

 white sea in the morning. It shows vast waves tumbling about in the early sun- 

 light ; they melt away before ten o'clock. The noise of the cars is faintly audible, 

 and they may be seen skimming along like little toys following a white line. 



The Boys' Outing Farm is the outgrowth of the relief work of my mother, 

 Mrs. Bertha M. Rice, among the refugee children of San Francisco after the great 

 fire of 1906. It started by outing trips for a day in the Santa Cruz Mountains. In 

 1907, in response to my mother's pleas, a place of eighty acres in the mountains 

 two miles above Saratoga was bought and paid for by the people of Santa Clara 

 County, by subscription. This is the first instance known where the people of one 

 community have set aside a place for the people of another. The land is held by 

 the Boys' Outing Farm Association, incorporated for this purpose, and is in charge 

 of Mrs. Rice, its founder and executive officer. 



The first summer camp was quite a success. The boys were under the super- 

 vision of two school-teachers. The second summer was good and the equipment 

 was much better. The first two years were devoted to the children of the refugee 

 camps. But as the conditions changed and the camps no longer existed, the chil- 

 dren have since come through the schools and various institutions. The third and 

 fourth years saw important changes in the work and the addition of a swimming- 

 pool and other improvements. Mrs. Rice superintended the work during the third 

 summer and has since continued to do so. 



The work of the Boys' Outing Farm is not generally understood. This is the 

 first time that the work has been authentically set before the public. 



During the first few years the Farm attracted favorable attention all over the 

 coast. But the institution has never sought notoriety, and for that reason has not 

 received the support which its merits should command. For in health, widened 

 outlook and inspiration its benefits to the boys of the city are incalcuable. 



The buildings are but temporary structures for use in the summer until more 

 permanent ones can be erected. They comprise two small cottages ; one is occupied 

 by Mrs. Rice and her secretary, and one is for the employees. The others are a 

 kitchen and bathrooms, two storehouses and a dining pavilion. There are also 

 lavatories and a barn. A fine concrete swimming-pool and a wading-pool are down 

 near the creek, and at the base of the big hill in back, the Greek Amphitheatre is 

 being built. 



In the spring a colony of tents spring up, and in these the boys live. Al- 

 though the camping season is confined to the summer months, we entertain a few 

 children at other times during the year. We frequently arrange holiday excursions 

 for the children of various institutions, and many schools and clubs have been en- 

 tertained at the Farm. Camping privileges were extended to the Boy Scouts of 

 San Francisco and San Jose during 1910 and 1911, and at the close of our regular 

 season similar privileges are occasionally extended to needy families and insti- 

 tutions. 



The eighty-acre tract is mostly wooded hillside, containing two picturesque 

 canyons, but there are several acres of orchard and cleared land. We have cherries, 

 plums, prunes and walnuts for the use of the camp. 



Many of the old orchard trees are being removed, and will be replaced. 



An abundant water supply is one of our most valuable assets. 



The lack of funds makes progress slow in improving the place. The work 

 thus far has relied on the support of the public by subscription, and this has been 

 barely sufficient to pay expenses during the summer. 



The institution is no longer an experiment, and the time has come when per- 

 manent improvements of a substantial nature should be made, to make the place 

 useful the year round. We therefore desire the influence and aid of all who are 

 interested in work of this kind, which the Boys' Outing Farm has done so well. 



