Welcome to the Camp Clark website for former campers and their friends and families and all who are interested in the story of the acres of natural beauty
located in Sandwich, Massachusetts. Camp Clark has a long and
interesting history beginning in 1908 as established by the New Bedford
YMCA and known at that time as Sea Breeze and located on the banks of a
river in Westport, Massachusetts at a spot called Barney’s Joy.
In 1928 the camp was relocated to a site on Lawrence Pond in South
Sandwich, Massachusetts. The property was purchased as a result of a
gift from a gentleman by the name of Mr. A. Frank Clark operated as a YMCA overnight camp until 1972 when it was sold to the Cape Cod YMCA
and renamed Camp Lyndon.
The history of Camp Clark has been made possible by the help of former
campers and friends who contributed to the collection of the material that
you see on this site. However, this site would not be possible without
the considerable time and efforts of Wayne A. Griffiths whose love and
devotion to the camp are evident as you go through the website.
Wayne was a former camper from about 1955 until about 1961. After
graduation from high school in 1965, he enlisted in the USAF and became a
medic. After returning from active duty in 1970, Wayne was
convinced that Camp Clark was no longer in existence and upon taking a
meaningful trip to find it, he was thrilled to find it still there.
In about 2007 Wayne set about the work of documenting the camp through
his development of this website. His work continues and as of July
2022, he is working with the Cape Cod YMCA to incorporate the Camp Clark history
website with the Cape Cod YMCA via a website link.
There will be two plaques in the dining hall at Camp Lyndon presented as
a part of the 50th celebration of Camp Lyndon in July 2022 and those
will be commemorating:
* The work of Peter Leonard Mandell as Chairman of his successful “Committee to Save Camp Clark”. and,
* A plaque recognizing the work of Wayne A. Griffiths in establishing the ongoing Camp Clark website.
We will be posting videos of these 2022 presentations on the Camp Clark website.
Thank you for the efforts of all former campers and staff who were involved in saving Camp Clark and its legacy.
Sincerely, Marylou Mandell
A personal note from Wayne. This history of Camp Clark was submitted by Marylou Mandell the wife of Pete Mandell. With Pete's passing on November 12, 2020, at the age of 87, Marylou took up the mantel of ensuring that Pete's work to save the camp was not forgotten. A large portion of the early history details on this website was from Pete's memories and writings. Including a video dating back to the late 1930s early 1940s.
Pete Mandell's Historic Video circa 1930-1940
As Marylou continues to explore Pete's archives of Camp Clark she continues his work by submitting new material for the website.
We all owe a great debt of gratitude to Pete and Marylou Mandell for the history we have gathered.
