Before 1928, Hood College rented a small “tumble-down shack” in Yellow Springs for popular camping retreats. According to the Blue and Grey, students used to sleep on the open ground because the shack was too buggy and musty! The girls enjoyed the outings regardless of the rustic conditions but another option was desperately needed. It came to them in 1928 from Dr. Rudolph Rau, whose daughter, Sara Rau, was a student in the Class of 1930.[1] Dr. Rau donated six acres of wooded land called “Puzzlesome Corrected” to the College, located above Rocky Springs and about 6 miles from Frederick City. The camp was named “Camp RAUdy” after its benefactor and, for many years, the name was printed with “RAU” in capital letter. It was also acknowledged that the name “Raudy” refers to the fact that Hood girls relax their “dignity and reserve”[2] while camping.
The Hood College Athletic Association (A. A.) raised the funds to erect a log cabin, which went up within the year. The cabin was built on the wooded hillside with a wide porch that covered two sides of the lodge, a large stone fireplace, and an open room with a balcony built above. Although vastly improved from the “shack” in Yellow Springs, the new cabin was also rustic as it did not have indoor plumbing or electricity.
A popular annual trip was the “Frosh Frolic”, a trip held soon after school began in the fall to acquaint freshmen with Camp RAUdy. The A. A. loaded trucks with freshmen and brought them to the site for an hour of refreshments and singing, with some choosing to stay overnight. Another popular venture was to take morning horse rides to the camp for an early breakfast. Notably, students were allowed to reserve the cabin for their own overnight trips. The College also used the site to teach outdoor education, covering topics such as orienteering and risk/challenge.
As the years went by, the cabin was upgraded with some modern amenities. Electricity was introduced, which allowed for kitchen appliances and electric heaters. In the mid-1970s, Hood even hosted camps at the site during the summer. Campers came from the Rock Creek School, the Francis Scott Key School, and the Victor Cullen Institution.
In the spring of 1979, the cabin at Camp RAUdy caught fire, suffering extensive damage. It is speculated that a homeless person started the fire accidentally, just outside the kitchen wall. The roof, and part of the structure were destroyed, as well as all of the contents. While the cabin was rebuilt, its popularity waned, and the College eventually sold it in 2003.
[1] Blue and Grey, Oct. 16, 1942.
[2] Blue and Grey, Jan. 31, 1930.
