Our Books

“Mighty Oaks from Little Acorns Grow is a wonderful, readable history of a summer camp that has been a beloved Midwest institution for many generations. Just as important, however, is the story this book tells of the development of the camping movement in America, of which Acorn Camp was an important part.” —Nancy Kriplen, author The Eccentric Billionaire John D. MacArthur—Empire Builder, Reluctant Philanthropist, Relentless Adversary, now available as an e-book

"[The] book [is] a rich, multidimensional story of a family and its time and place—and in the larger context of day camps and hands-on stuff for kids of all ages to enrich their lives." —Steve Wainwright

Books: Cultural History

In 1933, young Herb Sweet and his wife-to-be Dee began the first day camp in America. They built it into a national camping institution, which through 1977 gave over 15,000 Indiana youngsters unique experiences, teaching them to cherish nature and the planet. Herb and Dee became civic leaders in Indianapolis and were among the first live performers on pioneering TV channels. Herb’s “Try It” syndicated craft columns were enjoyed by nine million young readers. This lovingly told story recreates the tale of the lives of two people and a camp that was one of a kind and which became a template for hundreds of other day camps in the nation.