The NPS supervised Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) enrollees who developed Recreational Demonstration Areas (RDAs), an innovative program designed to make outdoor recreation available to inner v city residents.  Named for a local creek, the Chopawamsic RDA was quickly abuzz with CCC activity.  Hundreds of men from Pennsylvania, Mississippi, and Virginia lived at three different camps within the park.  They built the roads and the five rustic cabin camps for use by urban youth groups and welfare agencies.  The CCC built the cabin camps using natural materials found in the park as well as materials left behind by relocated residents.

At Chopawamsic, CCC enrollees rose with the bugle every workday at 6:00 am sharp. After dressing and 15 minutes of exercise, they ate breakfast in the camp dining hall.  It often included fruit, cereal, pancakes, eggs, ham and coffee; this was a fine meal for the Great Depression.  Camps were run by Army officers, and the men made their beds and cleaned their barracks before heading to their worksites at 8:00 am.   Whether cutting brush, building stone walls, doing trail maintenance, or putting a roof on a camping cabin, the CCC enrollees worked hard until 4:00 pm.  They did break for lunch, which was usually cold sandwiches, pie, and coffee.  
 
Leisure time for sports or other activities was available after work and before supper.  Each camp had a well stocked recreation hall.  Enrollees had to change into dress uniforms for the evening meal, held between 5:00 and 5:30.  Food was usually plain but filling, with plenty of second helpings available.  Afterwards, enrollees took part in educational or vocational activities.  Every camp had an education coordinator to help enrollees improve their literacy or learn job skills they could use after their service.  After classes, enrollees could do as they wished in camp.  “Lights out” was usually around 10:00 pm, soon after followed by taps.

Three CCC companies were assigned to construct the Chopawamsic RDA.  The hard work of Companies 1374, 2349, and 2383 is visible today.  Their first task was to erect canvas tents while they built their own CCC barracks. Once completed, each CCC camp contained 4 barracks, a recreation hall, mess hall/kitchen, officer’s quarters, an administration building and foreman quarters.  Most of the buildings were heated with coal-burning stoves. More...