YMCA Ragger/Leather Program

The YMCA Rag/Leather Program is a daily tool that campers, young people, lay people and YMCA leaders can use to grow personally and in their relationship with God.

In 1914, 38 year old Thomas Caldwell, boys' secretary of the Oakland, California YMCA was searching for a method to deal with certain discipline problems at camp in a positive, rather than negative, way. At the time, the method used by many YMCA camps was to present awards for participation in athletics and other activities. Caldwell considered this, but discarded the idea because a handicapped boy, Charles Von Konnigsburg, would be unable to win such an award, and was expected to attend camp. Caldwell's aspiration evolved into the idea of rewarding positive character traits, such as good heath habits, promptness, cheerfulness, morals, trust and helpfulness. To symbolize these positive qualities, Caldwell bought some very simple blue kerchiefs which he called “Rags ” for 10 cents each from the Williamson's County Store in Pescadero. Their simplicity signified that, in and of themselves, the rags had no value--rather, they were just a symbol of positive qualities the person had demonstrated. During an evening campfire program, Caldwell called several of the boys forward. As he tied the Rag around each boy’s neck, he explained to him, and the camp, the reason for receiving it. Thus a tradition was started.

YMCA Camp Flaming Arrow utilizes the revised Leather/Ragger program was adopted so that all campers and staff had opportunities to accept challenges for spiritual and personal growth. In 2005, the Hinton's restarted the Ragger movement at CFA and many current campers and alumni staff had never heard of the program. However, there is historical evidence that it once was a thriving program. At this time, the Leather Program has not been started.

Leather Program
The Leather program is for campers age 9 – 11.Campers seek the challenge of the following goals:

Triangle - to grow in body, mind and spirit.
Square - to grow in body, mind, spirit and friendship.
Circle - to expand their circle of concern.

Ragger Program
The Ragger program is available to persons 12+ years old. It is a seven-stage progression of spiritual and personal growth that involves peer counseling and symbolic bandanas. Both campers and staff participate in the program. Other YMCA leaders and adults participate in the program during other times of the year as well. While each person develops his/her own goals for growth, each “rag” challenges the individual to a deeper awareness and personal growth.

Challenges for:
•Blue Rag begins with a focus on God, Country and becoming my best self
•Silver Rag begins with a commitment to the Christian way of life
•Brown Rag begins with service to others
•Gold Rag begins with care and understanding of others
•Red Rag begins with sacrificing of time, talent and will
•Purple Rag begins with considering the personal purpose in life
•White Rag begins with a lifelong commitment of Christian service to youth.

Process
On the first night of each new session at camp, a presentation is made about the Rag/Leather program. Sometime during the session, the camper meets with a counselor to discuss spiritual and personal goals he/she would like to pursue. On the last evening of camp, all campers who feel they are prepared to accept the challenge of pursuing the goals for the rag for which they are striving, meet for the induction into the Raggers society. There is no test or pre-judgment as to whether a camper has the right to receive the rag, but rather it is based on the camper’s interest and commitment to become a Ragger.

Symbols
It is at Raggers’ Point that individuals receive the rag. Each camp has a unique and special site, which is remote and private. The design of the rag blends four well-known shapes - the traditional YMCA triangle (representing spirit, mind and body); the square-to signify the four-square life of a Ragger (spiritual, mental, physical and social); the circle representing the circle of friendship amongst Raggers; and the cross symbolizing the center of the Christian’s life.

Ragger’s Creed
I would be true for there are those who trust me. I would be pure for there are those who care I would be strong for there is much to suffer I would be brave for there is much to dare. I would be friend to all the foe-the friendless I would be giving and forget he gift I would be humble for I know my weakness I would look up - and laugh - and love - and lift.

The hymn, I Would Be True, written in 1917 by Howard A. Walker, was inspired by the program's creed.

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