Since the camp had been neglected, Vernon Schmidt of Harper, Kansas began in mid January to serve as watchman and oversee repairs and maintenance.  An MCC Advisory Committee, representative of the Mennonite groups in the eastern United States, helped guide plans for the camp.  They later visited to meet with staff, talk with the men, and make recommendations to the Mennonite Central Committee. 

Ruth Mosemann served as matron at the camp while Joe Brunk served as business manager and took charge of purchasing equipment and major repairs for the camp.  The camp included a hobby shop, a kiln, chapel, and classrooms. 

Letters of welcome to the men laid out goals that “a spirit of true Christian comradeship, genuine mutual understanding, and sincere cooperation might prevail in all camp relations”, for work, study and activity, and included a list of provisions to bring to camp. (Gingerich p. 97) Upon arrival the men received a physical examination for baseline health information and were vaccinated for smallpox and typhus.

The camp organized around committees—Camp Council, Religious Activities, Social and Recreational, Buildings and Grounds Maintenance, Subsistence, Safety, and Olive Branch newspaper.  The goal was for the camps to provide “excellent training in democratic living”.  Emmanuel C. Hertzler, reflecting on his experience years later, recalled a decision he made as camp director while at Grottoes.

. . .the CPS men were so eager to make the camp programs successful that it was possible to talk out our solutions.  One decision that I made alone taught me a long remembered lesson.  The buildings at Grottoes had been built and used by the Civilian Conservation Corps and had a sound system that linked the office to the dormitory buildings.  On my own I decided to pump music in the dorms in the evenings.  When I played recordings of well know hymns I heard only a few comments but when I added Mozart and Beethoven the comments became cries for peace and quiet.  The conservatives were not ready for my music.  I wished that I had been more considerate. (in “Detour. . .Main Highway”: Our CPS Stories p. 25.)

A Camper’s Manual described facilities, opportunities and provisions available at the camp (e.g. barbershop, hospital, library and reading room, laundry, prayer room, photography darkroom and more).

The first issue of Olive Branch appeared in October 1941 and the last in February 1946. Considered consistently of high quality, the Olive Branch not only contained good coverage and well written articles, but also excellent art work. 

In general the people in the farm communities around the camp proved friendly.  Camp men held prayer meetings in many homes, assisted with many services such as taking the sick to the hospital, helping at funerals, and making telephone calls.  In May 1943, a four-year-old girl became lost in the woods and a large crew of CPS men engaged in a comprehensive search for her.  After five days, one of the campers found her alive on a rocky slope.  He stayed with her while two other campers hiked nearly five miles for help to complete the rescue.  The local papers gave credit to the CPS men for their major share in the search.

The camp hosted special conferences.  In January 1943, a two-day Bible conference led by ministers focused on the Book of Philippians.  On the first weekend of March 1943, Paul Mininger of Goshen College gave inspirational talks on the topic “Youth Faces Life”. 

A six-week cooking school began in April and was conducted by Mary Emma Showalter, camp dietician.  She trained twenty men from different Mennonite camps for relief work cooking and as camp cooks.

The following summer Professor J.P. Klassen of Bluffton College directed a ten-day art institute on clay modeling and pottery making as well as charcoal drawing.  He lectured on his experiences as a CO in Russia during WWI. In subsequent visits he encouraged wood carving and sketching. 

A three-day conference for business managers and dieticians brought talks by Elizabeth Hernley, Edna Ramseyer, John M. Snyder, Ray Schlichting and others. 

In June 1944, the Grottoes camp had named one of the men to be trained as a project assistant.  This person assisted both the camp director and the work supervisor and organized on-going orientation and training programs for men in various aspects of the camp work skills, policies, and organization. In general the program devoted an hour per week to speakers, films and other education to promote greater understanding and skill in conservation work.

The men celebrated each camp anniversary with a special dinner, program, speeches, readings and clever diplomas. 

Ministers visited the Mennonite camps.  Titus M. Books, an ordained minister of the Brethren in Christ Church performed pastoral work at the Grottoes and three other camps beginning in July 1943.