At that time, Joan of Arc was a popular topic of conversation, since the French had recently mounted a campaign to have her canonized. Ruth greatly admired the qualities of faith, endurance, courage, and confidence exemplified by the young 15th-century girl, and decided that Joan would be a wonderful inspiration for young women. From the very beginnings of Camp Jeanne d'Arc, Ruth wanted to bring girls from all over the world together. She felt that, if children could get to know each other and realize that human beings are essentially the same regardless of culture or color, more global understanding and greater world peace would result.Camp Jeanne d'Arc's first season brought together about 20 girls, ages 15-17. They didn't feel comfortable calling their young camp director by her first name. A popular book series, The Little Colonel, was in vogue at the time, so Ruth was affectionately tagged "Colonel" by her campers - and the name stuck."Colonel" met Captain Charles Joseph McIntyre in 1924, and they married in August 1925 on the steps of Woodsheart, one of the camp's original buildings and its "heart" for many years. Captain "Mac" was a teacher and soon started Camp Lafayette for boys. He returned to the service when World War II began and eventually, Mr. and Mrs. McIntyre came to be known as "Colonel" and "Colonel Mac".The senior McIntyres ran camp for fifty years. In the early 1970's Colonel's eldest son, Joe, and his wife, Fran took over operation of the camp. Today, Joe's eldest daughter, Jehanne, and her husband, Michael Edwards, own and operate the camp with the assistance of valued alumnae and friends, some going back four generations. . As Jeanne d'Arc nears the full century mark, the values and traditions begun so long ago continue to inspire new generations of campers each summer.