Nancy Foster, a Swarthmore College educated school teacher from Ohio was able to negotiate a release from her school contract to join CPS as a dietician.  Enduring delays and difficulties in opening the Patapsco camp and furnishing the kitchen, she persevered and helped colleagues open the camp.  Over the next few years she worked as dietician in five camps, and became keenly aware of the problems of trying to maintain harmony in them. (Goossen pp. 84-85) 

Since the camp was only eleven miles from Baltimore and was served by a regular suburban bus, the men in the camp did not experience the isolation common in many other camps.  “During the early months . . . we engaged in considerable visitation, mostly to nearby church groups.  Baltimore proved to have a warm heart and we were generously entertained and visited by Friends and non-Friends, pacifists and others during the entire period of stay.” (Freeman p. 9)

The men established a camp government almost immediately.  Initially, camp meetings were held weekly and decisions were made based on “the sense of the meeting”.  As the population grew and became more diverse, consensus decision-making became unworkable and camp decisions were made by two-thirds majority vote.  A Steering Committee established initially to review issues and channel them to the camp meeting, eventually became more of an executive committee making many decisions itself.

“The stable elements of Patapsco life were much the same as those in all CPS camps . . . project work, meditation for a small group, crowded evening hours for classes, meetings, letters, sports and relaxation.” (Freeman p. 9)

Then the men in the camp learned of a plan to have them build a road to a new air raid tower, they protested vigorously that they should not be asked to work on any project of possible military significance.  An appeal to General Hershey resulted in an important policy clarification upholding the camp’s position.

Corbett Bishop, one of the COs, owned a bookstore prior to his induction.  After serving three months he asked for a furlough because his business was heading into foreclosure.  He had insufficient time from notice of induction to reporting to wind up his affairs.  After no response to his appeal for a furlough, he began fasting to protest, not only non response to his furlough request, but also the system of forcing CPS men to work without pay. His protest continued for two months, including hospitalization prior to his being transferred to West Campton, New Hampshire CPS Camp No. 32.  He became a leader among “absolutists” in CPS who believed that at some point, law or regulation needed to be breached as a matter of principle on issues of conscience.  (Sibley and Jacob pp. 401-410; see also "Bishop Ends 44 Days" under "Other Materials")

As the camp size increased and the war began, the men began to deal with the realities of work without pay on “uncongenial projects”, financial worries, diminished sympathies toward conscientious objectors, and individual rights within a rapidly changing group of men, generally with limited skills in group techniques. 

The men published a camp paper The Patapsco Peacemaker, beginning in July, 1941 and continuing through December 1942.