Life did continue behind the barbed wire. Though residents had been deprived of their most basic rights, Japanese Americans recreated a community structure that enabled them to live as normal a life as possible.

Civic associations, religious observances, Boy Scout troops, Parent Teacher Associations, dances, little theater companies and athletic competitions helped to ease the burdens of life in the shadow of the watchtower.

"Ping-pong, badminton, and cards were the important indoor games. Basketball, tennis, golf, football, and baseball were the outdoor games-baseball was the favorite sport." —Mine Okubo, Citizen 13660

Each camp functioned as a school district and offered educational programs from the first grade through high school. Caucasian administrators and teachers, and some qualified residents, were employed in these programs. Students and teachers faced a lack of appropriate books and teaching materials, typing classes with no typewriters, and other problems, but made do with what they had.