After getting settled into camp life, many internees looked for ways to improve their stay at camp. Some grew gardens and planted trees. And others, worked to improved their camp living conditionsby making shelves and furniture from whatever scraps could be found. Curtains, pictures, and posters also were hung to add to the livability. "Aside from the absurdity of living that way, life went on pretty much as usual," according to one internee. Many internees tried to create the small town life they were taken from so they set up fire and police departments, newspapers, and different sports teams. They also provided free medical and dental care. Many of the hospitals were staffed largely by Japanese-Americans.
The camps also provided education through the high school level for all school-age residents. Most high schools used converted barracks for grade school classrooms. Often, entire blocks of barracks were used for classrooms. School supplies and equipment were in short supply so many churches and relief agencies built or donated desks, bookshelves, books, maps, and related items. Courses of study were planned and teachers were selected in collaboration with state departments of education. Internees could apply for College which allowed indefinite leaves to attend higher education institutions located outside of the exclusion zone.
Internees elected representatives to meet with the government officials to air grievances, often to little avail. Some of the internees actually volunteered to fight in one of two all Nisel Army Regiments and went on to distinguish themselves in battle.
On the whole, however, camp life was not easy. The camps were hot in the summer and cold in the winters. The food provided was mass produced army style food. The internees knew that if they tried to flee, the guards who stood watch over them around the clock would shoot them.