The Story of Camp Louise
By Sara Yudlson, August
1972
In the early 1900s, when the number of immigrants coming to the United States from the countries of Eastern Europe was significant, the Baltimore Jewish community was deeply concerned with the problems that adjustment to living in a new country presented to the newcomers. Since Baltimore was an important point of entry for the foreign-born, the native Jewish population was acutely aware of the difficulties and frustrations that these people faced. Many services were, therefore, developed in order to give assistance to families and individuals. One of the most vital facilities was the Daughters of Israel, a residence home, located at Baltimore and Asquith Streets. Here, young immigrant women could find a pleasant, comfortable place to live, companionship, and aid for their problems of employment and integration into a new way of life. The residence was one of the constituencies of the newly formed Associated Jewish Charities, but many benevolent ladies in the community added the personal interest and devotion that made living at the “D. In I.” a warm, happy opportunity rather than an institutional experience. Outstanding among those women who took special interest in each individual resident was a member of the Board of the Daughters of Israel, Lillie Mayer Straus, the wife of Aaron Straus, a Baltimore merchant, and Ida Sharogrodsky, whose particular areas of service were counseling and guidance to help each young woman resolve her problems.
Most of the young women worked in clothing factories or small stores, where working conditions were difficult and laborious. Hours were long, with a work-day starting very early in the morning, and ending in the evening. Safety precautions and comforts were poor, with little thought for the benefit of the workers. Wages were low. The one-week vacation period that some of the employees did get spelled a release from the other fifty-one weeks of the year, and presented a need to change from the daily city sights and routines to an environment that offered rest and relaxation. A new opportunity, a summer place, became the challenge.
In those days, the “country,” or the mountains, was the place to go! And, for this group of young women, and for others who lived independently but who had the same needs, the answer was a small rented house in Highfield, Maryland, in the Blue Ridge Mountains. The area was not too far from Baltimore. The surrounding country was inspiringly beautiful at all times, and, of course, could offer the needed change for these young ladies. The Sand-Mar House, as the cottage was named, was readied and outfitted and became the “summer scene” for those for whom it had been planned.
The Associated Jewish Charities provided a budget of $500 for the project. From this amount, $300 had to be paid for rent. The remaining amount of $200, and the very minimal fee that each vacationer paid, if any, comprised the funds for all other necessities. There were “counselors,” more fortunate young women from Baltimore, who volunteered their time and interest to make the Sand-Mar House vacation relaxing and attractive.
The important responsibilities of management and operation were given to “Miss Ida,” already a vital personality with experience in helping young people attain high levels of personal achievement and stimulation.
Miss Ida worked in Baltimore on the details related to opening the Sand-Mar House, but every weekend found her in the mountain spot, adding her warmth and abilities to the volunteer leaders and guests alike. Soon her kindliness and
sensitivity to the needs and feelings
of others took on another dimension.
The name “Miss Ida” became a
beloved and respected name among
the residents of the Highfield-Blue
Ridge-Cascade-Pen Mar area, as
she walked through the countryside
with the girls, or as she dealt with the
native population in more practical
matters of purchasing commodities,
arranging building repairs, and
necessary services.
Every Monday morning, Miss
Ida was back in Baltimore, and her
most interested listener, as she talked
about the San-Mar House, was Lillie
Straus, who quietly, but lovingly,
added the “extra touches” that the
limited budget on which the project
was operated needed but did not
have.
After several very pleasant
summers, Miss Ida was told that the
Sand-Mar House would no longer
be available, unless the Associated
Jewish Charities agreed to purchase
the building. The owner did not
want to rent it any longer! This
was really a challenging piece of
news for Miss Ida to relate to Lillie
Straus! One can imagine these
two conjecturing on ways to save
the situation. Lillie Straus had one
possible answer! Perhaps Aaron,
her devoted husband, would buy the
house and rent it to the Associated
Jewish Charities so that the SandMar House could fulfill its real need!
And so it was – or seemed to be!
Aaron Straus, in his customary way
of responding to Lillie’s requests
to help other people, agreed.
Negotiations were about to begin,
when Miss Ida, on one of her visits
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The Story of Louise
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to the mountain, decided to take a
walk to Pen-Mar.
Almost there, she was passing
the Melview House, a hotel that
had been closed for several years.
Standing on the lawn, the son of the
owner greeted Miss Ida, and in the
general course of the conversation
which followed, he told her that the
hotel was for sale. In fact, he was
waiting for a prospective buyer.
Immediately, Miss Ida had a new
idea! Would the gentleman hold off
his client until she could speak to
Mr. Aaron Straus? He would and did
and Mr. Straus was interested! For
an option of $1, the owner delayed
selling the property until Aaron
Straus could see it.
Not many days later Mr. and Mrs.
Straus and Miss Ida left Baltimore
for this important adventure.
Mr. Straus drove, and it must be
remembered that neither cars nor
roads were as smoothly constructed
as they are today, so the traveling
was far slower. In Westminster,
about halfway between Baltimore
and Cascade, Md., the party stopped
for lunch. Mr. Straus, unaware of
how intense and impatient Lillie
and Ida were, ate leisurely, very
leisurely, and then, decided to relax
awhile! Finally, they were ready to
start again. When they came out of
the restaurant, it was raining, and
threatening clouds hung overhead.
Aaron wanted to return to Baltimore,
but Lillie was sure that she could see
a break in the clouds, and a tiny ray
of sunshine ahead! Aaron allowed
himself to be persuaded to continue
the trip, and the next thirty miles to
the Melview House were made, with
Aaron still wanting to turn back to
Baltimore, and with Lillie and Ida
seeing only the promise of sunshine
beyond the horizon!
The sunshine was there! It burst
out in fullest glory as the three
arrived at their destination. Uncle
Airy looked over the grounds, and
then, he inspected the house. He
went through the first floor, then the
second, and, finally to the third. He
was looking with a very practical
eye, and neither Lillie nor Ida could
guess how he felt about this “find.”
In his examination of the third floor,
he saw a door that let out to an open
porch, and it was the vista from
this height that became the decisive
factor. He would buy the Melview
House! Lillie and Ida were, of
course, ecstatic!
Mr. Straus presented the building
to the Associated Jewish Charities
for the purpose of continuing the
function which had begun in the
Sand-Mar House. He did not want
nor expect to be paid any rent for
these premises!
Just about this time, he suffered a
loss in the death of his sister, Louise
Straus. To commemorate her name,
and as an expression of his love for
her, he asked that the new facility
memorialize her name, and thus,
Camp Louise came into being.
Since the Melview had been closed
for so many years, the elements and
neglect had taken over. How does
one begin to make the necessary,
simple renovations that had to be
attended to before the building could
be used again? Here again, Aaron
Straus provided the answer. He
authorized $8,000 for the purpose,
and left all of the details of planning
and supervision to Miss Ida, because
he and Lillie were preparing for a
trip to Europe.
The hills came to life! Lawn
movers, hammers, saws, and paint
brushes were soon in operation, as
workers from the local community
set about getting Camp Louise ready
for opening by the following June.
Miss Ida was the recognized leader,
and the respect and loyalties that she
engendered, added to the skills of the
artisans, accomplished the goal.
On June 22, 1922, Camp Louise
opened with twelve campers.
Among the guests who were invited
to the opening were the members
of the boards of directors of various
community organizations in
Baltimore. Their enthusiasm and
admiration then was the same as the
support that endured throughout the
years and is evidenced by the current
activity of the trustees of the Aaron
and Lillie Straus Foundation.
As Miss Ida proudly showed the
new camp to the visitors, she pointed
to the fresh curtains, the containers
of flowers, and the other homelike touches. All the contributions
of such good, loyal neighborhood
friends as the Sturdevants, the Wests,
the Harbaughs, are names deeply
ingrained in the richness of Camp
Louise. The Russel Browns, the
Eylers and Olsens have continued
that warm tradition. Miss Ida recognized, with much appreciation, the
efforts of many volunteer workers
from Baltimore who were doing
their part to make the “campers”
happy.
Toward the end of that summer,
Aaron and Lillie Straus returned
from Europe, and came to Cascade
to see what their benevolence,
although they never regarded it as
such, had stimulated. Their delight
can be imagined and understood. It
made possible the ensuing history of
Camp Louise, and later Camp Airy,
established for the boys in 1924.
Mr. Straus immediately decided
to make Camp Louise a personal
project for himself and his wife,
and to relieve the Associated
Jewish Charities of all financial
responsibilities, or any part in policy
making or operation. The principle
of a non-profit, privately endowed
organization was established. From
that day, the already established
Camp Louise, and yet to be, Airy,
became one of the closest and
fondest interests of Aaron and Lillie
Straus.
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The Story of Louise
continued from page 8
What was Camp Louise like
when it opened? Simple, and in
some ways, primitive! The main
house held all of the facilities –
sleeping quarters on part of the first,
second, and third floors, dining
room, kitchen, infirmary, living
room and offices. Plays and other
entertainment were held on the
front porch between the two large
posts which still mark the entrance.
The audience sat on the first level
of the lawn and looked up. Mail
was distributed from a basket by
a “counselor” who called out each
name. Maximum capacity meant
twenty to thirty campers.
Activities were leisurely. To just
sit on the front porch and rock in a
chair, and to look out on green grass
and young trees, was rewarding
and restful enough to many of the
young women. More active campers
indulged in “athletics,” in the form
of croquet on the front lawn, or they
enjoyed walking or hiking, to use
camping vocabulary. They always
found Miss Ida ready to lead! Off
they would go – to Pen-Mar for a
short hike, to Mount Overlook to
see the moon rise, to the Cascades
to see the water flowing over the
rocks! There were so many new
things to see and to experience by
these girls who felt so removed from
the factory, the store, and the city.
Sometimes the temptation to pick a
beautiful flower from a neighbor’s
garden was too enticing to resist.
Miss Ida, the public relations expert,
foresaw how the local residents
could misunderstand and, thus, one
of her next projects was to plant
gardens within camp so the campers
could live surrounded by flowers
which they could pick when they
were so inclined. “Aunt Lillie”
as Mrs. Straus was now called by
everyone at camp, liked the idea and
established a garden fund to which
she contributed birthday monies
given to her by “Uncle Airy,”
as her husband was now known
affectionately.
Pen-Mar Park, in those days an
active area with many amusements,
was another “activity”, whether
for the motion pictures, where the
audience sat on movable metal
chairs that scraped when any person
moved even slightly, or the roller
coaster, the bowling alley, or the
dance hall, where there was dancing
in the morning and in the evening.
Of course, what to wear to PenMar hotels. Should it be this dress
or that? Not knickers. Should it be
appropriate for camp, or for hiking,
but certainly not for “going out?”
There were no swimming facilities
in camp, and Lake Royer, at Fort
Ritchie, had not yet been excavated
and filled from the mountain
streams. But, there was a small pool
in Chocolate Park. Here the girls
went for their “water sports.” Often,
after their “swim,” they bought some
“Blue Mountain Chocolates”, which
were made right there, in a small
factory.
Folk singing, even then, could be
heard at Louise! The songs were
those that many of the young women
remembered from Russia, Poland,
and other foreign homelands. With
these melodic reminiscences, many
quiet evenings of fun ended.
Sunday night supper was always
very informal, because it was the
cook’s day off. The campers, ladies
past their teens, washed the dishes,
and usually had Lillie Straus as a
very cheerful assistant.
Camp Louise days made many
memories for the campers, and
when the one or two week vacation
period was over, and the young
women prepared for the long, hot
trip home on the Western Maryland
Railroad they knew that the six or
seven dollars that they had paid for
each week’s stay were investments
that had brought turns of warmth,
congeniality, and lasting friendship.
Back home, they told their friends
about camp. These friends told
others, and soon the demands on
Camp Louise had outgrown its
capacity.
In anticipation of this situation,
Aunt Lillie, Miss Ida and Uncle
Airy had done some research into
new types of buildings for summer
vacation living. In 1924, the first
bold step was taken. The first bunk
was built! Mr. Thomas Eyler, who
was to build for Camp Louise and
Camp Airy for the next forty years,
and his most skilled and interested
master artisan, Walter Olsen, known
lovingly as “Slim,” followed every
direction given by Aunt Lillie and
Miss Ida and added some ideas of
their own.
At last, the bunk was ready! But,
another problem presented itself!
Who would occupy it? The campers
were afraid to sleep outdoors in a
very small wooden building with
only screens for windows and only
canvas flaps to protect them from
rain and cold and – insects! Again,
Miss Ida, the confidence builder,
showed the way. She would sleep
there! And, as always, where she led,
others would happily follow.
Every year, since that first pioneer
effort in 1924, bunks were added,
because every year the numbers of
those who wanted to enjoy Camp
Louise increased.
However, changes were in the
air. The flow of immigrants was
decreasing, working conditions
had improved due to better labor
legislation, many of the original
“campers” had married, new
avenues of adult recreation were
being offered, and at Camp Louise,
younger girls were asking to be
admitted. Gradually, Louise became
the camp that it is today, dedicated to
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The Story of Louise
continued from page 9
the needs, interests, and aspirations
of young people.
The transition was made so
smoothly that hardly anyone
realized that it was happening. As
younger campers came, more and
different supervision was needed.
Consequently, counselors whose
interests and skills lay in working
with younger girls were recruited.
Program planning evolved in relation
to interests of campers. Building
plans were made to accommodate
increasing numbers and the needs
of new generations of Louise
enthusiasts. Uncle Airy continued
to purchase surrounding acreage,
both to provide “elbow room” and to
protect the area from other tenancies,
until the total amount reached 490
acres. The basic concern of every
area of planning was and is the
comfort, stimulation, and happiness
of the campers.
When by 1930, the Camp
Louise population had grown so
considerably that the water source
was inadequate, Uncle Airy through
his attorney, Louis N. Frank, Uncle
Lou of “Hot Stuff” fame, negotiated
with Camp Ritchie authorities,
at that time a Maryland National
Guard operation, to supply more
water to the camp, in exchange
for some land and some monies.
This transaction began a firm
and respected relationship with
the commanding personnel at
Fort Ritchie, now a United States
Government installation, which
has been unlimited in its friendly
assistance. Especially significant in
that relationship was the ongoing
privilege extended to Camp Louise
by both commands for the use of
Lake Royer on which Camp Louise
built its own swimming facilities.
During World War II, not only
was the privilege continued, but
additional life guard services were
supplied as well. Even when Camp
Louise built its own pool, dedicated
to Miss Ida, in 1964, the privilege
for the use of the lake facilities at
Fort Ritchie remained in effect. In
any emergency situations or security
needs, Fort Ritchie personnel have
always been most cooperative and
helpful.
Camp Louise days made many
memories for the campers, and
when the one- or two-week vacation
period was over, and the young
women prepared for the long, hot
trip home on the Western Maryland
Railroad they knew that the six or
seven dollars that they had paid for
each week’s stay were investments
that had brought turns of warmth,
congeniality, and lasting friendship.
Back home, they told their friends
about camp. These friends told
others, and soon the demands on
Camp Louise had outgrown its
capacity.
In anticipation of this situation,
Aunt Lillie, Miss Ida and Uncle
Airy had done some research into
new types of buildings for summer
vacation living. In 1924, the first
bold step was taken. The first bunk
was built! Mr. Thomas Eyler, who
was to build for Camp Louise and
Camp Airy for the next forty years,
and his most skilled and interested
master artisan, Walter Olsen, known
lovingly as “Slim”, followed every
direction given by Aunt Lillie and
Miss Ida and added seem ideas of
their own.
At last, the bunk was ready! But,
another problem presented itself!
Who would occupy it? The campers
were afraid to sleep outdoors in a
very small wooden building with
only screens for windows and only
canvas flaps to protect them from
rain and cold and — insects! Again,
Miss Ida, the confidence builder,
showed the way. She would sleep
there! And, as always, where she led,
others would happily follow.
Every year, since that first pioneer
effort in 1924, bunks were added,
because every year the numbers of
those who wanted to enjoy Camp
Louise increased.
However, changes were in the
air. The flow of immigrants was
decreasing, working conditions
had improved due to better labor
legislation, many of the original
“campers” had married, new
avenues of adult recreation were
being offered, and at Camp Louise,
younger girls were asking to be
admitted. Gradually, Louise became
the camp that it is today, dedicated to
the needs, interests, and aspirations
of young people.
The transition was made so
smoothly that hardly anyone
realized that it was happening. As
younger campers came, more and
different supervision was needed.
Consequently, counselors whose
interests and skills lay in working
with younger girls were recruited.
Program planning evolved in relation
to interests of campers. Building
plans were made to accommodate
increasing numbers and the needs
of new generations of Louise
enthusiasts. Uncle Airy continued
to purchase surrounding acreage,
both to provide “elbow room” and to
protect the area from other tenancies,
until the total amount reached 490
acres. The basic concern of every
area of planning was and is the
comfort, stimulation, and happiness
of the campers.
As younger campers, the “Juniors”
became a distinctive group. Two
loyal friends, Theresa and Sam
Barnett, Aunt Lillie’s sister and
brother-in-law, who always evinced
love and interest for the camp and
the campers, donated Barnett Lodge
as a Junior social hall.
It was Uncle Airy’s premise that
he wanted no outside gifts for either
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The Story of Louise
continued from page 10
camp. Many times he counseled
Miss Ida to decline such offers,
suggesting that donors give their aid
to institutions and organizations that
did not have the support that he and
Aunt Lillie could provide to Louise
and Airy. Yet, there were individuals
who wanted to be identified in
tangible ways with the camp because
of some personal experience or
because of their respect for its
purpose and its sponsors. The
first bunk was contributed by Mr.
Simon Dalsheimer, a well-known
leader in the Baltimore Jewish
Community and a close friend of
the Strauses. Years later, Uncle Lou
Frank commemorated the names of
his parents by donating the Simon
Frank Lodge and the Amelia Frank
Lodge. The Helen and Morton
Hamburger Lodge, a memorial to
Uncle Airy’s niece and her husband,
was presented by the children of
the Hamburgers, and the Rosenthal
Staff Lodge as well as the Vera
Ottenheimer Lodge was donated by
members of those two families.
Everything in Camp Louise is
evidence of the beneficence of
Aaron and Lillie Straus, but most
meaningful to Uncle Airy were the
Martin Straus Lodge and the Babette
Straus Lodge, two camper bunks for
which special architectural services
were employed, since these were his
memorial to his parents. When, in
1953, Aunt Lillie passed on, Uncle
Airy’s immediate wish was to build
the Aunt Lillie Straus Memorial
Library, a facility that she had long
wanted for the Louise girls.
Thus, Camp Louise has grown,
and continues to grow. Today, there
are forty-four bunks, accommodating
a capacity of 475 campers, and
numerous auxiliary structures for
their pleasure and comfort. The
solarium, built and dedicated in
1947 on the occasion of the 25th
anniversary of Camp Louise, is a
source of real pleasure and a site
of real creativity to all performing
arts departments. The social hall,
enlarged many times, serves the
same needs and, in addition, is a
place in which the entire camp can
gather when activities cannot be
held in the outdoors. A functional
arts and crafts area serves the
many campers and staff who enjoy
working in various media, while
enlarged athletic facilities and
outdoor camping areas add to the
stimulation of the program. Beautiful
campsites and a host of smaller areas
for small group interests may be
found throughout the camp. Every
year, now, buildings that are no
longer adequate are being replaced
with modern structures to better
serve camping objectives. Foremost
in the planning at the present time is
an entirely new dining room facility,
with the most modern equipment in
its kitchen.
The total staff now numbers about
one hundred and sixty people,
giving their best efforts to make
every aspect of camp experience
pleasurable and memorable.
The growth of the camp can be
paralleled by much of the natural
beauty of Louise. Many of the
large trees on the front lawn
were mere saplings when Miss
Ida planted them, in the early
days. Now they rise to the skies,
spreading their cooling shade and
restful green, growing strong still,
as they symbolize the love and
zeal and strength that the founders
envisioned.
Camp Airy and Camp Louise are
the admixture of many personalities,
but everyone is quick to recognize
the inspiration of the Strauses and
Miss Ida that permeates the entire
spirit of both camps.
Aaron and Lillie Straus were very
special people. Their names are
identifiable with many humanitarian
efforts, but the camps and the
campers were their “children.” In
the early years of camp they spent
only weekends at Louise happily
occupying the front-porch room on
the second floor of the main house.
As Mr. Straus transferred some of
his business responsibilities to other
capable associates, the couple began
to spend entire summers at camp.
It was not until 1939, when they
celebrated their fiftieth anniversary,
that they submitted to constant
suggestions from their families and
Miss Ida, and allowed the building
of a cottage for their use and
comfort. Into it, they brought the
genuine things of Louise, too! All
of the exterior and interior wood
and much of the furniture of the
house was made from the trees on
Camp Louise grounds. The beautiful
quilted bedspreads are the work of
women in the local community. The
Strauses often said that the cottage
was their only real home, since,
in the city, they resided in a hotel
apartment.
As “campers,” Aunt Lillie and
Uncle Airy were exemplary! They
complied, implicitly, with every
regulation. They were never late for
meals, and never asked any special
services for themselves. They were
appreciative of the work that each
person did, and when they did have
comments to make about program
or procedure, these were made as
suggestions and not as commands or
directives from donors.
The campers brought them real
joy. Aaron and Lillie Straus loved
children and helped them. Nothing
gave Aunt Lillie greater pleasure
than to tell campers about their shell
collections, or their paperweight
collections. Nothing gave Uncle
Airy more pleasure than to sit on
the porch and play work games with
campers, and, of course, to greet his
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The Story of Louise
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favorite age group with “Hooray
for the Juniors.” Until Uncle Airy’s
eyesight failed him, he was, in fact,
the spiritual leader of Camp Louise
as he conducted Sabbath services,
and brought messages of inspiration
gleaned from his wide readings. He
loved the “Good Shabbas” from
each camper!
To Aunt Lillie, the Camp Louise
Circle, the organization composed
of staff members who have served
for three years, was the symbol that
bound her with the continuing spirit
of service and dedication to the camp
she loved. Her words to new Circle
members, as they were initiated,
remain the keynote of Circle
attainment – “Now you belong to us,
to Camp Louise. Live the good that
you have learned here.”
In times of crisis, or need, for
individuals or families, their greatest
goodnesses remain untold. They
wanted it so!
Aaron and Lillie Straus were
fortunate people. Among their
greatest fortunes, they would have
admitted, were the circumstances
that brought Ida Sharogrodsky to
them. Without Miss Ida, their most
beloved benefaction, the camps,
could never have become what
they are. Louise and Airy stand as
monumental salutes to her!
To the countless numbers of
staff members and campers, to
neighbors of both camps, and to
the Baltimore Jewish community,
Miss Ida represents the finest values
that any person could hold or offer.
Her belief in the innate goodness
of the individual, in the capacity
of individuals to realize their finest
talents and skills, her faith, against
all contrary elements, in people has
lifted and inspired all who have been
fortunate enough to come under her
influence. Miss Ida’s dissatisfaction
with mediocrity has made her
associates set higher standards and
goals for themselves. Her insight
into the needs of people has brought
more happiness into more lives. Her
abilities, her dignity, her simplicity,
have been real beacons in many
fields of leadership! The spirit that
Miss Ida has given to Louise has
made it a name and a place endeared
to three generations of girls and
women.
These three, Uncle Airy, Aunt
Lillie, and Miss Ida, saw the
opportunity that they envisioned
become a truth!
Uncle Airy believed deeply in
that opportunity and saw continuing
generations enjoying, learning, and
developing at Louise and Airy. To
ensure the continuity of support to
all of his philanthropic interests, he
established the Aaron Straus and
Lillie Straus Foundation, into which
is written his hope that both camps
will continue to serve boys and girls
of the Jewish faith, in the highest
ideals of American citizenship and
Jewish tradition, and to operate
as a non-profit organization with
assistance for those who need it.
When, in his wisdom, he knew
that this trust, this legacy, had to be
placed in wise and kindly hands, he
entrusted it to Aunt Lillie’s nephew,
S. Meyer Barnett, who is continuing
the tradition of interest in people
that the Strauses kindled. Since
Uncle Airy’s death in 1958, Meyer
Barnett has provided the leadership
in both the business interests and
the charitable interests of Aaron and
Lillie Straus.
Now, Camp Louise and Camp
Airy look to new opportunities.
Inspired by their founders, aware
of the rarity of Ida Sharogrodsky’s
leadership, secure in the depth
of Meyer Barnett’s wisdom and
understanding, and hopeful that
succeeding generations of campers
and staff will keep alive their
certain goals, they set their sights
on the next fifty years, and to the
commitment that the Camps will
make even greater contributions to
the best in the American and Jewish
philosophi