The New Promised Land: Maine's Summer Camps for Jewish Youth ...

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vacation.” 94 For some Jews summer camp in Maine provided a way to give their children the opportunity to spend the summer in Maine even if they could not themselves. As Paris wrote, “camps provided American Jewish parents with a tangible means to demonstrate their parental affection and to celebrate their children’s potential and their own improving place in American life.” 95 Sargent’s list of summer camps listed specific details about featured summer camps so that parents could make the best decisions for their children. As Sargent wrote, “Choosing the summer camp…is an annual spring problem in many well-to- do families. With more than a thousand private camps to selct from, the matter of choice calls for study and discrimination.” 96 In order to help parents, the list was organized by region, and each featured camp had a brief description of the camp’s program, clientele, and tuition. For example, the entry for Camp Walden read, Walden, for Jewish girls, is conducted by the principal of the Alcuin Preparatory School for girls, New York City, and Miss Altschul. The camp is well organized, and the program includes water sports and camping trips. 97 The entry also stated that Walden’s enrollment was seventy-seven campers the previous summer and that the 1931 season cost $450. 98 According to the 1931 handbook, New York had the highest number of camps at 418, followed by Pennsylvania at 244. Out of these camps, New York boasted thirty-two camps which mentioned of some aspect of Judaism, such as “Wakitan is under the management of 94 Joshua Weiss, Interview with author, February 8, 2013. 95 “’A Home Though Away From Home’: Brooklyn Jews and Interwar Children’s Summer Camps” in Jews of Brooklyn, eds. Ilana Abramovitch and Sean Galvin (Boston: University Press of New England/Brandeis University Press, 2001), 243 96 Sargent, A Handbook of Summer Camps, 13. 97 Ibid, 260. 98 Ibid. 32
the Hebrew Orphan Asylum of New York City,” 99 “…The camp rabbi conducts weekly services” 100 at Kirk Lake Camp, “Seneca has a Jewish clientele and observes the dietary laws,” 101 or “The patronage is Jewish” at Stissing Lake Camp. 102 Similarly, out of the camps in Pennsylvania, eight mentioned some aspect of Judaism. Due to the American Jews’ memories of anti-Semitism, it makes sense that Jewish parents would want to know what types of children attended the camps they were choosing. 99 Ibid, 397. 100 Ibid, 398. 101 Ibid. 102 Ibid, 399. 33
Page 1 and 2: The New Promised Land: Maine’s Su
Page 3 and 4: The Inspiration for the First Ameri
Page 5 and 6: coins “the excitement over nature
Page 7 and 8: century, the population of cities
Page 9 and 10: The Evolution of the Institution An
Page 11 and 12: Reverend William Parsons, the pasto
Page 13 and 14: called primitive life was not a sav
Page 15 and 16: hundred [girls camps] were in opera
Page 17 and 18: on the idea that women should be eq
Page 19 and 20: Organizational camps, such as the S
Page 21 and 22: vested choir for the Sunday program
Page 23 and 24: ecame a sign of class status.” 72
Page 25 and 26: Although the upper-middle class and
Page 27 and 28: Additionally, Jews appreciated Nati
Page 29 and 30: that American fitness levels had de
Page 31: involved in her children’s lives,
Page 35 and 36: the United States between 1880 and
Page 37 and 38: appeared in New York’s Sullivan C
Page 39 and 40: and fraternity houses. Even at the
Page 41 and 42: Jews were also excluded from variou
Page 43 and 44: to control the nation’s wheat far
Page 45 and 46: camp directors.” 157 Of Alford La
Page 47 and 48: organization.” 165 Further, Paris
Page 49 and 50: fee). 169 Many times, this ended up
Page 51 and 52: 1937, Walldorf, who lived on New Yo
Page 53 and 54: Jewish education that parents wante
Page 55 and 56: said that they knew their bunkmates
Page 57 and 58: Council and Phillip Lown, a success
Page 59 and 60: Traditionally, Jewish Americans hav
Page 61 and 62: Further, Tenney’s brother, Arthur
Page 63 and 64: organization.” 207 However, at th
Page 65 and 66: was the first time they left home f
Page 67 and 68: enough. Former Mataponi camper Andr
Page 69 and 70: ealized how much he loved songwriti
Page 71 and 72: extensive trip program and Maine ha
Page 73 and 74: Weinstock got to lead camp meetings
Page 75 and 76: 4) Charity. Campers were taught to
Page 77 and 78: Hand in hand. We are playing for fu
Page 79 and 80: those summers for anything in the w
Page 81 and 82: overwhelmingly positive experience.
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Appendix of Jewish Summer Camps 193
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Straus, Nellie May. “Lost Waldeni
Page 87:
Radest, Howard. Toward Common Groun
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