I went to Kinderland at its original location on Sylvan Lake in Duchess County, NY. I camped from 1956 to 1962 and was an assistant camp counselor in 1964. That was my last year because I couldn't afford to take 2 months during the summer anymore; that was a luxury of being a student. Before the Paul Robeson Theatre and named bunks, (ours were numbered), we had the Casino, positioned right next to the lake where indoor events like dramatic and musical programs were held. Where Edith Segal held forth with dance-o-thons and we all happily worked up a sweat doing Myiam; we'd cool down with the slow dance, "Johnny Angel" by Shelly Fabares (the only "rock and roll" song Edith would allow in the Casino.) Afterwards, we'd head down to Canteen run by Irving Rosenbaum (Judee's dad). It was adjacent to the Casino and sat right on the water; the night air was wonderful and Irving's Yellow Brick Road yellow lights kept most of the bugs at bay.
When Kinderland moved from Sylvan Lake in 1972, I was heartbroken. Although I hadn't been back since I left, I felt a deep and aching loss. I feared Kinderland would never be the same. Perhaps it can never be the same, but different doesn't spell doom. Over the years, as I occassionally hear things about Kinderland, I appears to be richer, more diverse, and more robust than ever. The fact that they are celebrating 100 this year, I think, speaks for itself. Thank you generations past, present, and future. What a gift you are to humanity.
I went to Kinderland at its original location on Sylvan Lake in Duchess County, NY. I camped from 1956 to 1962 and was an assistant camp counselor in 1964. That was my last year because I couldn't afford to take 2 months during the summer anymore; that was a luxury of being a student. Before the Paul Robeson Theatre and named bunks, (ours were numbered), we had the Casino, positioned right next to the lake where indoor events like dramatic and musical programs were held. Where Edith Segal held forth with dance-o-thons and we all happily worked up a sweat doing Myiam; we'd cool down with the slow dance, "Johnny Angel" by Shelly Fabares (the only "rock and roll" song Edith would allow in the Casino.) Afterwards, we'd head down to Canteen run by Irving Rosenbaum (Judee's dad). It was adjacent to the Casino and sat right on the water; the night air was wonderful and Irving's Yellow Brick Road yellow lights kept most of the bugs at bay.
When Kinderland moved from Sylvan Lake in 1972, I was heartbroken. Although I hadn't been back since I left, I felt a deep and aching loss. I feared Kinderland would never be the same. Perhaps it can never be the same, but different doesn't spell doom. Over the years, as I occassionally hear things about Kinderland, I appears to be richer, more diverse, and more robust than ever. The fact that they are celebrating 100 this year, I think, speaks for itself. Thank you generations past, present, and future. What a gift you are to humanity.