First and foremost, a sincere welcome to you all at this 2005 New York reunion! We hope you truly enjoy reconnecting with your camp friends.
This letter comes to you from Friends of Thoreau, a group of people from Camp Thoreau-in-Vermont (TIV), which shared the same land on Miller Pond Road and similar values as Kokosing from the late 1970’s through summer 2004 when Camp TIV closed due to financial constraints and other circumstances.
At this time the former Kokosing/Thoreau property on Miller Pond Road is for sale or lease. Friends of Thoreau would like to reopen a children’s camp in the great traditions and values shared by Camp Thoreau and Camp Kokosing; ideally, at this same location. A significant part of that effort is outreach to alumni of both Kokosing and Camp Thoreau. Please read the back of this letter for more information about Friends of Thoreau, what progress has already been made, the directions in which we are headed, and how you can join us and help.
For 35 summers Greg Finger directed Camp Thoreau in New York and then Vermont, carrying on the traditions of a multicultural camp experience for youth with a strong emphasis on individual choice, overcoming prejudices, understanding oneself and the world we share, cooperation, democratic living, individual and team achievements, and respect for the natural environments that sustain life.* The Rothenberg family provided a similar camp experience for 50 years before Thoreau was established. Our goal is to organize collective support from committed people who, like us, believe strongly in the lifelong value of the experiences we had and who wish to provide similarly vital experiences for future generations.
We hope that you enjoy this reunion, that it reminds you of the impact of your camp experience on your life, and inspires you to contact us to offer your help. We hope to hear from you soon!
Sincerely,
Friends of Thoreau
* Please read more about TIV’s goals at http://www.campthoreau-in-vermont.org/goals.php
Friends of Thoreau Mission and Board of Directors
Established in late 2004 in response to the closing of Camp
Thoreau in August 2004
Friends of Thoreau is dedicated to:
At this time we are:
• Applying for nonprofit status and creating an administrative structure
from which to begin formal operations.
• Seeking to enhance and grow the network of communication
among friends and alumni.
• In search of members to join a Leadership Council with the purpose
of generating support in the form of programmatic ideas, funding, publicity,
and family recruiting.
• Seeking financial support for both the camp program and a potential
site of operation (hopefully, the site now for sale on Miller Pond Road in Vermont).
• Organizing a Camp Thoreau reunion to thank Greg Finger for his
years of service and to act as a springboard for announcing and growing support
for the new venture.
Members of the Friends of Thoreau Board as of April 1, 2005:
Mike Bleich: TIV camper; banker
Steve Blum: TIV 1979-2001; attorney and educator, investment counselor
Mike Hickey: TIV staff 1991-2; former camp director, community development program
officer, Deutsche Bank Americas Foundation
Kieran McGrath: Thoreau camper 1984-87, staff 1989-94; senior program officer
with Robin Hood Foundation; MBA
Mike Vecchiarelli: TIV staff 1988-2001; camp director, camping professional,
and educator since 1986
For more info, please contact:
Andrea Hirshman (Kokosing contact) Hirshwoman@aol.com
(917)-969-6416
Steve Blum (Thoreau contact) stevenblum@stevengblum.com
(610) 328-7725
Please print this out complete and give to Andrea Hirshman
or mail to:
Mike Vecchiarelli
69 Savoy Road
Florida MA 01247
Name:
Address:
Phone: email:
Ideas, information, level of support or involvement you’d consider: