Other Camps In Our Lives

When Omega closed, our hearts were broken. Some of us ended our camping careers. But others had it in their blood and, hard as it was, they started over at another summer camp. Certainly, there were good memories and friendships from that experience as well.

My camping life started before Omega. At age ten, my Mom took a job as drama counselor at a camp called Rondax, in the Adirondack mountains near the town of Old Forge. Rondax was where the rich kids went for the summer and my Mom's job made it possible for me and Wes to go. They had every imaginable activity. My poor Dad was working in Manhattan and would schlep up every weekend, an eight hour drive, to see my Mom for a couple of days. I was terrified when I found out that I'd be sleeping in a cabin with ten other kids and a couple of sadistic counselors. I begged my Mom to let me go home, but thankfully, she "encouraged" me to stay and that's how I got hooked on summer camp.

After one year at Rondax my Mom switched camps to Da-Ro, named for Dave and Rose, can't remember their last names, think it was Wilansky. Mom was the girls head counselor. Linda was the swimming counselor, if I remember correctly. The camp was in the town of Linlithgo, a tiny town in the Rip Van Winkle mountains. The nearest city was Hudson, New York and across the river was Newburgh, where, ironically, much of our family is situated today. Rita and I even lived there for a couple of years. For a special treat, on visiting day, my folks would take us to a restaurant in Newburgh, which at that time was a thriving place. I would order Lobster Newburgh (I am not kidding!).

Harvey Goldstein was the boy's head counselor, and we had a great time. He had a wacky sense of humor, probably still does. His wife Marilyn was the arts and crafts counselor, I think. Da-Ro is where I honed my raiding skills, and I met Harley Wishner, who at that time played accordion. We wore Beatle wigs and performed at socials. After camp we went on to form the Jagged Edge and record two singles, which are collector's items today.

Harvey was a strict bunk inspector, and if our bunk had a great rating we'd be taken to Hudson to Stewart's ice-cream parlor, where you could make your own sundaes.

I made camper of the year at Da-Ro, no mean feat. I must say, that we had great times during the three years we went there, and we never thought anything could top it. But we were wrong. The Schwartz's and Steinman's created a masterpiece called Omega. Many followed them from Da-Ro to Omega. And the rest we all know.

So that's my camping history, what's yours? What camps did you attend, pre and post Omega?