View source for Camp Louise

{{Short description|Jewish summer camp in Maryland, US}}
{{Infobox university
|name            =Camp Louise
|image_name      =
|image_size      =
|caption         =Serving Jewish Youth For Over 80 Summers
|motto           = "A Jewish Camping Tradition"<ref name="homepage">[http://www.airylouise.org/ Camp Airy/Louise]</ref>
|established     =1922
|type            =Overnight Camp
|endowment       =
|staff           =
|head_label      =Director
|head            = Alicia Berlin <ref name="homepage" />
|students        = 450<ref name="channel">[http://www.campchannel.com/summer-camps/Camp-Louise-1718.html Camp Channel: Camp Louise]</ref>
|city            =[[Highfield-Cascade, Maryland|Cascade]]
|state           =[[Maryland]]
|country         =[[United States]]
|campus          ={{convert|400|acre|km2}}
|free_label      =
|free            =
|colors          =[[Green]] and [[white]]
|mascot          =
|nickname        =
|affiliations    =[[Camp Airy]]
|footnotes       =
|website         =[http://www.airylouise.org Camp Airy/Louise website]
|address  = 24959 Pen Mar Road <br/> Cascade, Maryland  21719
|coor            ={{coord|39.71183|-77.49943|display=inline,title|type:edu}}
|logo            =
}}
'''Camp Louise''' is an all-girls, Jewish overnight [[summer camp]] in the [[Catoctin Mountains]] in [[Highfield-Cascade, Maryland|Cascade]], [[Maryland]].  It is the sister camp of [[Camp Airy]] for boys, which is located in [[Thurmont, Maryland|Thurmont]]. Girls between the ages of 7 and 17 attend for one to seven weeks, depending on their age and interest. Louise is a member of the American Camp Association.<ref name=Kessler>
{{cite journal
| first = Barry
| last = Kessler
| title = 'Fresh Air and Cheer': The Origins of Camp Louise in the Settlement House Movement of Baltimore's Jewish Community
| journal = Maryland Historical Magazine
| publisher = Maryland Historical Society
| url = https://static1.squarespace.com/static/58b4b8216a49630b4301df9f/t/5a9f51ae53450a19d214ba59/1520390574583/Arnold+Prize+2016.pdf
| date = June 2018
| accessdate = 15 June 2018}}</ref>
==History==
Founded in 1922 by Uncle Aaron and Aunt Lillie Straus, the camp aimed to give girls from [[Baltimore, Maryland|Baltimore City]] an opportunity to experience the countryside as well as to give them a break from their [[child labor|factory jobs]].  The founders placed a one [[dollar]] deposit for the land.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.airylouise.org/camp-louise/who-we-are/history.php |title=Camp Louise: History |access-date=2010-06-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100406163155/http://www.airylouise.org/camp-louise/who-we-are/history.php |archive-date=2010-04-06 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
==Activities==
Louise offers campers a variety of activities while at camp. Each day campers attended five scheduled activity periods. Departments offer activities including Arts & Crafts, Athletics, Dance, Drama, Folkdance, Multimedia, Music, Nature, Outdoor Living, Photography, and Swim. In arts and crafts, you can do fun activities like pottery and tie-dye. Campers have the ability to choose some of the activities they attend each day as they sign-up for choice activities and workshops.
Each session, Louise holds a day-long Color Games competition. Camp is split into four teams who compete in field and pool activities for points. Campers also create team banners and skits for the closing ceremony. Each team is led by a captain and a number of co-captains (counselors) and a lieutenant (CIT). Each year, Color Games has a unique theme. Themes in the past have included Outlaw Games, BFF Games, Diva Games, Shrek Games, Music Games, Superhero Games, and Harry Potter Games. The Games were started and designed by Three Unit Leaders in 1988. There are two a year, one each long session every summer.
==Religious aspects==
Although Louise is a [[Judaism|Jewish]] camp, most of the activities are not religious in nature. The meals are [[kosher style]], meaning that milk and meat are not served at the same time and nothing that is explicitly [[Unclean animals#Judaism|non-kosher]] (such as [[pork]]) is served. The HaMotzi is sung before each meal as grace.  Traditional [[Birkat HaMazon|grace after meals]] is also recited on Fridays.<ref name="Jewish">{{Cite web |url=http://www.airylouise.org/camp-louise/campers-and-parents/jewish-living.php |title=Camp Louise: Jewish Living |access-date=2010-06-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091020114309/http://www.airylouise.org/camp-louise/campers-and-parents/jewish-living.php |archive-date=2009-10-20 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
[[Shabbat]] is observed at camp with short services on Friday night and Saturday morning. Very few structured activities occur during the remainder of Saturday. This “day of rest” creates a certain rhythm that helps punctuate the camp experience.<ref name="Jewish" />
==Camp Louise Circle==
The Camp Louise Circle was formed in 1936 by a group of counselors who sought to recognize the dedication of the Camp Louise staff and help them stay connected to Louise beyond their time on staff.
Counselors and staff at Louise who have been on staff full-time for three years or part-time for five years are inducted into a society called Circle. During your third full summer at camp, the summer in which you know that at the end you will join Circle, it is customary to ask someone who is already in Circle to "pin you."'
The Circle Board work year round to fundraise for the organization and for Camp Louise. Each year, Circle hosts Circle Reunion - a weekend where Circle members can return to camp to participate in favorite camp activities like folkdance, campfires, and Shabbat services.
==Notable alumni==
*[[Sonia Rutstein]], singer in [[Disappear Fear]]
*[[Shari Lewis]], of [[Lamb Chop's Play-Along]]
*[[Ann Landers]], renowned advice columnist
*[[Mama Cass]], Singer
==References==
{{reflist}}
==External links==
*[http://www.airylouise.org/camp/camp-louise/about/ Official Camp Louise Website]
*[http://www.strausfoundation.org The Aaron and Lillie Straus Foundation]
*[http://www.camplouisecircle.org/ The Official Camp Louise Circle Website]
{{Summer camps in Maryland}}
[[Category:Jewish summer camps in Maryland|Louise]]
[[Category:1922 establishments in Maryland]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Washington County, Maryland]]