The Joys of Summer

Morry Stein firmly believed that summer camps have the power to change kids’ lives.

In fact, when he died at age 58 in a plane crash, he was returning home from the American Camping Association, where he was telling officials about the progress of his effort to raise $1-million to help poor youngsters go to summer camp.

The scholarship project was dear to Mr. Stein, who had seen children’s eyes light up at Camp Echo Lake, which he owned and ran for 30 years in upstate New York. Searching for a way to memorialize Mr. Stein, his friends and colleagues decided the best thing to do was to carry out his dream.

In 1996, they opened Morry’s Camp, in West Copake, N.Y. Operating on a $650,000 budget, most of which comes through private donations, the camp invites poor children from urban areas in New York and surrounding states to spend four weeks at the overnight summer camp, situated on 75 rolling acres in the foothills of the Berkshire Mountains. About 165 children, who pay nothing to attend, will have scampered across its grounds this summer.

Beyond encouraging children to swim, put on plays, and undertake other activities, Morry’s Camp provides continuity. The children, who are selected by charities that serve young people, are asked to attend the camp for four years in a row, starting after the fifth grade. Then, throughout the school year, two Morry’s Camp employees meet monthly with the campers to insure that camp values, such as self-esteem and a sense of community, remain intact.