Camp Kinderland

For the Canadian summer camp once called Camp Kinderland, see Camp Naivelt.

Camp Kinderland is a summer camp located in Tolland, Massachusetts, for youngsters aged eight through sixteen. The camp's motto is summer camp with a conscience since 1923. The main topics of the curriculum are: equality, peace, community, social justice, activism, civil rights, Yiddishkeit, and friendship. Campers may stay for four weeks in July, three weeks in August, or all seven of the offered weeks. There is also a two-week session available for first-time campers in the youngest group.

Founding and history

Kinderland was founded by members of The Workmen's Circle/Arbeter Ring, a leftist Jewish fraternal organization, in 1923 in Hopewell Junction, New York.

Politics

The camp's left-wing politics led it to be the place many red diaper babies were sent growing up,^[1] which caused it to be investigated during the McCarthy era. Attendee and counselor Katie Halper directed and produced Commie Camp, a light-hearted 2013 documentary on the camp.^[2]

Notable Kinderland alumni

• Spencer Ackerman, progressive blogger
• Chesa Boudin, lawyer and activist; San Francisco District Attorney.
• Lawrence Bush, editor, Jewish Currents
• Jules Dassin, film director
• Delia Graff Fara, philosopher of language
• Ted Gold, a member of Weatherman Underground
• Katie Halper, comedian and writer
• Max Kellerman, sports commentator
• Michael Klonsky, education policy expert
• Harvey Kurtzman, cartoonist and founder of Mad Magazine
• Ivy Meeropol, documentary filmmaker, granddaughter of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg
• Marky Ramone, drummer, The Ramones, Misfits
• Suze Rotolo, artist and teacher^[3]
• Ben Shuldiner, 2006 Democratic candidate for New York's 19th Congressional District
• Paul Stanley, singer and guitarist, KISS
• Sol Stern, senior fellow, Manhattan Institute
• Marisa Tomei, actress
• Merritt Wever, actress

See also

• Itche Goldberg (brief mention of shules)
• Camp Boiberik