Camp High Point

Camp High Point was an eight-week-long summer camp in West Shokan (Ulster County), New York. It was established in 1923 by the Levy and Greenberg families. The Sonnenreichs, who began their association with the camp in 1931, owned and operated it from 1945 until 1970, its final season. The camp colors were green and white.

Located at the foot of Mt. High Point, on the shores of the Ashokan Reservoir, Camp High Point was a 150-acre co-educational camp. It consisted of two separate campuses and a central area for administration, dining, medical, and social facilities. It also featured a large (325 ft. x 110 ft.) natural mountain-fed swimming pool. The camp was both traditional and progressive. Traditional, because (for its time) it encompassed just about every sport and activity to which a camper should be exposed. Progressive, because it was the Sonnenreichs' philosophy to provide a vacation place in which children had the opportunity to express themselves in just about any way that motivated them.

Camp High Point also was a very personal camp. The relationship between the children and the staff was always an intimate one, and the Sonnenreichs constantly strove to win and maintain the respect and love of all those who attended the camp. Campers returned year after year, and many went on to become bunk counselors, group leaders, and administrative staff. Attending camp also resulted in many "High Point marriages."

Unused for more than 30 years, the camp is now in varying stages of decay. As of August 2004 [ [http://camphighpoint.com/chp_pix_main.html Camp High Point Today] ] , most of the bunks and other sites on girls' campus either were in ruins or completely gone. The entire area sat in knee-high grasses, weeds, and other overgrowth. What was once a large, open space was a forest of pine trees. Boys' campus fared somewhat better, since it was maintained for several years for group rentals. The central-area buildings, including the dining hall, infirmary, and social hall, were still standing.

Rather than sell it for development, the current owners have chosen to let the property return to its natural state.

Notable alumni

* [http://www.fencingmedia.org/viewathlete.asp?name=jeff_bukantz Jeff Bukantz]
*Peter Falk
*Ross Martin
*Lynn Rogoff

References

External links

* [http://www.camphighpoint.com Camp High Point Web site]
* [http://peterfalk.com Peter Falk Web site]
* [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/10/15/AR2005101501334.html Washington Post article about Fay Sonnenreich Trubow]