Camp Woodland’s racially diverse, culturally rich history – Americana at its best
While the word “diversity” is of necessity becoming a part of the American vernacular these days, the concept is not exactly new. In fact, in 1939, a group of idealists inspired by the spirit of the New Deal reform put their vision of American democracy into practice by creating Camp Woodland, a racially and ethnically inclusive summer camp for city kids located in the remote and scenic mountains of upstate New York. The camp’s innovative programs profoundly influenced campers for 24 summers from 1939 to 1962. One of those campers was Bill Horne, who grew up to champion civil rights as an attorney and now, as a historian, chronicles the development and importance of this special place in a new book, The Improbable Community: Camp Woodland and the American Democratic Ideal.
The founders of Camp Woodland were united by the progressive politics of the 1930s. Some were teachers influenced by educational reformers of the early 20th century. Some contributed administrative skills. All were committed to racial and social justice well before the civil rights movement became a force in the 1950s and ‘60s.
Unlike some experimental communities that isolate themselves and withdraw into a world of their own, Camp Woodland by design sought to have its diverse population of campers and staff (mostly from the New York City metropolitan area) become part of the rural, traditional community in which they lived. It was able to earn the acceptance and respect of its neighbors through a program of honoring and preserving the community’s music, folklore and history. Local musicians, storytellers and artisans participated along with Woodlanders in musical and dramatic performances that celebrated the rich cultural resources of the region.
A treasure trove of history, photographs and remembrances, The Improbable Community tells the story of the people whose dreams created Camp Woodland and whose talents enabled its success. It tells the story of the rural neighbors whom Woodlanders came to know and of the music, history, homespun skills and folklore that they freely shared with their newfound friends. It tells the story of the musicians, performers and musicologists who contributed creativity, zeal and scholarship to Camp Woodland’s legacy.
Author Bill Horne is an attorney who practiced trade regulation law in Washington, DC, and healthcare, public construction and civil rights law in Boston, Massachusetts. He grew up in Queens, New York, and was a camper at Camp Woodland from 1950 through 1960.
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