May 2008

Latest News on AKT

In brief, when Camp Thoreau in Vermont closed in 2004 (gosh, I hope this paragraph is old news to most of you - if so skip to the next) Many had a grand idea of keeping us all together in some way, maybe even raising enough capital to buy the property which was for sale at that time. It didn't happen, but we did have a great reunion in '05 to thank Greg and Joan for all they did for us and another in the fall of '07 at Miller Pond in Vermont. Also in '05 Camp Kokosing had a reunion in NYC. Having shared, not just the property but, the values of great summer camps, we looked into ways to keep the momentum going. This website is meant to keep things going, and it will be updated more soon.

Currently, the board of AKT is in a dormant/regrouping phase. There have been a lot of great ideas generated but little initiative or people power to get them going. (We did share some campership money in 2007 - Go Deandre!) Now what? We'd love to raise millions and start another camp. It aint going to happen (just yet?). We would entertain solicitation for more camperships and, with that, any donations to AKT for such endeavors. There is no on-line donation method at this time but we still accept contributions through our fiscal sponsor, the George D. Aiken RC&D Council. Click here for more info on donating.

Finally, I'll just wrap this up with a personal note and mention. I'm now employed by the Aloha Foundation of Fairlee, Vt; www.alohafoundation.org. We operate several camps on Lake Fairlee and Lake Morey(boys, girls, day, tripping, etc.) and, new this summer, a family camp called OHANA. I'd strongly encourage you to take a look at it if you still have an opening in your summer and an interest in bringing your family for a week of camp. In particular there are still openings the week of August 9th and 16th. Contact me directly if you like or speak to the directors, Andy and Deb Williams, and let them know where you heard it (no, I'm not getting a commission.) Especially in this first year, I can probably get you a deal off the price.

Cheers,
Mike V.
TIV 1988-2001, AKT now and forever!

April 2007

Camp Reunion

Can you believe it has already been two years since the Thoreau-in-Vemonters had that great reunion at Prindle Pond, the Thoreau-in-New Yorkers at Ashokan, and Kokosing phenomenal reunion in NYC?  

No one can say for sure if  we'd be able to do this every year, or even every 5 years but we've got a great reunion planned for this Labor Day Weekend, Sept. 1-3.   The big new is this one will be on site at Miller Pond in Vermont (original home of Kokosing and TIV) and we hope to have folk from all camps, their families and friends.

May, 2006

Family Camp cancelled

This has been a rough week for AKT. Due to a less than positive response from the Kokosing, Thoreau in New York, and Thoreau in Vermont folks we have decided to cancel the week of family camp at Common Ground. If you are still interested in that sort of a program you can contact Common Ground directly (and please tell them where you heard about it.) In order to get such a program underway there had been a significant amount of investment, both in time and finances. To proceed would have required even more but without a more favorable response from all of you, we decided to cut our losses and reassess the direction of our organization.

At this time the board consists of Kieran McGrath, Steve Blum, Michael Bleich, David Mickenberg, and myself. We are going to stay active but need input from you. We have heard from so many of you about how important the experiences you had at Thoreau were to you. We have all seen the amazing things that people are now doing with there lives. Now we want to know what you might hope for from us; and just as important or more so, what you can do to make that happen. Another children's camp like Thoreau would be great but that is a big step and needs lots of support. How can we do it?

Sincerely,
Mike V.
TIV staff 1988-2001

January, 2006

Family Camp Planned for August, 2006
While we won’t be on Miller Pond next summer, we do have exciting news to share from the AKT!  After our smashingly successful fall reunion, we have decided to host a Family Camp week in August 2006!   From August 20th to the 26th, Camp Thoreau families will come together for a week of fun at the site of Common Ground Center in Vermont.  We will swim, play Ultimate, sing, hike, make knot bracelets, and look at the stars.  Children and adults of all ages are welcome!
 
We will post more details about the program, the costs, how you can help and how you can sign up later in January.  But for now, mark your calendars and get ready to spend some wonderful time with the Camp Thoreau community.

September, 2005

Thoreu-in-Vermont Reunion
The TIV 2005 reunion was a resounding and wonderful success! All generations of TIV, from 1979 to 2004 (and even a few potentially future campers and staff), descended on the Nature’s Classroom campus and proceeded to hang out, revel in each other’s company, and get astonishingly little sleep. It wouldn’t be possible to list all the highlights, but here are a few: a sing that refused to end, a sermon by Mike Hickey in honor of Greg and Joan that brought down the house, a magnificent rendition of Leaving on A Jet Plane that involved Jake Fleisher and a makeshift body board, and, most importantly, the joy, fun, and raucous fellow feeling that you could only find at TIV. Want to see some pictures?
 
The reunion also marked the official kick-off of the Association and Kokosing and Thoreau and the effort to bring back camp! A capital campaign is under way, as the Association of Kokosing and Thoreau can now accept tax-deductible donations.  
 
Thanks so much to everyone who came to the reunion. And special warm fuzzies to Stefan Sage and Nature’s Classroom for providing us with the place to gather, and to Mike V. for organizing all that gathering. As for anyone who wanted to come but was unable, take heart: the whispers about making this reunion an annual event sounded serious.

Thoreau in New York Reunion
The second-annual TINY reunion at Ashokan turned out a warm gathering of old friends and their multitude of children on Labor Day Weekend. The weather couldn't have been more agreeable, allowing for a bunch of outdoor activities including a inter-parent/kiddie kickball game, singing and a few nature walks. Among those who made it there for part or all of the weekend included former camp directors Karl & Anne Rodman as well as Greg & Joan. Photos are available on the photos section of this website.

Summer, 2005

• The Association of Kokosing and Thoreau (AKT) incorporates as a non-profit organization with the goal of bringing camp back to life.
   
• AKT is accepted as a project of the George D. Aiken Resources and Development Council, a Vermont-based governmental organization dedicated to conservation and sustainable development. AKT will benefit from the Aiken Center's expertise and guidance and, in addition, all donations to AKT and the effort to rebuild camp will now be tax deductible.
   
• AKT successfully completes the pre-launch phase of its fundraising campaign. The official kick-off of the capital campaign is September 17th.
   
• The website of the Association of Thoreau-and-Kokosing is launched (But you know that, you're looking at it...)

May, 2005

The Association of Kokosing and Thoreau (AKT) began operation, with the goal of organizing collective support from committed people who, like us, believe strongly in the lifelong value of the experiences we had at Kokosing and Thoreau and who wish to provide similarly vital experiences for future generations. To that end, AKT:

• Applied for nonprofit status and created an administrative structure from which to begin formal operations.
• Began the process of enhancing and growing the network of communication among friends and alumni.
• Opened the search for members to join a fundraising committee with the purpose of generating support in the form of fundraising and publicity. (If you are interested in joining, contact us at fundraising@kokosing-thoreau.org.)
• Began seeking financial support for both the camp program and a potential site of operation (hopefully, the site now for sale on Miller Pond Road in Vermont) through grants, loans, and gifts. Pledges have already begun rolling in.

In addition, work begins on a Kokosing-Thoreau website (this website!) to serve as both a central hub and a place for people interested in saving Kokosing and Thoreau to leave their contact information and interact with each other.

April, 2005

Camp Kokosing—the camp that thrived on the Miller Pond property for fifty years before Thoreau arrived in 1979—holds a reunion. Kokosing is a sister camp to Thoreau in more ways than geographically. Both were also progressive camps dedicated to diversity, social justice, and community building. The Kokosing reunion was a grand success. Hundreds of former Kokosingers attended; the nostalgia, fellow feeling, and joy ran thick.

Mike Vecchiarelli ('88 -'01), a Thoreau staffer and program director had by now come on board the Thoreau-saving effort. He attended the Kokosing reunion to gauge whether there would be any interest in rebuilding a camp that would share and perpetuate Thoreau and Kokosing's values and ideals, while also protecting the land on Miller Pond from future development. Mike was surprised and gratified by the amount and degree of enthusiasm for the effort, and it became clear that the effort to save Thoreau was actually an effort to save Thoreau and Kokosing.

February, 2005

Led by Kieran McGrath ('84-'94), Mike Vecchiarelli ('88-'01), Steve Blum ('79-'85, and beyond), Mike Hickey ('91-'93), and Mike Bleich ('80-'86), a number of former TIV campers and staffers began to more seriously explore the feasibility of recreating Thoreau. They came to the conclusion that the main impediment to rebuilding the camp is owning the land on which it stands. That land is currently for sale.

Summer, 2004

Greg announced after the summer of 2004 that he would have to close Thoreau-in-Vermont, in large part because of escalating rent. In the subsequent months Greg helped parents of then-current Thoreau campers to find other, similar camps for their kids.

Meanwhile, a number of former Thoreau staff and campers began to wonder if there might be anything they could do to save and recreate the camp that meant so much to them.