In 1916 two determined and farsighted young ladies from New
York, Miss Blanche Hirsch and Miss Clara Altschul, traveled
to Denmark, Maine to purchase property for a girls' summer camp.
They hiked down an old lumber road on the property, which is
now Camp Walden, and walked across the ice to view that acreage.
However, they liked the land adjacent to the lumber road better
and so arranged for the purchase of most of the present property.
They planned the camp buildings while there was still snow on
the ground and arranged for an icehouse to be built immediately,
so the camp would have refrigeration for the summer.
It was their dream and determination which laid the foundation
for what Camp has become today. They believed an individual,
with solid support and encouragement from a warm circle of friends,
can accomplish anything they choose so long as they determinedly
hold on to their highest dreams. The traditions of honesty,
encouraging youngsters to believe in themselves, respecting
others and not accepting failure are all basic elements of Walden's
philosophy. The primary objective of the entire Walden community
is to offer a setting in which a child can grow as an individual
and help each camper achieve whatever personal goals she has
set for herself.
Walden grew from 30 to over 100 campers in a short period. Honor
System, SPLASH, camp songs, "the counselor show",
and Banquet Night are all events that grew during the early
years and are still an important part of camp life today. Waldenites
have dealt with all kinds of challenges; picking beans and airplane
spotting during the war, rationing gasoline and food, raising
funds for the new Bridgton hospital, and participating in various
activities involving the community, such as the Denmark Fair,
annual Fourth of July Parade and offering swimming lessons to
the Denmark children.
The
number of buildings and facilities has increased, but this growth
has been selective and designed to fit into the master plan
formulated in 1916. The tradition of Walden continues from one
generation to the next, and every summer one can find any number
of girls who are children or grandchildren of former campers.
The long stockings and roomy bloomers of the early years have
become knit shirts and shorts. Parents drive to camp, instead
of visiting by horse and buggy, and the girls fly in lieu of
taking the narrow gauge, but the basic feelings for Walden remain
the same, and each year they return to their home in Denmark,
with its quiet lake and beautiful pines. Denmark Maine and Camp
Walden have been a meaningful part of the lives of many girls
for over ninety years.
