To kick off the yearlong centennial celebration of their founding, Western Maryland’s Camps Airy & Louise — the nation’s only brother-and-sister Jewish summer camps — went global last Saturday night, Mar. 25.
To mark the anniversary milestone, the camps held “Toast From Coast to Coast,” a celebration based at Baltimore’s Union Craft Brewing that was livestreamed to similar gatherings at venues and private residences in a dozen states and Washington, D.C., as well as around the world. More than 500 former and current campers, staff members and camper parents attended celebrations at 23 locations, including Glasgow, Melbourne and Tel Aviv. There was also a gathering at the Ott House Pub in Emmitsburg, located near the camps.
“While Camps Airy and Louise are really only over eight miles apart from each other, the love that we all have for camp stretches across the globe,” said Ricky Lasser, who served as co-chair of the “Toast.” Lasser was an Airy camper beginning in 2000, served on the Airy staff from 2012 to 2017 and again since 2021.
Said his co-chair and wife, Emily Egert Lasser: “It was really amazing to connect with camp alumni from all across the globe, people who were at camp 30, 40, 50-plus years ago. The response was really incredible, and the overall message from everyone was the same — camp is a special place for us all and having the chance to celebrate 100 years is really exciting.”
At the Union Craft event, Camp Airy director Marty Rochlin asked the more than 200 attendees to raise their glasses “to every single camper who has walked the hill at Airy or Louise on their way to experiencing what a camp friendship means.”
Added Alicia Berlin, director of Camp Louise: “Here’s to every parent who has trusted us to stand in their shoes for a week or a month or a summer in order to give their child an opportunity to explore and grow and have fun while learning about themselves and the world around them. Here’s to every staff member from every corner of the globe who has chosen to spend their summer with us to make a difference in the life of a camper.”
In her remarks, Lauren Perlin, the camps’ development director who serves as co-executive director of Airy & Louise with Rochlin and Berlin, saluted the Baltimore philanthropists and founders of Camps Airy & Louise.
“Here’s to Aaron and Lillie Straus,” she said, “who had the vision 100 years ago to create this safe and special community which has had such a profound impact on every single one of us celebrating tonight.”
Among the attendees at Union Craft was Sarah Hiller, who started at Louise at the age of 9 and became a full summer counselor, dance department head, scheduling and programming coordinator, and a volunteer. This year will mark her 21st summer with the camp.
“It’s pretty incredible to think that camp has been a foundational part of my life where I grew up, gained independence, met so many of my close friends,” said Hiller, 29. “This place means so much, not just to me but for literally 100-years-worth of people.”
Dr. Eric Carr spends one week each summer working at Airy’s medical center. He started his tenure there in 2016 as the parent of a camper.
“I never had the opportunity as a kid to go to summer camp, so this has been sort of a second chance for me to get to experience the camp life,” said Dr. Carr. “The other part that keeps me coming back is the people at camp, from the campers I have treated in the medical center to the counselors and administrators I have interacted with over the years. Once you have spent time at camp, you are part of the Airy/Louise family. I have made great friends with several of the people I have worked with each year in the medical center. Also, I have been at camp long enough to see the kids grow from young campers to [counselors-in-training] to counselors.”
Jason Smulson started as a camper “on the mountain,” became a CIT, and worked at Airy as a counselor and unit leader for six years. He has also volunteered at the camp for several years and will return for a full week this summer since his son will be an Airy camper for the first time.
“I saw numerous generations in attendance at the Baltimore event and many of those have the next generation already at camp,” said Smulson, 45. “It makes me feel lucky to be a small part of something so special. Camp has been a part of my life since I was 9 years old, and to see camp thriving right now after some really difficult times like COVID and [last summer’s] dining hall fire is a testament to the current leadership.”
This summer, 1,475 campers are enrolled at Airy & Louise, with 475 staff members contracted to work at both camps, including a contingent of Israeli and other international counselors.
The yearlong Airy & Louise centennial celebration will continue on May 19 with the Centennial Golf Tournament at Worthington Manor Golf Club in Urbana, Md., and the Centennial Gala on Oct. 14 at the Baltimore Marriott Waterfront. For information or to register for events, visit airylouise.org/100.
Linda L. Esterson is a local freelance writer.
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