Seventy-five years is a long time. Seventy-five years of serving the youth of Lindenhurst is a long, proud time! The Lindenhurst Village Camp is celebrating its 75th Anniversary this summer. Founded by Edward F. Kienle, in conjunction with the Village of Lindenhurst and Lindenhurst School District, the program has been a staple of the community since 1949.
When Mr. Kienle first helped establish the program, it was housed at the elementary schools in Lindenhurst. Thousands of Lindenhurst children spent their summers enjoying wholesome recreational activities, theatrical reprisals, arts and crafts projects, sit down games and countless other activities. Mr. Kienle hired many local teachers to supervise as competitions among the different playgrounds was electric and exciting for the campers.
Each year the summer program culminated with the Youth Day Parade through the Village. This was followed by activities such as talent shows, running races, 3-legged races, pie and watermelon eating contests and the crowning of “Little Miss Lindenhurst”. It was always a fun day for the youth of Lindenhurst.
The camp eventually moved away from the elementary buildings and consolidated to the Village Park, with primary activities being held at Kienle Little League Field (Mr. Kienle never envisioned that being a full turf infield as it presently exists), and Thomas A. Brennan softball field. Each summer for six weeks, hundreds of campers still enjoy many of the activities established by Mr. Kienle in the 1950’s and 1960’s. Softball, baseball, tennis, baseball, soccer, basketball, kickball, jump-the-brook, running races, arts and crafts, sidewalk chalk drawing, touch football, and whiffle ball are among the daily activities today. Campers enjoy treasure hunts, obstacle courses designed by counselors, scooter races and the ever popular running bases games. The playground apparatus is full of campers all day, and the sprinklers are running all afternoon to cool off the boys and girls.
Field trips to fun locations have been added in addition to Water Slide Day, DJ parties, talent shows, color wars and visits from local self-help/self-awareness groups. Each week ends with Camper of the Week activities with joke telling and creative dances included on Fridays.
The camp culminates with the annual Awards Day ceremony. At this event, the prestigious Edward F. Kienle Memorial Camper of the Year plaques are presented to the outstanding male and female campers from the 10 – 14 year old groups. It honors their participation, cooperation and sportsmanship, three qualities that Mr. Kienle admired in our youth.
There is a reason the Lindenhurst Youth Center, Lindenhurst Varsity Football Field and LNLL Little League Field all display the name of Edward F. Kienle, a man who cared about and helped children. As the saying goes, “We Never Stand So Tall As When We Stoop To Help A Child.”
Mayor Michael Lavorata said, “The Lindenhurst Village Board is proud to support the continued success of this program that Edward F. Kienle started 75 years ago. Our Village Summer Camp is such an important program for our youth and their families. The Village of Lindenhurst is extremely grateful to our current Summer Youth Director, Mike Canobbio, and to his hard-working, dedicated staff of counselors who carry on Mr. Kienle’s legacy, year after year. It takes a village, and Lindenhurst is the best!”
Pictured here (left to right) modeling this year’s commemorative Edward F. Kienle staff shirts are Camp Counselors Mike DiGiuseppe and Dan Narowski.