Meet the Leadership
Kathy Jonas, Camp Director
It is with continued excitement and anticipation that I look forward to my second summer as Director of Camp Walden, getting to know you and spending the summer with your daughters.
My lifelong passion for overnight camping began as a camper and staff member at Camp Whippoorwill, a camp for girls in Keeseville, NY. At Whippoorwill I learned many wonderful skills, made life-long friends, and developed a love of the outdoors. I met my husband at camp. (He attended Whippoorwill’s brother camp, Camp Lincoln, as did our two sons.) In so many ways I am the person I am today because of my experiences as a camper and staff person at Whippoorwill.
I always understood that camp was a special place. At Whip my self-confidence grew while I learned to sail, enjoyed camping and hiking trips and made great friends. I brought my camp experiences home each year and was able to be the self-assured person I was at camp, at home! This is why after eighteen years as a college administrator I returned to camping with one goal in mind, to create the opportunity for as many children as possible to have the same exceptional overnight camping experience as I had as a child and young adult.
For eight years, 2003 to 2010, I was the Director of JCC Maccabi Camp Kingswood. I am proud of the experiences I created for and the relationships I developed with hundreds of campers, staff and their families. I am thrilled to now be a member of the Walden community, a very special camp community, and to continue this wonderful and amazing journey.
Wishing summer lasted all year,
—Kathy Jonas, kathyjonas@campwalden.com
The Trustees of Camp Walden
For the past four years, the Trustees of Camp Walden have been working closely with experienced and dedicated staff members to maintain Walden traditions and preserve its legacy for future campers.
From 1916 through 2008, Walden’s leadership was passed on through three generations of a single family. Camp Walden was founded by Blanche Hirsch in 1916. In 1938, Blanche’s niece Helen Herz Cohen (Miss Herz) became the Director, and led Walden until 1995, when her daughter Wendy Cohen assumed this role and held it until her death in 2008.
Miss Herz and Wendy were committed to preserving the traditions and values of Walden and designated us, Trustees with deep Walden connections, to steward camp into the future. We represent a range of constituencies, including fourth generation Herz family, camp alumnae, parents and friends.
In 2010, Kathy Jonas joined Camp Walden as Director. Kathy has a wealth of camping experience and is as committed as we are to the magic of Walden. The Trustees support Kathy in the management of Walden through weekly conference calls, summer visits and strategic planning.
In addition, we continue to work closely with parents and staff to make improvements, as well as to protect the traditions that make Walden so special. We share an unwavering commitment to the Walden community of nearly a century, and are dedicated to preserving the Walden experience for the generations to come.
Cordially,
Kim Phillips, Sassy Kohlmeyer, Devan Kirk, and Gwenn Scheuer Herz