Village Of Lindenhurst's Summer Camp Celebrates 75 Years

LINDENHURST, NY — The Lindenhurst Village Camp is celebrating its 75th Anniversary this summer.

Founded by Edward F. Kienle, the Village of Lindenhurst and Lindenhurst School District, the program has been a community staple since 1949.

When Kienle first spearheaded the program, it was housed in Lindenhurst elementary schools where children spent their summers enjoying activities like theatrical reprisals, arts and crafts projects, games and countless other activities. Kienle hired many local teachers to supervise each summer.

According to village officials, every year the summer program's last hurrah was the Youth Day Parade through the village, followed by talent shows, races, pie and watermelon eating contests and the crowning of “Little Miss Lindenhurst.”

The camp eventually moved out of the elementary buildings and into the Village Park, with activities held at Kienle Little League Field and Thomas A. Brennan softball field. Each summer for six weeks, hundreds of campers still enjoy many of the activities established by Kienle in the 1950s and 1960s.

In addition to softball, baseball, tennis, soccer, basketball, kickball, jump-the-brook, arts and crafts, and touch football, campers enjoy treasure hunts, obstacle courses, scooter races and the ever-popular running bases games.

Children are also treated to field trips to fun locations and special events including Water Slide Day, DJ parties, talent shows, color wars and visits from local self-awareness groups. Each week ends with Camper of the Week activities with joke-telling and creative dances included on Fridays.

At the end of summer, the annual Awards Day ceremony honors campers with the prestigious Edward F. Kienle Memorial Camper of the Year plaques. The award honors their participation, cooperation and sportsmanship, three qualities that Kienle admired in the youth.

“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," said Mayor Michael Lavorata. "The Village of Lindenhurst is extremely grateful to our current Summer Youth Director, Mike Canobbio, and to his hardworking, dedicated staff of counselors who carry on Mr. Kienle’s legacy, year after year. It takes a village, and Lindenhurst is the best!”