The Benefit – How it all Began

Back in the 1920s, when Rowe Camp began, the focus was on youth and leadership. The campers struggled with the issues of the day: race, war, and peace. Some things don’t seem to change. Today Rowe is still focusing on youth and leadership and on the issues that are affecting our society: social justice, concern for the environment, a peaceful global society. Is it any wonder that the camp community has so thoroughly embraced the Woodside Diversity Program?

In 2003, a group of former campers from the early 90s came together to support the Woodside Program by creating a benefit in New York City. Camp Director Aram Rubenstein-Gillis originated the idea in a multi-approach proposal for sustaining the Woodside Diversity Program which he presented to the board. Three of the group were on the Rowe board at the time: Holly Thompson, Anna Westley, and Matt Morrison. They were also involved in summer camps on staff and directing. They were in a period of their lives when they had time to give and wanted to give back to Rowe for all they received. One way to do this was to create this community event.

Campers have found ways to express their leadership after camp in so many different ways. They work on camp staff, become camp directors or board members, and bring their leadership out into society in the way they live and in what they do. The members of the Benefit Committee are former campers who have served as board members, support staff, staff, and co-directors at YPC, T-camp, Jr. and Sr. High camps. However, despite their long-ranging relationships with Rowe, some had never met until settling in Brooklyn and connecting with their friends in what has become a large and tightly knit community of NYC Rowies.

We would like to acknowledge and thank last year’s committee members: chairperson Jessica Winograd and members Holly Thompson, Matt Morrison, Anna Westley, Brendan Flannelly-King, Dan Ross, Kate Stamps, Aram Rubenstein Gillis, and Greg Glassman. Those thanks only scratch the surface, because a lot of Rowies, though they don’t participate in the planning, come out every year to help set up, for example, Emily Huber, Mark Gibson, Sam Lee, Abby Westwood, Melody Litwin, and lots of others. Some help by donating to the auction. We thank India D’Arthenay Adams who has donated hundreds of dollars worth of her exclusive jewelry, Emily Huber who donates massages each year, and Nick Meyer for donating his photographs. Some play music: John Kleber and Greg Glassman’s band, which has visited many camps and often donates some of its fee to the benefit. Some spend money and become the year’s big-time auction spenders: Ben Fried, Simon Delekta, and Mark Taylor. However they participate, they are yesterday’s campers being today’s leaders, living their values and helping Rowe serve its mission.

Sarah Hougen and Andrew Plummer auctioning Howard Searles’ painting.

The Brooklyn contingency of Rowies is unique, but Rowe friendships thrive in other places too. Some of the best and longest lasting friendships are the ones made at camp. Andrew Plummer and Sarah Hougen were campers together. They both served as Spirits their last year of camp and have remained good friends ever since.

In 2000, a reunion was held for campers who had been at Rowe in the late 80s. It provided a chance to bring them and their old friends back to Rowe. While at the reunion, Bonnie Rovics had a fantastic idea to create a new camp, a continuation of Sr. High Camp with an adult flair: Wonder Camp. A number of campers from the 80s worked to create and staff the camp, but unfortunately due to scheduling summer space was not available. Though we tried holding the camp in May, it never built enough attendance to sustain itself. It did however provide Sarah and Andrew with an opportunity to work together on a project, and that was greatly fulfilling to them.

With Wonder Camp over, there remained a void. Creating a benefit in the Boston Area similar to the NYC benefit sounded as though it could be a lot of fun. As Mike Stevens, another 80s camper, said of the reunion, “It was great to reunite with old friends, but I also got a lot out of meeting people who went to camp after I did. It reinforced the idea that the community was ongoing, that people who had never met could still be a part of the same thing.” A benefit that brought folks together from all aspects of Rowe could be an amazing community event.

Andrew is an artist who loves working with found art and creating atmospheric, transformational spaces. He is currently studying landscape design at The Landscape Institute at Harvard University and works for the theatrical experience Blue Man Group. Sarah is an established artist who uses art, collage, paper play, and creativity to express herself. She is the mother of a lovely two-year-old daughter, Holland. Andrew and Sarah used their desire to work together and do something for Rowe to raise $4,200 for camperships this year.

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