Camp Henry Horner 100th Anniversary Party

For over 100 summers, Jewish Council for Youth Services (JCYS) has provided a backdrop for fun on the shores of Lake Wooster.  On Sunday, July 20, hundreds of former campers and counselors will be revisiting their youthful memories at a 100th Anniversary Party at Camp Henry Horner (26710 W. Nippersink Road, Ingleside, IL  60041).  Alumni from all over the globe will travel back to see how camp has evolved over the years. Though many of the original buildings have been updated over the years, alumni will also get to experience the new High Sierra Adventure Center, complete with a zipline, and high and low ropes course, the boathouse fitted with canoes and kayaks, and new inflatable activities throughout the lake. 

Camp Henry Horner traces its roots back to 1914, when JCYS was known as Young Men’s Jewish Council. During its first summer, just 35 boys attended overnight camp in four-week sessions. Today, over 500 co-ed campers going into Kindergarten through 11th Grade enjoy one to eight-week sessions of day and overnight camp.

The tight-knit community of Camp Henry Horner includes many campers that turn into counselors, who turn into JCYS Board of Directors and then donors.  Day Camp Director Isaac Brubaker was one such camper-turned-counselor, and Overnight Camp Director Kenley Perry came to JCYS right after college and has been at Camp Henry Horner for over 20 years.  Former JCYS Board President Ed Glickman was a summer camper from 1936 - 1939 and has since spearheaded many capital campaigns to keep Camp Henry Horner updated for the 21st Century camper. 

“Camp Henry Horner was the backbone of my youth, and helped make me the person I am today,” Glickman remembers.  “From simple life lessons about how to build a fire to leadership skills and how to work with a large team, I have been able to attribute my successes back to my summers at Camp Henry Horner.”

Alumni looking to get back in touch with Camp staff are encouraged to contact Isaac Brubaker at ibrubaker@jcys.org or (847) 740-5010.  For more information about JCYS’ Camp Henry Horner or their 100th Anniversary Party, visitwww.jcys.org/CHH.