EPILOGUE

By the end of the decade, the Elkhart Lake facility was aging rapidly, and the base of campers had been decreasing due to demographic changes in society. The decision was made at the end of 1989 to close the Elkhart Lake campsite, and turn the grounds into a world-class resort. Incidentally, the handprints in cement --a staple of the Harand Camp experience-- can still be found around the Osthoff Resort in Elkhart Lake...an eternal tribute to the thousands that learned from the family Harand.

In 1990, rather than closing the camp altogether, the camp moved to their present site in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, at the Wayland Academy. While the changes are immense, (the campers now have an area which replaces "Green Pastures" that they call "Brown Fields," for example), the tradition will go on. Since the passing of original inceptors of the camp at Elkhart Lake -- Byron Friedman, Sam Gaffin, and last year, Pearl (Harand) Gaffin...Sulie (Harand) Friedman still serves as the president of the organization. Their children, Judy (Friedman) Mooney, Nora (Gaffin) Shore, and Janice (Gaffin) Lovell serve as co-directors, and are involved in other theatrically-oriented projects as well.

As the camp entered the year 2000, and began it's 46th season, Nora had been recently blessed with a new child, Peri Roxanna, while Janice's children Angela and Sam are currently young campers. Judy's daughter Samara has served as a counselor, although she is presently completing her college education . Also, Sulie's other daughter, Jackie Friedlander (who is not active in the day-to-day operations of the camp), has a son Frank who is currently on staff as well. So one can only assume that the legacy shall continue ad infinitum.

There may be some who cannot view this camp as an amazing enigma, but they would be those who cannot understand the magic of this experience. While hundreds, perhaps thousands, of lives, and loves, were shaped, changed, and molded by this remarkable camp, it's likely that there is not even one who was there who can say that it did nothing for them.

Today we can look at the camp alumni and see, in the eyes of every camper, what began as a dream nearly a half-century ago, has now become a fantastic reality of thousands. Thousands who have gone on to heal us, protect us, nurture us, educate us, and most of all, entertain us. Harand Camp taught us the discipline of the theatre, tempered with the common sense of the streets, softened by caring voices and hands. They taught us to speak with conviction, and to have self-confidence and poise. They made all of us into stars in our own right, and taught us that no "star" is able to stand out without the whole sky full shining right alongside. Most of all, they taught us that "No Man is An Island." --and if you're ever feeling alone, remember Harand Camp from YOUR time. Call an old camp friend. You'll be glad that you did.

By: Monty Rifkin