Buck's Rock

Buck's Rock Road

Buck's Rock Performing and Creative Arts Camp is an educational summer camp located in New Milford, Connecticut. The camp was established in 1942 by Dr. Ernst Bulova and his wife Ilse, Austrian educators who had studied under Maria Montessori.

Early history

Ernst (1902–2001) and Ilse Bulova were Austrian educators living in Germany in the early 20th century. Dr. Bulova ran an educational radio program in Berlin, but following the Nazis' rise to power he and his wife were forced to flee to England, where Dr. Bulova became co-director of the Beltane School in Wimbledon. With the help of relatives who owned the Bulova Watch Company, Dr. and Mrs. Bulova emigrated to the United States in 1940 to find a refuge for British children during World War II. The site chosen was hilly farmland in the Merryall region of New Milford, but since crossing the Atlantic had become too treacherous, the plan was abandoned and Ernst and Ilse convinced their relatives to sell the land to them. Thus began Buck’s Rock Work Camp, where the Bulovas put into practice some of their Montessori-based principles on how children learn and grow.

The earliest campers came from two of Manhattan’s progressive schools, The Dalton School and The Walden School. In addition to learning about New Milford’s small-town governance, the children worked on neighboring farms to alleviate the wartime manpower shortage. Once the war ended, the camp really took off and a unique program of creative and artistic endeavors evolved.

In the 1970s the Bulovas sold the camp to 3 couples who ran the camp together for many years.

While many campers believe that the camp was named for a large boulder that sits behind the Actors Studio building, the land on which the camp sits was part of the Buck’s Rock district of New Milford, John Buck having been one of its first settlers. In addition, the road that runs through the camp is called Buck’s Rock Road.

Later history

In 1996 the camp was purchased from the former owners (Lou Simon and Irwin Berger) by Mickey and Laura Morris.

In 2001, coinciding with a memorial ceremony following Dr. Bulova's death, a group of alumni spanning the camp's 50-year history founded a non-profit organization called Friends of Buck's Rock (FOBR), to promote the educational ideals and philosophy of the camp's founders.[1] In addition to sponsoring alumni events, FOBR has served as a fund-raising organization, partnering with Buck's Rock's directors to make it possible for financially disadvantaged teenagers to attend camp on full scholarships.

In 2016, the camp was purchased by Noah Salzman, a former camper, and his wife Smadar.

Campers hang out on the Gong

Notable staff and alumni

Michael Ajerman - Artist - LONDON UK

Katherine Waterston, actress

References

  1. ↑ Welcome. Friends of Buck's Rock. Retrieved on 2007-11-11.
  2. ↑ Nadine Brozan, Chronicle, New York Times (June 13, 1992).

Coordinates: 41°35′28″N 73°23′43″W / 41.5911°N 73.3952°W / 41.5911; -73.3952

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