"Lakeland Times" Sept. 3, 1964 

Fifty years of camping at Camp Kawaga were celebrated over the weekend when 25 former campers and counselors gathered for a three-day reunion.  They came from Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Missouri, Arkansas, Florida, and Alabama to honor Lou Ehrenreich, camp director, and his wife, Dag, and to enjoy the activities and spirit that enriched their earlier lives at Camp Kawaga.

The oldest man attending was Al Sand, 72, who served as the camp doctor and one of the two counselors during the first camping season of 1915. He is from Rock  Island, Ill. Traveling the furthest to attend was Wally Grace who came from St. Petersburg, Fla. Buddy (Gus) Shrader of Little Rock, Ark., one of the first 14 campers in 1915, attended. Arrangements for the reunion were made by Byron Weil, who came from Milwaukee.                              

Memories like the time Bob Wein stole lilacs and was sent to summer camp at Kawaga for punishment. It was the first of his many summers at the camp. He's the boy who used $1-a-bar soap, sent to him from his dermatologist father, to wash the socks for the other boys for three cents a pair. At the Saturday banquet, guests were Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Hill of Woodruff who were caretakers of the camp from 1928 through 1958.

      On Sunday, church services were conducted at the camp as they are each Sunday during the summer. Wally Grace, who is an Elder in the Disciples of Christ, gave the talk and Bob Aronson conducted the service.
To Lou Ehrenreich, camp director, was presented a trophy in recognition for his devoted and unselfish leadership in the development of Camp Kawaga. The trophy was designed by Byron Weil and bore three loving cups: the largest labeled "Campers", signifying Lou's first interest; the next labeled "Camp"' his second interest, and the third, the smallest, labeled "Lou", his third interest.
Lou Ehrenreich has been director of Camp Kawaga since 1949. He has never missed a summer at the camp. He was one of the 14 campers in 1915, then became a counselor and then director. 

       Camp Kawaga was founded by Lou's father, Dr. B.C. Ehrenreich. His desire was to establish a place where boys from the city could come for the summer to learn about the great outdoors and to enjoy the spirit and companionship of friendship. As the first playground director of New York City, Dr. Ehrenreich was well acquainted with the problem of recreational facilities in the city.
While visiting in Minocqua in 1915, he was boat riding on Lake Kawaguesaga and saw the place where he wanted to establish his camp. The property was available and he purchased 160 acres and the few buildings there at the time.
Today Camp Kawaga has grown to 320 acres with two miles of frontage on Lake Kawaguesaga and also frontage on Baker Lake. Number of buildings now totals 57. 

       Other than the physical changes which have taken place at Kawaga, Lou said that the greatest change is the theory that all boys should participate in all of the activities available at the camp. When camping began, a boy did not have to take part in activities if he didn't want to. Today there are certain requirements in each field so that all boys have a well-rounded recreational and educational program. No one is left out of the camp activities.
Kawaga is a Jewish camp, but has campers and counselors of all faiths. Its religious theme is quite non-denominational and stresses that, in all religions, God is present in the Great Outdoors.
Kawaga has a large number of "returnees" each summer. This summer there was a total of 42 who have spent five or more summers at the camp, either as campers, counselors or both. Many of the campers return to be counselors.
This summer there were also 29 "second generation" campers; Those whose fathers had been campers before them. Next year, the camp expects its first "third generation" camper.
Lou cites this return of boys each year as the basis for the traditions and spirit which have grown with Camp Kawaga since that first season in 1915. This spirit is emphasized in "The Pineneedle," an annual made up by the boys each year:
"In 1915, Doc E. began a boys camp. He instilled within the first 14 campers a feeling of fair play and sportsmanship. This feeling has been passed down through the years from camper to camper, counselor to counselor. Now in 1964, after fifty years, this "Spirit" is as alive as ever. It is felt by every camper in his daily camp life and in his competition. Enthusiasm, fellowship and sportsmanship are all included in this "Spirit." The "Spirit" is a part of the Kawaga tradition. It belongs to all the boys of the Kawaga Nation".