Custom Search     Orange Pond     Still alive and kicking (June 2026)... and my memory is food enough to recall my fun years there ... 1957-1962+ Dave G(HP) ''orangepond@netzero.com'' Says Anonymous I am so happy to have found this website. Thank you! I was the swimming instructor at Camp Magpies for one year: I think it was 1973, but my mother remembers it as 1972. Does anyone out there remember me? I gave one-on-one swimming lessons to children. And I remember pulling leeches off     some of the youngest campers when I held them teaching the back float. I regret not knowing more about all the camp activities. I also remember Hans and Herta serving beef tongue for dinner every week (and this was NOT my favorite). Is the locality still a camp? I didn't see what happened to the place after 1977 when the camp closed. I am glad to hear Hans and Herta lived long lives together. Says Madonna Moss Amazing that so many are still finding this site and contributing to it. I was there from 57 to 72 or so...visiting the last couple years... I remember many of you (more or less)... It was great fun... Keep the recollections alive and coming... If you played baseball, I pitched       to you ... Says DaveG(hp) I love reading these reminiscences, and I remember some of you. I was a camper in 1964 (Pif’s sister), and then a counselor in around 1969 and maybe again in the 70s, not sure. I kept friendships with   H&H (also visiting them in AZ), with Marge Venit, and, of course, Dave. Now I am Facebook friends with Marj Brown (nee Glickman), with Peter Romani too. My brother Peter (Pif) too. Please feel free to send me a friend request. I live in Maine, and I like to stay in touch! Monica (Miki, Big Mo, Moose) Says Monica Fischbach Hey, John Hennen! Delighted and very gratified to see your post. Many fond memories. I’m still a big baseball fan, but became an even bigger music fan, which, luckily, I got good enough to earn a living at. You can contact me through my website, audiolifer.com. I would love to hear from you. Take care and hope to hear from you……pronto. Cheers, A. Says Alan (Alfie) I was a counselor for the summers of 1971 and 1972. Many memories, including a magic night when many of us camped out in the field to watch the Northern Lights. I saw the post above from Alfie, one of my favorite campers in part because of his passion for baseball. I visited H&H in Arizona in the summer of 2007, not too long before they died. Hans was 97 and still driving. It was a little scary, actually. Says John Hennen 71 thru 76 - Magpies was a remarkable place. Memories of many campers, counselors, and Hans and Herta. I was there six summers, for the last couple of years, Hans allowed me to record some 45s on his reel to reel, that we would use for dances. One particular thing that has stayed with me was our exposure to amazing films such as ''Alexander Nevsky'', ''Faust'' and ''Woman In The Moon''. Truly amazing that they had these films in their collection. Amazing stuff to see at age 10. Says Alan F (Alfie) I now live in NH. I attended Camp Magpies in the summer of either 1970 or 1971. Recall the Mount Cardigan hike and all of the counselors from other countries and all the kids from NYC. Happy to have found this thread! Says Anne Zinkin I remember you Ron Z! I was a camper at Magpies in 1965. I was friends with Juliet Melamid. At camp my friends were Robin and Tim; they were twins. On one hike I got stung by several bees, and Herta kept me in the big house for a couple of days to ensure I was ok. I read all the magazines with Twiggy and Jean Shrimpton. I live in The Berkshires now, retired with 2 dogs and one daughter. Hope you are well, Ron. You were very kind to weird little me. Says Melissa R I think I was a camper in the summer of 1976 for perhaps 2 weeks. It was a first for me in many ways, sleep away camp, swimming in a pond, sleeping in a room with 5 other campers? I don’t remember much unfortunately even though I was probably 12 years old at the time. Some memories are forever imbedded - short sheeting the bed, moving someone in a deep sleep for him to find himself waking up on a mattress on the dock in Orange Pond, being allowed to shower for several minutes before the hot water was turned off, and one female counselor who was the dream girl of all the boy campers. I don’t remember the owners and the only name I recall was Jimmy who was involved in a sticky situation for throwing his bat after hitting the ball and unintentionally injuring the catcher. I wish I had photos of my time there and made an attempt to stay in touch with the other campers. It was great to see this thread!! Says George Raikos A lot left comments but no way to contact you...too bad. Says Dave The Cohen kids: Roberta attended for ten years, siblings Reb and Rhona didn't make it to ten years because the camp closed after the summer of '77. We were all certified as lifesavers in Orange Pond, hiked Cardigan, Little Haystack and the White Mountains, and saw Diego Rivera murals at Dartmouth. We loved the young counselors from all over the world and pretty much everything about that magical place. Says Anonymous Believe it or not I was a counselor at camp magpie in 1947. I think it was the second year of opening . Kept in touch with Herta and Hans for a few years and lost touch. Happy to hear that they had a long life together. I will try to visit Orange Pond this weekend as I will be in the area celebrating my grandson’s wedding. Will keep you updated. Says Erika Weile Novick I was there from 67-69. My mom says I was crying when I left and crying when I returned. I loved it and loved the counselors, the camping, the socials, and dancing to Light My Fire which has just come out. Hans and Herta were another story. They were friends of my Mom from Vienna. I was a bit of a rebel, so we had some conflicts. Some years later I returned for a surprise visit with another former camper Jonathan Rofman. We were met with hostility and since we had hitchhiked there were driven to ''the border'' even though we had only good intentions. But I still honor them for their creation and loved the place. If anyone knew me from back then, my cell is 607 722-0537. Feel free to call or text. Says Eliot Fiks I just learned that both Hans and Herta were born in Vienna in 1911. I knew that Hans died one month after Herta in Green Valley, AZ. Both were 97 years old. AMAZING! When I was a camper at Camp Magpies in 1949 and 1950 when I was 8 and 9 years old, H&H were 38 and the 39. At the time, there were just a few campers with 2 councilors, and we were all in the main house. There were no additional buildings. The house was built in 1740, and the house down the road was part of the Underground Railroad to get escaping slaves to Canada. If it wasn’t for H&H exposing me to the rural outdoor activities in the area, I might have been a couch potato in NYC all of my life? But because of that exposure, Judy and I have been, and still are, enjoying much outdoor activity together for more than 61 years now. I met Judy at Camp Magpies in 1958 when I went to visit by brother Charlie who was a camper. The next year I was a councilor along with Judy and Dave Grossbard. Judy and I returned the following year after we married. Gary 916-383-9267 Says Gary Just stumbled onto this link (April 2022). It brings back so many great memories. Am Still around...wonder who else is. My home away from home from 1957 on. If anyone cares to, my email is ''orangepond@netzero.com'' … Really. Says Dave (GHP/Guano) Camp Magpies made a big impact, thanks to experiences shared with fellow campers, counselors (esp. Dave G., Marge V., Carol ?), and H&H. Some other memories: Topsy-Turvey Day, Country Club Day, Guano, classic films (Metropolis, Things to Come), ping pong, Orozco mural. I still have my Best Camper plaque from 1960! D.U. (David Ucko) Says Anonymous Hi everyone, After such a long time Summer 1977 I was thinking of Camp Magpies again. The magpies next to the university where I work as a lecturer reminded me of this camp. I have a wonderful diary describing the days out there. My maiden name was Klasen at the time. I still live in Germany. Eight years ago I came to see the Indian Summer and passed by the White River Junction where I was picked up for the camp. Memories !!!!!!! Says Elisabeth Potratz Fondest memories as a camper in 1958-59 and counselor from 1964-69. H and H were like parents, and the camping experience was uniquely the very best and important influence for the rest of my life. Says Ron Z 65 -69 / such profound beautiful memories.  I remember it all like yesterday: learning to swim, playing tennis, seeing Shakespear plays at Dartmouth, mlking a cow at a neighborhood farm, Sunday dressed in white for a Unitarian service, experiencing a Swedish Christmas at midnight, and on the last day a farewell ceremony where every camper set afloat a canoe on a piece of wood at night till the the pond was filled and lit up. To this day I think of Hans and Herta and wonder what became of the camp or if someone continued the legacy. Always dreamed so driving by one day. Would love to see pictures from former campers . Is there a magpies website or FB? Enjoyed reading the memories posted here. Says Linda Pankey 61 and 62  magpie was the real deal. Says Pete and mike W. Was there from '60 to '69. The fondest memories deep in my heart. The sleepouts, cookout, rest time after lunch with the trees swaying gently and quietly, baseball stats, lining up for ''free swim,'' socials, resting on blankets with the gentle breezes after lunch, color war, movie nights, the view of Orange pond from the dining room at breakfast, hand-picked international counselors... RIP Hans and Herta, beautiful camp parents to so many. Says Peter Romani Jay, I remember you!!! I was the youngest in camp for three years, slept in the main house when not sleeping out at the Erie. I have amazing memories of raising my hand to go up there so many nights a week after dinner and pretending to sleep after rest hour, so I would be left alone in the field with my blanket and the peace. Reno used to hold out his thumbs too for me to hold onto and pick me up. I remember Oggi, his wife. Best summers. Says Shelley Great memory of climbing Mount Cardigan and having a PBJ sandwich at the top. I may have been the youngest camper to ever attend for 8 weeks, the summer of 1965, when I was five. The younger campers were weighed every day -- and since I was always less than 40 lbs., we would get cookies and chocolate milk. I guess that was nutrition in the 60's! Says Andrew Mantel Hi everyone, I was there in the summer 1977 as a counselor from abroad (from Germany)! Now, after so many years, I read my diary again and the summer out there in the middle of nowhere was quite an experience for me. I remember Tony as well ! Best regards from Germany Says Potratz Elisabeth I was at the Camp in '71 and '72, with my three siblings. It was a terrific place, with lots of great memories. Anyone recall GHP? :) Says Rick H Loved my time at Camp Magpies. Wish I could find recent pictures. I'd give anything to own that property today! I was there in the late 60's Says Vivian Also had many summers at Camp Magies from 1950 to 1956. Fond memories. Says Gertie S Hi saw article online recalled my time at Camp Magpies with Hans and Herta Moldauer the owners . Thanks, Tony S. Says Camp Counselor Tony from 75, 76-77 I went to Camp magies from 1956 - 1960 Says Jay (the twins) Went there too in 75 and 77. Says CE I learned how to swim in Orange Pond, cooled off on hot summer days in Orange Pond, canoed, rowed and fished there. The ingress, at the time, was from Camp Magpies, from which there was a wonderful view of Mount Cardigan over the Pond. Says Marj Response to Madonna Moss. I remember you, and your mother is correct. It was 1972. I covered mostly hiking and baseball but don't remember the tongue. Coincidentally my wife and I were hiking on Mt Cardigan last week, and we took a detour to go by the camp. The main lodge is now a residence, but the dorms are abandoned and decrepit-sad (see photo). We googled the camp not expecting to find anything, and came across this website. Response to Madonna Moss. I remember you and your mother is correct. It was 1972. I covered mostly hiking and baseball but don't remember the tongue. Coincidentally my wife and I were hiking on Mt Cardigan last week & we took a detour to go by the camp. The main lodge is now a residence, but the dorms are abandoned and decrepit-sad (see photo). We googled the camp not expecting to find anything, and came across this website. - Bob Popp I attended Camp Magpies summer of 1968. My granddaughter just returned from a summer camp, in New England, next to a small private lake. Her experience transported me deep to my very fond memories of 57 summers ago. My parents sent me to Camp Magpie from my distant home town of Bogota, Colombia. I was 15 years old. Swimming in Orange Pond, with a bit of apprehension from the leeches. Hans & Herta with their Viennese accent that made me feel at home, being the son of Viennese parents. My best sport was long jump, which we practiced next to Orange Pond. The counted minutes of hot water in the shower. Doing as my mother, in preparation for camp, had taught me how to make my bed, neatly folding the sheet and blanket corners. Someone mentioned the PBJ sandwich on top of the mountain where we hiked and camped, somewhere in the White Mountains. Hearing the atonal music of Ernest Křenek, and trying in total vain to pronounce his name as I proudly reported to my father on a rare international phone conversation, while Hans supervised and burst out laughing at me. We went to see Shakespeare’s ''A Comedy of Errors'' at an outdoor theater in Dartmouth, but it was raining, so we got a rain check. Building the wooden projection booth, under the direction of counselor by the name of Tony (or Peter?). The Orozco mural at Dartmouth, and then participating in the group painting of our own mural at camp. Another Jewish camper by the name of Jonathan with whom we performed a slapstick mimicry piece. I fell in love with 2 girls who were not of my age. A camper some 6 years younger than me who in my eyes was the epitome of purity and sweetness, and a counselor probably around 20 years old, with beautiful long dark blond hair for whom I a wrote Hiku poem comparing her hair to a wheat field waving in the breeze. Then there was the mischievous girl in my age group who suddenly lifted her shirt and exposed her young breasts in front of everybody and proclaimed that I would be nominated Best Camper. Turned out she was right. - Otto Friedmann BIGGER SIZE PICTURE HERE          Map Detailed Map Marinas Marinas on or near Orange Pond Weather Local weather forecast