Camp Max Straus/Bob Waldorf

We have here in the valley a true treasure of an institution, one that serves the young from all walks of life. Most folks locally don’t even know it exists. And yet it flourishes, hidden at the back of a neighborhood, nestled in a canyon of the Verdugo Mountains. I toured it recently with the Historical Society of the Crescenta Valley. It’s located off of La Crescenta Avenue. Turn right on Shirleyjean and follow it to the end. It’s peaceful and oak-covered with a scattering of cabins for the campers. You’d never know it was there.

For most of its almost 90 years in the Crescenta Valley it was named Camp Max Straus. Recently it was renamed Camp Bob Waldorf. I’ll tell you who those men were and explain the mission of this unique camp.

First, the names. 

Max Straus made millions as a furniture manufacturer. When he died in the early 1930s, he left his entire fortune to various charities. One of the recipients was the Jewish Big Brothers of Los Angeles. The largely non-sectarian group’s mission was to help disadvantaged youth. To that end, in 1938 thirty four acres were purchased in a canyon of the Verdugo Mountains, located just above what was then Onondarka Ranch, and a summer camp-style facility was built where city kids could experience country life. 

One of those kids was Bob Waldorf, who was raised in poverty in Los Angeles and attended the camp from the age of 8. His time at the camp gave him a foundation for success and personal growth. As a teenager he served as a camp counselor at Camp Max Straus. After a successful career playing football and coaching, he went into business where he made a fortune. All through this he continued his volunteering with the camp, transitioning into leadership roles. The camp grew steadily (with his guidance) to 112 acres. In 2015, the camp was renamed in his honor.

The mission of Camp Bob Waldorf is to help youth reach their full potential, just like they did with little Bob Waldorf back in the 1930s. Today, the camp serves about 1,200 kids each summer.Their core demographic is marginalized, low-income communities and families, although anyone can register and send their kids there.  Most receive some financial aid to attend the camp. 

At Camp Bob Waldorf the kids learn about themselves and others in a spirit of community. The kids participate in music, cooking, sports, swimming and of course hiking the miles of trails in the wilds of the Verdugo Mountains above them.

A threat to the camp came in the late 1990s. Developers targeted the Verdugo Mountains just above the camp for hundreds of homes, called Oakmont 5. It would have extended development far up the hillsides, similar to the development on the south side of the Verdugos above Glendale. The houses would have cut off the hiking trails and would have loomed over the camp. The camp joined forces with local preservationists to fight down the development. They were successful and today the majority of the north facing Verdugos are dedicated open space.

Outside of summer the facility is leased to many different types of schools, non-profits, churches, hobbyist groups and for filming, weddings, etc. When I visited, it was preparing to host blind youth campers and the staff was receiving specialized training. Hearing impaired kids, kids suffering from cancer and other diseases, kids referred by the courts, even adult group meetings – all are welcomed at the camp.

One of the most remarkable meetings at the camp that I came across in my research was a reunion of a large group of German concentration camp survivors in 1957. These were the Ravensbrueck Lapins (guinea pigs). They were Polish women inmates at Ravensbrueck, the female concentration camp, where unspeakable experiments were performed on them.

Camp Bob Waldorf serves the most vulnerable in our communities.

Many people pass through the gates of Camp Bob Waldorf, and they all come out revitalized and renewed. The camp is a wonderful place and we’re fortunate to have it here in our valley, even if most of us don’t even know it’s there.