MORRY STEIN (1936–1994)
On October 31, 1994, the camping world lost a true hero. For 30 years, Morry Stein was the owner and director of Camp Echo Lake in Warrensburg, New York, one of America’s premier children’s summer camps, and a national leader in the American Camping Association. Morry died in the crash of American Eagle Flight 4184 in Roselawn, Indiana.
Morry and his wife Amy rose to the forefront of their field by establishing Echo Lake as one of the finest camps in the country. Morry acknowledged the long-term impact that camping made on the lives of the upper middle class youngsters served by Echo Lake. He very much wanted this experience to be shared with children from all socioeconomic groups. In 1970, Morry created and implemented the Echo Lake Idea, a week-long scholarship camping program for children who could not otherwise afford camp.
For Morry, this program was just the beginning. His goal was to give no less than every American child, regardless of economic status, the invaluable gift of summer camp. Morry was the Chairperson of the American Camping Foundation, an organization that raised over $1 million to send children from underserved communities to summer camp. On October 28, 1994, he traveled to Martinsville, Indiana to head the Foundation’s Annual Board Meeting. The meeting was charged with excitement as the organization was nearing its fundraising goal, and the gift that Morry felt was so needed was about to be given.
Morry’s life was taken on his return flight home, before he could fulfill his mission. In 1995, inspired by his dream and to ensure that his vision of summer camp for all children became a reality, Morry’s friends, colleagues, campers and family created Morry’s Camp. In Fall 2007, the name Project Morry was adopted to communicate the full scope of our year-round youth development organization and reflect the comprehensive educational programming.