Sy Sokol
Boys' Waterfront Director from 1956 to 1967
Sy was a real character from the Golden Years at THC. He was part of the original staff from Tyler Hill Camp's first season, serving as the head of the Boys' Waterfront for 12 summers. His booming voice could be heard all over the camp, yelling across the lake, through his giant megaphone "...all boats iiiiinnnn!" His raspy voice, tanned face and short cropped hair were trademark features of this colorful character. He ran a strict and structured program at the Boys' Waterfront, with an emphasis on instruction, along with his "Mile-Swimmer Club". While making sure that the campers had a good time, safety was his priority. Sy and his wife, Bernice had three sons (Barry, Lanny and Steve) who attended camp.
Sy arranged little adventures for the youngest campers, by sending them on journeys on Silver Lake, in the old blue and red war canoes, into the old Pirate's Cove (where the horseback riding now takes place). At that point the kids would get out of the canoes and take a short hike through the woods, to a clearing where a campfire awaited the excited young campers. Sy showed up to these campfire activities in full Native American dress, including the war paint, where he performed tricks that included making the fire explode with colors and sparks. He was a great storyteller and he stimulated the younger campers' imaginations with his routines.
Sy was often spotted at the center of high profile events. He was the circus barker, every year at the Carnival, in the days when the Carnival meant more to the campers, as it was also the 2nd Visiting Day of the summer. It also featured elaborate skits and songs from the summer's plays. He also never missed an opportunity to dress up in some ridiculous costume for the carnivals. He was also known for leading the camp in singing "Hail to the Camp" at the end of the banquet every year, which was a testament to his love for the camp.
Watch Sy Sokol in action, in the crib and the dining room!
But Sy was most famous for starting the legendary "River Rat's Society" at Tyler Hill Camp. He went on nearly every one of the canoe trips on the Delaware River, providing memorable experiences for the older campers, as he often preferred to take the canoes down the more difficult sets of rapids, which added more excitement and great memories for the kids. His special relationship with the river extended beyond the canoe trips, however. In the late sixties, his friend, Bob Landers, who had a campsite and canoe rental business, was in danger of losing his business. Sy stepped in and provided Bob with the money he needed to continue operating, and now we see how successful that legendary business is, more than 35 years later.
For nearly thirty years after Sy left Tyler Hill Camp, he and his wife Bernice continued to come to the Delaware River and ride the rapids. But to this day, Sy remembers those glory days at Tyler Hill Camp with great fondness, and there are many people from his day that remember what a wonderful part of the Tyler Hill camp culture he really was.
