About
Nearly a Century of Summer Magic
Our Story
Over one hundred years ago, the property that became Camp Strawderman was willed to Doctor Samuel Hoffman by the Strawderman family, Hessian farmers who had settled in the Shenandoah Valley in 1789, right after the Revolution.
By 1917, Dr. Hoffman’s daughter, Margaret “Barca” Hoffman, began bringing friends out to the farm for visits that included gallops through Stony Creek on horseback and hikes across the Allegheny mountains on trails that are still there today. All followed by ice cream on the Old House porch*. Barca’s love for the pristine valley and surrounding mountains was infectious.
Soon, additional cabins were built to accommodate the many visitors and friends who longed to spend time there, and by 1929 Camp Strawderman, named in honor of the original property owners, was established as a private camp for girls by Barca, who remained the camp’s director for more than 50 years.
Following Barca, was Barca’s cherished niece, Margaret Hoffman Gouldman, who kept the Strawderman traditions alive and well into the present where now the torch has been passed on to Jeanne Mockard. Jeanne has been part of the camp family since she was a 10-year-old camper.
So, for more than 225 years, this idyllic corner of the Shenandoah Valley, covering over 300 acres of wildflowers and woodland, fields and trails, creeks and springs has been in the loving care of only two families, the Strawdermans and our Camp family, dedicated to preserving the spirit and natural beauty of the valley and sharing it with others.
Several of the original buildings, including the Old House shown above, still stand.
Our Ideals
Barca Hoffman brought the “The Ideals of Camp Strawderman” in 1929, and almost a century later they stand strong and true.
The ideals of Camp Strawderman are:
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To make girls so happy they will share their happiness with others.
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To create friendships that will last through life
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To develop strong, healthy bodies through regular exercise, good food, and rest in the pure mountain air.
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To create a love for God’s out-of-doors and a reverence for his handiwork.
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To bring out the hidden possibilities that lie within each girl, and to help her find herself.
Meet the Director
Jeanne Mockard began her Strawderman career in 1973 at the age of ten. She has hiked every trail, worn every costume in the costume room, ridden countless horses, and was the SCS girl twice. She worked as a counselor for several years during college and continued to stay involved throughout her adult life, including serving on the Camp Strawderman Board of Directors for many years before she was elected Director.
When she was not at camp, she had a successful career in finance, specifically as a senior fund manager for Putnam Investments. Currently, she sits as the investment expert on two Insurance Company Boards. She also serves on two non-profit boards where she oversees their investment portfolios.
Jeannie’s lifelong and loyal relationship with the Strawderman family, her business and leadership skills combined with a quick wit and a love for children make her the perfect fit for this position. Jeanne is excited to have this opportunity, and those of you who know Jeanne well know that she wants, more than anything, to carry on the ideals and traditions that make Strawderman a magical summertime home.
Meet the Program Director
Valerie’s first year at Strawderman was in 1982, and she spent many years here as a camper. At age eleven, she began playing the piano for all of the musical events at camp. She continued this until she stopped coming and went to college at Indiana University where she graduated with a degree in Music Education and Piano. She was a music teacher in the public school system in Valparaiso, Indiana, and began teaching private piano lessons after her daughters were born.
In 2009, when her daughters were old enough, she returned to Strawderman with them to pick up where she left off, directing the choirs and running all of the musical programs. She has been back every summer since 2009 and is honored to be in the position of Program Director. Valerie’s daughters have come back every summer with her as well–and are currently fourth and fifth year counselors! Valerie’s background in education and music combined with a passion for building a strong and healthy community provide campers with a caring and vibrant experience. She adores working with counselors and campers alike, and believes in the mission and ideals that Strawderman holds.
Staff
Senior Staff
We have 8 full-time senior staff members, all with advanced degrees in teaching, counseling, and school administration. Most of our senior staff are former Strawderman campers and counselors and all are part of the Camp Strawderman “family” dedicated to preserving and sharing the Strawderman experience.
Counselors
At Strawderman, counselors must be at least 18 years old and are chosen for their strong character and leadership abilities. Many are former Strawderman campers who have completed a two-year counselor training program as Senior Campers and Counselor Aides. Strawderman counselors are held to the highest standards and many return year after year, building a strong staff of young women who carry on the traditions and values of Camp Strawderman. We also work with CCUSA, a staffing company for international camp counselors. We have had international staff since the 1980’s, and we pride ourselves on the cultural exchange that happens here. We maintain a ratio of one counselor to every four campers, thereby ensuring each camper the attention she deserves.
Swimming
Our counselors come from a variety of swimming backgrounds ranging from swimming as a Strawderman camper to competitive school programs and college swim teams. Every Strawderman swim instructor is Red Cross Lifeguard certified (or the equivalent international certification). Swim instructors teach campers of all levels on a daily basis. Instruction includes basic strokes, water safety, water sports, and – for the advanced swimmers – water stunts and synchronized swimming. We have a ratio of no more than ten children to one lifeguard and no camper is allowed in the pool without a lifeguard present.
Riding
Strawderman riding instructors come with a variety of experience on the flat or over fences – from first-hand riding experience as a Strawderman camper, to competitive collegiate riding teams, to international equestrian programs. The counselors thoughtfully design their daily class lessons to give all riders the opportunity to learn and improve throughout their stay at Strawderman. Of course, an element of fun is also present, especially on game days! Our riding counselors love “everything horsey” and hope to spark that love in the campers.
Infirmary
A qualified RN is on site 24 hours a day to meet your daughter’s health needs. In addition, emergency facilities are readily available at Shenandoah Memorial Hospital in Woodstock, Virginia. There is also a Nurse Practitioner available for appointments as needed.
Please note: All staff members must fill out an application and be interviewed.
