She founded The Main Idea, an annual nonprofit camp for economically disadvantaged girls.
The Maine Youth Camping Association presented Helen Herz Cohen with the Halsey Gulick Award in 1991.
[5] She received many other awards and honors throughout her lifetime and was even interviewed by Barbara Walters on national television.
[8] Helen Herz Cohen's camping philosophy encouraged confidence, feelings of self-worth, and independence in the decades of campers that attended under her leadership.
Affectionately referred to as "Miss Herz" and "HHC" by Waldenites throughout the years, she built a deeply connected alumnae group through her strong influence.
"[9] Still today, Waldenites (as Camp Walden alumnae are known) often recall the profound influence Miss Herz had on them.
[11] Helen Herz Cohen founded The Main Idea at Camp Walden in 1968.
The Main Idea's budget is funded primarily through private donations from Camp Walden campers and alumnae.
[13] Miss Herz's goal in establishing The Main Idea was "to try to give [the campers] a new window in life, see something different, inspire them to do something with their lives.
On Sunday evenings we sang around a campfire sitting on a piece of cleared ground near the bottom of a steep hill.