Hello Canadensis…

How’s everyone doing out there?!?!  Things here at camp are just great!  Because I haven’t had time to write since the reunion, I wanted to say thank you to everyone that was able to make our annual event such an amazing time!  When we counted all those in attendance, our numbers hit more than 300 campers, counselors and staff.  This was a remarkable turnout!  Special thanks to Assistant Director Pam Levi for working so hard in what was a last minute switch in location.  The new place turned out to be awesome and complete with games and rides for everyone to enjoy!  Also, special thanks to all of the counselors and staff that attended, too.  You make these events extra special for the campers.  If you haven’t checked out pics yet, be sure to do so in the Media Room on the website or on our Facebook page.  Here are some pics that L-Mac and J.Cal got of me while having fun at the 2011 Summer Reunion…

Me with counselors Sammy Goldberg and Morgan Hirschhorn.

Me with 2012 Upper Inter Boy Jake Garcia, who apparently won a boatload of prize tickets playing games.

Me with 2012 Junior Boy Devin Lefkowitz. Perhaps Devin and I were predicted the future with what we were wearing at the Reunion?

Me with Camp Mom Steph Vorcheimer.

A very cool new tradition was started at the Reunion on January 8th.  Taking a page from the idea of Flat Stanley, we have created the Flat Indian Head.  Between now and the beginning of the summer, we want to see all of the campers that get to take a picture with the Flat Indian Head.  When done, we can track its winter path and make a collage of everyone that got involved.  At the reunion, the first person to take on the Flat Indian Head challenge was 2012 Junior Girl Jordan Plant, who will be returning to camp for her second summer.  She has to take a picture of the Flat Indian Head and then send it onto someone else to do the same.  Where will the Flat Indian Head end up before June 23?!?!

Camper Jordan Plant takes a picture with the Flat Indian Head.

I thought this was a very funny e-mail I received last week.  Former Group Leader Marshall Weinstein, now a teacher in Washington state, starts his day at school the same way we do at morning line-up at camp.  He always begins with a hearty, “Good Morning!” to his class and follows  it with the day’s announcements.  Apparently, his school also runs a schedule similar to our 6-Day Schedule at camp.  Last week, Marshall had a substitute teaching his class for the day.  He left his notes on how to start the day.  I figured I’d share them with you.  By the way, Marshall, after a summer away from Canadensis, will be back in 2012.

Marshall Weinstein's class notes looks like how we begin our Morning Line-up at camp!

Since my last blog, I have had a slew of home visits, getting the opportunity to hang out with both new and returning Canadensis campers…

In Syosset, NY, I met up with the Borrok Brothers, Ben, who is back for a fourth summer, and Ethan, who will be starting his first year at Canadensis.  Ben, now in 6th grade and part of our Freshman division in 2012, has been busy with all kinds of sports.  He plays both center and defense on his travel soccer team.  He just recently finished up his flag football season, where he was on the Jets.  Now, he is in the Syosset Basketball League.  On top of that, he is also playing tennis.  Ben also performs in the all county chorus and recently sang in front of NYSMA judges.  This summer, he is excited for the new pool, rock band, his trip to Cooperstown and living on Freshman Hill.  He also wanted to give a shout out to his boys from Summer 2011’s Bunk 12.  Ethan, who is in the 3rd grade and will be in the Junior division, also just recently finished up his flag football season, but he played on the Giants.  He is also currently playing in the Syosset Basketball League.  Ethan, too, is also playing tennis and takes lessons with fellow Canadensis camper, Jordyn Weinstein.  Ethan plays drums at the Long Island Drum School.  He is involved in the drama club and will soon be peforming as Bert Healy in the show “Annie.”  In the summer, he can’t wait for all of the lake activities like the water trampoline, rocketry, cooking and go karts.  Here is a photo…

Me with Freshman Boy Ben Borrok (left) and Junior Boy Ethan Borrok.

In Livingston, NJ, I got to meet first time Canadensis camper and current fourth grader Samara Rhodes.  Samara is very involved in gymnastics and currently competes on a team called “Go For The Gold.”  She competes in numerous meets in the tri-state area and recently qualified for the state competition in February.  She plays on a softball team in the Livingston Rec Program.  She likes to cook and bake and has even been known to make pancakes for her entire family, complete with chocolate chips and M&M’s, too!  Samara also told me that she likes to read, listen to music and do arts and crafts.  She even showed me some awesome mosaic and glass projects she did.  When she gets to camp this summer as part of our Lower Inter Girls division, she is looking forward to making new friends, trying the activities at the lake, including the Summit and waterskiing, the gymnastics team and cooking.  Here is a photo…

Me with Lower Inter Girl Samara Rhodes.

In Newtown, PA, Pam and I hung out with Brandon and Brittney Coe, both who are coming to Canadensis for their first summer in 2012 as part of our Junior division.  Brandon, in 3rd grade, likes going bowling and takes karate lessons.  He also loves to play video games.  When he gets to camp this year, he said he will definitely be someone that is in the GaGa pit, going down the water slides at the pool and the Summit at the lake and going fishing.  He also said that during Color War, he will be one of those campers intently hunting for the hidden Indian Head.  As for Brittney, currently in 2nd grade, she plays forward and goalie on her soccer team, takes tennis lessons and goes to gymnastics classes.  She also wanted to mention that her favorite color is gold, which is perfect for Camp Canadensis!  This summer, she is eager to try fishing and roasting s’mores.  She, too, said she will be looking for the Indian Head come Color War time.  Here is a picture…

Me and Pam with Junior Girl Brittney Coe (left), Future Canadensis Camper Chloe Coe (middle) and Junior Boy Brandon Coe (right).

In Newtown, PA, I also saw Cole and Alex Newman.  Alex is returning for her 4th summer as a Lower Senior and is excited to be joined by her brother Cole, now in 3rd grade and part of our Junior division.  Alex is busy with her hip hop dance classes, which she is rehearsing for a performance in June while also taking tennis lessons.  In the spring, she will start softball season and will even be trying out for her middle school team.  With all of this, she still has time to prep for her upcoming Bat Mitzvah.  This summer, she can’t wait to be a senior!  She wanted to give a shout out to her camp sisters of Girls Bunk 12 from last year.  She says that they should all play the “Shots” song tonight!  As for brother Cole, who will be coming to camp for his first summer, he is a big time soccer player, playing center forward in both indoor and outdoor soccer, for his Under 9 CRUSA Thunder team.  He also plays in basketball and flag football leagues.  Very soon, he will also be starting lacrosse.  When at home, he loves playing XBox Live and hanging out with friends.  When he gets to camp, he will be happy to try waterskiing, the triple dare and soccer.  He is also excited for Color War and making a whole new bunch of friends.  Here is a photo…

Me with Lower Senior Girl Alex Newman and Junior Boy Cole Newman.

We have some really exciting news to share with our Maryland and Virginia families.  We will now have a camp pick up and drop off location in Maryland!  The new location is still yet to be finalized.  However, it is most likely going to be in the North Potomac area.  We know that this will make all of our families from that area very happy!

I certainly couldn’t let a blog post go by without mentioning just how well the New York Football Giants are playing!  Wow!  Who would have thought it a few weeks ago when the Big Blue was playing in Dallas and down by 12 points with five minutes remaining in the game.  At that point, it looked like our season was over.  Goes to show you that you never give up and play the game until the end.  That win propelled the Giants with wins over the Jets, Dallas (again), the Falcons and amazingly, a 15-1 Green Bay Packers team, too!  One more win and the Giants will be visiting their fifth Super Bowl in team history.  I even got an e-mail from Mike Lindquist, a big 49ers fan, on Monday, with the subject, “Bring It!”  As much as I love ya, Mike, let’s Go Big Blue!  And, for all those Eagles and Jets fans that give me so much grief for being a Giants fan, you can be sure to get a taste of your own medicine this summer!  Seriously, though, was that a great game versus the Packers last Sunday or what?!?!

Well…that’s all the blogging for now.  I will be back next week with more!

Until then…Have a great day!

-Brian

Some recent home visits got me on the road, and I met two great new campers from Livingston, NJ.  Ashley is a current 4th grader, who will be a Lower Inter at camp this summer.  The first thing you need to know about this girl is that she is well rounded and willing to try all the activities at camp!  She couldn’t decide which activity would be her favorite, but she really likes soccer and arts and crafts.  Her day camp had a lake with some inflatable toys, so she will easily be able to jump into the activities at our bigger lake!  If she had to pick what she is most looking forward to now, it would probably be cooking…that was her favorite activity to choose at her day camp, and she’s excited for the recipes we are going to whip up this summer!

Ashley also likes to be on stage, and she’s been in the shows Grease, Camp Rock and Annie. She will also be doing lacrosse for the second time this year, and I’m so impressed because I didn’t start playing that sport until I was in my late 20’s at camp!  She gave me a tour of her room, and it was clear that her favorite colors are pink and purple.  She helped decorate her room, and she picked out the cute bed spread!  She’s going to have to start searching for her camp bedding soon!  She had a lot of art projects that she had made in her room, including a lot of ceramics.  She is a really “neat” girl, and I even “inspected” her closet for cleanliness, and she got a very high score because things were all in their place!

Ashley is a great big sister to Amanda & Sloane – and I’m so excited to welcome her to Camp Canadensis!

Rachel is a current 6th grader, who will be a Freshman Girl at camp this summer.  In addition to attending day camp for a few years, she also has some overnight camp experience – but she’s excited for her first summer at Canadensis, and can’t wait for some BIG fun!  Rachel is comfortable being up on stage – she’s even played the part of Wendy in Peter Pan. She is considering auditioning for the camp shows, but she knows it is a big commitment, and it means she will be pulled out from some bunk activities, so she is still weighing her options.

She’s lucky to be starting camp as a Freshman – she’s going to be able to take advantage of all of the perks…

• She’ll get to go on the overnight trip to Hershey Park  – FYI to all the other Freshman girls…Rachel has been to the park many times with her family, so stick with her if you want to hit all the attractions!
• She get’s 2 elective choice periods everyday – younger campers start with one a day.
• She’s in the oldest division of Lower Camp.
• And…she’ll also get to do extra evening trips out of camp.

Rachel does a lot of activities – she especially loves to play basketball and tennis.  She’s also really into arts & crafts, and she’s excited to try out our 6 different studios this summer (glass fusion/A&C/ceramics/photography/fabric arts/woodworking).  But, without a doubt, Rachel is coming to Canadensis so she can spend time on our amazing lake!  She can’t wait to go tubing, banana boating and water skiing!  Rachel wasn’t sure if she’d want to go on the COALS (Canadensis Outdoor Adventure Living Skills) Overnight, but I hope I convinced her that it is one of the most amazing experiences to look forward to at camp!  She has a big sister and a little brother, and she will definitely be an awesome addition to the Canadensis family!

Camp Canadensis will be running transportation from Maryland this summer, in addition to running buses from the Philadelphia Suburbs, Westchester NY, North Jersey, South Jersey and Long Island!  We are so excited to offer this service to our current Maryland campers and prospective families.  More details will be coming soon, but if you are thinking about Camp Canadensis for your children, please plan to attend our Maryland event on Wednesday, March 7th in the evening.  Please email info@canadensis.com or call 484-674-1941 for more information!

Rachel uses her water-gun skills during Color War Mystery Box!

Rachel Wiener

Hobbies when you’re at home: Hanging out with my friends and family, singing, track.

Years at Camp: 7

One fun fact about you: I LOVE CAMP

Favorite Camp Activity: Lake

Favorite Camp Memory: Siting under the stars on the field outside the field bunk visiting day night, eating our food and playing games

Best Advice for a First Time Camper: Be yourself and make every second count!

What you’re most excited to do this summer: being a CIT to a bunk

One thing you’ve never done at camp that you’re going to do this summer: GO TO DISNEY WORLD!

If you could plan your own perfect camp day, what would it look like: wake up, color war breaks, color war begins!!!!! 😀

From a FRIGID 18325, Hi All! I spent all day today up at camp meeting with the new pool company, checking on the many projects going on around camp, and generally looking around.

Pool Update

The new blue pool is truly amazing. I hope you had a chance to watch the Canadensis Today Show (the episode before the Winter Reunion posted on www.facebook.com/campcanadensis) in which we gave you a tour of the new pool. Well, it’s more like a stone pit right now, but it’s the site of the future pool! The exciting part about today was meeting with the pool company and “shaking hands” in agreement to our new SLIDES. It’s official…we will be installing one blue and one gold twisty, tube waterslides. They will be Dorney Park Style, not Snoopy land style Jaycal, but rather 2 big slides! I am sure they will bring new thrills to campers and staff members, but of course only after swim instruction:)

Otherwise, things look great around camp. Believe it or not, there is still no snow on the ground at camp and the lake is not even 100% frozen! The warmer conditions (although today was FREEEZZZING, especially with the wind chill), have allowed our dedicated and hard-working maintenance team to get tons of work done…and it allowed us to add more projects to their already long list! Next week, they will begin the fitness center project and of course Matt will provide us all with pictures on facebook and twitter in February.

Speaking of Matt, he kicks off our Where in the World series this year with his trip departing this Sunday. Stay tuned to Facebook for updates about his trip! www.facebook.com/campcanadensis

Then on Wednesday, a week from today, it’s my turn to travel, including a stop at “CampMinder Camp” in Colorado and a visit with none other than the Groundhog! I will of course update all of you via facebook as well.

Before heading to bed, a shoutout to all of our campers from Maryland and this fantastic news that this summer, there will be transportation from Maryland! In the past, our campers from this region had to travel up to the Philly suburbs to get to camp. Not any longer…we are excited to grow in this region and provide a bus for convenience from MARYLAND.

This super quick craft project occurred to me one night – I wanted to make a bulletin board that I could put in my closet and hang necklaces from.  The problem was that it was late at night, and there wasn’t a bulletin board in the house.  I decided to try and make it out of cardboard wrapped with fabric – so I gathered my supplies, and 20 minutes later, the new bulletin board was hanging up!  (Sorry for the grainy photos, they were taken on my iPad!)

I grabbed:

• Two large cardboard boxes – a single layer won’t be thick enough.
• A durable fabric – you don’t want it to be delicate because you’ll start to see pinholes.
• An old frame – mine is from Ikea, and I painted the raw wood silver.  You do not need the plastic/glass.
• Scissors/Box Cutter – ASK YOU PARENTS to help cut the cardboard!
• Mod Podge – you can use any kind of glue you want, but I have a tub of Mod Podge, so I use it for everything!
• Paint Brush – use a junky one because it will get covered with glue.
• Push pins – these are the “hooks” you can hang jewelry from.
  

After I had cut the cardboard to the right size for my frame, I used the paint brush to spread the glue around.  I pressed the fabric into the glue to create a good bond, and then I wrapped both layers of the cardboard.  The back side is shown above, you do not need to wrap the full back in fabric because no one will see it.  I set the whole thing aside to dry for a 5 minutes.

When it was dry, I put the fabric wrapped cardboard back in the frame.  I used the backing on the frame to hang it, but you do not need the glass/plastic that came with the frame…but be sure to save it for another craft project!…and here’s the final product!  Simple and easy!  Can’t you imagine doing this project with a Camp Canadensis t-shirt and hanging your favorite camp photos on it??  I might have to try that next!

Dara is sporting her sunglasses in the front row!

Hobbies when you’re at home: I like to run, hang out with my friends, play sports, go to the beach

Years at Camp: This will be my 7th summer

One fun fact about you: I always smile and I live for camp

Favorite Camp Activity: Aerobics and BBK

Favorite Camp Memory: Every single second at camp are my favorite memories

Best Advice for a First Time Camper: The first days of camp you may feel a little homesick, but you need to try and put those feelings aside, make new friends and just try to have the best summer of your life because this is an experience you will never forget! Never let a bunk fight get in the way of you have a fun summer, because in the end every single person at camp well be your brother/sister for life. Live up every moment because 7 weeks goes by in a blink of an eye.

What you’re most excited to do this summer: Have a bunk, and be the oldest campers!
One thing you’ve never done at camp that you’re going to do this summer: Be a counselor for a few periods each day instead of being with my bunk

If you could plan your own perfect camp day, what would it look like: We would wake up a little later then usual, bagels and lox for breakfast, then clean up and lineup. My morning activities would be basketball league, aerobics and my elective would be cooking. For lunch there would be tacos so everyone can make the perfect taco salad! In the afternoon we would have senior choice, summit and WNBA and then chill in our bunks until dinner.  Dinner would be barbecue, evening activity would be bunk feud and we’d finish off the perfect day with canteen.

Last week, I spent some quality time with Devyn & Derek in Great Neck, NY.  Devyn is a current 2nd grader, who will be a Lower Junior Girl for her first summer at camp. Big brother Derek is a current 5th grader, who will be an Upper Inter Boy coming to camp for his second summer.  They both planned ahead for my visit, and greeted me at the door wearing camp gear – Devyn was wearing a Canadensis sweatshirt, and Derek was wearing the awesome t-shirt he made during tie-dye week at camp last year!

Devyn came to camp for the Tour & More Overnight this summer, and that’s when I first got a chance to know this spunky girl!  During the home visit, we spent time talking about the best parts of the overnight at camp, and she is so excited to be able to spend a full summer enjoying the Canadensis fun!  Devyn says that she is the “perfect mix” of both of her parents – she got her love of fashion from her mom, and her sporty side from her dad.  She loves to play gaga, swim and she likes anything that is tie-dyed.  During the year, she stays busy with after school activities – including dance classes 3 nights a week!  She also makes time for gymnastics and tennis, and she is excited about doing those activities at camp.  She’s excited for everything!

Her favorite food is pasta & cheese.  This girl really takes her pasta seriously, and she even showed off a full drawer in her kitchen that is stocked for her!  Her birthday is coming up on January 23rd, and because we are both born on the 23rd of the month, we share a mutual lucky number of 23!  Since her half birthday will be during camp, she asked if she could have a pizza party on the back deck…but she understands those parties are only for “full” birthdays!  Luckily, Visiting Day is only two days beforehand, so she can save a special snack to share with her bunk.  Without a doubt, Devyn will be a fun girl to be bunkmates with – and she told me that she’s really good about applying sunscreen, so she’ll help all her camp friends remember too!  We just have to work on her love of gum chewing because it’s not allowed at camp!

While I was hanging out with Derek, he was online reading the camp Twitter feed!  He was excited to go through the camp clothing catalog that I dropped off and see pictures of his friends – he’s been seeing camp people a lot!  He really appreciated the Camp Canadensis “Coca Cola” T-shirt I brought for him, and I even got to see him wearing it at the reunion a few days later while he was hanging out with friends.

Devyn & Derek have a perfect Color War winning streak so far – regardless of what camp they’ve been at, they’ve always been on the team that came out on top!  Let’s hope they are on your team at camp this summer!!

We are so lucky to have an amazing staff at Canadensis – and I wanted to dedicate this blog post to one of them…

Rebecca is lovingly known by everyone at camp as “BeckyJ” and she loves summer camp so much that she is even studying it in college!  She has recently signed up to return to camp for her 13th year – and for the first time, she will be in the role of Group Leader!  We are so fortunate to have her at camp – she is creative, thoughtful, and makes everything more fun!  She is passionate about all things Canadensis, and has limitless spirit!  She is a two time Blue Team Color War Captain (as a CIT and counselor) and she can probably sing you every Color War Alma mater that has ever been written.

BeckyJ is always volunteering to help, or do more.  She has been up during pre-camp for two years (and she’ll be back this year too), working in the office to help with administrative tasks.  She’s willing to do anything – we’ve had her sorting t-shirts, cleaning buildings, calling new staff members and even making Harry Potter quizzes!  She sacrifices her precious college winter break to come into our office to volunteer!  She was here twice this week, and she put together promotional boxes, rolled posters for the Reunion, helped us with a mailing, and above all else, she brought extra spirit and fun to the office!

We are so thankful to have BeckyJ in our Canadensis family – and I am personally lucky to have her in my life!  She sent us a super sweet thank you fruit basket this week…it’s just more proof of how wonderful she is!