*Cara’s letter to the CIT Girls, Girls’ Camp Ceremony – Click to view larger…

 

Name: Lauren Gadol aka Lgadol

Years at Camp: This will be my 8th summer at camp!

Hobbies When You’re at Home: I sing, I dance, I act, hang out with friends and stud!!!

Secret Talent: I don’t really have a secret one because everyone knows that I can sing however I have a secret language, zubidik, that only I can speak. My second summer, I claimed I had a concussion after I banged my head on the bed board and I started talking strange and that’s what I called it! Silly but always remembered!!

Name: Alix Steerman
Years at Camp: 8
Hobbies When You’re at Home: sports, art and hanging out with friends!
Secret Talent: Some people know me for my unique dance moves.
Favorite Camp Activity: Soccer, because who doesn’t love those rare occasions when you’re playing world cup after its rained and you go to kick the ball but wipeout instead.
Funny Camp Memory: My bunk forced me to be the star of our MTV night, multiple times, they were both equally embarrassing.
Advice for a First Time Camper: Don’t be nervous! Your camp friends will become your sisters/brothers no matter how weird they seem at first.
Something You Learned at Camp: Always be sure to photo bomb camp mom’s pictures, they make for some great entertainment for when you’re home over the winter.
I never leave for camp without my… color war face paint because one of the best parts of color war is going all out and painting your whole face.
If I could have any job in the world it would be… to be a lawyer.
My favorite place I’ve traveled is… the little shed under the dining hall where you can get toilet paper, if you’re lucky you can find some magnificent things in there.
One thing my campers will learn about me is… I love to have fun! Also I give great piggy back rides, just ask Lauren Grama.
One fun fact about me is… in 4th grade I watched the Scripps Spelling Bee and went out and bought a dictionary and started studying the words as if I was going to compete in the next one, luckily that phase only lasted a few days.

 

Name: Melissa Goldstein  

Years at Camp: 7 years!

Hobbies When You’re at Home: Hanging out with my friends and I am in a lot of clubs for school.

Secret Talent: I used to be a really good singer. I had a solo in chorus once.  I wish I could still sing like that but I can’t! But that won’t stop me from doing Canadensis Acapella.

Favorite Camp Activity: Cooking and Zumba             

Funny Camp Memory: Last summer I was at the hydration station with Carly Lieberman and there wasn’t a lot of ice left so she leaned all the way into the machine and as she was getting ice a new layer of ice fell on her head! It was the funniest thing!

Advice for a First Time Camper: I know this is what everyone will tell you but you really have to go into everything with an open mind and try everything.  You never know what you like unless you try it and you will never be able to do most of these things anywhere else but camp so don’t be afraid to try new things!

Something You Learned at Camp: (that you couldn’t learn anywhere else) The friendships that you create in camp will last a lifetime.  The bonds that are formed with your bunkmates and other friends in camp will never be broken and camp friends are the best friends!

I never leave for camp without my… Color war stuff!

If I could have any job in the world it would be…Being able to work with celebrities and going shopping with them.

My favorite place I’ve traveled is… China!

One thing my campers will learn about me is… I love to have fun and I always try to make the best out of every situation!

One fun fact about me is… I go to the same high school that Amanda Miller went to!

Name: Steven Shoemaker

Years at Camp: 4

 Hobbies When You’re at Home: Knitting, Reading, and playing Go Fish!

 Secret Talent: It’s a Mystery!

 Favorite Camp Activity: Hiking!

 Funny Camp Memory: Too many to say but I guess Upper Senior summer when I “ accidentally” pushed Geo and Jesse in the lake!

 Advice for a First Time Camper: Be yourself that’s all there it to it!

 Something You Learned at Camp:  How to sing Canacapella!

 I never leave for camp without my… Binky!?

 If I could have any job in the world it would be… Ha, me getting a job, good one!

 My favorite place I’ve traveled is… Israel.

 One thing my campers will learn about me is… I will always make them laugh!

Name: Matthew Siegel
Years at Camp: 4
Hobbies When You’re at Home: Camp and hanging with friends
Secret Talent: I can fly
Favorite Camp Activity: Everything
Advice for a First Time Camper: Try all activities at camp
Something You Learned at Camp: How to sleep without air conditioning
I never leave for camp without my… Phone
If I could have any job in the world it would be… Soccer player
My favorite place I’ve traveled is… Haiti
One thing my campers will learn about me is…  I like to play sports
One fun fact about me is… I dragged my brother to sleep away camp with me when I was 8 and my brother was 12

I hope everyone has been enjoying my “Meet the CITs” postings, they really are an amazing group of people and you all have NO IDEA how much fun and spirit they are going to bring to camp this summer. You thought camp was fun? You thought we had spirit? To quote the song… You aint seen nothing yet!!!

But, I must take a moment to pause my regularly scheduled blogging to update everyone on all the happenings in and around my office life lately. Last night finally brought bread back into my life as another Passover passed over us, so today is made even better by the lack of matzo in my lunch routine! Our family’s Passover celebration was highlighted by the Macaron tower I created, much to the delight of everyone’s taste buds. Kosher for Passover, Gluten Free, Nut Free – there was a treat for everyone! Even my puppy, Bella, tried to devise a way to climb our chairs and tables to steal a treat… luckily she did not succeed!

That weekend, my mother and I had plans for a double show day in the city! Lucky for us, Sarabeth’s had an alternative to their usually delcious muffins…

After I posted that picture on Instagram, CIT Mindy sent me a message saying that she was at Sarabeth’s as well! We had been at the Tribeca location, while Mindy and her family were at Central Park South. After we saw our first show downtown we made our way back uptown and finally got to see the Rosenthals… along with surprise guest star, Alex Feigin!

It’s always fun to run into your camp friends, even if it’s only for a few minutes! After our evening show we made our way home, although we’ve already got plans to return for some more theatrical fun next weekend! If you’re going to be in the city perhaps we’ll have another camp story to tell!

When I’m not seeing shows or busy working in the office I’ve been having a blast experimenting with all sorts of French Macaron flavors! I must give a HUGE shout-out to Jason Calabretta, who hooked me up with some insane flavors to try. From s’mores to chocolate fudge – my kitchen is practically a bakery! Perhaps this is an iCan night in the making – what do you think?

I must take a break from my regularly scheduled CIT Intro postings to tell you all about the amazing fun had with camp friends over the weekend!!!

For those of you who are new to my blog or have yet to meet me, you should know now that I loooove theatre – musical theatre and plays, from Broadway to community, I love it all. I spent my entire childhood and high school career performing in shows and now as a semi-grown-up, I try to see as much theatre as possible, as often as possible, with as many friends as possible. Loyal readers may have noticed that every few blog entries involves me being in New York with camp friends seeing a play or grabbing rush tickets to a musical. It’s just one of my favorite things…cue: Julie Andrews singing My Favorite Things from the Sound of Music…

My very first job at Canadensis was “Theatre Specialist” and it was here that [Junior Boy/now CIT] Brett Levine and I starred in the Camp Canadensis Production of “Once on this Island”.

8 years later we still talk about how much fun we had doing Canadensis theatre, and I have always wanted to go see Brett perform in a show in the off season – kid has some serious talent! The planets aligned and this year I made it my goal to get to his musical, and in the spirit of this upcoming summer, I got some of the other CITs involved in the fun! Brett had no idea we were bringing along some of his camp friends, and the result was an amazing evening of friends, fun, and musical theatre!

After the show the Levine family (who, if you haven’t heard, are AMAZING!) invited everyone back for snacks and silliness at their home. We talked about camp and our summer ideas and just had the most wonderful time being together. Camp friends may be miles apart, but when we all get together it’s as if camp was only yesterday!

And of course, no time with camp friends is ever complete without trying to take a selfie with their dog: