Meet the Staff: CAILA COHEN

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Captain Caila applies gold face-paint to one of her campers...

Caila Cohen

Melville, NY

Years at Camp: This will be my 9th summer

Position this Summer: General Counselor

Previous Positions: CIT (Color War Captain of Gold Arcade in 2011)

Favorite Camp Memory: My favorite camp memory would have to be when the CITs and I went out in a huge rainstorm and just danced. It was still warm out but since the rain was heavy we got soaked in less than a minute. We just went around the senior girls tennis courts, laughing and running. Then, we all went inside and dried off and had a great BUNKO day. This was amazing and was something we never had a chance to do until this past summer.

Advice for first year staff: Though I have never been a counselor before, I have learned from my camper experiences that it really means a lot to the kids when the staff member is there for them, for both support and for a good time. Yes, a counselor has a job to make sure that the kids follow the rules and have a safe camp experience, but it is also very important to make sure that the campers’ summers are the best and have endless opportunities to have fun and create memories.

One thing you’re going to do this summer that you’ve never done before: This summer, I am going to go on the triple dare which I have not been on in quite a few years. I’m sure that I will have a chance to go on with my campers or even my friends too.

Advice for a first time camper: My advice for a first time camper is to live every moment to its fullest. Camp is a privilege and though it seems like 7 weeks are a long time, it goes by in rapid speed. The memories you create, the experiences you have, and the friendships you make are like no other and they should be treasured.

Meet the Staff: JESSIE THICK

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Karissa and Jessie celebrate Halloween at Camp!

Jessie Thick
Western Michigan University- Nursing Major
I grew up in Lapeer, Michigan and this will be my second year at Canadensis.
My favorite Camp memory: The giant water fight with lower camp after the parents leave on visiting day. Also tied with interpretive dancing to Enrique with Alex Feigin for the talent show
My Advice to first year staff: Just have fun and be yourself, don’t get all caught up in drama or you’ll miss some of the best parts of camp, which is just being friends with everyone!
My goal this summer: To go on the Summit– I didn’t get to last summer and its rough stuff.
Advice for a first year camper: Just be nice to everyone and have fun! Be yourself and don’t worry about fitting in, everyone will love you. Its way easier to be friends than spend the summer fighting.

Meet the Staff: PETE TARNOFF

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Pete as Color War Counselor Captain in 2008

Pete Tarnoff, Group Leader
Kutztown University, Elementary Education.


Years at Camp: 14

Favorite Camp Memory: Color War 2008, being a Counselor Captain for Tropical Gold.

Advice for first year staff: Care about what you do. If you care about the kids and take pride in being a great counselor, the rewards are endless.

One thing you’re going to do this summer that you’ve never done before: I want to try and learn to wakeboard during free time if possible. I’ve been wanting to try it for years.

Advice for a first time camper: ENJOY EVERY MINUTE!!! The friends you will make will be treasured for a lifetime. You don’t get to be a Camper forever. ENJOY IT!!!

INTRODUCING: CIT JUSTIN KOLE

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JKole loves the climbing wall!

Justin Kole

Hobbies when you’re at home: Lacrosse

Years at Camp: 7

Favorite Camp Activity: Lacrosse

Favorite Camp Memory: Being a wood gatherer

Best Advice for a First Time Camper: Get along with your bunk and make friends with your counselors

What you’re most excited to do this summer: Sleeping through breakfast

One thing you’ve never done at camp that you’re going to do this summer: Be OD for a younger bunk

If you could plan your own perfect camp day, what would it look like: waking up at noon, eating bagels and cream cheese, playing lacrosse, going back to sleep, NBA game, dinner, then Canteen

INTRODUCING: CIT JEN PANTOFEL

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Jen is front and center!

Jennifer Pantofel
Hobbies when you’re at home: I like to hang out with my friends, going to the beach, and skiing
Years at Camp: This will be my 7th summer
One fun fact about you: I love camp and I am always looking forward to it!
Favorite Camp Activity: Cooking
Favorite Camp Memory: My first color war
Best Advice for a First Time Camper: Make each day count because before you know it the summer will be over
What you’re most excited to do this summer: Getting to be with a bunk and going to Disney!!

INTRODUCING: CIT RIKKI PILAVIN

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Rikki is second from the Left, posing along Lenape with her 2011 bunk!

Rikki Pilavin

Hobbies when you’re at home: Tennis and Basketball
Years at Camp: 4
One fun fact about you: I can quack like a ducky
Favorite Camp Activity: Tennis and BBK
Favorite Camp Memory: Writing on the fire place in the jungle bunk and making friendship bracelets on the last night of camp
Best Advice for a First Time Camper: Just be yourself and you will have the time of your life
What you’re most excited to do this summer:be a CIT
One thing you’ve never done at camp that you’re going to do this summer: Waterski
If you could plan your own perfect camp day, what would it look like: Wake up in the morning late, go to breakfast and have a long cleanup, then have activities that you choose all day until lunch, then long rest hour and more activities leading to shower hour and dinner then free play and evening activity.

INTRODUCING: CIT HANNAH PRESS

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CIT Press gives Canadensis Two Thumbs Up!

Hannah Press
Hobbies at Home: Stalking the Canadensis Today and Camp Canadensis facebook page.
Years at Camp: This will be my 6th summer at camp.
Favorite camp activities: all the lake activities; water skiing, water trap and the summit
Favorite Camp Memory: Everything because every moment spent at camp is AMAZING.
Advice to a first time Camper: To cherish every moment you spend at camp because someday your going to look back on those years at camp like I am now, and hope you lived every second to the fullest.  Also remember that your camp friends are your best friends and you’ll never meet people who had more of an impact on the person you become.
Something you have never done at camp before: BE A CIT OF COURSE!!!!
Describe the Perfect Camp Day: My perfect day would start of by waking up at 8 and seeing my amazing CITs, then going to breakfast with them.  Breakfast would obviously bagels.  Then back to the bunk to get ready for the day.  I would be sporting a white hanes t-shirt with the soffee shorts of my choice.  Before line up I would go to the infirmary to fill up my water bottle and to drop in and say hi to nurse Betty.  We would dance on the stage at the amphitheater before the announcements are made.  Cits would after win honor bunk and I would be announced for my 3rd TAC of the summer, then we’re off to period 1.  We would start our day at volleyball league to get our exercise in for the day.  Then go even out with the exercise we would have double period cooking.  Good thing we saved room for lunch because it would be chicken and chips. After lunch we would have rest hour when we would play mario karts.
After I had successfully won mario kart it would be senior choice and I would go to tennis.  To my surprise Canadensis Today would be doing a special at tennis which they so nicely asked my to host.  Jcal filmed me as i performed the perfect serve and won the final point of my match against super star tennis player Brett Feldman.  Since I was so tired from my vigorous match, I had to get an apple from fruit on the fly.  At fruit on the fly LMac insisted that we should have a photo shoot.  So I start posing and before you knew it I had a new profile picture for when I got home.  After my photo shoot the CITs would have lake.  I saw from a distance that Aunt Terri was waiting for us in her pink golf cart and decided to take us for a joy ride around the lake field.  She decided that we had to hurry back before Pete and Pierce would yell at us about our tardiness.  At lake the CITs would go on the triple dare and water tramp.  Then to finish off my day I would WNBA.  Since I am so athletic I was the first pick of the draft.  During the game I had scored 24 points.  After the game we went back to the bunk for free play.  At this time we continued with our mario kart tournament, and again I won.  Before dinner I changed into a different white hanes t-shirt because it was shabbot.  Hope I dont get any soup on my clean white shirt! After dinner I would run back to the bunk to get first shower.  Then my bunk had to put the finishing touches on our MTV night dance since it was tonight.  Being so excited we sprinted to the amphitheater to get a front row seat. We performed last (best for last) and we did amazing.  Waiting for the judges was nerve racking, but with no surprise we won!  After all seniors went to canteen and that is my perfect day.

INTRODUCING: CIT CARLY FLEISCHER

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Carly in 2011 and 2004 - She's a camp lifer!

Carly Fleischer
Hobbies when you’re at home: Soccer, Track & Field, Pole Vaulting, Gymnastics, Playing French Horn, Robotics, Photography, Hanging out with friends

Years at Camp: 8 going on 9

One fun fact about you: I love photography and took over 3,000 pictures last summer! This summer I will be helping out the Media Team so look for me around camp with my camera in hand! 🙂

Favorite Camp Activity: Soccer!

Favorite Camp Memory: Every single one of the 40 days of Color War I’ve experienced in my life.

Best Advice for a First Time Camper: Enjoy and cherish each and every second of camp, this will become your favorite place in the entire world.

What you’re most excited to do this summer: Leading Color War as a CIT!

One thing you’ve never done at camp that you’re going to do this summer: Become a positive influence and role model for younger campers.

If you could plan your own perfect camp day, what would it look like: Late wake up, bagels for breakfast, and hanging out on the amphitheater or by the lake with my best friends in the world!

INTRODUCING: CIT JORDAN "J-Mitch" MITCHELL

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R-Mitch and J-Mitch on V-Day!

Jordan “J-Mitch” Mitchell

Years at Camp: 6 going on 7
One Fun Fact: I hate traditional American food favorites such as hamburgers, water ice, soft pretzels, and eggs
Favorite Camp Activity: NBA
Favorite Camp Memory: Setting the all-time camp scoring record in NBA
Best Advice for a First Time Camper: Live. Laugh. Love. Peace. Camp. XOXO
What You’re Most Excited For This Summer: Meeting the kids in my bunk and getting to know them
One Thing You’ve Never Done But Will This Summer: Disney World. YAY!!!
The Perfect Camp Day: 9:45 wake up, toasted bagels with cream cheese for breakfast, Triple Dare throughout the morning with Brett Feldman and Chloe Siegel the first time, then with Mikayla Bellach and Counselor Papa John Gordon the second time. Lunch would be cheese toasties while dipping it in tomato soup. Rest hour would last for two hours. The afternoon activites would be spending time with my assigned bunk and then NBA. Dinner would include BBQ and/or chicken parmesan because I eat a lot. Evening activity would begin at 8:15 and it would be bunk MTV night yay! Our bunk is amazing at MTV Night. From 9:15-11:00 would be canteen with all seniors. And then I would go to my assigned bunk for Saturday night O.D. and read them “No, David” as a bedtime story. How cute.

INTRODUCING: CIT OLIVIA WIND

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Olivia is determined to wheelbarrow her way to glory!

Olivia Wind


Hobbies when you’re at home: Sleeping, Badminton, Thinking about camp, Reading

Years at Camp: 9

One fun fact about you: Once was on the ropes course for over 4 hours

Favorite Camp Activity: Free swim at the pool!!

Favorite Camp Memory: Too many to pick one!!! But last summer watching the fireworks on fourth of July talking to my bunkmates about how much we love camp was special

Best Advice for a First Time Camper: Be excited to make new best friends! Also enjoy every activity even if it’s not your favorite.

One thing you’ve never done at camp that you’re going to do this summer: Jump off the rocks at the waterfall

If you could plan your own perfect camp day, what would it look like: Waking up and going to breakfast at the dining hall with french toast sticks awaiting. Having swimming, cooking, and sailing in the morning. Then napping during rest hour and having afternoon activities. Then having MTV night for evening activity!