Hi Everyone!

Over the last few weeks we’ve been on the road meeting up with our camp friends and enjoying some ice cream during our annual Canteen on the Fly! Here are some of the glorious pictures I took:

Forti and JCal are besties!

JCal is loving the breakfast options...

Brooke stopped by to visit!!!

Pam shows off her camp tee!

Showing off the camp gear!

Long Island Canteen on the Fly!

My new best camp friends flashing our rings!

So cute!

Right now I’m on my way to Long Island for our last Canteen on the Fly for 2011 – I can’t wait to see some of our NY families, and I’m really excited for the Senior Summit which is happening right afterwards!  I just wanted to share two amazing photos for Frame Worthy Friday- we have an amazing staff at Canadensis – and they put the campers above everything else, and here are just two photos that prove it!

Hello Canadensis…

So.  I really missed camp today.  I know that as a director of camp that my life gets to be Canadensis, 24/7, but today was one of those days where I really missed the summer.

I missed the bugle call of reveille and wondering what song was going to be played on the PA right after.  I missed waffles and ice cream for breakfast.  I missed the dance party on the amphitheater right before line-up.  I missed not shooting hoops on the office courts.  I missed not seeing someone go down the zip line for their very first time.  I missed talking about “what are the color war team names going to be” with the campers.  I missed Swedish Fish at canteen.  I missed MTV Night.  I missed talking with the counselors outside of the HQ at sign-out.

It’s days like this when I truly love that we do have the opportunity to do it for seven weeks every summer!  I also think about how awesome Summer 2011 was and really can’t wait to be back up there next year (although it still feels so very far away).  I will actually be heading up to camp this weekend and know that I will be able to “hear the voices” as I like to say even when camp is empty.  I will be sure to get some photos for the next blog of what camp looks like in the off season.

In my “missing camp” mood, I think I might watch one of my all time favorite movies about camp.  I actually found it on cable a few weeks ago and set it to my DVR.  It’s called Indian Summer.  The short plot is…A group of childhood friends, now in their thirties, reunite at the camp they went to as children.  The people share experiences and grow while at the camp. They are dismayed to discover that the camp’s owner, Unca Lou, is going to close the camp down.  It’s really a great movie.  To see a scene from the movie, click here.

If you haven't seen, definitely try to get a copy of Indian Summer. In my opinion, it's one of the best movies about camp.

Things have definitely started to pick up at the winter office now that November is upon us.  We have started to hear back from many of our staff that plan to return for Summer 2012.  We have begun to talk about programming and activity scheduling.  Once again, thanks to all the campers that completed the camper survey.  It was extremely helpful to get your feedback.  And, we’ve been busy making all of our off season plans.  My schedule has started to really fill up for November and December with many camp family home visits.  I am so excited!

I got to see some campers this past weekend as I headed to Wayne, NJ on Sunday morning after getting an invitation from Lauren Schwed to come and surprise her boys, Matthew, Alex and Ben Schwed, who were hosting a camp sleepover.  In attendance was Alex Leon, Brett Podell, Josh Rogers,  Josh Halpern and Seth Brand.  Apparently, the boys stayed up extremely, extremely late, hanging out all night long, playing video games, watching movies, etc.  When I got there in the morning, we played some touch football in the backyard.  It was great to see everyone and hear that everyone is very busy at school and enjoying a wide array of after school activities.  Here is a pic from the weekend…

Got to hang out with some of the 2012 Lower Senior Boys. Me with (Bottom Row, L to R): Alex Schwed, Brett Podell, Josh Halpern, Alex Leon; (Top Row, L to R): Josh Rogers and Matthew Schwed. They had a sleepover this past weekend. Also at the sleepover, but not pictured, was Seth Brand.

In Plymouth Meeting, PA, I got the chance to see 2012 Lower Senior Adam Center play a game for his middle school football team.  After camp, Adam decided that he would try a new sport and went out for the football team.  After conditioning camp, the team placed his at the center position.  Now, could it be anymore perfect?  Adam Center is the center.  Anyway, I got to see the last game of the season the other night.  Adam’s team, the Colonials, have had a pretty good season.  Here are pictures from the game.

Adam Center (#69 on the left) waits with his quarterback on the sidelines, ready to go into the game.

Me and Adam after the game.

Can’t wait for our final Canteen on the Fly Event this Friday (Veteran’s Day) in Long Island.  A two-hour ice cream fest with Canadensis T-Shirts for all campers that attend.  It will be from 2-4 pm at teh Carvel on Old Country Road in Westbury, NY.  For those campers that will be Upper and Super Seniors and CITs in Summer 2012, we hope you will join us at 4 pm as well for a Senior Summit, an opportunity for campers to give their input and hear some of our ideas for next summer.

THE FINAL CANTEEN ON THE FLY FOR THE YEAR WILL BE THIS FRIDAY IN LONG ISLAND!

This blog certainly wouldn’t be complete without some mention of New York Giants Football.  Halfway through the season and the Giants are 6-2!  Woo Hoo!  What a win by Big Blue over the Patriots on Sunday!  Memories of Super Bowl 42 all over again!  I have also noticed that all of our Canadensis Eagles Fans really haven’t been hounding me as much lately.  Wink, Wink.

By the way, one more thing.  Do you know there is a video game about camp called “Summer Camp Showdown”?  Does anyone own this game?  Is it good?  If you never heard of this, check this out and click here.

A video game about camp!

Well, that’s all the blogging for now.  I still miss camp.  But, writing this blog made me feel a little bit better.

Have a great day!

-Brian

So when you become my age (I feel so old saying that) Halloween just isn’t that much fun anymore. It’s definitely cool to see all of the kids in costumes, make roasted pumpkin seeds, hand out candy, but come on…if you don’t get to go trick or treating and eat all of the candy that you get that how much fun is it really? So for years, I haven’t been the true grinch of Halloween (I happily give out candy), but I haven’t been so “into it”. Then we started Halloween at camp and that got me more into the spirit (in July though), but this year I got to spend Halloween with my niece up in Boston!

Emily Forti (now 1 year 8 months old) was dressed as Dora the Explorer. To try to get her to wear the Dora backpack was quite a challenge, but nonetheless she resembled cute Dora. We set out (with Robin in tow) around 5PM for a night of trick or treating. We even got Emily to say trick treat and she held a pumpkin pail in which she collected all of the candy. Now of course she couldn’t pick which kind of candy she liked from houses, so I had the unfortunate job of having to decide if she should take the Reese’s, Snickers Bar, Kit Kat or PENCIL. Of course, the pencil never got chosen! The ultimate is when you go to a house that gives out the FULL SIZE BARS! Anyway, we stayed out for about an hour and a half and of course snacks were enjoyed by all during the process. It really was a fun time!

Emily as Dora the Explorer

I rarely take the time to talk about my family on this blog, but I figured it was appropriate to give my niece a shout out!

One camp related thing, how cool is this Indian Head Pumpkin?! Special shout out and thanks to the Mindy and Rachael Rosenthal for sending this in. Great job ladies.

Awesome Indian Head Pumpkin

Next blog post, all about camp and some of the new and exciting projects we have planned for this winter! Enjoy the warm up coming over the next week or so!

I delayed my “Frame Worthy Friday” blog until today because I knew I wanted to post some photos from Canadensis Halloween during the summer!  We don’t really need excuses to dress up at camp – between the 4th of July, Crazy Night, Miss Canadensis, the Camp Shows and Color War, it’s actually rare to go a whole day without seeing someone in costume!

We pull out all the stops for the Canadensis Halloween Celebration – which includes trick or treating, games, costume contests, parades, “haunted houses”, golf cart “hay rides” and so much more!  Below are some of my favorite pictures from last year – I hope you have a very Happy Halloween!!!

I dressed up as grapes – Eric was an apple, and Brian was a banana.  We all wore capes, and were “Fruit on the Fly” – which is an awesome time each day when the camp comes together and enjoys a fruit snack.  Here I am with Super Seniors: Sam as Kermit the Frog, and Carly as a Canadensis Hockey Player.

Girls Bunk 8

Cowboy Roy and Mets Player Josh

Boys Bunk 8

Ben dressed as Mario, and Ethan as a magician

Girls Bunk 5

With Julia dressed as a Pajama Girl – did I mention that I’m wearing this 50 pound costume on one of the hottest days of the summer??

It’s that time of year again! Time for the Winter Office MONSTER MASH.

Hello Canadensis…

So much to say, so I’m just going to get right to it!  First off, thanks to everyone that came out to our first and second rounds of Canteen on the Fly.  In two days, we hit New York City, West Chester, Northern New Jersey on Saturday and two locations in the Philadelphia suburbs on Sunday.  First off, what a turnout!  It was so good to see so many campers, parents and staff, all who are missing camp immensely!  It was good to see what so many campers are up to as well.

Here are a few tidbits from the Canteen on the Fly…

In NYC:  Upper Inter Boys Jones Pearlman and Derek Coval came from a sleepover get-together.  Jones has been busy with swimming, sports and skateboarding while Derek is playing tennis and basketball.  Upper Inter Boy Zach Sher told us that he was in the new State Farm Insurance commercial directed by Spike Lee!  Upper Inter Girl Gaby Hirsch told us she was auditioning for the the upcoming school musical School House Rock.  Freshman Boy Andy Grossman was headed to a soccer game, but will also be playing basketball and baseball later this year.

In West Chester County, NY:  Freshman Girl Brianna Havraniak has been active with lacrosse clinics.  In the spring, she will be playing full games.  Junior Girl Jordan Plant was telling new camper for Summer 2012 Zoe Gellert just how much fun they will have at Canadensis!  New campers Jordana Binday and Elizabeth Knox got to meet for the first time as they will both be Junior Girls in Summer 2012.

In Northern NJ:  Lower Inter Girl Stella Scheier and Lower Inter Boy Jacob Dennis are both wrapped up in their soccer seasons.  In fact, both showed up in uniform.  Lower Senior Boy David Altschul was also in uniform, having come from a fall baseball game.  He was joined by 2012 CIT Girl Becca Altschul, who just can’t wait for next summer’s CIT experience!  New camper and Junior Boy Brandon Shaw told me all about how he loves to bike as much as possible.

In PA:  Freshman Boy Adam Aronson is busy with two fall baseball teams.  Junior Boys Alex Solomon and Idan Jaffe are playing soccer as is Upper Inter Girls Lauren Greene and Brianna Marburg.  Freshman Boy Eric Miller is back playing on his travel ice hockey team.  His sister, Ilana Miller, who will be joining us for her first summer in 2012, is incredibly active with a number of different dance classes.  Super Senior Girls Mindy Rosenthal and Allie Ernst were already thinking about designs for a Super Senior sweatshirt for 2012.  Special hats off goes to Mindy and Allie as well as Lauren Greene, Brianna Marburg and Valerie Solomon, all who actually attended both PA Canteen on the Fly Events.

Here are some pics from the Canteen on the Fly…

Eric Forti with the Sher Boys, Ben and Zach.

Jason "J.Cal" Calabretta with Gaby Hirsch and Jones Pearlman.

Jake Garfinkle, Sammy Halpern, Harrison Keim and Josh Silverstein from Summer 2011's Bunk 8.

Pete Tarnoff and Eric Miller having some ice cream and a smile!

Me and 2012 Junior Girl Ilana Miller.

Me with (From Left to Right): Idan Jaffe, Alex Solomon, Jordyn Marburg, Brianna Marburg, Lauren Greene and Valerie Solomon.

Special thanks to Cold Stone Creamery, Rita’s Ices, Mark and Julie’s Ice Cream, Udder Delight and Carvel for putting up with all of our camp craziness.  We hope we will see all of our Long Island campers on Friday, November 11 for our last Canteen on the Fly.

A few weeks ago, as also reported on the other blogs, we had a very special occasion to attend in Holyoke, MA.  Assistant Girls Head Counselor Alyssa Thibodeau and Assistant Boys Head Counselor Mike Lindquist got married!  If you didn’t know, Mike and Alyssa met at camp in Summer 2007, which was Mike’s second summer and Alyssa’s first.  They also got engaged at camp in Summer 2010.  The wedding was at a place called the Log Cabin (very campy, don’t you think) and the ceremony had spectacular views of fall colors at the top of a mountain.  The guest list was comprised of so many Canadensis people.  Really, there were so many that I can’t name them all.  In fact, there was so many Canadensis people there, we could have had a legitimate Color War.  Ha Ha!  Seriously though, it was so good to have so many people from our extended camp family attend and goes to show just how our Canadensis community is so supportive of each other.  And, of course, because it is probably funny for all of you to see us in formal wear, here are some pics…

Alyssa and Mike say "I do."

Me and Jaime with Cara and Phoebe.

Me and J.Cal.

Congratulations, Alyssa and Mike!  We loved that we could be there on your very special day.

With the fall season upon us, it is definitely safe to say that my schedule is starting to get full with home visits to campers.  As I’ve said in previous blogs, this is one of my favorite things to do in the off season.  Getting things started, I met two of our new Junior Girls (both currently in 3rd grade), Joey Dallow and Zoe Bustin, in Livingston, NJ.  Joey and Zoe met at this summer’s Tour and More Weekend and are super excited to be coming to Canadensis in 2012.  Joey and Zoe (hey, that rhymes) filled me in on all they were up to.  Joey likes to do art, play soccer, basketball and lacrosse, likes to run and loves hanging out with all of her friends.  Zoe, who is also a 2nd generation Canadensis camper as mom Dina attended camp, told me that she also plays soccer, loves to go sledding in the winter and in the spring will play softball.  She also mentioned that she loves to eat candy.  This summer, Joey and Zoe are looking forward to activities such as the ropes course, the theater program, art, cooking, canteen, free play and swimming.  In fact, when I asked them what they are excited about for camp, both answered, “Mostly everything!”  Great answer!  Here is a photo…

Me with 2012 Junior Girls Joey Dallow and Zoe Bustin.

Last week, we were back up at camp.  Eric, Matt and I were looking into some new projects that we want to get underway.  There is a big announcement coming soon for our big project for Summer 2012, but right now, we can also let you know that we will be adding a new fitness room at the back of the Rec Hall and will be upgrading our baseball and softball fields with new backstops and fences.  It’s going to look great! Again, be on the lookout for our big announcement.

On a personal note, I always like to share what I’ve been up to when not involved with camp things.  As always, I’ve been in Lot L12 for every Giants home game so far.  For two weeks, I was even joined by some Canadensis families.  At the Seahawks game, I was met by Canadensis parents Dan and Gail Keim.  At the Bills game, I got to hang out with Upper Inter Boy Noah Stern and his father David, who drove all the way up from Philly to root for their Giants!  As always, if you have a ticket for the game, be sure to stop by and say hello to me in Lot L12.  There is always plenty to eat as well.

As you may know, outside of camp, one of my other passions is music.  I’ve seen a number of great acts the past few weeks, including Bruce Hornsby, Trey Anastasio (of Phish), Chris Robinson (of the Black Crowes) and G. Love and Special Sauce (yes, it’s a funny name).

Finally, what’s everyone dressing up as for Halloween?  We want to know.  Send us your pics and we’ll include them in our next newsletter or post them on our blogs.  You can send them to me or anyone in the Canadensis office at info@canadensis.com or brian@canadensis.com .

More blogging to come!  Have a great day!

-Brian

I loved it! Who watched Once Upon a Time on Sunday?!?!?!

(Originally written in September 2011)

Dear Campers and Staff from Summer 2011,

Wow! What an awesome summer it was. I am sitting at my desk up at camp, 8:30PM on a Monday night in September, it is freezing outside (well in the 40’s), and camp is LONELY. Trust me, I love every minute being at camp, but it’s just not the same as when 700 people are running around!

In just 49 days, so many memories were formed for both campers, staff, and campers/staff together. I remember back to our week-long staff orientation with our annual Welcome Circle, The Amazing Race, the staff pool party, and much more. Then all of our campers arrived and I vividly remember the buses pulling up to the pavilion for lice checks and trying to “hold back” the staff from running up to our campers, past the skin diamond, with big hugs for all!

And how many times did the Junior boys try to hit me with a water balloon this summer all the way up to the CIT boys trying to get me into their baby pool! I can’t forget the 2 days I got to bond with the Freshman boys out of camp in Cooperstown, NY. Luckily, nobody got left behind at the West Point Military Academy and how about all of the boys trying to drive those go-karts and hitting the staff “accidentally”! On girls side, the senior girls invited me to play in games of BBK (which surprisingly I scored a homerun!) to hanging with girls camp during the all-camp swims on super hot days, I enjoyed getting to know all of our new campers and seeing our returners!

It would be remiss of me not to mention the Canadensis Today Show and all of the fun we had producing it. From picking a different menu reader each day to our wonderful C-Reporters, to the birthday patrol, campers were involved more than ever in what has become such a hit for our families and alumni back at home. Special thanks to all the staff who allowed us to come and interrupt your 1st period group and film on location, especially to Kate Mullen when we interrupted the dress rehearsal for Aladdin!

Don’t forget that there is a lot that goes on behind the scenes and there is one group of people that often do get forgotten about. Our support staff, consisting of 26 hard-working European college students are an essential part of camp life. After all, who would wash all of our clothes, feed us, keep us safe and secure, and pickup all of our trash! So, a special thanks goes to our fine group of young men and women for all they do (except when they decided to “steal” the Color War box!)

And to all of the campers and staff who helped shape Summer 2011 into what it was, thank you. Don’t forget that camp lives on throughout the winter and I personally can’t wait to see everyone at our Canteen on the Fly’s, our Winter Reunion, charity events, sporting events, home visits, and all of our other fun get togethers! Keep in touch and let us know what you are all up to! Most importantly, we’ll see you right back here for Summer 2012!