Congratulations to my two friends who got married this weekend!  It was a beautiful wedding and a really fun night of dancing with the newlyweds.  The bride has an extremely strong connection to the camp where she went as a child, and many of the friends at the wedding were people she connected with as a child growing up at camp.   Camp even came up during their wedding ceremony!  The Rabbi was attesting to what a great couple they make, and mentioned that they do not even argue about anything, except…where to send their future children to camp!

I have no doubt that this amazing couple will work out the debate about where to send their kids in the future, but it just goes to underscore the important of summer camp!  Mazel Tov!

(The couple cutting the wedding cake)

Over the weekend some of the girls of Bunk 8 got together for a little mini-reunion!

I’ve been privately protesting the cold temperatures for a few weeks now.  I’ve been wearing lighter jackets (or none at all), and although it means I end up freezing sometimes, at least it helps me to feel like warmer temperatures on the their way.  I listened to the weather reports this morning, and by Monday it’s supposed to be 82 degrees in Philly!  Plus, camp is less than 80 days away – and I heard reports from Eric, Matt and Neil who were up at camp yesterday, and they said the lake is already thawed out.  To me, that means we can officially say GOODBYE WINTER!

In order to celebrate the passing of winter, I just wanted to post this photo of Brian that was taken at camp in February when you could walk straight across the frozen lake.  Brian is always starting fun games (or in this case, trouble!) and I caught him in the act of throwing a snowball.  Maybe I’ll get him back next year…

This past weekend was New Camper Bowling – which is a time when we bring all of the incoming campers in grades K-4th together to get to meet and make new camp friends.  It was such an excellent day, and we had nearly 100 kids come through!  Many great photos will be posted in the coming weeks, but here are a few of my favorites…

Some of the “Bunk 2” girls

Some of the Junior Boys for 2011

Last week I got to meet an AWESOME new camper who will be coming to Canadensis for the first time this summer, and will be staring as a Lower Senior Girl. Remy is currently in 7th grade at Masterman, which is one of the best magnet schools in Philadelphia. She is super involved with activities around school, she’s been elected to student council every year, and next year she is planning to run for President of the school! Before the election heats up, she is focused on the upcoming talent show, where she’ll be performing a dance to the Lady Gaga and Beyonce song “Telephone”. She’s also a total athlete who is on the track team and can run a mile in just over six minutes, and she also plays a lot of volleyball.

In her free time (it is impressive that she has any extra time!), she is an excellent big sister to her 18-month old Theresa, and she loves to bake! As you can see above, she makes decorative cakes like you would see on TV, and she’s even made a wedding cake before! While I was over, she gave me an awesome recipe for “Oreo stuffed chocolate chip” cookies, which sounds amazing, so we will have to make them with Jojo in cooking this summer!

Remy is so excited for camp, she can’t wait to try waterskiing, beach volleyball, archery, glass fusion, and many more activities. Please help me welcome Remy to the Canadensis Family!!

New Camper Bowling was awesome. Thanks to all of our new families/campers who were able to make it to north Brunswick, NJ and spend a few hours with us. We had such a great time getting to know many of our new campers and putting faces to the names! Everyone participated in Name Bingo, which allowed us to find out some unique things about people, like their dog’s names, which campers will be celebrating their birthdays at camp, and who has flown on an airplane in the past year, to name a few. Of course I was able to contribute to a few of the clues! Some of the groups also participated in a new game that I called Dance Introductions and each camper had to come up with a short dance to introduce themselves with. Assistant Director Pam now has to remember all of these dances for the first day of camp as the campers come off of the bus!

Of course not all of our new campers were able to join us, as some had Hebrew School and sports games and we have some campers from Florida who were enjoying the warm, sunny, beach weather (who could blame them!). So, we are looking forward to meeting with them as well up at camp and having the greatest summer with our new juniors and lower inters!! If Sunday was any indication as to their excitement about camp, then we are in for a blast.

In other news, I must make a PUBLIC APOLOGY TO CAMP MOM STEPHANIE, who was inadvertently left off of last week’s blog. I mentioned all of the staff who would be coming to New Camper Bowling and in a moment of tiredness (or jetlag, perhaps), I totally forgot about Steph. How could I do such a thing? I am so sorry Steph! Thanks for spending your day with the new campers and helping the parents begin to plan for a much quieter/boring summer back at home, while their kids are having the time of their lives!

Camp Mom Steph can be seen on the right

While we are on the subject of Camp Mom, you might ask what does she do at camp? Well Steph is absolutely amazing for so many kids, especially if they are having a sad moment.Between helping out with the kids who have food allergies or have alternate meal requests, helping out in our health center, cookies and milk on the back deck with our younger divisions, cutting fingernails (ever wonder who does that at camp!), helping out with our camper phone calls, calling parents as needed, being a mentor to many of our staff, assisting during cleanup of the cabins, amongst TONS of other responsibilities, how does she have time to have fun at camp? Well, Steph can be found on the tennis courts playing a game with campers, up in the arts center working alongside them making projects, or anywhere out and about on camp with a camera taking pictures for all of the parents to see what camp is like! So, thanks Steph for all you do and sorry once more for leaving your name out of last week’s blog.

Matt Unger and I are headed up to camp on Thursday and we will be checking on many of the winter projects, which should be wrapping up soon. The water is also going to be turned on any day now, once the snow melts! So, alot going on at camp to get ready for Summer 2011.

There has been so much stuff going on both personally and in “Canadensis world”, so I plan to blog every day this week!

It’s been a while since I’ve had a creative outlet, but luckily, a lot of my friends have been celebrating Mitzvahs lately, and I’ve had excuses to get crafty!!!! In October I will be a bridesmaid for a close Philly friend, and at her recent bridal shower, each of the guests were assigned a month of the year, and we got to buy a gift for the couple that fit the theme of the month. Luckily, I got assigned June (which is clearly my favorite month because camp starts!), so I fought the urge to get her a crazy creek camping chair, and I got her and her hubby-to-be a nice set of beach towels. I got to decorate the outside of the box, and here’s what it looked like…

I can’t wait for June!!  Also, another Philly friend has recently welcomed the arrival of her first child, and it’s an adorable boy!  She and her husband will be excellent parents, and he has already been such a sweet and calm baby boy, with super cute expressions to match.  Since Sammy is the first born, the date of his birth is extra special, because not only is it his birthday, but it’s also the day my friends became parents!  So, I put together a framed calendar page for them…and another frame with a owl in it (because that is the theme of his nursery).  I also had a neighbor that gave birth to a boy recently, so I framed a calendar page for her too, check it out below!

I’m so excited for New Camper bowling!  We have such FABULOUS new campers coming to Canadensis this summer, and on Sunday it will be the first chance for them to meet each other.  This means that summer 2011 is coming quick!

At New Camper Bowling, we will be selling some of our Canadensis Cares “Care Wear”, which helps us raise money to send more kids to camp.  We have blankets, sweatshirts, baseball hats and much more.  Check out this super cute poster that Cara made about Care Wear, and be sure to check out the Care Wear table during New Camper Bowling!

Hello Canadensis!

Yes.  Yes.  I know.  A few weeks without a blog.  To make up for it, though, here is one of my Mega-Blogs to re-cap the time that has gone by without my filling in everyone in Canadensis Cyberspace.

First off, thank you to all of the camp families that came out to Philadelphia, PA on Sunday, March 13 to represent Camp Canadensis at the Jewish Relief Agency (JRA Event).  This was the second year that we did this and just like last year, I was personally amazed at what they do at JRA.  For a few hours, volunteers work together to package kosher, non-perishable food in boxes.  After packing, the volunteers load their cars and deliver the food packages to more than 2500 low income Jewish homes.  The feeling you get doing this is just remarkable and the recipients are just so grateful for the boxes they receive.  Here are a few pictures from the event…

Our Canadensis Team takes a break from our food deliveries for a quick photo.

 

Me (with my crazy hat for Purim) and Jaime with the Cebula Family...Mike, camper Rachel and Suzanne; younger brother Adam (not pictured was still working hard with his volunteering when this picture was taken).

On March 15-18, the winter team of me, Eric, Pam, Cara, Matt and Neil headed down to Atlantic City for one of our favorite times of the year…the American Camp Association Tri-State Camping Conference.  This four day event has over 3000 attendees from camps all over the country and allows us to attend sessions that discuss all aspects of camp.  The conference brings in many speakers.  This year, two of the keynote speakers included best selling authors Seth Godin and Jean Kilbourne.  The conference also hosts one of the largest exhibit halls and gives us the opportunity to scout out new services for camp.  If you would like to learn more about this event, you can visit the website here:  http://www.aca-nynj.org/.  In the exhibit hall, Cara and I stopped and competed in a dancing game.  Here is a shot…

Cara and I in a "Dance Off" at the Tri-State Camp Conference. Cara, who won this match-up again?

For all of our new campers in grades 1-4, we are so looking forward to our annual New Camper Bowling Event in North Brunswick, NJ this weekend on April 3.  This is a great event, along with our Open House on June 5, for campers and parents to meet one another and talk all about camp!  We play ice breaker games, bowl and eat pizza.

BOWLING TIMES

There have been a number of wonderful home visits to fill you in on as well.  In Warren, NJ, I got to hang out with Sophia Brociner, who is in the 4th grade and will be in our Lower Inter Girls Division this summer for her first summer at Canadensis.  In the fall, winter and spring, Sophia is one busy girl.  She is active with a softball team and a dance team, which has a performance in the spring.  She participates in a program called “Girls on the Run,” which promotes physical fitness and self-esteem through long distance running.  She also plays the saxophone, swims, bike rides and is involved in her local Girls Scouts troop.  With all of this, she always finds time to take care of her guinea pig Penelope.  When she gets to camp this year, she is excited for Glass Fusion, the Banana Boat, going on her division’s overnight and the high ropes course.  Here is a photo…

Me with Lower Inter Girl Sophia Brociner and her guinea pig Penelope.

Also in Warren, NJ, I got together with 3rd grader and Junior Girl Sydney Cohn.  Sydney, who is coming to camp for her first summer, is very busy with several different activities.  She is in a hip-hop dance class at Dance Express and will be performing in the spring to the hit song “Supersonic.”  She takes tennis lessons and also likes to play forward on her soccer team, which has games in both the spring and fall.  She told me that she also likes to learn about and collect crystals.  Sydney let me know that she is completely psyched about the upcoming summer and is eager to try the ropes course, archery, swimming, kayaking and biking.  At the same time, she can’t wait to make a whole bunch of new friends as well as get a break from school.  Here is a pic…

Me with Junior Girl Sydney Cohn.

In Short Hills, NJ, I met up with 2nd grade boy Justin Green, who will be in our Junior Boys division.  When I asked him about what he is looking forward to in his first summer, he replied with excitement, “I can’t wait for a great summer at Canadensis!”  Justin also filled me in that he plays left midfield for his travel soccer team, the Millburn Blast, and that he takes tennis lessons.  At his house, I also got introduced to his new dog Rafa.  While there, Justin also beat me in a game of Foosball.  Justin let me know that he is a really good joke teller.  This summer, he is ready to try activities like rocketry, all of the lake activities, the Banana Boat and soccer.  Here is a photo…

Me with Junior Boy Justin Green and his new dog Rafa.

In Morristown, NJ, I spent some time with the Hawks brothers, 6th grader Drake and 2nd grader Branden.  Drake, who will be back at camp for his 4th summer as part of our Freshman Boys Division, has been playing a lot of lacrosse as an attacker for his team the Colonials.  With the many weekends he spends skiing, he just recently placed 5th out of 90 skiers at the Kandahar Challenge Championships.  In the fall, Drake also played goalie on his soccer team.  Drake wanted to say hello to all of his bunkmates from Summer 2010’s Bunk 11.  He is also looking forward to a Lacrosse inter-camp and Color War.  Drake’s younger brother Branden will be at Canadensis for his first summer and will be in our Junior Boys Division.  Also a big skier, Branden just took 2nd place in a recent Hunter Mountain Race.  In the next few weeks, he will be starting his baseball season, where he really enjoys pitching.  He also plays flag football for his Jr. Colonials team.  In the fall, he will be moving up to play tackle football.  When he gets to camp in 2011, he can’t wait for baseball, fishing, waterskiing, sailing, woodworking and the Corn Man!  Here is a photo…

Me with the Hawks Brothers, (left) Junior Boy Branden Hawks and (right) Freshman Boy Drake Hawks.

In Bala Cynwyd, PA, I had so much with the Rosenau Girls, Julia and Emma!  Julia, now in the 7th grade, is so psyched for her 5th summer at Canadensis as she will now receive her 5-Year Jacket!  She has been extremely busy this year on the Bar and Bat Mitzvah Circuit seeing all of her camp friends.  She also showed me pictures from her own Bat Mitzvah which took place  a few months ago.  She has also been playing basketball and softball.  Julia is so happy to be a Lower Senior this year and wanted to give a shout out to all of her bunkmates from Summer 201o’s Bunk 12 as well as Assistant Head Counselor Karen Sharir!  She also can’t wait for Cooking and Hondas.  Emma, who is now in 4th grade and will be in our Lower Inter Girls Division as part of her second summer at camp, has been involved with gymnastics, softball, basketball and playing the cello.  At camp this year, she anxiously awaits Color War, Glass Fusion and once again beating me in Basketball.  Last summer, myself and two other counselors lost fair in square to the Girls of Bunk 4.  This year, we will have a rematch!  Emma also wanted to say hello to all of the Girls from last summer’s Bunk 4.  Here is a picture…

Me with the Rosenau Girls, (left) Lower Senior Girl Julia Rosenau and (right) Lower Inter Girl Emma Rosenau.

Finally, in Rye Brook, NY, I saw first time camper and 3rd grader Zack Richman, who will be in our Junior Boys division.  Zack plays travel soccer in both the fall and spring as part of his team, the Rye Brook Raptors, where he plays left wing and striker.  Zack told me about his recent trip to Breckenridge, Colorado, where he just learned how to ski a black diamond trail.  Zack also enjoys basketball and is even a real student of the game and learns about NBA legends such as Walt Frazier, Clyde “The Glide” Drexler and Wilt Chamberlain.  He also likes ice skating and hopes one day to start playing ice hockey.  When he gets to came in a few months, he is looking forward to the Banana Boat, waterskiing, making S’Mores, tennis, and most importantly, making new friends!  Zack’s younger sister Zoe, a future Canadensis camper, let me know that she has been busy with hip-hop dance, cooking, ice skating and soccer.  Here is a pic…

Me with Junior Boy Zack Richman and Future Canadensis Camper Zoe Richman.

As is always the case here on Brian’s Blog, I love to hear about camp friends getting together over the fall, winter and spring months.  When I get this information, I am always eager to see pictures, so I can then post them hear.  Well, it turns out that a few weeks back, the girls of Summer 2010’s Bunk 6 had a sleepover at Alexa Dersovitz’s house.  According to Alexa’s mom Nicole, the girls had an absolute blast!  Here is a pic…

The Girls of Summer 2010's Bunk 6 recently had a sleepover.

I hope all of our camp families are gearing up for the summer as we are now less than 100 days away from an amazing summer.  We just recently sent out our latest camp mailing with a whole new bunch of forms.  If there are any families with questions, please call us.  If there are any prospective families looking to book tours of camp this summer, please give us a call as we are beginning to book tours on April 1.

Well, that’s all for now.  More to blog next week.  See everyone soon!

Have a great day…Brian