Hello Canadensis!
Good to be back on the blog! Things have been so busy these past few weeks! I guess you can say it has been March Madness for more than just college basketball season. However, speaking of college basketball, congratulations to our Canadensis Bracket Pool winners: Campers Dani Pritikin and Mason Lasner, Staff Matty Manglona and Cole Banfield and Parents Stewart Pollak and Michael Center. Prizes will be given out soon!
Congratulations to our March Madness Bracket Winners!
As for an update on good things Canadensis, so much going on! In March, we had our annual Leadership Weekend where our team of Head Counselors, Programming Staff, Camp, Parent Relations and year round team got together and talked about the upcoming summer for two whole days. This meeting really sets the tone for a number of different programming plans for Summer 2017. This was then followed by many of us going down to Atlantic City, NJ for three days for the annual American Camp Association Conference, which is the largest conference each year for the camping profession. The weekend and conference spurred so many great new ideas.
So much to tell you about when it comes to our campus and facility upgrades for Summer 2017. We can’t wait for all of you to see it person and experience everything first hand. Here are all the things we’ve done since camp ended in August last year…
The Senior Canteen, which will have a number of improvements and renovations, will also have a new multi-tiered outdoor deck. It is similar to the Rec Deck, although larger. This picture was taken in January.
Dance and what was one of the pavilions next door is now one enclosed facility. We will refer to this building now as “The Studios.”
OK…it’s time for another BLOG BAND CALL. First five campers or staff to brian@canadensis.com with the correct answer will win a coveted white team band from 2016 Color War. Here we go…
What is the song that Brian plays for reveille on the last morning of camp each summer?
White Team Band Call Bands will be sent to the first five campers or staff that can correctly answer my BLOG BAND CALL question.
In the spirit of my own Throwback Thursday, which you can check out every Thursday on our Instagram, I figured I’d post some old photos of me back at camp back in the day. Here are some good ones from 1984…when the style was obviously Adidas and high socks!
Onto all of my awesome home visits from the past 6-7 weeks…
In Blue Bell, PA, I spent time with Reed (3rd grade; 1st summer) and Serena (6th grade; 3rd summer). Reed is actively involved in a number of different things. He competes on a swim team, where his best event is the butterfly stroke. He plays defense on the Whitpain Soccer Club. In the spring, he will begin his lacrosse season. Reed also enjoys playing chess and watching videos. You can also find him rooting on his favorite sports teams, the Eagles, Phillies, 76ers, Union and the University of Miami. At camp, as an Upper Junior, Reed is excited for waterskiing, woodshop, glass fusion, rocketry, Ice Mountain and the quads. As for Serena, she has gotten involved in playing travel volleyball, where she is a setter. She is also playing travel soccer. When at home, she loves baking cookies. Serena wanted to give a shout out to Summer 2016’s Bunk 10 and says to them, “I can’t wait to play jacks.” This summer, she can’t wait for her Hershey Park trip. Here is a snapshot…
Me and Andrew with Upper Junior Boy Reed and Freshman Girl Serena.
Also in Blue Bell, PA, I saw Max (2nd grade; 1st summer). Max currently takes karate classes, where he is a blue belt. In the fall and spring, he plays on a soccer team. At school, he is involved with the chess club. When he’s at home, you might find him collecting and playing Pokemon or building with Legos. Max even showed me the Legos Death Star from Star Wars he built (very impressive!). This summer at camp as a Lower Junior, Max is looking forward to Gaga, the Pool, the Ropes Course and Color War. Here is a photo…
Me with Lower Junior Boy Max.
In North Caldwell, I met up with Shayne (3rd grade; 1st summer). Shayne is a big fan of Star Wars and Legos. In fact, he showed me a combination of these two passions with a Legos Tie Fighter that he recently built. Shayne also plays travel soccer, basketball and takes tennis lessons. In the winter, he loves to ski and recently went to Windham. In the spring, he will play baseball and lacrosse. On top of all that, another hobby is scuba diving, where after this summer, he will be a certified diver. At Canadensis as an Upper Junior, Shayne says that he will be all about Legos, the quads, rocketry, Gaga and woodworking. Here is a pic…
Me with Upper Junior Boy Shayne.
In Roslyn, NY, I hung out with Rebecca (3rd grade; 1st summer). Rebecca likes to take pottery classes. She is involved with hip hop dance and rehearsing towards a spring recital. She will also be performing in an upcoming musical production of “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.” Rebecca enjoys gymnastics and according to her, can even be found doing cartwheels around the house. She also loves dogs. When she gets to camp as an Upper Junior, she is ready for activities like waterskiing, glass fusion, t-shirt studio, Color War and the trip to Dorney Park. Here is a picture…
Me with Upper Junior Girl Rebecca.
In Melville, NY, I was with Harrison and Max (3rd grade; 1st summers). Both told me how they play on a roller hockey team, the Snow Owls, where Harrison plays defense and Max plays offense. In the spring, both will move to baseball, where Max likes to pitch while Harrison prefers shortstop. Both boys have been using the winter months to train for baseball season. On top of that, Max plays golf. When not playing sports, they are rooting for their favorite teams. Harrison supports the Rangers, Mets, Yankees and Giants while Max likes the Islanders, Mets and Giants. And, if they are at home, you can probably find them playing video games like Madden Football. This summer, as Upper Juniors, Harrison is excited about roller hockey and baseball while Max is looking forward to waterskiing, the water trampoline and baseball. Here is a photo…
Me with Upper Junior Boys Max and Harrison.
In Manhasset, NY, I got to know Jessica (2nd grade; 1st summer) and Cory (4th grade; 1st summer). Jessica loves gymnastics and her favorite event is the uneven bars. She likes to bake and told me cupcakes are one of her favorite things to make. Jessica really enjoys dancing and singing and just recently performed in the show “Wicked.” She also enjoys listening to pop music. Jessica is a cheerleader for her school as well. At camp this year when she joins our Lower Junior Girls, Jessica is ready for all the activities at the lake, gymnastics, swimming, dance and camping. As for Cory, he let me know that he is a big fan of the New York Mets. In the spring, he will begin his own baseball season when his team begins games. Cory enjoys playing outfield. He also plays basketball and lacrosse. When at home, Cory told me that he enjoys grilling and going fishing. This summer as a Lower Inter, Cory is ready to try the water trampoline and attempting to beat me in a game of H-O-R-S-E. Here is a snapshot…
Me with Lower Inter Boy Cory and Lower Junior Girl Jessica.
In Doylestown, PA, I met up with Jillian (4th grade; 1st summer). Jillian is a fencer and competes as part of the Liberty Fencing Club. She just recently finished up her basketball season as part of her team, the Killer Whales (cool name!). Jillian is also actively involved in the Girls Scouts, who’s troop this year helped raise money for people in Haiti. Jillian is an avid reader and told me her favorite series is the Harry Potter books. In fact, she is looking forward to swapping books with bunk mates this summer. When at home, she likes playing with her dog Pico. At camp as part of the Lower Inters, she can’t wait for archery, Color War and making new friends. Here is a pic…
Me with Lower Inter Girl Jillian.
In Villanova, PA, I saw Emmie Carlson (7th grade; 1st summer). Emmie is currently playing attack on her Welsh Valley lacrosse team. In fact, when I came over, she had just finished her first game of the season. Emmie likes to play tennis. Most of all, she really enjoys hanging out with friends and having sleepovers with them whenever possible. She can’t wait to join our Lower Senior group this year, make new friends and try a whole new bunch of activities. Here is a photo…
Me with Lower Senior Girl Emmie.
Well, that’s all the blogging for now. Have a great day!
-Brian
