March Means Double Digits for our Summer Countdown!

Hello Canadensis…

March is here!  For some, March is defined by the weather outside as it will come in like a lion and out like a lamb and Spring will be in the air.  For others, it means they are excited for the upcoming college basketball tournament, also known as March Madness.  March could also mean Spring Break for college students.  And, March is also the time when we think about our taxes (although e’d prefer not to…ha ha).  Whereas all of these are true, if you’re coming to Camp Canadensis this summer, it means that in this month, we will hit the 99 days to camp mark and no longer have to use three digits in our Countdown to Summer 2014!

For us here in the Winter office, the past month has been incredibly busy.  This time of the year is the “heart” of our new staff recruitment season.  We hit the road to a number of different colleges this year in search of the best staff around.  For me, I went to upstate New Y0rk to four colleges we hadn’t been to in quite some time.  They were Alfred University, Ithaca College, SUNY-Cortland and Binghamton University.  In addition to meeting many new interested staff, I was able to catch up with some very familiar faces…

At Ithaca College, I met up and had dinner with counselors and former campers Mike Levien and Jake Asman, both who will be back in Summer 2014!

At Ithaca College, I met up and had dinner with counselors and former campers Mike Levien and Jake Asman, both who will be back in Summer 2014!

At Binghamton University, I had lunch with former campers and counselors Paige Gindi and Amanda Mirsky.  Both Paige and Amanda say hi to everyone at camp!  Paige is excited to return this summer while Amanda will certainly be up to visit.

At Binghamton University, I had lunch with former campers and counselors Paige Gindi and Amanda Mirsky. Both Paige and Amanda say hi to everyone at camp! Paige is excited to return this summer while Amanda will certainly be up to visit.

Last weekend, the camp juices really started to flow with our annual Leadership Weekend Retreat, which was held near our Winter Office in Plymouth Meeting, PA.  This time together really allowed our administrative staff to hammer out some of the key topics as we plan an amazing summer.  Our head staff discussed many topics from summer planning and scheduling to staffing and personnel to many campers’ favorite topic…Color War!  As you may know, this meeting is also the starting point each year to determining the Color War names for Summer 2014.  This year, we came up with a number of very good possibilities.  If you would like to hear some of the names, you can e-mail us at (Wait!  Did you really think that I was going to give you the names…Ha Ha!)  Here is a picture from the weekend…

Our Leadership Team came together last weekend for a full weekend of camp talk!

Our Leadership Team came together last weekend for a full weekend of camp talk!

Planning Summer 2014.

Planning Summer 2014.

In my next blog, I’ll be sure to share some pictures from the 2014 Annual Tri-State Camping Conference in Atlantic City, NJ, where we always seem to get some good ideas for the summer.

Over the past month, I got a few cool pictures from camp families and staff that I wanted to share with everyone as well…

Ava and Marlee Krasin are keeping warm and are in camp spirit wearing their new Candensis hats.

Ava and Marlee Krasin are keeping warm and are in camp spirit wearing their new Candensis hats.

The Snyders and Kilmans met up for ice cream while on their vacations in Boca Raton, FL.  From left to right: Sage Snyder, Samantha Kilman, Sabrina Snyder and Emily Kilman.

The Snyders and Kilmans met up for ice cream while on their vacations in Boca Raton, FL. From left to right: Sage Snyder, Samantha Kilman, Sabrina Snyder and Emily Kilman.

2014 Lower Inter Boys Drew Spielberger (front) and Ben Keim (back) met up in Mt. Snow, VT for a weekend of skiing and tubing.

2014 Lower Inter Boys Drew Spielberger (front) and Ben Keim (back) met up in Mt. Snow, VT for a weekend of skiing and tubing.

Basketball Counselor Vince Tranquillo, who goes to the University of Pittsburgh, sent in this picture of him and legendary Syracuse basketball coach Jim Boeheim.  Later that night, Vince saw Syracuse beat his Pitt Panthers on a dramatic buzzer beating shot.

Basketball Counselor Vince Tranquillo, who goes to the University of Pittsburgh, sent in this picture of him and legendary Syracuse basketball coach Jim Boeheim. Later that night, Vince saw Syracuse beat his Pitt Panthers on a dramatic buzzer beating shot.

Since my last blog, there are a lot of great home visits to tell you about…

In Merrick, NY, I got to meet Adam and Bradley Lieberman, both who will be coming to Canadensis for their first summers.  Adam is in the 5th grade and will be in our Upper Inter Boys division while Bradley is in 4th grade and will be in the Lower Inter Boys division.  Both are very busy guys throughout the year.  Adam plays defense and midfield on his travel soccer team, the Gunners.  He plays rec and travel basketball on his team, the Cougars.  In the Spring, it will be rec and travel baseball on his team, the Cyclones.  He plays football, too.  When at home, he plays X-Box, with his favorite game these days being NBA 2K14, as well as rooting for favorite sports teams the Giants, Yankees and Knicks.  This summer at camp, Adam is looking forward to signing up for Super Leagues like the CBL and IBL as well as participating in activities like the hondas/quads, lake, water slides and canteen.  For Bradley, his activties include playing on a travel basketball team.  Over the winter months, he is training for his upcoming baseball seasons, where he plays in both rec and travel leagues.  He also plays football.  When at home, Bradley can be found playing X-Box.  His favorite game is Madden 25.  He is a fan of the NFL, the Knicks and Yankees.  Bradley also told me he is a pretty good cook and has been known to cook his family breakfast.  Finally, he plays the trumpet.  At camp in 2014, he is looking forward to water skiing, all the activities at the lake and intercamp games.  Here is a picture…

Me with Upper Inter Boy Adam Lieberman (left) and Lower Inter Boy Bradley Lieberman (right).

Me with Upper Inter Boy Adam Lieberman (left) and Lower Inter Boy Bradley Lieberman (right).

Also in Merrick, NY, I hung out with Aidan “Kope” Kopelman, who is in the 4th grade and will be in our Lower Inter Boys division this year in his first summer.  Aidan plays forward on his travel soccer team, the Merrick Arsenal, which competes in the Fall, Winter and Spring.  He takes tennis lessons.  Aidan let me know that he is an avid reader and basically likes to read everything.  He is a big sports fan of the Yankees and Giants.  In fact, Aidan shared with me a cool story involving each team.  First, Aidan had the opportunity to run the bases at Yankee Stadium.  Second, a few years ago, he attended the Giants Super Bowl victory in Indianapolis.  Some pretty cool stories!  Aidan likes to snow ski.  One day, he says he wants to be a cook.  Recently, he visited the Food Network’s “Chopped” kitchen.  At camp this summer, Aidan is ready to try the Canadensis Today Show elective, quads/hondas, water skiing and the zipline.  He is also looking forward to the special Thursdays we have planned at camp.  Here is a pic…

Me with Lower Inter Boy Aidan Kopelman.

Me with Lower Inter Boy Aidan Kopelman.

In Short Hills, NJ, I saw Austin and Mitch Braunstein.  Mitch returns for his 4th summer in our Freshman Boys division and he is happy to be joined by his brother Austin, who will be in our Upper Junior boys division in his first summer.  Mitch plays in the Millburn Basketball League on his team, the Trailblazers.  In the Spring, he will be playing baseball.  Mitch wanted to give a shout out to the boys of Bunk 10 from Summer 2013.  This summer, he is really excited for his division’s trip to Cooperstown and the Baseball Hall of Fame.  Austin also plays in the Millburn Basketball League on his team, the Bobcats.  In the Spring, it will be baseball time for Austin as well.  When hanging out at home, Austin likes to play his favorite video game, Subway Surfers.  And, when the weather warms up, he likes to fish.  Here is a photo…

Me with Upper Junior boy Austin Brauntein (left) and Freshman boy Mitch Braunstein (right).

Me with Upper Junior boy Austin Brauntein (left) and Freshman boy Mitch Braunstein (right).

In Livingston, NJ, I met up with Mason Levine, who is in the 3rd grade and will be in our Upper Junior boys division in his first summer at Canadensis.  In the Fall, Mason plays on a soccer team.  In the Spring, he plays baseball.  When Mason is hanging out at home with his friends, he is a big fan of the game Minecraft, likes to build Legos and watch his favorite TV show, Spongebob Squarepants.  Mason is also involved with his Cub Scout pack and recently earned the award for Best Paintjob in the scout’s annual Pinewood Derby.  Mason is also a big New York Giants fan.  This summer, he told me that he is ready to meet new friends, swimming, the water slides and fishing.  Here is a picture…

Me and Upper Junior boy Mason Levine.

Me and Upper Junior boy Mason Levine.

In Lafayette Hill, PA, I saw Jordyn and Jared Rutman.  Jordyn is back at Canadensis for her 3rd summer as part of our Upper Inter Girls division and Jared joins us for Summer #1 as a Lower Junior boy.  Now in 5th grade, Jordyn rehearses in ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical and hip hop dance classes in preparation for her recital in the Spring.  She also plays on her travel soccer team, the Wildcats.  This year, she can be found at the weekly Friday Night Skate at her local ice rink.  Of course, Jordyn told me she loves chatting with her bunkmates all year long.  She wanted to remind her camp sisters from last summer, that they are still the “Bunk 6 Chicks!”  When I asked her what she is looking forward to the most next summer, Jordyn simply replied, “Everything!”  As for Jared, now in the 2nd grade, he is busy with all kinds of sports.  Currently, he is playing in the Whitemarsh Basketball League, where his team was in the playoffs.  In the Spring, he will move onto baseball season.  In the Fall, he plays in a travel soccer league as well.  On top of all that, he plays football and hockey, too.  He is a big fan of the Flyers, Eagles Phillies and Union teams.  In his first summer at camp, he excited for activities such as hockey, the lake, basketball, soccer, lacrosse, gaga, baseball and the quads.  Here is a photo…

Me with Lower Junior Boy Jared Rutman and Upper Inter Girl Jordyn Rutman.

Me with Lower Junior Boy Jared Rutman and Upper Inter Girl Jordyn Rutman.

In Villanova, PA, I spent some time with Skye and Griffin Kades.  Skye will be at camp for her 3rd summer in our Upper Inter Girls division while Griffin will be spending his first summer as a Lower Junior boy.  Skye, who is in 5th grade, has been busy with her dance team at the Liberty Me Company, where she has been in rehearsals for hip hip, lyrical, jazz and contemporary routines.  Skye is also involved with her gymnastics.  Skye filled me in that she can certainly be found messaging and texting her bunkmates from last year’s Girls Bunk 8.  Her message to all of them was “taco!”  She is looking forward to absolutely everything in Summer 2014.  Griffin, currently in 2nd grade, loves to play soccer.  He plays forward on teams that compete in the Fall, Winter and Spring.  He also takes tennis lessons.  When at home, he plays Minecraft, X-Box and on his i-Pad.  He is also a chess player.  At camp this summer, he is ready to play gaga, soccer, the banana boat and fishing.  Here is a pic…

Me with Upper Inter Girl Skye Kades and Lower Junior Boy Griffin Kades.

Me with Upper Inter Girl Skye Kades and Lower Junior Boy Griffin Kades.

Well, that’s all of the blogging for now.

Have a great day!

-Brian