Hello Canadensis!
It’s been quite some time since my last blog, but when I got to my desk this morning, I made sure I was committed to reaching all of you in our Camp Cyberworld! I hope this blog finds everyone in a festive and holiday spirit as December rolls upon us. I hope all of our camp families and staff had a very Happy Thanksgiving. Here in the Krug household, we have a lot to be thankful for this year with the arrival of our daughter Emerson, who was so excited to meet everyone during the November Canteen on the Fly events. Me, Jaime and Emmy continued our family tradition of watching the Macy’s Parade in bed all morning. That was followed by gorging our faces all afternoon with a magnificent feast prepared by my mom, who has been hosting the event for close to 38 years now! Thanks mom for another memorable meal.
Speaking of being thankful, I got such a wonderful e-mail sent to me last week from 2015 Upper Inter Boy Daniel Gold. For a school project, Daniel had to write an essay, expressing what he is thankful for this year. I think the second to last line sums it up pretty nicely…
For our Winter office, we really enjoyed getting out on the road once again for our Annual Canteen on the Fly Events in Pennsylvania, Long Island, Westchester and Northern New Jersey. In total, we got to see more than 200 campers and staff. Special thanks to all of our staff, including Melissa Torban, Robin Forti, Heather Fisher, Dave Malter, Dani Corradetti, Brandon Herder, Brooke O’Donnell, Matt “Chipper” Jacobson, Britt Dvorscak, Sam Ginsburg, Allie Ernst, Lauren Gadol, Brett Levine, Matt Siegel, Elizabeth Menkowitz, Jordan Rosen, Ben Portnoy, Hannah Schepps and Lauren Grama, who took the time to meet us at one of the locations. Go to our Facebook Page to check out photos from all of these locations.
The Canadensis Camp Spirit was also in full effect on November 18, which was wear your Camp Shirt Day. If you haven’t done so already, be sure to check out our Facebook and Instagram pages to see all of the campers and staff that participated. Me and Emerson got in on the action, too!
Me and Emerson wearing our Camp Shirts. Emmy is ready for CIT (in her case, Camper in Training) summer in 2015.
The Winter Office is getting busier and busier by the day. Eric and Matt are hard at work with several projects that are taking place up at camp. One of them involves a major renovation to our Rec Hall. In fact, the building, which is one camp’s more historic facilities, has a whole new complexion as it will now feature a new outdoor stage. This will allow for our Theater Program to conduct rehearsals outdoors as well as be an amazing new venue for some evening activities. The stage will feature lighting and a sound system, too! Here is your first look at the work in progress…
Camp’s Rec Hall will now have a new outdoor stage! Here is your first look at this project that is still “in the works.”
Pam and Cara are busy with the hundreds of staff applications that have started to pour in. We are also in the process of finalizing our staff recrutiment trips for Winter / Spring 2015, which puts all of us (me, Eric, Pam, Cara and Matt) at a number of colleges and universities throughout the United States and overseas in places like Australia, England and Eastern Europe. Meeting prospective staff in person is still the way we like to do things at Canadensis. At the same time, we have heard back from so many staff that are interested in returning for another summer. Of course, if you know of anyone that might make for a great Mature Goofball (in our opinion, the perfect definition of a Canadensis staff member), please direct them to our Staff Application here.
Next week, our Winter Office will be assembling the Mystery Boxes that we once again made available to everyone again this year for the Holiday Season, with all of the proceeds going to our Canadensis Cares! Program. Canadensis Cares! is a scholarship program designed to benefit Canadensis campers whose families are impacted by adverse or unusual circumstances. In some small way, every member of the Canadensis community can help families facing circumstances less fortunate than their own. There are still a few left, so if you haven’t ordered one yet, what are you waiting for?! Fill out the order form at www.canadensis.com or call us at 484.674.1941 today! It is for a great cause and any recipient of the box will be happy to receive the totally cool Canadensis swag that’s in it!
Of course, there is our Annual Camp Reunion on Sunday, January 25 to look forward to as well. We hope that many of our campers and staff that were with us in Summer 2014 are able to attend. Just recently, we announced our New Camper Event for Summer 2015. This event is for campers that are currently in 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th grade and an opportunity for children to meet others that will be at camp this year. The event will be held on Sunday, April 19 at the Edison Hotel. Specific times for age groups will be announced soon.
As always, my calendar is starting to book with some visits to camp families. Here are some that I have done over the past several weeks…
In Woodbury, NY, I spent time with twins Hailey and Jesse Mair, who are currently in the 3rd grade and will be joining our Upper Junior division in 2015. Hailey told me that she will be performing in a production of “Peter Pan” soon. On top of that, she takes art classes at a place called Village Artist, plays the violin and likes Gaga. When at home, she enjoys watching the new show “Nicky, Ricky, Dicky and Don” on the Nick Channel. This summer at camp, she is looking forward to Archery, the Canadensis Today Show, Lacrosse and all the delicious items on our salad bar. Jesse let me know that he currently takes Tae Kwon Do lessons. The instrument that he is learning is the viola. Jesse also takes art lessons at Village Artist. On top of that, he also plays lacrosse. Finally, Jesse is a big Lego builder and he showed me his impressive pieces. At camp, Jesse can’t wait for Archery, Lacrosse, Windsurfing and the Canadensis Today Show. Here is a pic…
Me with the Mair twins, Jesse and Hailey. Both will be Upper Juniors in 2015.
In Upper Saddle River, NJ, I hung out with the Weisensels, where Adam (currently in the 3rd grade) and Rachel (currently in 2nd grade) will be joining us at Canadensis for their first summer in 2015. Adam likes to play baseball and just recently finished up his Fall Ball season on his team, the Cardinals, where he plays catcher, third base and outfield. He will also play baseball again in the Spring. Adam plays tackle football as well and is a guard, linebacker and defensive end on his team the Bulldogs. In the Winter, he likes to ski. In addition to all of that, he is involved in karate and plays Minecraft. This summer as an Upper Junior, he is truly excited for the Canadensis Baseball League and Color War. Rachel plays soccer on her travel team, the Americans, where she likes when she is put at the striker position. Rachel is also heavily involved in a competitive gymnastics and she is looking forward to the season, which begins in January. Rachel is also a big fan of wintertime skiing. When at home, she likes video games and Facetiming with friends and family as well as coloring. At camp, when she is a Lower Junior, she is ready for soccer and Color War. Here is a photo…
Me with Lower Junior Rachel Weisensel and Upper Junior Adam Weisensel.
In Livingston, NJ, I got to know Josh, who will be part of our Upper Inter divsion in 2015 as he is a current 5th grader. Josh plays forward and midfield on a travel soccer team, the Livingston Levelers. This Winter, he will also be playing in a basketball league. Then, in the Spring, he will play in a baseball league. Josh is a big sports fan, too, and roots for the Yankees, Knicks, Giants and Red Bulls. When he’s hanging out at home, he plays video games like Madden Football and NBA 2K. When camp time comes, Josh is all about trying things like Hondas, Woodworking, Soccer, Baseball and all of the activities at the lake. Here is a picture…
Me with Upper Inter Boy Josh.
In Lafayette Hill, PA, I got to see Max and Alexa Baer. Alexa is back for her third summer at camp and will be in our Upper Inter division while Max joins us for his first year as part of our Upper Junior division. Currently in 5th grade, Alexa is very involved with her dance classes that ranges from hip hop to tap to jazz to lyrical to ballet. She is practicing towards her annual big recital in the Spring. Alexa wanted to give a shout out to all of the girls from Summer 2014’s Bunk 7 and had a secret message for them. She wanted to tell them that, “She hopes the moth doesn’t grab your eyeball.” Alexa is most definitely looking forward to the camp reunion in January as well as MTV Night in Summer 2015. As for Max, who is currently in the 3rd grade, he plays halfback and goalie on his travel soccer team, the Colonial Clash. Now that Winter is upon us, he is just starting his basketball league as well. In the spring, Max will play travel baseball. When at home, Max enjoys playing ping pong and playing NBA 2K12 on the Wii. This summer, Max can’t wait to try the quads and is very excited about Color War. Here is a photo…
Me with Upper Junior Max Baer and Upper Inter Alexa Baer.
I love getting photos of camper get-togethers, reunions, surprise run-ins. As always, please keep them coming. Here are some for me to share with you…
Some of our 2015 Super Senior Girls get together after Aly Waldman’s Bat Mitzvah. Pictured (from L to R) are Becky Seiler, Lauren Greene, Katie Podell, Aly Waldman, Dana Laufer and Reilly Frieder.
A number of girls from Summer 2014’s Girls Bunk 4 got together in NYC for Marissa Halpern’s Birthday party.
(From L to R): Zachary Friedman, Andrew Zazoff and Ryan Friedman got a chance to hang out. All three boys will be Upper Juniors in Summer 2015.
Best Halloween costume goes to Jack McMillan, who designed and built his own. Jack turned himself into a Go Pro Camera. Nice work, Jack!
Well, that’s all the blogging for now. More to come soon. And, I promise that my next blog won’t wait until January.
Have a great day!
-Brian
