Hello Camp Canadensis…
And…HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY! I hope this blog post finds everyone in a loving spirit. One thing I know that we are all in love with is CAMP! With that, I figured I’d do a quick Top Ten list of “Things I love about camp!”
Here we go…
#10: The moment I see the first bus pull into camp to officially start each summer. The staff are holding their bunk signs, screaming and jumping up and down. The campers are looking out the bus window so excited for camp to begin!
#9: Taco Day! My favorite lunch at camp! I know that many of you are also shouting, “Not bread bowls?!” Yes. I love the bread bowls, too. But, I still love Tacos more!
#8: Making a project in the Art Center. Every summer, I like to make something for my wife Jaime, whether it be in Glass, Ceramics, the Art Shack or Woodworking. Maybe this year, I’ll do something int the T-Shirt design studio.
#7: Getting to play reveille in the morning and waking up camp. “Good Morning, Canadensis!” What songs should I play this summer?
#6: Shooting hoops! Basketball is one of my favorite sports to play. And, at camp, you can basically walk to any court within a matter of seconds. That’s where I love to be during Free Play. I love challenging all of the campers to a game of H-O-R-S-E. Of course, if you beat me, it’s extra canteen! Better practice your jump shots now.
#5: Riding a mountain bike on the lake trail. Such a beautiful ride and good exercise, too. We are so fortunate to have such an amazing trail system at camp. Of course, the ride is always even a bit more fun after we’ve had some rain and you get to ride through some puddles!
#4: Taking a kayak out on Lake Lenape. If you haven’t taken a kayak all the way out on the lake, you’re missing out. It’s awesome!
#3: When I hear that a camper did something at camp that they had never tried or done before like getting up on waterskis for the first time or getting to the top of the climbing wall or learning how to ride a honda. There are so many firsts or accomplishments that happen over the course of a single day at camp…and I always love to hear about each and every one of them!
#2: Getting to break Color War! This well kept secret always has campers, staff and parents is suspense. How will it happen in 2017?! I also love Color War Sing. It’s a great moment to see just how hard the CITs have worked putting everything together.
#1: Walking to morning line-up each day. I get so excited just hearing the music blasting over the speakers and the dance party that is happening as I turn the corner to the amphitheater. That moment each day gets me so pumped for the day at camp!
What are the things you love about camp?!?!
A few weeks ago, some of us took a ride up to camp to check in on some of the projects that are going on up at camp. First of all, it is always strange to see camp in the winter all covered in snow. Hard to believe in just two months Matt, Andrew and their pre-camp crew will be up at camp and starting to prepare for the arrival of staff and campers. We have so many (and I mean so many) projects in the works for Summer 2017. We will continue to unveil new pictures in the upcoming months, but here are some to share for now…
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. From this picture, you can also see the many doors that now can remain open when Seniors at canteen, providing a facility that will now feel more open.
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.”
From the inside, this is now what the pavilion looks like as an indoor facility. Both studios will now also have movie projectors (as Matt is showing us) and screens for night time and rainy days. Oh yeah, they will also now be air conditioned.
As you can see, really exciting stuff happening up at camp.
OK…it’s time for a Blog Band Call. Very simple. First five people to e-mail me at brian@canadensis.com with the correct answer to the question wins a sought after White Team band for band call.
White Team Band Call Bands will be sent to the first five campers or staff that can correctly answer my BLOG BAND CALL question.
This question is a Blog Math question. Here we go…
The number of summers completed by Camp Mom Heather Fisher + the Number of Bus Locations we have at Camp + the number of letter writing days we have at camp each week = ????
Good luck!
Since my last blog, there are so many camp families I have met up with. It’s been so great to meet all of the new and returning campers. Here is everyone I met…
In Plainview, NY, I met up with Lucas (3rd grade; 1st summer). Lucas likes to basketball and is currently playing on his team, the Hawks. Baseball is a sport he plays all year round and his favorite positions to play are catcher, pitcher and third base. He also plays soccer and enjoys playing goalie. When at home, he watches sports and is a big fan of the Mets, Giants, Patriots, Knicks and Warriors. He can also be found playing games like FIFA and NBA 2K17 on his X-Box. When he gets to camp in Summer 2017 as part of our Upper Junior boys group, Lucas will be busy playing a lot of sports, riding the quads, going camping and looking forward to Color War. Here is a photo…
Me with Upper Junior Boys Lucas.
Also in Plainview, I got to know Charlie (4th grade; 1st summer). Charlie told me all about how he recently started to take and really enjoys a Crossfit class. He also works out on the treadmill. On top of that, he enjoys gymnastics. Charlie is an electric guitar player and has begun to master songs like the new popular song “Closer.” When he’s just chilling out, Charlie likes to read and recently has found himself reading books about mythology. If not reading, he might be playing his favorite video game, Skylanders. When Charlie gets to camp in June, he let me know that the rock wall, zipline, quads and hondas will be the activities at the top of his list. Here is a snapshot…
Me with Lower Inter Boy Charlie.
In Syosset, NY, I spent time with Trey (3rd grade; 1st summer) and Jossie (3rd summer; 6th grade). Trey let me know that he is a big lacrosse player and enjoys playing middie on his teams, the Gladiators and SYLax. He also plays flag football. Currently, he plays on a travel basketball team. When at home, you might find him playing rock music on his drum kit or rooting for some of his favorite teams, the Eagles, Warriors, Flyers or Syracuse Orange. On top of all that, Trey enjoys magic and even showed me a trick during my visit. When he makes his way to Canadensis in 2017 as part of the Upper Junior boys group, he is ready to try all of the activities at the lake, glass fusion and quads. As for Jossie, she is also playing in a basketball league. In the fall this year, she played on a volleyball team. In a few months when spring arrives, it will be time to head onto to the diamond for some softball. Of course, she is always keeping up with camp friends and wanted to give a shout out to Girls Bunk 10 from Summer 2016. When it’s time for camp, she is thrilled to be spending the summer with her brother for the first time in four years. And, she can’t wait for her trip to Hershey Park. Here is a picture…
Me with Freshman Girl Jossie and Upper Junior Boy Trey.
In Upper Saddle River, NJ, I got to hang out with Jack (2nd grade; 1st summer). Jack plays center midfield on this travel soccer team, the Americans. He is currently training in the winter playing futsol. In the spring, he will move into baseball season and play on a team. He favorite teams to root for are the Jets, Mets and Rangers. Jack also enjoys building with legos. When I visited, he was in the middle of working on a lego imperial shuttle from the Star Wars movies, which was very cool! Speaking of cool, Jack’s family has a tradition where they travel to a different state each year to see baseball games. This year, they will head to Texas to see the Rangers or Astros. When Summer 2017 rolls around, Jack is looking forward to activities like parkour, soccer, baseball, outdoor cooking, fishing and going camping on his division’s overnight. Here is a pic…
Me with Lower Junior Boy Jack.
While in Rye Brook, NY, I saw Dylan (2nd grade; 1st summer). Dylan likes to go ice skating and go skiing. This month, he will be going to Breckenridge for some big time skiing! When at home, you might find Dylan playing on his X-Box where one of his favorite games is Minecraft. He also enjoys rooting for the Jets and Giants. Whenever he gets the chance, Dylan likes to swim. For his first summer at Canadensis, Dylan is ready for activities like the quads, gaga, basketball, soccer, football and hockey. He is most excited about not having to do any homework, particularly math. Here is a snapshot…
Me with Lower Junior Boy Dylan.
In Livingston, NJ, it was great getting to see Ari (3rd grade; 1st summer) and Jadyn (6th grade, 4th summer). Ari told me all about how he plays defense for the Livingston Soccer Club. He is also a brown belt in karate. When it’s time to keep busy with activities around the house, he enjoys playing Minecraft, watching shows like “Fuller House” and “Henry Danger,” and building legos. He is currently working on a Millennium Falcon. Ari also loves this time of year because it means it’s time to go skiing. When he joins the Upper Junior Boys this summer, he is excited for rocketry, waterskiing, woodworking, swim, digital photo and the ropes course / zipline. As for big sister Jadyn, who will be in the Freshman division in 2017, she plays midfield for the Livingston Soccer Club. Currently, it’s basketball season for her, too. She also enjoys ski trips to Vermont. Jadyn wanted to give a shout out to her camp friends and had two messages for them…”Shot. Shot. Shot. Shot.” and “That’s not fair!” This summer, as a Freshman, Jadyn can’t wait to get away from homework, her trip to Hershey Park and hondas. Here’s a photo…
Me with Upper Junior Boy Ari and Freshman Girl Jadyn.
In New York City, I spent time with Ryan (2nd grade; 1st summer) and Julia (5th grade, 3rd summer). During the visit, I learned that Ryan loves and plays flag football. He will be playing again the spring once the weather gets warm. He is also a big fan of the New York Giants and can be seen tailgating before all of the games. Dylan also plays the piano. He enjoys video games, too, with Clans of Clans and Clash Royale being two of his particular favorites these days. When he gets to camp as part of the Lower Junior Boys division, he is ready to continue playing his favorite sport football, roasting marshmallows and being with his big sister. As for Julia, she is very busy with her travel soccer team, where she plays goalie. In fact, she hasn’t let in a goal all season long. Wow! When it’s time to relax, Julia enjoys reading comics. When I asked her what she is looking forward to at camp when she returns, Julia simply said, “Everything.” She also wanted to give a shout out to the girls of Summer 2016’s Bunk 8. Here is a photo…
Me with Lower Junior Boy Ryan and Upper Inter Girl Julia.
Also in New York City, I got to know Brielle (3rd grade; 1st summer). Brielle loves to do gymnastics. She is also taking hip hop dance classes and rehearsing for a recital in the spring. Her activity schedule also includes playing on a basketball team. Brielle told me that she likes music and that Taylor Swift is one of her favorite artists. When she is at home, she can be found making a ton of videos using the Musically app and doing art projects. In June when she gets to camp as part of the Upper Junior Girls division, Brielle said that she will be signing up to be on the dance and gymnastics teams. She also can’t wait for all the lake activities, including waterskiing. Most importantly, she is ready to make some great new friends. Here is a picture…
Me with Upper Junior Girl Brielle.
In Armonk, NY, I met up with Ben (2nd grade, 1st summer) and Michael (5th grade, 3rd summer). Ben told me all about his active schedule throughout the year. Currently, he plays on a basketball team, the Bobcats. In the fall and spring, he plays pitcher and first base on a baseball team. Over the past few years, he’s also gotten involved in parkour and loves the show “American Ninja Warrior.” Ben is also a fan of the Giants, Knicks, Mets, Rangers and Syracuse Orange. When at home, Ben likes to play board games like Monopoly. At camp this summer, Ben told me about some of the activities he’s ready for when joining the Lower Juniors. They were the ropes course / zipline, baseball, basketball and the water slides at the pool. As for Michael, he is currently busy playing on two separate basketball teams. In spring, it will be time for baseball season. Michael wanted to give a shout out to the Boys of Bunk 9 from Summer 2016. Here is a snapshot…
Me with Lower Junior Boy Ben and Upper Inter Boy Michael. As you can see, both boys have great fashion taste!
In Glen Rock, NJ, I had a blast meeting Maddie (4th grade; 1st summer). Maddie told me that she does gymnastics all year round. Currently, her favorite is doing all of the floor exercises. In the fall, she also played on a soccer team. When spring comes, it will be time to put on her glove and play softball. While there is snow on the ground, Maddie loves to ski. She also let me know that she is a big Oklahoma Sooner football fan, or as they call them “Boomer Sooners.” As a Lower Inter in 2017, Maddie can’t wait for all of the activities at the lake, including waterskiing and Ice Mountain. She is really looking forward to meeting her bunk mates and counselors and making new friends. Here is a pic…
Me with Lower Inter Girl Maddie.
Back in Livingston, NJ, I spent time with Jordyn (2nd grade; 1st summer) and Ella (6th grade; 4th summer). Jordyn told me all about how she plays defense on her Livingston Club Soccer travel team. She also plays tennis. But, she gets excited for this time of year because her favorite sport is skiing. Finally, Jordyn takes hip hop dance classes and will have a recital this spring. When she gets to camp as a Lower Junior girl, she is super pumped for the Art Shack, waterskiing, Color War and making new friends. Ella is also involved with the Livingston Soccer Club, where she plays center defense. Currently, she is also playing on a basketball team. Of course, her year wouldn’t be complete without seeing her camp friends. She wanted to give a shout out to Girls Bunk 11 from Summer 2016. When she returns to camp this year as a Freshman, she is really looking forward to her trip to Hershey Park, Color War and the hondas. Here is a photo…
Me with Freshman Girl Ella and Lower Junior Girl Jordyn.
Well, that’s all of the blogging for now. Until my next blog, HAVE A GREAT DAY!
-Brian
