Hello Canadensis…
As I sit here at my desk at the end of a work day, I have my i-Tunes playing in the background on shuffle mode. All of sudden, in consecutive order, Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin'” came on followed by The Black Eyed Peas “Tonight’s Gonna Be a Good Night.” Since these tunes have prevailed summer’s past, I took it as a sign to hop onto my blog and begin to post.
I hope everyone out there has had a great beginning to their new year. Things here at Canadensis are better than ever! I loved seeing everyone at our annual winter reunion at Jeepers. What a cool new place we found! I think it was great that we were able to have the place all to ourselves. Plus, it was fairly obvious that all of the campers and staff loved all the games and rides available. When all was said and done, it looks like we had a little over 300 campers and staff in attendance! Just awesome!
For us in the winter office (me, Eric, Pam, Cara and Matt), the day before the reunion was a lot of fun as well because we had the opportunity to talk camp with all of camp’s leadership staff, including Head Counselor Robin Forti, Assistant Head Counselors Karen Sharir, Alyssa Thibodeau and Mike Lindquist and Camp Mom Steph Vorcheimer. It was great as we talked about a wide range of topics, including everyone’s favorite top secret discussion of Color War. And yes, we have a good idea of the team names as of now. The next step is to design the shirts and finalize the break!
A few days after the reunion, we had a great special guest come and visit the winter office. Lauren “L-Mac” McGuire came by to say hello. L-Mac wanted to give a big shout out to everyone at camp. These days, she is coaching college track as well as working in a photography studio. According to L-Mac, she thinks about camp everyday. Of course, L-Mac’s hard work is evident in the 2010 Video Yearbook that was sent out a few weeks ago. She did an amazing job capturing all of the action and fun we had last summer. We hope you have had a chance to watch it. If not, what are you waiting for?!?! Here’s a photo…
Me and L-Mac! She stopped by our winter office a few weeks ago to say hello.
As always, it has been great to get out and visit all of our camp families and see so many campers. In Cherry Hill, NJ, I got to catch up with 5th Grader and Upper Inter Boy Sammy Miller who will be joined at camp this summer by sister Paige Miller, who is in the 2nd Grade and will be in Girls Bunk 2. Sammy, who will begin his third summer at camp, told me that he is currently playing on two basketball teams this winter. He was also busy with soccer and hockey and in the spring will once again be playing baseball. This summer, he is really looking forward to super leagues such as the CHL and CBL as well as the new Inter Courts and Color War. As for Paige, she has been active with dance rehearsals for her recital in June. She also has a talent show coming up at her school, which she will be performing in. On top of that, she also plays soccer and basketball. This summer, she can’t wait for soccer, swimming, dance, gymnastics, gaga, the plays, Crazy Night, the camp plays and Carnival Day. Here is a pic from my visit…
Me with Upper Inter Boy Sammy Miller and Junior Girl Paige Miller.
In Short Hills, NJ, I was excited to see 5th Grade Boy and Upper Inter Boy Sam Hunn who will welcome to camp younger sister Lexi Hunn, who is in the 3rd Grade and will be in our Junior Division. Sam told me about this great program he has been involved with called “Odyssey,” where he and a team of students have to create an 8-minute skit using specific guidelines that will be judged with the winning team moving onto a regional and then possibly a worldwide round. Right now, Sam is busy finishing the sets for the skit. He is also playing saxophone and guitar. In what will be his second summer at Canadensis, Sam is looking forward to the Hondas, the Foam Pit and Color War. He also informed us about a great game to play at our morning line-up called “Counselors and Buckets.” He said it is going to be great and I can’t wait to see it in action. As for Lexi, she has been involved with acting classes as well as a fashion class where she has made T-Shirts and clothes. She also told me that she is a fan of “old school TV” and loves shows like Full House and The Simpsons. Finally, she loves just hanging out with her friends at home. This summer, she is enthusiastic to try ceramics, woodworking, gymnastics, the ropes course and zipline. Here is a photo…
Me with Junior Girl Lexi Hunn and Upper Inter Boy Sam Hunn.
In Livingston, NJ, I saw the Dersovitz Family and campers Alexa and Matt. Alexa is returning for her third summer as part of our Upper Inter Girls Division and Matt is coming for his first summer in our Junior Boys Division. Now in 5th Grade, Alexa plays travel soccer, basketball and lacrosse. In the upcoming months, she is looking to plan a sleepover for the Girls of last summer’s Bunk 6, who she wanted to give a shout out to! Matt is very active with soccer, basketball and baseball. Both Alexa and Matt mentioned a great family trip to the Cayman Islands where they went snorkeling and banana boating. As for Matt, he can’t wait for his first summer and try waterskiing as well as play soccer, hockey and tennis. He is also excited for Color War. Here is a photo from us hanging out…
Me with Junior Boy Matt Dersovitz and Upper Inter Girl Alexa Dersovitz.
Just moments before that picture, I got completely licked by their dog Jackson.
In Merrick, NY, I saw Upper Inter Girl Julia Rosenberg, who will be joined at camp this year by twin brothers and Junior Boys Alex and Josh Rosenberg, who are in the 3rd Grade. Currently, Julia is playing on a basketball team. In fact, the night I was there, she was getting ready to play a team that included fellow Canadensis camper Alix Negrin. Now in 5th Grade, Julia said that she is always hanging out with friends from home but also saves time to chat online with camp friends on the computer. She wanted to give a shout out to the Girls of Bunk 7 from 2010! In 2011, which will be her third summer, she anxiously awaits Color War and the annual trip to Dorney Park. As for Josh, he plays soccer, basketball and flag football as well as playing the guitar. This summer, he really wants to get involved with glass fusion, cooking (and eating), soccer, basketball, swimming and all the activities on Lake Lenape. As for Alex, he plays baseball, soccer, flag football, basketball and plays the drums. This summer, he is looking forward to baskeball, basketball, flag football and hockey. Here is a pic from our get-together…
From left to right: Junior Boys Alex and Josh Rosenberg, me and Upper Inter Girl Julia Rosenberg.
Also in Merrick, I got to get to know 3rd Grader and Junior Boy Josh Michals, who will be coming to camp for his first summer. Josh told me all about the sports he plays, including baseball, hockey, soccer and basketball. He also let me know that he is a big fan of WWE Wrestling, with his favorite wrestler being Rey Mysterio Jr. This summer, we will be sure to see him on the baseball and soccer fields and the hockey and basketball courts. But, he is also looking to play golf and try the wrestling elective. He also remembers how fun the water trampoline and log were when he came to camp for our Tour and More Sleepover Weekend and looks forward to doing it again. Here is a picture…
Me and Junior Boy Josh Michals.
Certainly, I look forward to the weeks ahead when I get to meet even more campers, new and returning. If you are a new family and haven’t scheduled a visit yet, please call our office at your earliest convenience and we’ll set something up. For all of our new campers and families, you will also be receiving an e-mail shortly, informing you of our New Camper Bowling Event, which will be held on Sunday, April 3 at the Brunswick Zone in North Brunswick, NJ. This is always a great event for all of our first time campers. We hope you can make it!
A few weeks ago, we got a great picture from Upper Inter Girl Mallory Kanterman and Junior Boy Sam Kanterman, entitled, “If Canadensis Had a Cruise Line.” Check it out…
Mallory and Sam Kanterman on Camp Canadensis Cruise Lines. Actually, it's Costa Cruise Lines.
In discussing one of my favorite topics outside of camp, I am really looking forward to this weekend’s football games and I’m sure all of camp’s Jets fans are really excited for the possibility of Gang Green to be in their first Super Bowl since 1969. Right now, I can picture Jets fans like Justin Zak, Scott Sussman, Mara Bernstein and Max Hecht all proudly wearing their Green and White all week long, highly anticipating this weekend’s game. Good luck! However, as a die hard Giants fan, I can’t bring myself to rooting for the Jets and will be looking for a Steelers vs. Packers Super Bowl.
More blogging to come…Brian
