Hello Canadensis!

I sit here on a Friday afternoon absolutely day dreaming about camp.  The weather outside is telling me that camp will be here soon and things are busy, busy, busy!

Jaime and I got up to camp a few weeks ago to see the progress on many of our projects and things look so good.  The new pool is really coming along great as is the new fitness center that will be at the back of the Rec Hall.  Here are some pictures of each…

Our weekend at camp was beautiful.  It’s really nice to be able to be up at camp when it’s completely quiet.  When we weren’t at camp, Jaime and I traveled into town to two of our favorite places…Callie’s Candy Kitchen for some very important candy and snack purchases and the Frogtown Inn for dinner.  Upon leaving camp, we took a pic at camp’s entrance…

Last week, the Canadensis Year-Round Team went down to Atlantic City for the multiple-day American Camp Association Tri-State Conference.  Each year, this event brings in more than 4000 members of the camping industry to discuss everyone’s favorite topic…CAMP!  Over a few days, we have the opportunity to attend workshops and sessions that deal with a wide assortment of topics from camp programming to staff training to working with children.  The conference brings in so many wonderful trainers and professionals that work with camps and kids.  Over the course of 3-4 days, we go to as many sessions as possible.  Personally, I find the best part to be just meeting with so many people from other camps to see what they are doing and getting ideas that way.  On top of that, the conference has an enormous exhibit hall that has more than 250 exhibitors.  Here, we get new ideas for foods to serve in the Dining Hall, ideas for evening activities and trips and meet with plenty of people that offer services for camps.  The range truly is endless and can include anything from companies that make the t-shirts for camps all the way through companies that make all the equipment for the lake.  At times, I even find the exhibit hall to be a bit overwhelming.  But, it is fun!  Here are a few photographs from our trip to the Tri-State Camp Conference…

Last weekend on March 18, we also had our Annual JRA Community Service Event in Philadelphia, PA.  This was our third year partaking in this opportunity, which truly is a wonderful experience.  For those that are not familiar, JRA (Jewish Relief Agency) organizes food distributions that take place one Sunday each month throughout the year at their warehouse in Northeast Philadelphia. Volunteers work together to package kosher, non-perishable food in boxes.  After packing, volunteers load their cars and deliver the food packages to each of the less fortunate recipient families.  This year, the Camp Canadensis crew was responsible for boxing up and delivering more than 70 boxes to families.  Here are some pics…

The past few weeks also had me on the road, visiting several camp families…

In Rydal, PA, I got to see Eric and Ilana Miller.  Eric is back for his third summer at camp while Ilana joins us for her first summer.  Now in 6th grade and part of our Freshman Boys division, Eric told me that he is the Vice President of his school this year.  He just recently finished up his ice hockey season where he plays on wing on his team, the Royals.  He was also the captain of his school’s street hockey team that won the championship.  Sticking with the hockey theme, Eric wanted to make sure that I mentioned he said, “Let’s Go Flyers!,” knowing that I am a Devils fan!  Ha Ha!  This summer, he is looking forward to Color War, being on Freshman Hill, waterskiing and the CHL.  He also wanted to give a shout out to Boys Bunk 11 from Summer 2011.  Ilana is currently in the 3rd grade and will be in our Junior Girls division.  Ilana is very busy with dance classes and competing for her team called Zero Gravity, which performs in hip hop, jazz and lyrical.  In their last competition, Ilana’s team received a high gold finish, a top honor.  Ilana also enjoys gymnastics and playing on the computer.  Her favorite colors are blue and purple.  When I asked her what she is looking forward to at camp this summer, her immediate answer was, “Everything!”  In particular, she can’t wait for Color War and all of the lake activities.  Here is a photo…

In Gladwyne, PA, I got to hang out with Max and Wes Copley and Quentin Stoloff, all who will be enjoying their first summer at Canadensis in 2012.  Max and Quentin are currently in 4th grade and will be in our Lower Inter Boys division while Wes is in the 3rd grade and will be in the Junior division this summer.  Max told me that he is a big Philadelphia Phillies fan and enjoys playing first base in baseball, too.  His season will be starting in a few weeks.  Max plays in the Next Level Basketball League in the winter as well.  He also enjoys skiing and going to the beach.  When he comes to camp, he is ready to try the Hondas and the climbing wall as well as going on the overnights, going to canteen and staying up late.  For Wes, he told me that he is a fan of both the New York Giants and Buffalo Bills.  He also plays in the Next Level Basketball League and enjoys skiing.  Wes also loves to dance and currently takes hip hop and break dancing lessons and even performs.  He showed me some of his moves and I must say that I was extremely impressed.  Wes is looking forward to the new pool and the overnights.  Quentin Stoloff told me that he plays center and defense in a soccer league, plays pitcher and right field during baseball season in the Spring and is also a big Eagles fan.  He also enjoys going to the beach and skiing.  In Summer 2012, he is ready to try fishing, waterskiing, tubing, the Hondas, going to Canteen and being part of his division’s overnight.  Here is a pic…

In Scarsdale, NY, I met up with the Binday Girls, Alexa, Carly and Jordana, all who will be at Canadensis in 2012.  Together, they make up a decade at camp as Alexa is back for her sixth summer as an Upper Senior Girl, Carly her third summer as a Freshman Girl and Jordana her first summer as a Junior Girl.  Now in 8th grade, Alexa is taking pop singing lessons with a personal coach, taking hip hop dance lessons with an upcoming recital in the spring and will be starting softball in a few weeks.  Alexa is ready for Color War this summer and wanted to give a shout out to Girls Bunk 15 from Summer 2011.  Carly is now in 6th grade and has been taking an art class this year.  She also told me that she sees several other Canadensis campers on a daily basis as a few go to her school.  Carly can’t wait for Summer 2012 to arrive and is excited for Color War and the Dorney Park trip.  She wanted to give a shout out to Girls Bunk 9 from Summer 2011.  Alexa and Carly are happy that they will now be joined by their youngest sister, Jordana, who is currently in the 3rd grade.  Throughout the year, Jordana takes cartooning classes and absolutely loves hanging out with her cat, Milkshake.  When she gets to camp, she really wants to do gymnastics and all of the activities at the lake.  Here is a photo…

Got this really funny photo sent to me, featuring 2012 Freshman Boy Max Rapoport.  A few weeks ago, Max’s basketball team was playing the quarterfinals of their basketball league.  Upon seeing the other team’s center, it was clear that Max’s team was not going to win the game’s opening tip.  As a joke, the coach had Max take the jump ball.  Max’s team actually won the game and advanced their way to the semi-finals.  Here is the photo…

Speaking of basketball, great job by everyone that filled out a NCAA Tournament Bracket.  I think there were over 100 entries in all.  And, in case you were wondering who is winning the current moment.  Well, it’s me.  That’s right!  I am “TheGreatPretender22.”  In second, we have Lauren “L-Mac” McGuire.  And, in third is camper Josh Brownstein.  Will I be able to hold on and win?  Who knows?

Well, that’s all the blogging for now.  Looking forward to our New Camper Bowling Event on Sunday.  Should be a great time to meet all those campers that are currently in Grades K through fourth.  We will have pictures of that event for all of you next week.  Until then.   Have a Great Day!

– Brian

Hello Canadensis…

I just walked to the mailbox to send off a few letters.  My dress for the day?  How about jeans and T-Shirt!  It’s March 8 and I didn’t even have to wear a jacket for the brief walk!  It made me wonder…is winter over?  In fact, I was thinking…did we even have a winter this year?  Aside from a few chilly days here in the Northeast, it didn’t ever feel like winter came this year.  Of course, I am now fully willing to take all the “heat” (no pun intended) if we are now to have some random snow storm in the upcoming weeks by tempting Mother Nature.  Ha Ha!

But, today made me very excited for the summer!  That is my real point.  Nice weather is always the first true indicator that summer is on it’s way!  Another true indicator…how about…the Color War names for Summer 2012 were decided this week.  And the 2012 Color War names are… Ha Ha!  No chance!

A few weekends ago, we had our Annual Leadership Retreat Weekend where we bring together many of our summer head staff to discuss all aspects of the summer.  On the agenda were things like our TAC (Tagged At Canadensis) Program, which recognizes and rewards campers for doing random acts of kindness.  The program was awesome in its first summer last year and will continue to grow and evolved in 2012.  Last summer, we gave out 366 TACs to campers.  Just awesome!

Also discussed over this two-day get-together were topics such as Staff Orientation and the Summer Calendar of Events and Activities.  As you can imagine, the summer calendar of everything we do takes a lot of time and precision.  But, just like UPS likes to tout, we love logistics!  We have already put a lot of the traditional activities, trips and entertainers on the calendar for the summer.  Of course, we are always looking for new ideas.  If you have one, please e-mail us at info@canadensis.com .

As many of you know, over the past few summers, it has been the campers and counselors that vote on the Summer Drive-In Movies.  For those new to camp, our Drive-Ins happen three or four times over the summer and is where the entire camp watches a movie together under a sky of stars.  For the past two years, campers and counselors voted from a list of approximately 20 films to choose from.  If you have an idea for a movie that should be on the list, please e-mail it to info@canadensis.com .  Please make sure your movie is an appropriate selection for the entire camp.

Great job as always by Jason “J.Cal” Calabretta on his latest viral video for camp.  In this one, J.Cal captures all of the fun and excitement we have at camp’s amphitheater, whether it be for morning line-up, MTV Nights, all camp activities and more.  If you haven’t seen “Party Rock on the Amphitheater” yet, check it out here…

I got some very cool news about former camper and now counselor Carli “CJ” Sukonik, who is in her freshman year at Lehigh University and playing on the Girls Varsity Lacrosse team.  This week, CJ earned her first Patriot League Award as the conference’s Rookie of the Week.  According to the article, CJ had a big game versus Robert Morris and finished the week with three points while adding three groundballs, six draw controls and a caused turnover.  The highlight came Saturday when she posted six draw controls, tying for the most by any Lehigh player over the last six seasons.  CJ also scored a pair of crucial goals, making it 7-4 after Robert Morris pulled within 5-4.  For the season, CJ is fourth on the team with six points (four goals, two assists) and third in goals.  She is also second with nine draw controls.  Way to go, CJ!  Here is a photo of CJ in action…

Are you ready for March Madness?  With the annual college basketball tournament right around the corner, we will once again be having camper and staff selection pools with prizes going to the winner. We will send out e-mails next week for everyone to make their choices.  Last year’s winners were 2012 Lower Inter Boy Jake Brownstein and CIT Head Counselor Cara Corradetti.  Good luck to everyone with their picks.

As a reminder for all new camp families with campers currently in Grades Kindergarten through 4th Grade, if you haven’t RSVP’d to our New Camper Bowling Event on Sunday, March 25, please do so by e-mailing us at info@canadensis.com or calling our winter office.  This event is also open to 2011 campers that were in Girls Bunk 2 and Boys Bunks 2,3 and 4.

Also, a note to all parents!  Be sure to start the camper forms process.  There is another mailing coming soon that will ask you to complete more forms, so get what you can done now!

Some great home visits to fill you in on over the past few weeks.  For starters, I met Brett and Sammie Tomback in Wayne, NJ, both who are coming to camp for their first summers.  Brett, currently in 3rd grade, will be in our Junior Boys division while Sammie is in the first grade and will be in our Junior Girls division.  Brett loves baseball and plays on a travel team called the Wayne Warriors.  As a pitcher, short stop and catcher, his team will be defending their Little League Championship title in the upcoming 2012 season.  In the fall, Brett plays basketball for his Wayne PAL team, the Wolfpack, who also just recently were tournament champs.  Brett also plays flag football and soccer.  This summer, he is ready for activities like GaGa, Tennis, all the sports, swimming, cooking and zipline.  Sammie is very busy with hip hop, jazz and acro dance classes and will be performing a recital in the Spring.  She is also rehearsing for an upcoming play “Honk,” where she has been cast as both Froglet and Turklet.  On top of all that, she plays basketball, soccer and loves having “virtual sleepovers” with friends.  That is where through technology, she can have a sleep over with friend while each remains at their own house.  Very creative!  When Sammie comes to camp in 2012, you are sure to see her in the Art Shack, Glass Fusion and Cooking.  Here is a photo…

In Gladwyne, PA, I got to hang out with 3rd grade twins Luke and Sammy Finkelstein, both who will be at Canadensis for their first summers at Canadensis as part of our Junior Boys Division.  Luke enjoys playing the piano and keyboards.  He is currently in a band that calls themselves “The No Names” and has even played a few gigs so far.  Luke also plays tennis, goes skiing and in the spring will be playing baseball.  He likes joking and hanging out with friends.  When not doing all of these things, Luke likes to read and write.  In Summer 2012, Luke will be all about the water sports, photography, the high ropes course and zipline, the climbing wall and the overnights.  As for Sammy, he plays both forward and goalie on a travel soccer team, the Lower Merion Limitless.  He likes to ski, play tennis and will also be playing baseball in the spring.  He also enjoys playing pool, foosball and reading long books.  When he gets to camp, Sammy is excited for the banana boat, GaGa, soccer, woodworking and ceramics.  Here is a photo…

In Villanova, PA, I saw Madison Wolfgang and her brother Carter Wolfgang.  Madison is back for her second summer at Canadensis and will be a Lower Inter Girl.  Now in 4th grade, Madison is very involved in hip hop, ballet and lyrical dance classes.  She is getting ready for her first competition and will be performing at recital in June.  She recently got together with her camp sisters from Summer 2011’s Bunk 5 at a sleepover.  Madison wanted to give a shout out to all the girls, too.  When I asked her what she is looking forward to at camp this year, she quickly replied, “Everything!”  Madison is thrilled that she will be joined at camp this summer by Carter, who is currently in the 2nd grade and will be in our Junior Boys Division.  Carter plays basketball on his team the Wildcats.  In the spring, he will be playing baseball.  His favorite sport to watch is football.  He is in a Cub Scouts troop and enjoys hiking, nature and swimming.  This summer, he can’t wait for all the activities at the lake, including the banana boat, triple dare and summit, Gaga, Free Play and the foam pit.  Here is a pic…

In Livingston, NJ, I met up with 4th Grade girl Emma Zuckerman, who will be in the Lower Inter Girls division in her first summer at Canadensis.  Emma plays lacrosse on a travel team, the Livingston Junior Lancers, as well as a soccer team.  She also does gymnastics.  She loves to cook and bake.  Her personal favorites are cupcakes and cookies where she can decorate with different flavored frostings.  Emma also likes music and to dance.  In fact, she will be performing a hip routine in an upcoming school talent show.  Emma also told me that she loves animals and really loves her two cats, Razzle and Dazzle.  At camp this summer, Emma is very much ready for the Summit, the banana boat, the triple dare and water trampoline.  She is also looking forward to ceramics, tie dye and the high ropes course.  Here is a picture…

In Merrick, NY, I spent some time with Julie Pulewitz.  Julie is coming to camp for her first summer as part of our Junior Girls division.  Currently in 3rd grade, she plays forward and midfield on two different soccer teams, a local P.A.L. rec league and a travel team.  She recently just finished up her basketball season where her team completed an undefeated season.  Her other interests include going on trips and vacations with her family, a love for animals (ducks and dogs in particular), playing with her own dog Ruby and doing arts and crafts projects.  In Summer 2012, Julie can’t wait for the lake activities, the new pool, Color War, trying new things and making new friends.  Here is a photo…

Well…that’s all the blogging for now.

Have a great day!

-Brian

Hello Canadensis!

So, my apologies for the hiatus in blogs.  Basically, what happened is this…the New York Football Giants won the Super Bowl and I have been celebrating ever since!  Ha Ha!  I usually end my blogs with stuff like “football talk,” but for this one, it is where I absolutely MUST begin.  So, for all of those campers and counselors that unfortunately root for the New York Jets and Philadelphia Eagles and happened to give me a lot of the “business” last summer about how my New York Giants won’t be doing anything in January and February and how your teams will be the “dream” teams of the 2011-12 season, all I have to say is this…the New York Football Giants are World Champions!  I now even have a T-Shirt saying the exact same thing.  And, for all those same fans that wouldn’t let me hear the end of how this was going to be the Jets or Eagles year, get ready to hear the score Giants 21, Patriots 17 at every morning line-up this summer just as a reminder!  While we’re at it…how ’bout a picture, too…

Now, onto camp stuff…

As many of you know, right around this time of year, we have many travels as part of our schedule.  Matt went to Eastern Europe to hire many of our support staff.  Eric was in Australia to attend several counselor recruiting fairs.  Pam and Cara hit the road in places like Arizona, Michigan and Louisiana to interview staff.  And, this year, I got to go to Paris, France!  Over the past two summers, we have had a number of international countries from France and Spain join us at Canadensis.  So, this trip was to intended to meet many French families looking to send their children to camp for the summer.  Jaime and I headed overseas to attend three camp fairs in Paris.  While there, we also got to take in the sights and do all the things that many visitors would do while in France.  We spent an afternoon at the Louvre and saw the Mona Lisa and Venus de Milo.  I was particularly impressed with the Egyptian exhibit there, too.  We went to the top of the Eiffel Tower.  And, we ate a whole lot of French pastries…yum!  While there, we met up with the amazing Lauren Berry, who was on vacation from her current nanny job in London.  The three of us took a boat ride down the Seine river, taking in all of the amazing architecture of Paris.  Then, we hit a nearby cafe to eat some lunch.  Unfortunately, the weather was very, very cold…in the low 20s on most days.  But, here are a few pictures from our week in Paris…

On the staffing side of things, we are very busy filling many of our counselor positions.  Over the past few months, me, Eric, Pam, Cara and Matt have met and interviewed more than 400 applicants who are looking to work at camp this summer.  This process is very exciting as we know just how important it is to have the best staff ever at camp.  In the upcoming months, we will be filling everyone in of our returning and new staff for Summer 2012.

Next weekend, we get the summer unofficially underway with our Annual Leadership Weekend.  Here, we bring together many of our head staff to talk about the camp program and great things we have in store for 2012.  We will be sure to bring you pictures and videos on our blogs.

We hope to see many of our camp families on Sunday, March 18th at 10 am at our Annual JRA Community Service event.  This wonderful opportunity allows Camp Canadensis to be represented while it helps box and deliver food to local Jewish families in need.  If you are interested in attending, please e-mail Assistant Director Pam Levi at pam@canadensis.com .

I got a great e-mail from 2012 CIT Rebecca Altschul a few weeks ago, who told me it was OK to share her great news with everyone at Camp Canadensis.  During the high school football championship season, Rebecca’s high school choir was asked to sing the national anthem at one of the games, which are played at MetLife Stadium, where the New York Giants and Jets play.  She got to go on the field and perform, which she described was “one of the coolest experiences EVER.”   Rebecca said that the choir sounded really great and her team, the Cedar Grove Panthers, even ended up winning!  Here is a photo she sent me…

Since my last blog, there are a number of home visits and camp get-togethers to fill you in on…

In Merrick, NY, I met up with Rachel and Ava Fisher.  Rachel is back for her 2nd summer as an Upper Inter Girl while Ava joins us for her first summer in our Junior Girls Division.  Now in 5th grade, Rachel is busy with tap, jazz and hip dance classes and will be performing at a recital in June.  She is also taking tennis lessons.  She wanted to give a shout out to the girls of Bunk 6 from Summer 2011 and was so happy to see everyone at the reunion in January.  She also let me know that she is stocking up on duct tape as she is anxiously counting down the days until the summer.  She is also looking forward to the Banana Boat, Triple Dare and Summit.  Ava, currently in 1st grade, is also taking tap and jazz dance classes and preparing for a Spring recital.  On top of that, she is active in basketball, piano, gymnastics and karate.  She is also excited for her upcoming birthday!  When at camp this year, she can’t wait to make S’Mores, jump on the Water Trampoline and have fun!  Here is a photo…

In Oceanside, NY, I got to hang out with Jake and Sydney Tavroff, both who will be joining us at Canadensis for their first summers.  Jake, currently in the 4th grade, will be in our Lower Inter Boys Division and Sydney, currently in 1st grade, will be in our Junior Girls Division.  Jake plays basketball, his favorite sport, in three different leagues from CYO to Game 7 to the Long Island Lightning.  He plays both forward and center on these teams.  Jake is also a big sports fan and can be seen rooting for the Jets, Giants, Knicks and Yankees.  He also enjoys playing video games like “Kinect Sports Season 2” and watching TV shows like “My Wife and Kids.”  This summer, he is excited for the lake and water activities, swimming, the high ropes course, overnights, the Summit, mountain bikes, hondas and Inter-camps.  As for sister Sydney, she is taking an art class once a week, where she is currently working on a portrait of her dog Casey.  She also plays in basketball clinics and plays soccer.  She loves to dance and play in the backyard.  When she gets to camp, she is looking forward to horseback riding, overnights, high ropes course and all the lake activities.  Here is a pic…

In Brooklyn, NY, I got to know Garrett and Sara Hiller as both will be joining us for their first summers at Canadensis.  Garrett is in the 6th grade and will be in our Freshman Boys Division.  Garrett is currently taking tennis lessons.  When at home, he might be found taking care of his pet gecko Walter, three pet toads or his cat Puck.  Or, he might be found playing PSP or X-Box.  At the moment, his favorite games are NBA 2K12 and Goldeneye.  When he comes to camp, Garrett is ready to try a lot of things including archery, lacrosse, photography, hondas, the ropes course and climbing wall, fishing and boating at the lake.  Sara is currently in the 4th grade and will be in our Lower Inter Girls Division.  She is involved in jazz, hip hop and lyrical dance classes and is rehearsing for a recital in the Spring.  She also takes tennis lessons and does gymnastics.  She loves art, too.  When she comes to camp, she can’t wait for all of the activities at the Art Center and gymnastics.  Both Garrett and Sara are excited to join their cousins, Zoe and Max Hiller, at camp in 2012.  Here is a picture…

In Dix Hills, NY, I got to see the Greenbaum Family.  This included Super Senior Girl Casey, Lower Senior Boy Jake and Upper Inter Girl Jolie.  Whereas I didn’t do an official “blog write-up,” we spent a lot of time talking about camp and all their great memories.  Jolie and Casey were sure to remind me that there were “too many fake breaks last summer” and Jake let me know that his bunk won every week’s inspection last summer.  Casey is really enjoying her freshman year of high school.  Jolie won her school election and is now the president of her elementary school.  And, Jake is busy on the bar mitzvah circuit of friends, playing tennis and hockey.  Here is a photo…

In Voorhees, NJ, I got to be a special surprise guest at Jacob Batt’s sleep over for his camp friends.  Upon getting there, the boys had just woken up a little bit before and were eating breakfast.  From there, we played games of Ghosts in the Graveyard, Zombie Tag and Knockout.  Apparently, the night before, the boys stayed up extremely late, playing basketball, hockey X-Box and even forming their own nightly entertainment talent show.  Also that day, the boys were surprised with a game truck that arrived at Jacob’s house, complete with video games and flat screen TVs.  They boys thought that was awesome!  Here is a photo from my visit…

While at the sleepover, I got to know Jacob’s younger brother Julian Batt a little better, especially since he will be joining us for his first summer at camp.  Julian is in the 2nd grade and will be in our Junior Boys Division.  All year long, Julian plays soccer, both indoors and outdoors.  He plays midfield on his Vorhees Power team.  He also plays defense on a Floor Hockey team, the Avalanche.  In the Spring, he will also play baseball.  He likes to pitch.  When at home, he enjoys X-Box and games like NBA and NHL.  When he comes to camp, he can’t wait for all the sports, Color War and the Banana Boat.  Here is a pic…

Still at the sleepover party, I saw new camper Marissa Brucker, who will be in our Junior Girls division this summer.  Marissa lives in Plymouth Meeting, PA and is in the 2nd grade.  She was at the sleepover, picking up her brother from the fun.  But, Marissa told me that she is currently taking hip hop dance classes and rehearsing for a dance recital in June.  She plays basketball on her team, the Hawks, and has already scored two baskets this season.  She is also involved in lacrosse and practices with the Conshy Bulldogs.  This summer, she is ready for all of the lake activities, the Art Shack, sports, Color War and making new friends.  Here is a photo…

In Cherry Hill, NJ, I met up with Zach Schreiber, who will be in our Junior Boys Division for his first summer at camp, joining his older twin sisters Hannah and Daniela, both who will be coming back for their third summers.  Zach is in the 2nd grade and plays a lot of different sports.  In the fall and spring, he plays in the Cherry Hill Little League.  He plays both short stop and 2nd base.  Currently, his Street Hockey team, the Kings, are in the playoffs.  At the same time, Zach plays in two different basketball leagues.  At home, he enjoys playing X-Box.  Right now, his favorite game is NBA 2K12.  In Summer 2012, Zach is ready to try the Triple Dare, go waterskiing and ride some go karts and quads.  Here is a picture…

Well, that’s all the blogging for now.

Have a great day!

-Brian

Hello Canadensis…

This latest blog is being written from Cloud 9!  That’s because the New York Football Giants are the in the Super Bowl!  As many of you know my love for the Big Blue, I cannot wait for this Sunday’s game versus the New England Patriots.  In what was a tradition started four years ago, we will be tailgating in Lot L12 on Gameday for any Giants fans that would like to join us.  That’s right!  We will be tailgating in the Giants Stadium lots!  Anyone have any predictions for this weekend’s game?

Onto camp news…exciting stuff going on in our winter office.  The end of January / beginning of February truly starts our “travel season.”  Matt is currently abroad in Eastern Europe hiring many of our support staff that work in critical areas like maintenance, laundry and the kitchen.  Eric is on a plane to Australia in search of some great staff for a number of different program areas and bunk staff.  This week, Pam and Cara will head out to places like Arizona, Michigan and Louisiana in an effort to find some of the best staff around!  Next week, I will even be getting on a plane to Paris, France.  There, I will attend several camper fairs, meeting many families that might be interested in sending their child to Canadensis this summer.  Over the past few years, we have had a great opportunity of having campers from international countries such as France and Spain.  This has been an amazing experience for these campers to come to the United States and be part of the Canadensis Summer!  I will be sure to include photos of my trip in a future blog.

With the end of January comes one month closer to Summer 2012!  We hope that all of our families have begun getting in the “camp mode.”  For all of our new campers that are currently in Kindergarten through Fourth Grade, we hope to see you at our New Camper Bowling Event on Sunday, March 25.  If you haven’t RSVP’d yet, please do so by e-mailing us at info@canadensis.com.  If you haven’t done so yet, please submit “YOUR 3 WORDS” to Jason Calabretta at jcal@canadensis.com .  He is eagerly awaiting your photos!  And, of course, be sure to “Like Us” on Facebook.  I can’t wait until we hit 2000!  Should happen soon!

A lot of wonderful home visits to report in this blog as well…

In Melville, NY, I got to hang out with both Marlee Krasin and Sarah Abrams.  Marlee, now in 5th grade, will be back for her third summer as an Upper Inter while Sarah, currently in 4th grade, returns for her 2nd summer as part of our Lower Inter division.  Both had a lot to tell me.  Marlee is busy with dance and is currently taking classes in hip hop, lyrical, ballet and tap.  She is also swimming, playing tennis and involved in chorus.  She wanted to give a shout out to the Girls of Bunk 7 from 2011, whom she just recently saw many of them at a camp sleep over, and wanted to let them know that she is bringing back her CatRat this summer (obviously, an inside joke).  In 2012, she can’t wait for waterskiing on Lake Lenape.  As for Sarah, she is also very busy with dance classes in both hip hop and lyrical.  She is also taking an art class, involved in the newspaper club and active in tennis and chorus.  Sarah is looking forward to “everything” next summer and wanted to say hi to all of her camp sisters in Girls Bunk 4 from Summer 2011.  Here is a picture…

In Plainview, NY, I spent some time with Bailey Germain, who is in the 3rd grade and will be in our Junior Girls division in her first summer at camp.  Bailey is very involved in dance and currently takes classes in hip hop, jazz, lyrical and ballet.  She also takes competition classes in hip hop and jazz and competes against other dance schools throughout the year.  Last year, her hip hop team won first place.  Bailey likes to act and performs in a theater company called “Stars of Tomorrow.”  In June, she will be playing Ms. Hannigan in a performance of Annie.  Bailey loves to hang out wiht friends and have sleepovers.  She is always willing to help out her friends.  She also wanted me to let everyone know that she is known for wearing mismatching socks and that her favorite color is sparkles!  When she gets to camp, she is excited for photography, the lake activities, being in the camp show and meeting new people and new camp sisters.  Here is a photo…

In Wynnewood, PA, Pam and I got to see Noah and Rachel Stern for awhile.  Noah is now in the 5th grade and will be in the Upper Inter Boys division in his second summer and he is excited to introduce his younger sister Rachel, currently in 3rd grade and will be in with the Junior Girls in her first summer in 2012.  Noah plays a lot of different sports through0ut the year.  In the fall, he plays both baseball and flag football.  Currently, he is playing guard and forward on his Stanford team in basketball season.  In the spring, he will once again be playing baseball.  This summer, he excited for the Summit at the lake once again.  He also gave a shout out to Boys Bunk 8 from Summer 2011.  Rachel is very active in dance and takes classes in ballet, jazz and tap.  She will have a recital in June.  Rachel also told us that she was in 12 performances of the Nutcracker with the Pennsylvania Ballet Company over the holiday season in which she was cast as a bunny and an angel.  Rachel also loves playing with friends.  When she gets to camp this year, she is eager to try cooking, the climbing wall and all the activities at the lake.  Here are two pictures…

In Wynnewood, PA, Pam and I also saw the Sweetmans, Cole and Sophie, both who will be joining us at Canadensis for their first summers.  Cole is in the 6th grade and will be in our Freshman Boys division while Sophie is in the 3rd grade and will be in our Junior Girls division.  Both Cole and Rachel are animal lovers and we were greeted by their four dogs and two cats.  Cole plays both basketball and soccer for the Woodland School teams.  He also loves to play street hockey and is a big Philadelphia Flyers fan.  He likes playing X-Box, too.  When he gets to camp, he is looking forward to waterskiing, the hondas, going to the Baseball Hall of Fame on his trip and playing hockey.  Sophie is currently playing on the Pink Panthers in the Main Line Basketball League.  She also attends art classes at the Handwork Studios and has already completed a number of painting projects.  She wanted to let us know that she loves macaroni and cheese and ice cream!  At camp, she can’t wait for the Summit and water trampoline on the lake, go karts and going to Dorney Park.  Here is a pic…

On my last stop in Wynnewood, I got together with the Copit Boys, Scott and Robbie, both who will be back for their second summer at Canadensis.  Scott, now in 6th grade and in our Freshman Boys division, and Robbie, now in 5th grade and in our Upper Inter Boys division, both said that the reunion was awesome and that they had a lot fun seeing their camp friends.  They told me that they also just went snowboarding and skiing in Vail, CO and met up with Group Leader Pete Tarnoff.  Robbie is currently playing tennis and told me that he is “still hating the Giants” while Scott is also playing tennis and wresting for the Episcopal Academy Middle School Team and has started the season with an impressive 3-1 record.  Unfortunately, I forgot to take a picture.  But, I really enjoying hanging out guys!

In Summit, NJ, I spent some time with Lily Ufberg, who will be back at camp for her second summer in our Lower Inter Girls division.  Now in 4th grade, Lily recently performed in her school’s variety show.  She also told me a great story where a few months ago, she helped raise money and food for a food drive at Giants Stadium and even got on the field.  For her efforts, she was also put on the stadium’s jumbotron, got autographs and meet the players.  Lily has also been hanging out with friends after school and on weekends and recently had a sleep over with bunkmates Sydney Cohn and Nikki Novey.  Lily also loves winter because that means she gets to go skiing at Montage Mountain.  Right now, she is super excited that the Giants are in the Super Bowl.  When she gets to camp, she is looking forward to go karts and waterskiing.  Here is a picture…

In Summit, NJ,  I also met up with Brandon Shaw, who is in the 3rd grade and will be in our Junior Boys division and coming to camp for his first summer.  Brandon participates in a wide range of activities during the school year.  He plays the piano and will be performing in an upcoming talent show at his school.  He plays on his basketball team, The Buzz.  He enjoys biking and motorcycle riding.  He is an avid lego builder, has a pet lizard Leah and loves to draw pictures of trucks and cars.  One thing I learned about Brandon that was most impressive is that he and some of his friends run their own company called Handy Kidz, whose motto is “We do big jobs with little hands.”  I even got a business card during my visit.  The company will do neighborhood jobs including shoveling driveways when it snows.  When Brandon comes to camp, he can’t wait to do a lot of activities including hondas, mountain biking, high ropes, photography, waterskiing and glass fusion.  Here is a photo…

In Dix Hills, NY, I got to spend some time with the Newman Girls, Rachael and Abby.  Rachael is now in 7th grade and back for her 3rd summer in the Lower Senior Girls division while Abby is in 5th grade, back for her 4th summer as part of our Upper Inter Girls division.  Rachael is still taking many dance classes including hip hop, jazz, tap, lyrical and ballet.  She has an upcoming dance competition in March.  Just this past weekend, Rachael saw all her camp friends and had a sleepover at Nicole Zibelman’s house for Taylor Schwartz’s Bat Mitzvah.  She was excited that she will see everyone again in a few weeks at Rachel Bresalier’s Bat Mitzvah.  Rachael wanted to give a shout out to all of her camp sisters!  This summer, she can’t wait to be on Senior side and is excited for the camp dance team once again.  Abby is also taking dance classes in hip hop, jazz, tap and ballet.  She also has a competition in March.  She is playing tennis and in the spring will play travel softball.  She wanted to say hello to all her bunkmates in Summer 2011’s Bunk 8.  Abby is really looking forward to Color War this summer, the dance team and has already started the countdown to her 5-year jacket (in Summer 2013)!  Here is a picture…

In Bellmore, NY, I saw Jake and Elana Abrams.  Jake is back for his 4th summer as Lower Senior while Elana returns for her 2nd summer in our Lower Inter division.  Now in 7th grade, Jake just recently hung out with camp friends as he is on the Bar Mitzvah circuit seeing everyone.  In fact, including the reunion weekend, Jake will have seen camp friends on 4 out of the last 5 weekends.  Awesome!  Jake is also very involved in kickboxing classes at the Bellmore Kickboxing Academy.  He was also happy to let me know that he achieved Honor Roll in school this year.  In 2012, Jake is excited for the new pool, cooking, Senior Choice and being on Senior Side.  Elana, now in 4th grade, is taking hip hop dance classes and rehearsing for a recital in the spring.  She also takes gymnastics classes and just recently achieved a back handspring on her own without a spotter.  Terrific!  She, too, has been hanging out with a number of camp friends.  Elana is also excited for the new pool and wanted to give a shout out to her bunkmates from Summer 2011’s Bunk 4.  Here is a photo…

As always, we love to hear it when camp friends get together.  A few weeks ago, the Girls of Bunk 10 from Summer 2011 were supposed to have a full bunk reunion.  However, inclement weather didn’t allow for it to happen.  Bummer.  Still a few girls that were close to one another still got together for a great time.  Here was a photo that was sent to us…

Well, that’s all the blogging for now.  If you have any great photos of winter reunions, get togethers, etc, be sure to send them to us.

Have a great day…Brian

Hello Canadensis…

How’s everyone doing out there?!?!  Things here at camp are just great!  Because I haven’t had time to write since the reunion, I wanted to say thank you to everyone that was able to make our annual event such an amazing time!  When we counted all those in attendance, our numbers hit more than 300 campers, counselors and staff.  This was a remarkable turnout!  Special thanks to Assistant Director Pam Levi for working so hard in what was a last minute switch in location.  The new place turned out to be awesome and complete with games and rides for everyone to enjoy!  Also, special thanks to all of the counselors and staff that attended, too.  You make these events extra special for the campers.  If you haven’t checked out pics yet, be sure to do so in the Media Room on the website or on our Facebook page.  Here are some pics that L-Mac and J.Cal got of me while having fun at the 2011 Summer Reunion…

A very cool new tradition was started at the Reunion on January 8th.  Taking a page from the idea of Flat Stanley, we have created the Flat Indian Head.  Between now and the beginning of the summer, we want to see all of the campers that get to take a picture with the Flat Indian Head.  When done, we can track its winter path and make a collage of everyone that got involved.  At the reunion, the first person to take on the Flat Indian Head challenge was 2012 Junior Girl Jordan Plant, who will be returning to camp for her second summer.  She has to take a picture of the Flat Indian Head and then send it onto someone else to do the same.  Where will the Flat Indian Head end up before June 23?!?!

I thought this was a very funny e-mail I received last week.  Former Group Leader Marshall Weinstein, now a teacher in Washington state, starts his day at school the same way we do at morning line-up at camp.  He always begins with a hearty, “Good Morning!” to his class and follows  it with the day’s announcements.  Apparently, his school also runs a schedule similar to our 6-Day Schedule at camp.  Last week, Marshall had a substitute teaching his class for the day.  He left his notes on how to start the day.  I figured I’d share them with you.  By the way, Marshall, after a summer away from Canadensis, will be back in 2012.

Since my last blog, I have had a slew of home visits, getting the opportunity to hang out with both new and returning Canadensis campers…

In Syosset, NY, I met up with the Borrok Brothers, Ben, who is back for a fourth summer, and Ethan, who will be starting his first year at Canadensis.  Ben, now in 6th grade and part of our Freshman division in 2012, has been busy with all kinds of sports.  He plays both center and defense on his travel soccer team.  He just recently finished up his flag football season, where he was on the Jets.  Now, he is in the Syosset Basketball League.  On top of that, he is also playing tennis.  Ben also performs in the all county chorus and recently sang in front of NYSMA judges.  This summer, he is excited for the new pool, rock band, his trip to Cooperstown and living on Freshman Hill.  He also wanted to give a shout out to his boys from Summer 2011’s Bunk 12.  Ethan, who is in the 3rd grade and will be in the Junior division, also just recently finished up his flag football season, but he played on the Giants.  He is also currently playing in the Syosset Basketball League.  Ethan, too, is also playing tennis and takes lessons with fellow Canadensis camper, Jordyn Weinstein.  Ethan plays drums at the Long Island Drum School.  He is involved in the drama club and will soon be peforming as Bert Healy in the show “Annie.”  In the summer, he can’t wait for all of the lake activities like the water trampoline, rocketry, cooking and go karts.  Here is a photo…

In Livingston, NJ, I got to meet first time Canadensis camper and current fourth grader Samara Rhodes.  Samara is very involved in gymnastics and currently competes on a team called “Go For The Gold.”  She competes in numerous meets in the tri-state area and recently qualified for the state competition in February.  She plays on a softball team in the Livingston Rec Program.  She likes to cook and bake and has even been known to make pancakes for her entire family, complete with chocolate chips and M&M’s, too!  Samara also told me that she likes to read, listen to music and do arts and crafts.  She even showed me some awesome mosaic and glass projects she did.  When she gets to camp this summer as part of our Lower Inter Girls division, she is looking forward to making new friends, trying the activities at the lake, including the Summit and waterskiing, the gymnastics team and cooking.  Here is a photo…

In Newtown, PA, Pam and I hung out with Brandon and Brittney Coe, both who are coming to Canadensis for their first summer in 2012 as part of our Junior division.  Brandon, in 3rd grade, likes going bowling and takes karate lessons.  He also loves to play video games.  When he gets to camp this year, he said he will definitely be someone that is in the GaGa pit, going down the water slides at the pool and the Summit at the lake and going fishing.  He also said that during Color War, he will be one of those campers intently hunting for the hidden Indian Head.  As for Brittney, currently in 2nd grade, she plays forward and goalie on her soccer team, takes tennis lessons and goes to gymnastics classes.  She also wanted to mention that her favorite color is gold, which is perfect for Camp Canadensis!  This summer, she is eager to try fishing and roasting s’mores.  She, too, said she will be looking for the Indian Head come Color War time.  Here is a picture…

In Newtown, PA, I also saw Cole and Alex Newman.  Alex is returning for her 4th summer as a Lower Senior and is excited to be joined by her brother Cole, now in 3rd grade and part of our Junior division.  Alex is busy with her hip hop dance classes, which she is rehearsing for a performance in June while also taking tennis lessons.  In the spring, she will start softball season and will even be trying out for her middle school team.  With all of this, she still has time to prep for her upcoming Bat Mitzvah.  This summer, she can’t wait to be a senior!  She wanted to give a shout out to her camp sisters of Girls Bunk 12 from last year.  She says that they should all play the “Shots” song tonight!  As for brother Cole, who will be coming to camp for his first summer, he is a big time soccer player, playing center forward in both indoor and outdoor soccer, for his Under 9 CRUSA Thunder team.  He also plays in basketball and flag football leagues.  Very soon, he will also be starting lacrosse.  When at home, he loves playing XBox Live and hanging out with friends.  When he gets to camp, he will be happy to try waterskiing, the triple dare and soccer.  He is also excited for Color War and making a whole new bunch of friends.  Here is a photo…

We have some really exciting news to share with our Maryland and Virginia families.  We will now have a camp pick up and drop off location in Maryland!  The new location is still yet to be finalized.  However, it is most likely going to be in the North Potomac area.  We know that this will make all of our families from that area very happy!

I certainly couldn’t let a blog post go by without mentioning just how well the New York Football Giants are playing!  Wow!  Who would have thought it a few weeks ago when the Big Blue was playing in Dallas and down by 12 points with five minutes remaining in the game.  At that point, it looked like our season was over.  Goes to show you that you never give up and play the game until the end.  That win propelled the Giants with wins over the Jets, Dallas (again), the Falcons and amazingly, a 15-1 Green Bay Packers team, too!  One more win and the Giants will be visiting their fifth Super Bowl in team history.  I even got an e-mail from Mike Lindquist, a big 49ers fan, on Monday, with the subject, “Bring It!”  As much as I love ya, Mike, let’s Go Big Blue!  And, for all those Eagles and Jets fans that give me so much grief for being a Giants fan, you can be sure to get a taste of your own medicine this summer!  Seriously, though, was that a great game versus the Packers last Sunday or what?!?!

Well…that’s all the blogging for now.  I will be back next week with more!

Until then…Have a great day!

-Brian

Hello Canadensis!

First, I want to wish everyone a very Happy New Year!  I hope 2012 brings everyone a great year ahead.  And, hopefully, just a few days in, everyone has stuck to their new year’s resolutions.  At the same time, I hope everyone enjoyed their holiday time, whether it be some time off from school or work and an opportunity to be with friends and family.

During the holiday week, our camp office is completely closed so we can all enjoy some time off as well.  I typically don’t go anywhere, but really enjoy the days to relax.  As many of you know, I am a huge music lover.  For the holiday break, Jaime and I decided to “test” our love of music by attending four concerts in a row, including New Year’s Eve.  I had never ever gone to four concerts in a row, but we were up for the challenge and saw the band Phish play four sold out nights at Madison Square Garden.  I know what you’re saying.  Four shows sounds repetitive.  However, the great thing about this band is that in the four nights, they never repeated one song.  The New Year’s Eve show is also a special treat as the band usually pulls a “stunt” at midnight.  This year didn’t disappoint as the band had trapeze artists (disguised as fans in the crowd) dancing over the crowd at midnight.  Check it out by clicking here.  Great, fun stuff!

Of course, on top of four very musical nights, there was also two additional great nights as I attended both the Giants vs. Jets game and the Giants vs. Cowboys game.  Both games were must wins for my Big Blue and we are now in the playoffs.  Sorry Jets fans.  Sorry Eagles fans.  Sorry Cowboys fans.  Ha Ha!  How great were these plays by Victor Cruz versus the Jets and the Cowboys.  I have to learn how to salsa like him!  Ha Ha!

Of course, there was also some great at home time over the holiday break.  With what has seemingly become an annual tradition, Jaime and I built a ginger bread house.  We made a fire and broke out the icing and candy to build this holiday treat.  Here is a picture of the final product…

The holiday time for me brought the opportunity to see many camp families.  In Scotch Plains, NJ, I met up with Amanda and Kyle Burger.  Amanda, now in 5th grade, will be back at Canadensis for her 3rd summer as part of the Upper Inter Girls division.  She is excited to introduce to camp her brother Kyle, who is in 2nd grade and will be in our Junior Boys division.  This year, Amanda has been taking hip hop dance classes, preparing for a recital in the spring.  She is also taking piano lessons.  Amanda was also happy to tell me that she recently had a sleep over with bunkmate Valerie Solomon.  She is really looking forward to the reunion and wanted to give a shout out to the Girls of Bunk 8 from Summer 2011 and remind them of the clogged toilet chart.  As for Kyle, he is busy with a bunch of sports and plays flag football, basketball and soccer.  In the spring, he will also be trying lacrosse for the first time.  Speaking of first times, Kyle was psyched to tell me that he was going to his first NFL football game when the Jets played the Giants.  Kyle also loves video games and plays the drums.  This summer, he is ready to try rocketry, basketball, cooking, archery and the climbing wall.  Here is a photo…

Also in Scotch Plains, NJ, I got to hang out with the Steeles, Ava and Max.  Ava can’t wait for her 5th summer as a Lower Senior and receive her 5-Year jacket!  Now in the 7th grade, Ava is still playing lacrosse and cheerleading for the Scotch Plains / Fanwood Raiders teams.  She is also involved in hip hop and jazz dance classes and will be performing at a recital in the spring.  Ava wanted to give a shout out to the Girls of Bunk 13 from Summer 2011 and had an inside joke for them…don’t swing on shower curtains.  Ava is so thrilled that she will be joined at camp this summer by brother Max Steele, who is currently in the 5th grade and will be in our Upper Inter Boys division in his first summer.  Max just recently finished up his football season as he plays guard, tackle and defensive end for the Scotch Plains PAL Raiders.  He was very happy to tell me that the team won its first ever state championship!  In the winter, Max is playing center on his travel basketball team.  In the spring, he will move to travel baseball, where he plays outfield, catcher, third base and first base.  When at camp, Max can’t wait for Color War, lacrosse and hondas.  Here is a pic…

In Roslyn, NY, I got to see Jaymie and Avery Gilady.  Jaymie was telling me about how she is really enjoying middle school now that she is in 6th grade.  She is also taking art classes where she is primarily focusing on acrylic painting.  She is an avid reader and just told me that her most recent favorite book was “The Invention of Hugo Cabret,” which she said was way better than the movie.  Jaymie will also be hosting a bunk sleep over in January.  She wanted to say hi to the Girls of Bunk 10 from Summer 2011 and can’t wait to see them.  As a Freshman Girl in 2012, Jaymie is really looking forward to her trip to Hershey Park.  As for Avery, now in the 3rd grade, he is still enjoys playing guitar and chess.  He is also currently in basketball season while also taking tennis lessons.  In the spring, he will move onto baseball.  He also recently saw all of his bunkmates at camp sleepover and wanted to give a shout out to the Boys of Bunk 3 from Summer 2011.  Next summer, Avery is looking forward to mountain bike rides as part of the Junior Boys division.  Here is a photo…

In Jericho, NY, I got to spend some time with Mandi Kurtz, who is in the 3rd grade and will be coming to camp for her very first summer as part of the Junior Girls division.  Mandi is very busy with her competitive dance team in which she performs hip hop, jazz and ballet.  The team’s competitions will begin in March.  Mandi also loves hanging out with her friends.  She let me know that over the holiday break, she will be going to CoCo Key in Connecticut.  Mandi is a huge fan of the New York Giants (awesome!), that her favorite color is hot pink and that her favorite TV shows are Jessie, I-Carly and Victorious.  When she gets to camp this year, she is looking forward to cooking, horseback riding, being in the play, the dance team and BBQs on Saturday nights and waffles and ice cream for breakfast.  Most importantly, she is looking forward to making new friends at camp.  Here is a picture…

In Dix Hills, NY, I met up with Ryan Sher, who is in the 3rd grade and will be part of our Junior Boys division in 2012.  Ryan is busy with a number of different activities these days.  He just finished up his flag football season, where his team the Patriots made it to the playoffs.  Now, he is busy with his basketball season.  On top of playing, he is also a big fan of the New York Knicks.  When spring comes, Ryan will be playing left field, third base and second base on his baseball team.  Ryan is also an accomplished piano player.  Just recently, he performed in a recital as well as in front of a judges panel for NYSMA, which is for select players.  He will also be playing at a talent show in March.  Ryan loves video games and his current favorite is Madden ’12 Football, which he also beat me in while I was at his house.  This summer, Ryan is excited for all the water activities, swimming, sports leagues, movies, hiking, art and hanging out with his cousin, Zach Sher.  Here is a pic…

In Edison, NJ, I got to have lunch at the Skylark Diner with two girls from our 2012 Upper Senior Girls division, Jessie Novey and Dani Sussman.  The foodie in me picked the place as I saw it on Diners, Drive Ins and Dives on the Food Network.  The three of us had a good time talking about our favorite place…Canadensis!  Both Jessie and Dani have been very busy in the 8th grade but have definitely been keeping in touch with camp friends and have even been able to see them at a few camp bat mitzvahs.  Both can’t wait for an awesome Summer 2012!  Here is a picture…

We hope to see as many campers and staff this weekend at our Annual Reunion.  Just like last year, the reunion will be at Jeepers in Elizabeth, NJ from 11 am to 1 pm.  Everyone in attendance will receive two camp posters!

Well, that’s all of the blogging for now.  More to come!

Have a great day!

-Brian

Back when I was a child, one of my favorite weekly rituals was sitting down on Monday nights at 7:30 pm (after all of my homework was done, of course) to watch what I thought was the absolute best show on TV…The Muppet Show.  Kermit the Frog would start the show by appearing from behind the “O” in the Muppet Show logo, introducing that week’s guest star and then there would be the classic musical opening…”It’s time to play the music.  It’s time to light the lights…”  For a trip down memory lane, click here.  For years, Kermit and Company made me laugh, sing and be completely entertained.  Well, it is great to see that some old goodies can make a comeback.  Last Friday night, Jaime and I went to see the new movie “The Muppets,” which was a true homage to the original Muppet Show.  For the entire film, I felt like I was 7 or 8 years old all over again.  This is great fun for the whole family!  If you haven’t seen this new movie, be sure to check it out over holiday break.  You will not be disappointed.

So, if you have checked out our Facebook page recently, then you know that our big surprise for Summer 2012 will be a brand new pool!  We are so excited to make this great announcement right before the holiday season.  I have been up to camp a few times in the past several weeks and I can tell you that the work is coming along nicely.  The pool will be situated right next to where the old Blue pool was.  The design is also quite interesting as it will be in a “Z” shape.  On one end of the “Z” will be massive water slides.  Finally, the pool will be a saltwater saline pool, which is a new trend in pool systems.  We can’t wait for you to see it!  It is sure to be ready by our Open House on June 3, 2012!  Other projects in the works for next summer will be a new Fitness Center, located in the back of our Rec Hall, new fencing and backstops for our baseball and softball fields and newly surfaced and painted tennis courts.  In the spring, we will bring you photos and Canadensis Today Shows featuring all of these improvements.  For now, here is a pic of the new pool construction…

I interrupt this blog posting for a special announcement.  Play the following video…

For more video fun, here is our annual Video Holiday Card.  Enjoy!

As always, special thanks to Jason “J.Cal” Calabretta for putting all of this great stuff together!  And to our camp family, a Happy Hanukkah,  a Merry Christmas and a Healthy New Year!

Speaking of videos, we hope that all of you are enjoying the 2011 Video Yearbook that was sent out a few weeks ago.  If you haven’t watched it yet, what are you waiting for?!?!  Also, we just recently sent out a new edition of the Canadensis Courier (sent via e-mail).  If you don’t have your own e-mail address, make sure you have your parents show it to you.  If you want to get the newsletter sent directly to you in the future, provide your e-mail address to us by sending it to info@canadensis.com .  Also, if you are on holiday break and take a picture on vacation wearing a Canadensis T-Shirt, please send it to us and we will be sure to put it into a future edition of the Canadensis Courier.

As a reminder, we can’t wait to see all of the campers and staff from Summer 2011 at the Annual Reunion on Sunday, January 8 at Jeepers in Elizabeth, NJ.  All that attend will receive two posters.  That’s right, two posters!  One is the “11” photo that we took at the end of camp and the second one is a very special surprise.  Both posters just arrived at our office last week and they turned out great!  A wonderful job by Pam for putting both of these together.

In other camp news, for all of our new campers in grades Kindergarten through 4th grade, our New Camper Bowling Event is set for Sunday, March 25th.  More details to follow as different age groups meet at different times, but mark your calendars now!  The event will be held at the Brunswick Zone in North Brunswick, NJ.  This is a great event for new campers to meet other new campers.

In Norwood, NJ, I got to spend some time with Jordan Plant, who will be returning to Canadensis for her second summer as part of our Junior Girls division.  Now in the 3rd grade, Jordan has had some great opportunities for traveling since camp with visits to Florida and Washington, DC.  She even showed me a great picture of her from a recent visit to Times Square in New York City, where she appeared on a billboard!  So cool.  Jordan has spent much of her time on the musical stage and just recently finished up a production of “The Musical Adventures of Flat Stanley.”  In March, she will be appearing in “Bugsy Malone.”  When she was in Florida, Jordan met up with bunkmate Ivy Talber and has also had some get-togethers with Sydney Schair, who lives close by.  Jordan introduced me to her new puppy dog Maggie, whom she has already taught some new tricks.  Jordan wanted to give a shout out to the Girls of Bunk 2 from Summer 2011 (the winners of MTV Night) as well as her CIT Paige Gindi!  Here is a photo…

In Tenafly, NJ, I had dinner with the Carruba Family.  Dylan Carruba will be back at camp in 2012 for his third summer as part of our Upper Inter division.  Currently in the 5th grade, Dylan played fall baseball after camp on his team the Spartans, where he played pitcher, catcher and outfield.  Now, he is onto basketball season and playing on his team the Hawks.  Dylan is also riding an 80-Honda motorcycle these days as well as wrestling, where he is competing in the 70 lbs. weight class.  In the upcoming weeks, he is looking forward to hanging out with fellow camper Jake Berlin.  Dylan will also be spending the holiday season hanging out with his cousins.  Dylan is really looking forward to some new activities in Summer 2012 and especially Color War.  Dylan seems to be convinced that he even knows the Color War names for this upcoming summer.  However, I don’t think so.  Ha Ha!  Here is a pic…

Pam and I drove together to Westchester County where we got to hang out with some new girls for Summer 2012.  In Millwood, NY, we saw 3rd grader Elizabeth Knox, who will be in our Junior Girls division.  These days, Elizabeth really loves gymnastics.  She even showed us an impressive round off.  One of her favorite events is the floor.  She has also been on a diving team at a local swim club.  Elizabeth is very creative and really enjoys arts and crafts.  Pam and I were also thrilled to learn that Elizabeth has her very own You Tube channel where she makes her own videos!  In the spring, she will be performing in musical productions of “High School Musical” and “Annie.”  This summer, Elizabeth is excited about the lake activities, including the water trampoline, the ropes course, gymnastics and the tumble track and foam pit, the Art Center and especially Glass Fusion and GaGa.  Here is a photo…

In Chappaqua, NY, Pam and I spent some time and had dinner with Zoe Gellert, who is currently in 2nd grade and will be in our Junior Girls division this summer.  Zoe has been involved in a number of different activities.  First, she is currently working on a bar routine in gymnastics for an upcoming performance.  She also plays forward on her soccer team, the Sharks  Finally, she is very active in the local Random Farms Theater program where she has played Dorothy in “The Wizard of Oz,” Mr. Bundles and Drake in “Annie,” Ms. Saurbee in “Secret Garden” and Tweedle Dum in “Alice in Wonderland.”  Her next show will be “Snow White.”  In Summer 2012, she can’t wait for all of the activities up at the Art Center, the rock wall and ropes course and being in one of the camp shows.  Here is a pic…

On a funny final note, I wanted to share something that Jaime for me last week.  As many of you know, I attended Syracuse University.  Being a big sports fan, Syracuse Basketball is a real passion of mine.  As a result, Jaime has also become a big fan of the team.  Well, a few years ago, Jaime said that if Syracuse ever reached #1 in the basketball polls, that she would paint her toe nails orange.  Last week, Syracuse was a the top of the rankings and Jaime lived up to her promise.  In fact, she went one step further!  Check it out…

Well, our winter office is closing up shop for the holidays next week.  But, maybe I’ll be able to send a quick blog sometime next week.  Pretty much staying at home for the break.  Maybe, I’ll make S’Mores one day.  Going to see some movies.  Happy Holidays everyone!

Have a great day…Brian

Today was another one of those days when I just kept thinking about the summer over and over again.  The biggest reminder of summer sits right in front of me in my office.  From Summer 2012, the leaders of Comic Book Blue cut out a piece of their Color War Sing scenery and gave it to me as a memento.  It is the picture of me, letting everyone know that “The box is missing!”  For those that need a visual, here it is…

When I look at this artwork of me, it always has me thinking about camp and how much I love things like Color War Sing.  Not just the Sing, itself, but the moment I actually enter the Rec Hall for the Sing.  It’s one of my favorite moments every summer.  As I walk into one of camp’s most historic buildings, I see all of the hard work that the CITs, Senior campers and an assortment of Staff have invested over the prior five days and it gives me goosebumps!  The sets, decorations and plaques never cease to amaze me.  The songs always blow me away.  And, the night is always a magical one.  This year, I was so thrilled when Jason “J.Cal” Calabretta came up to me with the idea of wanting to broadcast the Sing live over the internet.  At one point, we had over 300 people, many former alumni, logging in to be part of this night from all over the world.  So cool, right?!

So, today, not only am I thinking about Sing, but just some of the things I love about camp.  Like, I love the moment when I get up to the amphitheater right before turning the corner to see everyone.  The music is usually already blaring!  I get pumped up for the day!  Then, when I see everyone getting excited, I also get excited!  As I walk down the steps, it almost gives me the feeling of a boxer entering the ring or a relief pitcher coming in from the bullpen.  I’m ready for the day!

Or, I love when I get the opportunity to see a camper go down the zip line for the very first time in their life.  It usually goes the same way.  The camper is usually a bit scared (some more than others).  Usually, their bunkmates are cheering and encouraging them to go, letting them know it’s going to be great!  Sometimes, it even takes the camper a few minutes before they actually push off of the platform.  But, once they do, when the get off, they always have a big smile on their face and feeling of complete satisfaction!

I love going the lake.  Whether it is taking a funyak out on the water, riding on the triple dare, jumping on the water trampoline, going up and down the Summit or just hanging out on the water mats.  Not many camps have a lake as great as Lake Lenape, perfectly situated right in the middle of camp.  Last summer, I got to go in the lake on a number of occasions with a number of different divisions.  Each and every time is so memorable.

I love playing tennis at camp.  Whether during one of the regular periods of the day or at Free Play, the campers like to play against me in King / Queen of the Court or in singles or doubles matches.  I love watching campers improve their tennis games over the summer, especially with our amazing tennis staff in private lessons or in the Tennis Academy.  Tennis is definitely one of those sports that many continue to play well after their camper years, so its great to always see so much interest at camp.

I love MTV Night, especially the night when we have the MTV Night Finals!  Many of our bunks put so much time and energy into their skits that show great teamwork.  The acts usually have a lot of humor in them as well, so anytime I get to see campers being silly and goofy, I smile.

I guess I could go on and on about all the things I love about camp.  Like Fruit on the Fly.  Or, seeing great projects being made in the Art Center.  How about our day at Dorney Park?  That’s always awesome!  I especially love the days leading up to Color War break and the anticipation of when it is actually going to happen and all the guesses I get from the campers and counselors of how they think they know when it is going to break.  I love the last night of camp and the bunks engaging in their candle lighting tradition with all of the lights illuminating Lake Lenape.

When you get the chance, tell me all that you love about camp!  Send an e-mail.  Post a comment right here on the blog.  Post something on our Facebook page.  Give me a call!

How many days until Summer 2012?  Ha Ha!  For now, I will have to just reminisce.  But, in the meantime, I can love all of the opportunities I get to see campers and staff in the winter months.  Here is who I got to see recently…

In Bala Cynwyd, PA, I met up with the Rosenau Family for a lovely dinner, which has somewhat become an annual tradition with us.  It is always great to see Julia and Emma, who have been at camp for quite some time now, as well as their younger brother AJ, who could be joining us this summer for our Tour and More Weekend at camp.  Julia, who will be an Upper Senior for her 6th summer in 2012, is really enjoying life in the 8th grade.  She just recently finished up her soccer season in which she played defense on the Bala Cynwyd Middle School Knights team.  In the spring, she will be playing for the school’s softball team.  She wanted to make sure that she gave a shout out to Girls Bunk 16 from last summer as well as counselors Lauren Berry and Lindsay Steckler!  If you remember from last year, Julia was the camper that scored a perfect score on the Harry Potter contest and received a piece of the actual red carpet from the movie premiere in New York City.  Julia is still crazy about Harry Potter!  Emma will be an Upper Inter Girl in 2012, which will be her 3rd summer at Canadensis.  She has been busy with tennis lessons and her basketball season just got underway.  She is an avid reader and told me that she can’t wait for the “Hunger Games” movie after she read all of the books.  She also wanted to give a shout out to her bunk from last summer, that being Girls Bunk 8!  Emma says, “What’s up, Bunk 8?!?!”  She also wanted to say hello to Steve, the albino chipmunk (which must be some kind of inside joke to Bunk 8).  Here is a picture…

In Dobbs Ferry, NY, I got to hang out with Drew Spielberger, who will be joining us at Canadensis for his first summer in 2012.  Currently in the 2nd grade, Drew will be in our Junior Division.  Drew is a busy guy to say the least.  He just finished up his soccer season on his Fulhom team.  He plays defense on that team.  Now, he is starting his basketball season.  In the spring, it will be a baseball team where he plays both first base and short stop.  He is also a big New York Yankee fan!  In this mix, Drew also plays flag football.  He also loves music and is looking forward to starting drum lessons in a few months.  This summer, he can’t wait to make new friends.  He is also looking forward to all the sports, including hockey, Color War, the lake and the water slides.  Here is a photo…

Last week, at the Giants game, I got to see campers Harrison and Ben Keim, who were joined by parents Dan and Gail.  At our tailgate in Lot L12, we ate sirloin steak tips, chili, kobe beef bacon cheeseburgers and onion rings.  Unfortunately, we forgot to take a picture, but thanks guys for sharing the day with me.

Speaking of food, here is a random thing to share.  Today for lunch, I had Syracuse University pasta.  That’s right.  You heard me correctly.  As a graduate of Syracuse, I purchased a bag of pasta just for me.  Just look…

Earlier this week, I got to do some staff recruiting at some of the colleges near my home in Montclair, NJ.  On Monday, I was at Ramapo College in Mahwah, NJ.  On Tuesday, I was at William Paterson in Wayne, NJ.  On Wednesday, I went all of five minutes from my home for a full day at Montclair State.  I got to talk with a number of terrific applicants, some who you are sure to see at camp this summer.  Of course, this is only the beginning of our new staff hiring.  But, if these three days are any indication of what’s to come, it is safe to say that we are once again going to have the best staff around!

Well, that’s all of the blogging for now.  I hope everyone has a great weekend!

More blogging to come….Have a great day!

-Brian

Hello Canadensis!

This blog comes to you after a few days away from the office as Jaime and I headed down to New Orleans after Thanksgiving for a mini vacation.  We flew out on Friday and just returned yesterday.  It was an amazing trip!  First off, I had never been to New Orleans before, so we had a lot planned for our 6 days in the Big Easy.

We had a great time doing a little bit of everything.  On Saturday, we took an air boat tour of the swamps and got up close to a few alligators.  That was just incredible!  I even got to hold a baby alligator.  On Sunday morning, we ate breakfast at Cafe DuMonde, which is famous for their beignets (French doughnuts…delicious) and then headed over to the Riverwalk for some shopping.  That evening, we went to City Park for the “Celebration of the Oaks,” which has an entire section of the park lit up for the holiday season.  Very cool to walk through at night.  On Monday, we took a 6-mile bike tour of the city, which really gave us some wonderful insight to this terrific city, from its culturally rich roots in jazz all the way through the rebuilding of the levees after Hurricane Katrina.  Later that day, we headed back to our hotel because it was also Gameday!  That’s right, one reason we chose New Orleans as our vacation destination was because my beloved New York Giants were playing the Saints on Monday Night Football.  And, for an added bonus, the Giants were actually staying in our hotel.  So, we waited in the lobby for an hour or so to see the players leaving for the game and wish them good luck.  Turns out, they needed more than luck.  Other highlights of our trip included seeing two New Orleans music musts in guitar player Walter “Wolfman” Washington and the Rebirth Brass Band, shopping down Magazine Street (a lot of cool little shops) and eating some great Nawlins cuisine from charbroiled oysters to smoked duck to cochon de lait (a fancy kind of pulled pork).  Here are some pictures from our trip…

Right before Thanksgiving, I got to continue a great tradition.  For the past five years on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, I meet up with legendary Canadensis Alumni Jared “Groundhog” Katzman for dinner.  Our dinners are always a good time as we talk about camp for most of it.  Groundhog is doing great in Boulder, CO as he teaches technology and is an IT Director at a private school in Colorado.  Groundhog is once again looking to take time off this summer to visit camp and see everyone.  Here is a pic…

If you didn’t see it yet on our Facebook page, the Summer 2011 Video Yearbook DVD has arrived!  We will be mailing it out shortly, but here is a look at the cover and DVD disc…

Speaking of Facebook, it’s great to see more than 1800 likes on the site.  How quickly can we get to 2000?  What do you want to see on our Facebook site?  Let us know!  And, don’t forget Jason Calabretta’s new camp project called “Your Three Words.”  Take a picture of yourself with the three words you use to describe Camp Canadensis.  That’s right!  Only three words.

Well, that’s all the blogging for now.  More next week.

Until then.  Have a great day!

-Brian