Rachel uses her water-gun skills during Color War Mystery Box!

Rachel Wiener

Hobbies when you’re at home: Hanging out with my friends and family, singing, track.

Years at Camp: 7

One fun fact about you: I LOVE CAMP

Favorite Camp Activity: Lake

Favorite Camp Memory: Siting under the stars on the field outside the field bunk visiting day night, eating our food and playing games

Best Advice for a First Time Camper: Be yourself and make every second count!

What you’re most excited to do this summer: being a CIT to a bunk

One thing you’ve never done at camp that you’re going to do this summer: GO TO DISNEY WORLD!

If you could plan your own perfect camp day, what would it look like: wake up, color war breaks, color war begins!!!!! 😀

Dara is sporting her sunglasses in the front row!

Hobbies when you’re at home: I like to run, hang out with my friends, play sports, go to the beach

Years at Camp: This will be my 7th summer

One fun fact about you: I always smile and I live for camp

Favorite Camp Activity: Aerobics and BBK

Favorite Camp Memory: Every single second at camp are my favorite memories

Best Advice for a First Time Camper: The first days of camp you may feel a little homesick, but you need to try and put those feelings aside, make new friends and just try to have the best summer of your life because this is an experience you will never forget! Never let a bunk fight get in the way of you have a fun summer, because in the end every single person at camp well be your brother/sister for life. Live up every moment because 7 weeks goes by in a blink of an eye.

What you’re most excited to do this summer: Have a bunk, and be the oldest campers!
One thing you’ve never done at camp that you’re going to do this summer: Be a counselor for a few periods each day instead of being with my bunk

If you could plan your own perfect camp day, what would it look like: We would wake up a little later then usual, bagels and lox for breakfast, then clean up and lineup. My morning activities would be basketball league, aerobics and my elective would be cooking. For lunch there would be tacos so everyone can make the perfect taco salad! In the afternoon we would have senior choice, summit and WNBA and then chill in our bunks until dinner.  Dinner would be barbecue, evening activity would be bunk feud and we’d finish off the perfect day with canteen.

Now that we’re officially on our way to summer 2012, it’s time to introduce this summer’s CITs!!! Every few days I’ll be updating the blog to feature a new 2012 CIT. Keep checking back to read all about this summer’s rockstars!

Brett Feldman

Hobbies when you’re at home: Hangin’ with friends and dreaming about being a CIT someday.

Years at Camp: 4 going on 5.

One fact about you: I regret not coming to camp sooner.

Favorite Camp Activity: NBA, not even close.

Favorite Camp Memory: Winning showcase and rope burn last summer.

Best Advice for a First Time Camper: Get along with your bunk and cherish being at camp because it only lasts for 7 weeks.

One thing you’ve never done at camp that you’re going to do this summer: Be a counselor for part of the day.

If you could plan your own perfect camp day, what would it look like: Sleeping through breakfast then waking up and seeing my bunkmates shining faces, having basketball elective in the morning, then having a taco salad for lunch made by the great Dara Zeltt. After lunch i would like to take a long nap and have NBA in the afternoon. Then having BBQ for dinner and finishing the night with MTV night and canteen.

The Holidays are upon us! Last night my group of friends got together for a delightful Holiday dinner, which was brought to us by the brilliant Kate Mullen! She made Rosemary Chicken with potatoes, green beans, and butternut squash fries! It was delightful! I brought a red velvet cake and my friend Cayla brought amazing dessert bars, one of which was a SMORES bar – and that got me thinking about all the ways to incorporate camp into the holiday season, or what camp related gifts would be on my holiday wishlist! I’m sure most holiday shopping is already done, but I’ve included links to everything on my list just in case you read about something and love it as much as I do!

“Cara’s Top 10 Campy Holiday Favorites”

10. S’mores Desserts: While you may be overwhelmed with all sorts of baked goods this season, you can eat like a camper by choosing a dessert that reminds you of the ever so popular S’more! Last night Cayla’s s’mores bars definitely had Kate and I thinking we were back alongside lenape, but there are so many s’morey options out there! Here’s a great recipe for s’mores bars: http://www.bakedperfection.com/2008/07/smore-cookie-bars.html

9. The Spinmallow: Speaking of s’mores, a great campy gift for the holidays is a rotating mallow stick! I know, at first it may sound totally silly, but when I saw a reusable spinning roasting stick in a catalog this season I knew I had to have one at camp. This one has a built in flashlight (seriously, what will they think of next) but there are tons of options out there: http://www.markysparkytoys.com/html/toycategories/toy/spinmallow.html

8. Camp Stationery: Call me old fashioned, but I’m absolutely in love with sending and receiving hand written letters or cards. In a world full of Facebook and email the novelty of the letter has become a rarity, but I think that makes it even more special. I have a HUGE box in my closet dedicated to a stationary collection I’ve been building for quite some time – when Borders went out of business this summer, I spent a day off with my counselor friends searching through all the paperchase goodies! When I find a card that’s perfect for a friend I’ll buy it on the spot, even if their birthday is months away! So when I find stationary that I want to use at camp I get equally excited. Cute cards to send to home friends (or friends at other camps) are always on my wish list! This vintage inspired set is definitely going to be with me this season: http://phdesignshop-store.com/2147.html

7. The Crazy Creek Chair: Old school campers will tell you that the Crazy Creek is a staple in camp life. Now they carry long back options for tall campers, the power lounger for those of us who enjoy luxurious seating, and my new favorite, the roll-up option! It’s available in lime green, and we all know how I love neons…  http://www.crazycreek.com/products-page/adventure-line-chairs/hex-2-0-original-chair/#

6. Camp Themed Potlucks: I love going out to dinner with camp friends (if you read this blog, you know I do it a lot) but sometimes we want to spend more time together than the restaurant would like for us to be loitering, and sometimes you just have to get out of your seat and dance around with your camp friends. A camp themed potluck is always the answer to the “we’re-all-home-over-winter-break-and-bored” problem, and it’s a great excuse to get crazy in the kitchen. Everyone makes a camp treat, like Cheese Toasties or Black and White Cookies, and gets together at someone’s home to snack and play. Dani and I are thinking of planning a camp potluck in early January, so we’ll post photos of all our camp creations here! Here’s a great recipe for B&W Cookies, camp style: http://www.cookiemadness.net/2010/10/black-white-cookie-4/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+cookiemadness%2FGYsL+%28Cookie+Madness%29

5. Camp Movies: I love to spend time over winter break snuggling with puppies and watching movies with my family. A campy movie always makes me feel like summer is just around the corner. I love Camp Nowhere and The Parent Trap (Both the original and remake) for the whole family, and older viewers may enjoy Indian Summer, Meatballs, and Wet Hot American Summer. I recommend the ORIGINAL version of the parent trap for some classic campy fun: http://video.barnesandnoble.com/DVD/The-Parent-Trap-2-Movie-Collection/Hayley-Mills/e/786936286960?itm=2&usri=the+parent+trap

4. A Camp Shirt Quilt: There’s no better blanket for your camp bed than one made of camp tees! I started making camp tee quilts when i made Becky J’s sweet 16 gift out of some camp tees. After that Eric Forti got a huge queen sized camp tee blanket for his camp bed, and camp alum Adam Scharfberg got one too! I’m currently finishing a camp Tee Quilt for Emily Zendel, and I’ve got two waiting to be delivered to Sam G and Brigitte Toledano! I don’t have a website link for my quilts, but I’ll post a photo and link my email address where I’m available to make quilts or answer any “how-to” questions: cara@canadensis.com

Becky J welcomes me and Rebecca to snuggle under her camp quilt!

3. The Friendship Bracelet Maker: This is easily one of my favorite camp accessories. I make a LOT of friendship bracelets over the summer so when my my mom got asked to present this product on QVC she asked me to take it for a test drive and teach her how to make a bracelet. I fell in love with it pretty quickly and I’m definitely bringing it to camp this summer! Here’s where to find one: http://www.myfbm.com/

2. Peanut Butter Candy Canes from Callie’s: The famous Callie’s Candy Kitchen makes the world’s most amazing candy cane, and I’m not exaggerating! Our winter office is obsessed with the Peanut Butter Candy Canes (I actually have one on my desk at this very moment) but they’re only sold around holiday time! “But Cara, that’s all the way up in Canadensis!” I know, but lucky for you, Callie’s delivers all winter long! http://www.calliescandy.com/online-store.html

1. Embroidery Floss: Yes, something as simple as a pack of string tops my list of the best campy gifts/campy activities for winter break. Nothing tells the world you’re a camper better than a forearm full of braided bracelets, just ask Becky J! In my perfect world I would have every shade and hue of every color, and their glittery counterparts, at my disposal at all times! Here’s a great website for friendship bracelet patterns, although if you’re a really advanced bracelet maker, I might be able to teach you my signature stitch at camp this summer! http://www.how-to-make-jewelry.com/friendship-bracelet-patterns.html

Kate made a holiday party feast!

My Peanut Butter Candy Cane on my desk!