Hello Canadensis…
So much good stuff to tell you about. For starters, on Wednesday, we had a blast at the Canadensis New York Knicks night! This was the hottest ticket in town as it was also Carmelo Anthony’s first game as a Knick. So, it was even more exciting for our campers, who got to be part of the Knicks Fan Tunnel, which means they got to go on the court and high five all of the Knicks players as they came out of the locker room for warm-ups. One lucky camper, Upper Senior Boy Ben Portnoy, also got to be the honorary co-captain for the evening. In the end, Canadensis helped rock Madison Square Garden to a Knicks victory over the Milwaukee Bucks. Here are some pictures from the night’s festivities…
Pam gets the campers ready for the Fan Tunnel, telling them to be loud like at Color War!
Campers that participated in the Fan Tunnel got a special Knicks T-Shirt.
Getting ready "behind the scenes" at Madison Square Garden.
Moments before walking onto the court at the World's Most Famous Arena.
Lower Senior Girl Cassandra Leon with her brother, Freshman Boy Alex Leon.
Canadensis In The House! The gang's all here and ready to get loud!
On the court with the Knicks. High Fiving Away!
Oh yeah. Carmelo Anthony was there, too.
After high fiving the Knicks players, Upper Inter Boy Ben Borrok told me that "he was never washing his hand again!"
Upper Senior Boy Ben Portnoy was the Honorary Co-Captain for the game. Here he is meeting the other Co-Captain, New York Knicks Forward Amare Stoudemire, at halfcourt.
Freshman Girl Jayme "Jamz" Lerman and her dad Ken enjoying the game.
Junior Boy Jake Dennis and his dad Joseph stop cheering for a moment to take a photo.
We got a shout out on the JumboTron, too!
Of course, the past week has put me back on the road to meet more of our Canadensis families. In Bellmore, NY, I saw Freshman Girl Zoe Hiller, who will be introducing her younger brother, Junior Boy Max Hiller, to camp this summer. Now is 6th grade, Zoe is preparing for her first hip hop dance competition in March. She has also been involved with gymnastics and cheer leading. In the spring, she will be playing softball. When I asked her what she was looking forward to for her 3rd summer, she replied, “Everything!” She also can’t wait for her division’s trip to Hershey Park and wanted to give a shout out to the Girls of Bunk 9 from Summer 2010. As for Max, who is in the 3rd grade, he is busy with a number of different sports. Currently, he plays point guard on his basketball team. In the fall and spring, he plays pitcher and shortstop for his travel baseball team, the Bellmore Bulls. He also likes hockey and playing NBA 2K11 on the X-Box. This summer, he is excited for all of the sports at camp, the lake and the water trampoline and Summit and Color War! Here is a photo…
Me with Junior Boy Max Hiller and Freshman Girl Zoe Hiller.
In Dix Hills, NY, I met up with the Greenbaum Family, who will now have a trio of campers at Canadensis this summer, Upper Senior Girl Casey Greenbaum, Freshman Boy Jake Greenbaum and Lower Inter Girl Jolie Greenbaum. Casey, now in 8th grade, has been preparing for her dance team competition in March, practicing with her kickline team, which is a school club and playing tennis. Casey also works with the SOAR program, which helps kids with autism. Casey wanted to say hello to all of the Lower Senior Girls from Summer 2010 and can’t wait to get back to camp for things like the Art Shack, tennis, lacrosse and the Boston Trip. This is also her fifth summer and Casey is psyched to receive her 5-Year Jacket! Now in the 6th grade, Jake has been involved with hockey, baseball, basketball and tennis. He was also voted President of the 6th Grade class in his school’s election. At camp this year, which will be his third summer, he can’t wait for the Canadensis Hockey League, Zoogle, his trip to Cooperstown and Color War! Casey and Jake are happy that their younger sister Jolie, currently in the 4th grade, will be joining the camp fun, too! Jolie is very busy with a number of different activities, including basketball, tennis, hockey, dance and piano. She is also the Treasurer for her elementary school. When she gets to camp, she can’t wait for basketball, Zoogle, the climbing wall and zipline, tennis, soccer, cooking and the Art Shack. Here is a pic…
Me with Upper Senior Girl Casey Greenbaum, Freshman Boy Jake Greenbaum and Lower Inter Girl Jolie Greenbaum.
In Livingston, NJ, I got the chance to hang out with Junior Boy Jake Dennis, who will coming to camp for his first summer. Jake, who is in 3rd grade, told me all about the sports he has been playing. To begin, he plays left midfield on his town’s travel soccer team, the Livingston Lava. Now that it’s winter, he is playing a whole bunch of indoor soccer as well as playing basketball for his team, the Livingston Heat. In the spring, he will be playing lacrosse. He also enjoys snow skiing, swimming and art projects. When I asked him what he wants to do this summer, he enthusiastically said, “Everything!” But, he really can’t wait to try waterskiing, woodworking, rocketry and soccer. While there, I also got to meet Jake’s sister Dylan, who will be a future camper at Canadensis and will be joining us this summer for a sibling sleepover at camp. Dylan loves to draw, act, sing, dance and swim. Here is a picture…
Me with Junior Boy Jake Dennis (right) and future Canadensis Camper Dylan Dennis.
We took a silly photo, too!
In Syosset, NY, I saw both Upper Inter Girl Mallory and Junior Boy Sam Kanterman. 5th grader Mallory is returning for her third summer while younger brother Sam, currently in 2nd grade, is coming for his first year at camp. I happened to see Mallory a day before her big birthday party (she is turning 11 years old). She was having a fondue party (Mmmm…) at a local restaurant called the Melting Pot. Right now, she is playing center on her basketball team but is also gearing up for spring travel and town softball, where she plays shortstop and outfield. She also plays the flute. Very soon, she will be singing a solo performance of “To The Sky” at the NYSMA Music Festival. At camp, she is excited for the ropes course, cooking, softball and basketball. She wanted to say hello to the girls in her bunk and say to them that they are “so fly like a G-6!” Sam is also really busy these days. He plays 1st base, catcher and pitcher on his baseball team, currently hooping it up in the Syosset Rookie Basketball League, takes hip hop dance classes and plays the guitar. He also loves playing with his dogs, Dori and Kyle. When he comes to Canadensis this year, he is ready to try glass fusion, baseball, woodworking, the ropes course / zipline and cooking. He also can’t wait for Color War and to have fun and make new friends. Here is a shot…
Me with Upper Inter Girl Mallory Kanterman and Junior Boy Sam Kanterman (and their dogs Dori and Kyle).
In Norwood, NJ, Pam and I had a the opportunity to hang out with Jordan Plant, who is coming to camp for her first summer and will be part of our Junior Girls Division. Jordan, a.k.a. DJ JJ Rock, is in the 2nd grade and is someone that will definitely be seen on the Canadensis Stage this summer. She has been in eight musical performance so far and has had roles such as Merryweather in “Sleeping Beauty,” Corella in “101 Dalmations,” and Veruca Salt in “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.” She also does cheerleading and yoga and plays soccer and softball. But, that’s not all as she is also involved in a Brownies Troop that meets once a month as well as taking a fun class called “Food Art.” When at camp this summer, she is looking forward to seeing just how long the zipline is, the parts available in the camp shows, glass fusion, the lake and waterskiing. Here is a picture…
Me and Pam with Junior Girl Jordan Plant.
In Tenafly, NJ, Pam and I also met up with 3rd grader and Junior Girl Julia Ginzburg. Julia told us that she is someone with a lot of energy and is really looking forward to all of the activities at camp including the foam pit, arts and crafts, fashion design, photography and glass fusion. She is also looking forward to making a whole new bunch of friends. In the fall, winter and spring months, she loves art and is taking a screen printing class. She is involved with soccer and cheerleading, loves to listen to music and dance. She loves to play board games with friends, too. Here is a photo…
Me and Pam with Junior Girl Julia Ginzburg (left) and sister / future Canadensis Camper Kasey Ginzburg.
And, a crazy one too!
As is always the case with Brian’s Blog, if you send me a picture of camp get-togethers, family trips, reunions or whatever, I will post them here. I was happy to get two e-mails from parents of 2010’s Boys Bunk 6 of a few recent winter get-togethers / sleepovers. Turns out, Upper Inter Boys Eric Miller and Zach Minion had a sleepover recently. And, the Lefkowitz Family (campers Ryan and Devin) met up with the Liebman Family (campers Justin and Lauren) at Woodloch Pines in the Poconos. Here are pictures from each..
Ready, Aim, Fire! Upper Inter Boys Zach Minion and Eric Miller are ready to shoot at a recent sleepover.
The Lefkowitz Family and the Liebman Family at Woodloch Pines.
So, as you can see, there has been a lot going on over the past few weeks. All great stuff! In my next blog, I will have much more to report on as well, including our Canadensis Trip to the 76ers game on March 1, a special trip up to camp and the introduction of a new Camp Canadensis Head Staff Member. Plus, we want to start getting more ideas for the upcoming summer from campers and staff. All that in future blogs.
Until then…Have a great day!…Brian
