I’m loving these warmer temperatures in March – it feels like summer is coming quickly!  I been able to visit some fantastic new campers lately…let me introduce you!  Above are twins Dylan (left) and Ilan (right).  The boys are current 3rd graders and will be Upper Juniors Boys this summer, and they live in Horsham, PA.  When I got there, they were already pretty excited for camp…but by the end of the visit they were ready to throw on their new Color War shirts and hop on the bus!!

Dylan goes by the nickname “G Man” and describes himself as athletic, fast and strong.  After school he likes to play basketball, and at camp this summer he can’t wait to get out on the lake!  A few of his favorite things include steak, sharks, SpongeBob, and the color orange.  His favorite sports team is the Oklahoma Thunder, his favorite candy is taffy and he likes the movie “Lab Rats”.  Dylan likes to read (he was reading when I got there) and his favorite book is “Mighty Robot”.  While he really, really likes basketball…he’s also considering being in our camp show because he’s got some dramatic talent too!

Ilan won an epic “rock paper scissors” battle, and got to pick his Color War shirt first – if you want to, you can call him “Albert Einstein”.  He describes himself as smart, strong and fast.  After school, he likes to do his homework and he also likes to play sports.  His favorite TV show is “SpongeBob”, and he likes to cheer for the San Francisco 49ers and the Golden State Warriors (someone get this kid a plane ticket to California!).  He loves candy and couldn’t even decide which is his favorite, he likes the movie “Lab Rats” and the book “Treasure Hunters”.  He also likes steak, sharks and the color combo red & black.

In Northern, NJ I met up with Lila and her mom for a girls night where we talked camp!  (Her big brother Jack will be a Freshman at camp this summer, but he was away at a wrestling tournament with his dad).  Lila is a current 3rd grader and will be an Upper Junior Girl at camp this summer.  She remembers so much of the fun from the Tour & More Weekend last year, and it’s just going to get better when she gets to spend the whole summer at camp!  After school she likes to do homework, play with friends, and play “school” – she loves being the teacher.  At camp she plans to use her electives to get more art, dance and softball activities.   Here’s what you need to know about this silly, fun and kind new camper: her favorite food is pasta, her favorite candy is gummy bears, she loves pigs and the color blue.  Her favorite TV show is “Survivor”, her favorite book is “Dear Mr. Henshaw” and her favorite movie is “Goonies”!  She dances several times a week, and softball season is about to start!   It’s going to be a great summer ahead!

In Narberth, PA I got to spend a night with Tess, her younger sister and her parents (including her dad who is a Camp Canadensis Alumni!).  Tess is currently in 2nd grade, and will be a Lower Junior Girl at camp this summer – and around her house she goes by the name “Tessiebear” – too cute!  After school she loves to play outside or watch TV.  There are so many activities she’s looking forward to at camp this summer, but some things at the top of the list include dance, glass fusion, t-shirt art and sailing!  Here’s what you need to know about this awesome, cool and fun new camper: Her favorite color is purple, she loves pandas and hot dogs (the food, not the animal!).  Her favorite sports team is the Montreal Canadiens, and she has relatives in Canada she was about to visit during Spring Break.  Her favorite song at the moment is “All About That Bass” and she loves to snack on milk duds.  Her most favorite hobby is reading, and her favorite books are the “Heidi Heckelback” books.  She also likes the movie “Aristocrats” and the TV Show “Game Shakers”…I should check out that show before camp because I love games!

In Bryn Mawr, PA I “hung” out with Maddy!  She’s a current 2nd grader and will be coming to Canadensis for her first summer as a Lower Junior Girl.  She’s totally sweet  and also a great athlete – especially when it comes to gymnastics.  In the photo above we are swinging from the bar she has setup in her basement, and she knows some great tricks.  Her favorite hobbies are soccer and gymnastics, and she’s looking forward to improving her skills at camp.  Here’s what you need to know about this fun, sporty and active new camper: Her favorite food is strawberries (which we often have at breakfast!), her favorite color is blue and she loves bunnies.  When she’s in control of the remote, she likes to tune into the Food Network, and when she’s controlling the music in the bunk you’ll be rocking out to Katy Perry and Taylor Swift.  Her favorite sports team is the Philadelphia Flyers, her favorite book is “Junie B. Jones” and her favorite movie is “Annie”.

Maddy is a middle sister, and her big sis Jordan is a current 4th grader who will be spending her 3rd summer at camp as a Lower Inter Girl.  “Jordy” has been having a great year and staying busy with lots of different activities – whether it’s acting, sports or anything else that sounds like fun!  Can’t wait to have both of them at camp this summer.

In Westfield, NJ I hung out with Lilah right before a holiday weekend.  She is a current 2nd grader, and will be a Lower Junior Girl at camp this summer.  She already knows a ton about camp, she can easily be confused for a camper who’s been at camp for a while but she’s actually going to be one of our youngest kids at camp this summer!  She loves to dance (she takes four different types of dance classes and has a big recital coming up!) and softball season is about to get started.  At camp this summer, she’ll be spending her elective periods in cheerleading, dance and art…but I have a feeling she’ll be changing it up every week so she can try a lot of different things!  Here’s what you need to know about this confident, honest and kind new camper: her favorite food is ice cream cake, her favorite color is blue, she loves dogs and watching the TV show “SpongeBob”.  Her favorite sports team is the Maryland Terrapins (oh well, maybe next March Madness!) and she loves Taylor Swift.  She loves to read and has a ton of books, her favorite is the “My Weird School” series, and the movie she likes the most is “Monsters Inc.”

Lilah’s big brother Jacob is a current 4th grader, and will be at camp for his 2nd summer at a Lower Inter.  He’s an excellent big brother, and he knows Lilah very, very well…he actually guessed most of her favorite things (he even specifically guess that ice cream cake was her favorite food!).  Jacob had a great first summer, and he’s filling his sister in on all the important details of camp…he really paid attention in year one, I couldn’t believe how many names, activities, and camp details he recalled.  Can’t wait to have both of them at camp!

Meet Scott!
In Short Hills, NJ I got to hang out with Scott Braunstein. Austin and Mitch are excited to introduce their brother to his first summer at Canadensis! Scott is currently in 3rd grade and will be an Upper Junior Boy this summer. He absolutely loves boats; he told me that he is looking forward to building one in the arts center this summer! Scott also likes basketball and the New York Giants, and we discovered we both love french fries! (Can’t wait for Saturday night camp BBQs!) Welcome, Scott! Here’s a photo from the visit:

 

Meet Julia K!
In Merrick, NY I got to hang out with Julia Kopelman, who will be joining her brother Aidan at camp.  She had just gotten back from her school’s Valentine’s Day dance and looked beautiful! She is in 2nd grade and will be a Lower Junior Girl this summer. Julia loves to read and write stories. She also loves sports-gymnastics in particular which she is looking forward to doing this summer! She is also looking forward to Zumba, Glass Fusion, Ceramics and the Climbing Wall. Welcome, Julia! Here’s a photo from the visit:

 

Meet Skylar!
In Gladwyne, PA I got to hang out with Skylar Shulick, who will be joining her sister Julia at camp this summer! She is in 2nd grade and will be a Lower Junior Girl. Skylar let me see her amazing art kit (I hope she brings it to camp this summer so we can draw together!). She also loves tennis, gymnastics, and dance, all of which she is looking forward to doing at Camp Canadensis! Welcome, Skylar! Here’s a photo from the visit:

 

Meet Julia S!
In Cherry Hill, NJ I got to hang out with Julia Sitnick, who will be joining her brother Jeremy and sister Sophia at camp this summer! She is in 3rd grade and will be an Upper Junior Girl. Julia loves to dance and play soccer. She told me about her love for Total Divas (Go Bellas!) and even let me see some of her awesome moves! In addition to dance and soccer, she is also excited for gymnastics, horseback riding, and cooking this summer. Welcome, Julia! Here are some photos from the visit:

 

 

Meet Ella!
In Great Neck, NY I got to hang out with Ella Scheckner. She is in 3rd grade and will be an  Upper Junior Girl. Ella loves to dance, but told me she is also excited about Drama, Fabric Arts, Glass Fusion, Ceramics and Softball this summer! Ella is also a big college sports fan; Go Penn State and Syracuse! Welcome, Ella! Here’s a photo from the visit:

 

Meet Maddie!
In Maple Glen, PA I got to hang out with Maddie Frezel. She is in 2nd grade and will be a Lower Junior this summer. She can’t wait to be at camp with her sister Lily and brother Sam! Maddie is ready to try everything at camp this summer, especially basketball, climbing wall, soccer, and cooking. She even taught me a new treat, the Brookie (brownie + cookie) that would fit right in with our cooking program. Welcome, Maddie! Here’s a photo from the visit:

 

Meet Cameron!
In Livingston, NJ I got to hang out with Cameron Nikpour. He is in 3^rd grade and will be an Upper Junior this summer. Cameron is very imaginative and energetic, and loves building and learning about Legos. After school you can catch him playing video games or building Legos; he might even be building on his awesome Lego baseplate iPad case! At camp, he is looking forward to going in the lake, and maybe even trying Magic Tricks and Rocketry! Welcome, Cameron! Here’s a photo from the visit:

Hello Canadensis!

This blog comes after being “on the road” from one of our staff recruitment trips.  Last week, me and Andrew made our way to upstate New York to meet a number of staff applicants that were interested in working at camp in Summer 2016.  As you can imagine, it is always good to meet applicants in person when trying to hire the best staff around and finding a new crop of Mature Goofballs!  We made our way to Alfred, Ithaca, Cortland and Binghamton.  Along the way, we spent time with several familiar faces.  Check it out…

All in all, the trip was very productive.  Plus, when you get to have all of these mini reunions with staff of summer’s past, it makes our travels even better, especially when they share all of their wonderful memories of Canadensis.  Speaking of reunions, it was so amazing to see such a great turnout at our Annual Reunion last month.  With over 350+ campers and staff in attendance, it was great to see what everyone has been up to since we left camp in August.  It was great to see everyone enjoy the amusements and games, have lunch and reconnect with each other.  In particular, I’d love to give a special “shout out” to all of our staff that made the trip to Central New Jersey.  It is always so terrific to see just how many were in attendance.  It shows that camp is not just only a special place for our campers, but the ones that take care of them all summer long as well.  If you haven’t seen all of the pics from this great day, be sure to click here.

Right now, our staff hiring is in full swing.  If you know of anyone that might be interested in working at camp, have them go to our website and complete an online Staff Application.

Also to note, in the upcoming months, there will be several more get togethers before camp begins for both new campers and returning ones.  On Sunday, April 17, for all of our new campers in Grades 1-4 as well as any returning campers in the 2nd and 3rd grades, we have our New Camper Event in Edison, NJ.  Girls will be from 11:30 am to 1:00 pm.  Boys will be from 2:00-3:00 pm.  If you haven’t done so already, please RSVP Wendi Rutman at wendi@canadensis.com.  On June 5, we will also have our Annual Open House at Camp.  We hope that many of our families, new and returning, plan to attend.

By now, all enrolled camp families should have received the official Camp Spot clothing catalog, which now features new design items for Summer 2016.  If you haven’t received it, please contact us and we’ll get a new one out to you.  The catalog, along with a packing list, can also be found online by clicking here.  We have already received such great feedback about the new logo’d items.  They really did come out great!  If you are a family with a new Canadensis campers this summer, please contact the Camp Spot soon to set up a time on their road show or meet them in their store to get all your official Canadensis clothes.

Over the past few months, I’ve also been busy with some camper home visits.

In Long Island, I saw the Fischers, Gabriella and Jacob.  Gabriella is back for her third summer and is happy to introduce her brother Jacob in his first summer at Canadensis.  Jacob is currently in the 2nd grade and will be part of our Lower Junior Boys division.  He loves sports.  His favorite to play is hockey, which he plays throughout the entire year.  But, Jacob also plays lacrosse, baseball, basketball and soccer.  He is a big fan of the Jets and Islanders.  When at home, you can find Jacob watching a lot of SportsCenter and reading up on his favorite players.  At camp this summer, he is eagerly looking forward to Color War and the Canadensis Hockey League.  Now in 5th grade, Gabriella can’t wait to get back to camp as part of the Upper Inter Girls division.  Gabriella let me know that she and her bunkmates are continually in touch almost everyday and have even gotten together for a few mini reunions already throughout the year.  Here is a snapshot…

Very close by, I met Cole, who is in the 4th grade and will be joining us as part of our Lower Inter Boys division.  Cole likes to do a bit of everything.  He is a big basketball fan and enjoys rooting for his favorite team, the Brooklyn Nets.  He plays tennis and likes to cook.  He is an avid reader and particularly likes the Harry Potter and Percy Jackson series of books.  He can also be found doing online quizzes on the computer as well as playing with his dog Rigby.  At camp this summer, he is eagerly looking forward to making new friends, going on his division’s overnight, attending morning line-up and playing lots of basketball.  Here is a picture…

My next visit in Long Island was to see Ethan, who is also in 4th grade.  Ethan is currently playing on a basketball team.  In the Spring, his focus will turn to playing baseball.  When at home, Ethan enjoys playing video games, arts and crafts and building things.  He is currently working on building the robot chopper from the Star Wars Rebels series.  His favorite movies these days are Avengers Age of Ultron and Iron Man 3.  This summer when he comes to camp as part of our Lower Inter Boys division, he can’t wait to try water skiing and all the activities at the lake, the Art Center,  the ropes course and zipline.  Here is a photo…

In Brookville, NY, I saw 3rd grader Ross Yablans, who will be an Upper Junior Boy in Summer 2016.  Ross is now playing on his basketball team, the Heat, and taking karate classes.  He is also involved in a fitness class called Gravity in Motion.  In the Spring, Ross will play on a baseball team.  In May, he will be performing in a production of “The Wizard of Oz.”  Ross is a big fan of movies and loves to build with Legos, particularly with the Dimensions and Skylanders series.  At Canadensis, Ross is excited for the quads, waterslides, Ice Mountain and all the activities at the lake and making a whole new bunch of friends.  Here is a pic…

In South Jersey, I got to see the Ettenbergs, Samara (4th summer; Freshman Girls) and Griffin (1st summer; Upper Junior Boys).  Griffin, who is in 3rd grade, plays in a basketball league on his team called Graydemption.  He also plays tennis.  When the weather warms up, he will be actively involved in baseball.  He also plays both the piano and trombone.  When at home, he likes to play video games like FIFA and Madden as well as root for his favorite baseball team, the Mets.  For his first summer at camp, Griffin is excited for all of the sports, the quads, Color War and making new friends.  Big sister Samara, now in 6th grade, is heavily involved with dance and rehearsing for her shows in ballet, hip hop and modern.  She is also playing piano.  Samara constantly keeps in touch with her camp friends and wanted to give a “shout out” to the girls of Summer 2015’s Bunk 10.  She also had a message for them, saying, “JuJu to the rescue!  Pew!  Pew!”  This year at camp, she is ready for the Hondas, MTV Night and hanging with her brother in their first summer together at Canadensis.  Here is a snapshot…

In Central Jersey, I got to hang out with Sam.  Sam is in the 2nd grade and will be part of the Lower Junior Boys division in his first summer at camp.  Sam really loves computer programming and even takes a class where he is learning programs like Java.  He is currently on a swim team.  When at home, he enjoys playing video games, with Clash of Clans and Clash of Lords 2 being his particular favorite these days.  He is also a fan of Spongebob Squarepants and recently been getting into the Star Wars movies.  At camp this summer, he is looking forward to the Legos elective, all the activities at the lake including the water trampoline and making new friends.  Here is a picture…

In Northern Jersey, I met up with twins Olivia and Jordan, who are in the 3rd grade and will be in the Upper Junior division this year.  Olivia is a big soccer player and plays for her team the Lady Lions.  She is also currently playing in a basketball league and playing tennis.  This Spring, her sport of choice will change to softball.  She is a big fan of the Giants, Knicks, Rangers, Mets and Penn State.  In Summer 2016, she is ready for Color War, playing soccer, hanging out at the Canteen, making new friends and the trip to Dorney Park.  Jordan currently plays in a hockey league and a basketball league.  When the weather is warm, you can also find him playing golf.  In the Spring, he will be playing baseball.  Jordan is a big collector of baseball and sports cards.  At camp, he will certainly be choosing the golf elective as well as going mountain biking.  He also can’t wait for Dorney Park.  Here is a pic…

As I end this blog, I figured it’s time once again for a Blog Band Call.

First five people to e-mail me back with the correct answer will receive a sought after 2015 White Team band.  This question has three parts and all three parts must be answered correctly to win.  At Morning Line-Up at camp, (1) What song do I come out to?  (2) What band is singing this song?  (3) What musician originally performed this song?  E-Mail answers to brian@canadensis.com.   Good luck!

Have a great day!

-Brian

Hello Canadensis!

I hope this blog post finds everyone remembering to use “2016” when writing the current date.  Be honest, who has already messed it up and wrote “2015” on something.  In any event, HAPPY NEW YEAR!  By the way, my rule is that I can wish people Happy New Year until the end of January.

So, how was everyone’s holiday break?  Our family definitely got to enjoy some quality home time.  One of our annual traditions is for me, Jaime and now Emerson to make a gingerbread house, something we really look forward to doing.  Each year, we feel our work gets progressively better.  But, you be the judge.  What do you think of this year’s efforts?

With the weather being so nice during December and January, one night, we made our way over to the Turtle Back Zoo, which has the entire zoo lit up for the holiday season.  Here is a pic of me and Emerson enjoying all of the lights…

Of course, my holiday break was accentuated by the release of a movie I’ve been waiting more than 30 years to see…Star Wars:  The Force Awakens.  As a huge Star Wars nerd, I actually saw the movie twice and even loved it more the second time.  Anyone want to see it with me for a third time?  I hope this is a movie that me and other Star Wars geeks can be talking about at the Reunion in January.

Speaking of the 2015 Reunion, we hope you’ll join us…

For us, the arrival of 2016 means that we can now officially say that the summer and camp is THIS year!  So much going on in our Winter Office and up at camp.  Me, Pam, Matt, Carli and Andrew really turn a lot of our focus to hiring new staff members to join us in 2016.  As I write this, Pam is in Australia and New Zealand hiring counselors and specialists and Matt is in Eastern Europe looking to hire many of our support staff.  Next week, Carli heads to London to join Pam at a staff recruitment fair.  Of course, if you know of anyone looking for a great summer job, have them get in touch with us ASAP as we are talking to prospective staff each and every day.

Up at camp, our projects are still in full swing.  Last blog, I showed you a picture of our new fire pit by the Blue Pool.  For this blog, here is a shot of the new stables fencing that was just recently put in.  After all, the horses need to be comfortable when at camp, too.  Check it out…

Something also new for Summer 2016 will be new camp T-Shirts.  We are happy to unveil design for the camp shirts that will be available through our official camp outfitter The Camp Spot.  The new shirts will look like this…

Since my last blog, there are so many wonderful home visits to fill you in on…

On the North shore of Long Island, I saw Samantha, who is currently in the 4th grade and will be in our Lower Inter Girls division.  Samantha loves gymnastics and dance.  When she’s at home, you’ll also find her listening to her favorite singer Ariana Grande, hanging out with friends or baking everything from from cakes to cookies to brownies.  When she gets to camp this summer, she is looking forward to all the activities at the lake, Ice Mountain, the climbing wall and making a whole bunch of new friends.  Here is a picture…

Also on the Island, I hung out with Nathan, who is the in the 4th grade.  Nathan loves music.  In addition to listening to one his favorite bands Lake Street Dive, he plays both the cello and the piano.  On top of that, he takes art classes.  These days, one of his biggest interests is all different types of cars.  He also enjoys tennis and golf.  Finally, Nathan likes to cook.  In Summer 2016, as part of our Lower Inter Boys division, he can’t wait to try the hondas and quads, cooking and all of the activities at the lake, including sailing.  Here is a photo…

In New York City, I got to know Dylan, who is currently in the 3rd grade and will be joining our Upper Junior Boys division this summer.  Dylan plays in baseball and soccer leagues but also enjoys playing football, rugby and lacrosse.  His favorite teams to the root for are the Broncos in football and the Yankees in baseball.  When he’s hanging out at home, Dylan enjoys playing Minecraft, Roblox, Splatoon and Super Mario Maker as well as constructing Legos.  When he gets to Canadensis, he is excited for all of the sports, horseback riding and having fun!  Here is a pic…

On Long Island’s South shore, I met Hunter.  Hunter is in the 4th grade and he loves hockey.  He currently plays defense on a travel ice hockey team called the Long Island Gulls.  His favorite hockey team to root for is the Islanders and his favorite player of all time is Wayne Gretzky.  Hunter is also into music and plays the drums.  He enjoys listening to his favorite band Metallica.  Hunters other interests include water sports like surfing and robotics.  When he comes to camp as a Lower Inter boy this summer, he is looking forward to the hondas and quads, going on the overnight, the activities at the lake such as waterskiing and being at camp with his cousins Alexis and Jordan.  Here is a snapshot…

Also on the South shore, I saw Spencer, who will be in our Upper Junior Boys division as he is currently in 3rd grade.  Spencer plays baseball in both the Fall and Spring seasons.  In fact, his Fall team this year won the league championship.  On the diamond, you can typically find him playing shortstop, second base or first base.  In the Winter, Spencer plays on a basketball team, where he is usually the point guard.  He is a big fan of both the Mets and Islanders and can be found attending some Isles games throughout the year.  He also enjoys playing video games like Madden, NBA and NHL.  This summer, he can’t wait for all of the activities at the lake, the inter-camp sports and the evening activities.  Here is a photo…

In Westchester County, NY, I got to chill with the Pollacks, Alex and Carter.  Alex is back for her second summer at camp and his happy to introduce her brother Carter for his first summer.  Carter loves his sports and plays soccer, baseball, flag football and basketball.  He is also testing for his purple belt in karate as well as taking swimming lessons.  On top of all that, he is involved in a mad science afterschool program which he really enjoys.  At home, Carter likes building with Legos and playing video games.  As a Lower Junior boy this summer, he is ready to try the quads, the ropes course, Ice Mountain and woodworking.  Alex, who is now in the 5th grade, plays defense for her travel soccer team, the Rivertowns United Football Club.  She also takes crossfit and tennis lessons.  In the Spring, she will be playing in a softball league.  Alex was also excited to tell me about the Destination Imagination academic team that she is on, which has it’s first competition in March.  As an Upper Inter in Summer 2016, Alex looks forward to the quads, Color War and her brother being at camp.  Here is a pic…

Also in Westchester County, I got know Spencer, who is in the 3rd grade and will be in our Upper Junior Boys division this summer.  Spencer plays baseball and he was happy to report that he recently made the Armonk travel team.  The positions he plays the most are first base, pitcher, catcher and outfield.  In the Winter, he is playing on a basketball team.  On top of that, he plays tennis, likes to swim and go fishing.  Spencer also likes music, hard rock in particular, and plays the drums.  This summer, Spencer told me that he is excited about the quads, the zipline, being in the lake and Color War.  Here is a picture…

Over the holiday break, I took a drive to Central New Jersey, where I got a chance to hang out with a few new 3rd grade boys who will be joining us at Canadensis for their first summer.

First, I met with Tyler.  Tyler loves soccer and plays midfield and goalie for his travel team, the Marlboro Gunners.  Now in Winter, he plays on a basketball team.  Tyler is a fan of football and enjoys collecting sports cards.  At home, he enjoys Nerf War and playing is X-Box.  Some of his other interests include going fishing and making s’mores when camping.  When he gets to camp in June, Tyler is looking fowrd to making new friends, trying all of the lake activities, the quads and Color War.  Here is a photo…

Next, I spent some time with Jonah.  Jonah likes to play basketball and tennis.  When at home, you could find him playing Minecraft or on his X-Box or watching his favorite TV show “The Ridonculous Race.”  Jonah also enjoys playing board games and chess.  In Winter, you can find Jonah on the slopes as he is an avid skier.  When camp time comes around, Jonah told me that he is ready for activities like parkour, mountain biking, canoeing, the ropes course, canteen and Color War.  Here is a pic…

My trip to Central Jersey finished with a visit to Jeremy’s house.  Jeremy loves baseball and plays shortstop and first base on his travel team, the Marlboro Mustangs, in addition to also playing on his town rec team.  Over the winter, he takes extra time training for his baseball seasons.  He is a sports fan and likes to root for the Mets in baseball and the Packers in football.  When at home, Jeremy plays video games, with his favorites being MLB ’15, Madden and Mario Kart.  At Canadensis, he is eager to get involved in the Canadensis Baseball League, all the activities at the lake and pools and the ropes course.  He is also just looking forward to being away from home for 7 weeks.  Here is a snapshot…

Finally, it is always great to see campers and staff getting together throughout the year, sometimes even unexpectedly while on vacation.  Here are some pics that were sent to us…

Well, that’s all of the blogging for now.  Once again, HAPPY NEW YEAR!  

Have a great day!

-Brian

Hello Canadensis!

I hope this long overdue blog finds everyone in a wonderful holiday spirit!  Things here the in Winter office are starting shape up in terms of our plans for Summer 2016.

Back in November, our full time team of me, Pam, Matt, Carli and Andrew headed up to Macungie, PA for the Annual Keystone Camp Conference.  Very different from the conference we attend in March in Atlantic City, the Keystone provides a more intimate feel as all attendees stay at the same hotel and share all meals together.  They days away from our office allowed for our year-round team some good bonding time (we took a great hike in the miles of wooded area at the hotel) as well as some nice summertime reflections.  Attending these conferences always gets our creativity going in our plans for the upcoming summer and the workshops we partake in always adds to our expansive knowledge of the camp world.

Because it’s been such a long overdue blog, I personally wanted to thank all of those camp families and staff that attended our JDRF walks in New York City and Philadelphia to help support Type 1 Diabetes research.  These walks really coincided with our Canadensis Values program and is something that we look forward to doing in the years ahead.  So, mark your calendars for 2016 so you can be part of it.  For more info about JDRF, click here.

Up at camp, there are already a number of renovations, upgrades and improvements going on to the facility.  Several of our Lower Boys bunks are currently receiving some makeovers.  The Outdoor Amphitheater and Stage are receiving a facelift with new decking.  We have also purchased a new motorboat for Lake Lenape as well as a number of new bikes for the Hondas program.  Right next to the Blue Pool, campers in Summer 2016 will be able to enjoy a brand new stonework fire pit for roasting s’mores at campfires.  In the Spring, we will also be making upgrades to the Office Basketball Courts, Spectrum Hockey Rink and High Ropes Course.  Stay tuned!

Now that Fall and soon to be Winter is here, there are of course an update on some of my home visits.  Over the next few weeks and months, I also look forward to meeting and seeing so many new and returning camp families.

In Long Island, I met Ben, who is currently in the 3rd grade and will be in our Upper Junior Boys division in Summer 2016.  Ben is a yellow belt in karate and just finished up his flag football season on his team, the Vikings.  When at home, he likes playing video games, his favorite right now being Super Smash Bros, as well as watching WWE wrestling and rooting on the New York Mets.

In Plainview, I saw Evan (1st summer; Lower Junior Boy) and Marissa (3rd summer; Upper Inter Girl). Evan has been busy playing soccer and hockey (both ice hockey and deck hockey).  He also enjoys rooting for his favorite sports teams, the New Jersey Devils and Ohio State.  When at home, you might find Evan reading or playing video games.  Marissa, who is constantly in touch with her camp friends almost daily, is also busy with a lot of sport activities.  She is also a fan of the Colorado Avalanche and Chicago Blackhawks.  She also loves to just chill out at home when she has free time.

The same night, I went over to hang out with Carly, who is in the 3rd grade and will be an Upper Junior this summer.  Carly is involved in the Take a Bow drama program and will soon be performing in “The Little Mermaid.”  She is also an avid ice skater and likes to dance.  When at home, she loves music and singing as well as watching her favorite TV show “Dancing With the Stars.”

In Briarcliff Manor, NY, I spent some time getting to know Samantha.  She is in the 4th grade and will be a Lower Inter this upcoming summer.  When she gets to Canadensis, she is really looking forward to the Ropes Course, Swimming, all the activities on the Lake and Horseback Riding.  When at home in the Fall, Winter and Spring, Samantha likes to dance and skateboard.  She also might be found listening to music.  These days, her favorite singer is Adele.

So, the other day, I was going through some of my “Camp Stuff” and I realized that I came home with all of these White team bands from Color War.  Since most of camp is placed on the Blue or Gold teams, the White team bands tend to be somewhat rate and coveted by our campers.  With that in mind, I thought I would use this blog as a time where we could do a BAND CALL.  For those note “in the know,” band call is a Color War activity.  Each camper and staff is given a band of their team’s color to wear on their wrist.  Each summer, we have a Band Call song that can be played at anytime during the day.  When the song is played, everyone must run to a band station and drop their band in the respective bin.  The team with the most bands for that call wins the points.  With that same sentiment in mind, here’s how the BLOG BAND CALL will work.  And, I will do this throughout the year in future blogs, too.  I will give a camp related question here in the blog.  And, the first five campers or staff to reply to my e-mail, which is brian@canadensis.com ,  will have a band sent to them in the mail.  So, for our very first BLOG BAND CALL, here is your camp related question….

ON WHAT DATE THIS SUMMER DID COLOR WAR BREAK?

Finally, I wouldn’t be doing a good job on this blog if I failed to mention just how wonderful it was to be part of the PAVE (Pam and Dave) Wedding a few weeks ago.  Seeing my Co-Director Pam and our Senior Boys Head Counselor Dave getting married was truly a wonderful occasion for our Canadensis Family.  The Wedding Weekend was filled with so many amazing festivities.  In short, it was totally Pam and Dave (and, if I’m being honest, more Pam than Dave…Ha Ha!).  Thanks for allowing me to be part of such a memorable weekend.

Well, that’s all the blogging for now.  And, I promise, the next blog will be sooner than later.

Have a great day!

-Brian

Meet Michael!  He’s just finishing 5th grade, and will be a new Upper Inter Boy this summer!  He lives in West Chester, PA!

-Michael has an awesome Electric Guitar and he played it for me in his basement where he practices.  He goes to ‘School of Rock’ once a week and has performed a few times.

-He is really excited to bring his guitar to camp and show off his skills in Rock Band…maybe you will get to hear him play some Metallica or AC/DC at Visiting Day!

-He is also a really fast runner and his fastest 5K is 23 minutes so far and he even ran a 10k once with his dad!

-We had time to play some Ping Pong and he beat me 11-5! I can’t wait for the rematch up at camp.

-Michael is not just a musician and athlete! He also really enjoys reading. He also has a younger brother Adam and a dog named Puck.

-He can’t wait to celebrate his birthday at camp and is lucky that his cousins Lauren and Justin go to camp so they can celebrate with him!

-Michael is a big Eagles fan and you can totally tell by walking into his room. He goes to games with his dad.

-Here are some activities that Michael is looking forward to this Summer at Canadensis: Soccer League and Hockey League, climbing wall, archery and Banana Boats.

 

Meet Wyatt!  He’s just finishing up 3rd grade, and will be an Upper Junior at camp this summer!  He lives in Gladwyne, PA!

-He really loves football, both playing and watching. He is an Eagle and Patriots fan and he is pretty sure his camp bedspread is going to have all the NFL Logos on it.

-He recently got to cut the cake at his cousins Gender Reveal Party and they found out that they were having Twins!!!

-Wyatt is a pretty athletic guy: he also plays basketball during the Winter and was on the Stamford team, Stamford.  He plays baseball in the Spring.

-Both his parents went to camp so he is really excited that it is his turn to go to sleep away camp, and his younger brother Reid will likely follow in his steps!

-Wyatt is looking forward to a lot of the activities at camp like: Cooking, Dance Parties at Morning Lineup, Lacrosse, and Hondas (his dad has GoCarts!)

-He really hopes he has counselors who are into sports like he is and want to play with him.

-Looking forward to frozen Twix at Canteen since he had them for the first time at Canadensis last summer!

 

 

 

Meet Ari!  Ari is finishing up 2nd grade, and will be a Lower Junior this year.  He lives in Ambler, PA!

-He has a really cute dog named Bailey.

-Ari got to spend time at Canadensis for Tour and More and his dad is one of the camp doctor’s so he got to spend some extra time at camp during that week…which means he’s a good guy to know in the first few days of camp!

-Some of his favorite parts of his time at Canadensis are the Hypnosis Show, the Lake Party and the All Camp Scavenger Hunt.

-Ari can’t wait for some of his favorites activities like roller hockey and soccer and hopes he can play lacrosse also.

-He loves to watch football and hockey and his favorite team is the Boston Bruins.

– Ari also started playing electric guitar at the School of Rock and started skiing this winter!

-He is really excited for Electives like archery and climbing wall and also wants to try Waterskiing.

-Ari is really looking forward to Color War and hopes he is on his brother’s team.

Idan is his big brother, and this will be his 4th summer at camp!

– Idan showed me a photobook he made of his first summer camp which was awesome!

-He is really looking forward to being a Freshman. Especially the Cooperstown trip so he can bring Ari back a present.

-At school, Idan is in Sixth Grade now which means he has a locker and a schedule. He also gets to visit a special café  a couple times a week

-Idan is really proud that he has a perfect record…he has one Color War FOUR YEARS IN A ROW!

 

 

 

Meet Matthew!  He’s just finishing up 2nd grade, and will be a Lower Junior this year!  He lives in Plymouth Meeting, PA.

-Matthew is an Eagles fan and has bedspread that shows his devotion!

-He is looking forward to Water Skiing and Glass Fusion

-This winter his family took a Florida trip, and he loves Harry Potter world!  After camp this year, he is excited to go to Israel!

-We talked about school, and he told me about an awesome “Skittles project” he was working on.

-Matthew really wants to be on the Blue Team for Color War…we’ll see!!

-He has a special talent that might be used at camp…he can walk on his hands!

His older sister Marissa is spending her 4th summer at Canadensis, and will be an Upper Inter Girl.  I don’t think there is anyone with more CAMP SPIRIT that her!!!

His oldest sibling, David, is spending his 6th summer at Canadensis, and will be a Upper Senior Boy – we are so excited to have him back, and have all his siblings at camp this summer!

 

 

 

Meet Ryan!  Ryan is just finishing 3rd grade and will be an Upper Junior Boy at camp this summer~  He is from Woodbury, NY.

-Ryan is already “Mr. Canadensis”!  That’s the award he won at Tour & More last summer…doesn’t the photo above tell you everything you need to know?!

-He is a sporty guy…he plays on the basketball team, baseball team and enjoys playing tennis and golf

-He was a gaga champion at his day camp last year!

-One of his best buddies is named “Ralph” he’s a toy his brother won and brought home from  Dorney Park!

-Ryan loved doing the water trampoline at camp last year  and can’t wait to try ice mountain and the banana boat.

-This winter, his family took a trip to Hawaii, and during our visit he was wearing a cool necklace he got there.

-Ryan thinks he’ll probably be the first one awake in his bunk every morning, but he might need to work on his cleaning skills.

Ryan has two older siblings at camp!  Meet Marissa and Jeremy!  We had a lot of fun during the home visit, and they both think he’s going to quickly fit in at camp and be dancing up a storm at Morning Line Up!

Marrisa is going to be a CIT (Counselor In Training!!!) this summer, and is so excited!  She’ll actually be heading to camp tomorrow for CIT Weekend!

Jeremy will be a Freshman this summer.  He has been very busy playing sports, his number one sport is either baseball or tennis but he also plays basketball.  He has a perfect color war record, let’s see if he’ll be able to keep it in tact this summer.  He’s going to be on his sister’s team because when you have a sibling who is a CIT, you all get placed on the same team!

Hello Camp Canadensis!

It’s Friday, April 24, which means a few things:  (1) Things here at the Canadensis Winter Office are in high gear (and probably the reason for the delay on this blog…ha ha!); (2) Some of our year-round staff (Eric and Matt) are already up at camp, getting things ready for the summer; (3) A lot of parents are hopefully preparing their camp forms and starting the packing process; (4) Our 2015 CITs are getting pumped for their final summers as campers!; (5) There are 64 days until camp!  Woo Hoo!

Lot’s going on here over the past month or so…

First off, congratulations to 2015 Freshman Girl Alexandra Pollak on winning this year’s NCAA Basketball Tournament Pool.  This summer at one of our first morning line-ups, Alexandra will receive her prize of some Canadensis goodies.  Maybe Alexandra will also share with us her strategy to picking winners!

Just last weekend, we hosted our New Camper Event in Edison, NJ for campers completing Grades 1-4.  This was a great opportunity for kids and parents to meet one another, play some games and eat some pizza!  During the event, we played get to know you games like Catching Bubbles, Kid Trivia, Freeze Frame, Heads or Tails and Human Knot.  It was a fun day and definitely set the tone for Summer 2015!

In the month of March, our Winter Team made our way down to Atlantic City, NJ for the Annual Tri-State Camp Conference. This conference is attended by more than 3000 individuals from hundreds of different camps.  Our camp creativity really gets going as well all participated in a number of workshops, shopped in the vendor hall and networked with other camping professionals, in our relentless attempt to make the Canadensis Summer an unforgettable experience. The conference was highlighted by its final keynote speaker, who was none other than 2016 Presidential Nominee Hillary Clinton.  You can watch her entire speech by clicking here.

A few weeks ago, me, Jaime and Emerson made our way up to camp to see all what was going on with many of our off season projects.  Here are some cool things to show you…

Summer 2015 is camp’s 75th Birthday Summer and we have heard from so many of camp’s alumni, who will be attending our Reunion on June 14.  It’s going to be a great day, reminiscing about past summers and reliving camp experiences.  Plans for the day include:

• Our Pool and Lake will be open for your enjoyment.
• Join us for a hike down memory lane, and a walk around the Lake Trail.
• Our campfire and s’mores station will be open all afternoon.
• The climbing wall will be “rocking”.
• Pick-up games of basketball and kickball, and tennis courts will be open.
• Guided tours let you see the “new” stuff at Canadensis!
• 75th Alumni photo session.
• A “taste of Canadensis” food served all day, including BBQ favorites and the “Cornman”.

For all Alumni that have yet to RSVP to this event, please do so by clicking here.

We hope that many of our camp families will be making it up to camp for our Annual Open House on Sunday, May 31 from 1-4 pm.  The day is a structures one that allows for campers (particularly new campers) to meet one another, the chance to meet some of our amazing staff, a BBQ Lunch, Swimming and Lake Activities, Tennis, Basketball, Soccer, GaGa, Climbing Wall and Art Projects.  For parents, we will have Camp Parenting 101 session as well.

Since my last blog, there are many home visits to update you on.  Here we go…

In Livingston, NJ, I saw 4th grader Ben Weinberger, who will be joining us for his first summer at camp as a Lower Inter Boy.  When I saw him, Ben had just finished up his basketball season on his team, the Wildcats.  This Spring, he will be playing both baseball and on his travel soccer team, where he plays both goalie and defense.  Ben really also enjoys fishing and swimming.  Or as he told me, “Anything to do with water.”  When at home, he likes to play X-Box games like FIFA, football and basketball.  He is also a fan of the Eagles, Phillies, 76ers and Nets.  At camp this summer, he is looking forward to all of the activities at the lake, waterskiing, the hondas / quads and making new friends.  Here is a photo…

In Port Washington, NY, I hung out with Jake Bretstein, who is currently in the 3rd grade and will be an Upper Junior Boy in 2015.  Jake plays in Flag Football and Basketball leagues.  This Spring, he will be playing pitcher, short stop and second base on two different baseball teams.  He also likes to play hockey.  When at home, you can find him playing games like NHL ’15 and FIFA ’15 as well as rooting for teams like the Mets, Giants, Rangers and Nets.  Jake also told me that he is known for wearing different colored socks.  For his first summer at camp, Jake is excited to try waterskiing, the quads and the sports leagues as well as participating in activities like canteen and Color War.  Here is a picture…

In Merrick, NY, I spent some time with Maxwell Galdamez (1st grader, Lower Junior Boy) and Morgan Galdamez (4th grader, Lower Inter Girl).  Maxwell told me how he is currently and orange belt in his Tae Kwon Do classes and that he also played in a basketball league.  This Spring, he will be playing in a baseball league.  Maxwell filled me in on one of his new favorite things called Google Cardboard, which is like a virtual reality projector.  He also likes to listen to music.  In his first summer at camp, Maxwell is eager to try basketball, tennis and waterskiing.  As for Morgan, back for her second summer at Canadensis, she is been busy with her Dance Arts program, preparing for a recital in the Spring in which she will be performing a jazz number to a “Little Shop of Horrors” song.  She is also involved in gymnastics.  Morgan wanted to give out shout out to the Girls of Bunk 5 from last summer and said that she has her “confused face” on.  That must be an inside joke.  Morgan has had some camp sleepovers this year and can’t wait to see all of her camp friends in June.  Here is a pic…

In Melville, NY, I met Max Penzer, who is currently in the 4th grade and will be a Lower Inter Boy this year.  Max is in a really cool Engineering Club, where he was recently participated and won a competition where he had to build an apple cart out of Legos.  Max also loves to go rock climbing.  When at home, he really enjoys taking care of his new pet ferret named Lucky, reading books like “Harry Potter” and “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” and collecting stuffed animals.  In his first summer at camp, Max told me that he will be very excited for activities like archery, all the lake activities, rock climbing, canteen and Color War.  Here is a picture…

Also in Melville, NY, I saw David Abrams (2nd grader; Lower Junior Boy) and Sarah Abrams (7th grader; Lower Senior Girl).  David is a very big Minecraft player.  He is also very into Science and told me that he plans to be an inventor one day.  When watching TV, his favorite shows are Lab Rats and The Thundermans on Nickelodeon.  David is an avid reader and enjoys books like “Diary of a Wimpy Kid.”  For his first summer at Canadensis, he is really looking forward to waterskiing, all the lake activities, fishing and rocketry as well as spending a summer with his big sister once again.  As for Sarah, who is returning for her 5th summer at camp, she has had several get-togethers with camp friends throughout the year.  She wanted to give a shout out to all of the Lower Senior Girls for Summer 2015 and the Girls of Bunk 14 from Summer 2014.  This year, Sarah has been running Cross Country and doing several short distance events on her Track team.  At camp, she is pumped to get her 5 Year Honor Jacket, being on Senior Side and being away from home.  Here is a snapshot…

In Livingston, NJ, it was great to get to know Sami Heumann better.  Sami is currently in the 3rd grade and will be an Upper Junior Girl in her first summer at Canadensis.  Sami is a very busy girl, participating in a wide range of different activities from lacrosse to gymnastics to piano to arts and crafts.  She is also rehearsing at Michelle’s Dance Studio for her recital in May, where she will performing jazz and hip hop routines.  When at home, Sami is known to roast marshmallows (getting ready for the summer) and listening to music, some of her favorites being Maroon 5 and Meghan Trainor.  At camp in 2015, Sami is ready for things like the dance team, banana boat, making new friends, learning new things and no parents (ha ha!).  Here is a photo…

In New York City, NY, I was with 3rd grader and Upper Junior Boy Ryan Lamendola.  In the Winter, Ryan played in a basketball league and this Spring, he will be playing baseball.  Ryan and his family enjoy skiing in Vail as well.  He likes Science, build and invent new things when at home.  Furthermore, Ryan is an avid swimmer, likes to bike ride and even has a new found interest in baking.  In his first summer at camp, Ryan is looking forward to the Special Thursdays at camp, COALS, the quads / hondas and all the activities at the lake, including Ice Mountain.  Here is a pic…

In Tenafly, NJ, I got together with Ava Selver (3rd grader; Upper Junior Girl) and Max Selver (5th grader; Upper Inter Boy).  This Spring, Ava will be playing on a travel softball team, the Tenafly Tigers.  This Winter, she played in two different basketball leagues.  Currently, she is also rehearsing for her hip hop and jazz routines as part of an upcoming dance recital.  On top of all that, Ava takes art classes, figure skates and loves going on Instagram.  When she gets to Canadensis in her first summer, she is ready for all of the lake activities, the dance team, Color War, making new friends and being away from her parents.  As for Max, who is back for his 3rd summer at camp, he plays defense all year round on the Englewood Field Club Ice Hockey Team.  Max also takes painting classes and has recently been inspired by painter Ann Neely in his recent work.  Very soon, he will be starting a DJ class in New York City.  Max takes tennis lessons as well.  He has been in touch with his camp bunkmates and wanted to say “Taco Cat” to all of them (an inside joke apparently).  This summer, he is once again excited for activities such as the CHL, private tennis lessons, Color War and the pottery wheel.  He is also excited to have his sister at camp with him.  Here is a picture…

In Merrick, NY, I met up with Dylan Lipman.  Dylan is currently in 6th grade and will be in the Freshman Boys division at Canadensis this summer.  He really enjoys skiing in the Winter and travels a lot to Windham Mountain.  Dylan is also very active in the STEM Education Program.  When older, Dylan envisions being a pilot and he showed me a flight simulation game he plays often, where it feels like he is actually flying a real airplane.  On top of all that, he likes many different aspects of technology and likes to make his own movies.  When he comes to camp in June, he is very eager to go on the hondas and banana boat and try activities like cooking, pottery and the rock wall.  Here is a photo…

In Merrick, NY, I also saw Justin Baron, who is currently in the 6th grade and will be joining us for his first summer as part of the Freshman Boys division.  In the Winter, Justin plays in the Merrick-Bellmore Basketball League as well as on a travel basketball team.  In the Spring and Fall, the he plays on a soccer team.  On top of that, he plays lacrosse for the Long Island Jesters.  Justin also enjoys hockey and roots for the New York Islanders.  When there is snow on the ground, you will find him skiing and snowmobiling.  When at home, Justin is interested in technology, airplanes and cars.  At camp in 2015, he is ready to meet new friends and have a great time!  Here is a picture…

In Westfield, NJ, I got to hang out with Josh and Jack Singer.  Both are joining us at camp for their first summer at Canadensis.  Jack is in the 3rd grade and will be an Upper Junior Boy while Josh is in the 2nd grade and will be a Lower Junior Boy.  Throughout the year, both boys play a lot of different sports including flag football, ice hockey, basketball and baseball.  Both enjoy playing video games, too.  Jack’s favorites are NBA 2K15 and Madden while Josh likes NHL and Minecraft.  Josh and Jack both like to read.  When it comes to their favorite sports teams, Jack roots for the Jets, Knicks, Yankees and Devils while Josh is a fan of the Flyers, Phillies, 76ers and Eagles.  When Jack gets to camp, he is looking forward to the hondas / quads, climbing wall and COALS while Josh is eager to get involved in the climbing wall, zipline, COALS, hockey and football.  Here is a pic…

In Potomac, MD, I spent time with Caitlyn McCabe, who is currently in the 6th grade and will be joining us as part of our Freshman Girls division in 2015.  Currently, Caitlyn is playing attack on her lacrosse team.  Recently, she just finished up playing in her basketball season.  She is also extremely busy rehearsing routines in hip hop, jazz, street jazz, lyrical and ballet for dance as part of her Impact Performing Arts Company, where she is on a competitive team and performing in an upcoming recital.  She joked that she could be found “spinning around the house” to rehearse as well.  Caitlyn likes to take photos and is a self-admitted shopaholic who is obsessed with shoes.  Her other obsession is Nutella.  When she gets to Canadensis in her first summer, she can’t wait to meet a whole bunch of new people.  Here is a snapshot…

Also in Potomac, MD, I was with Liam Klein (4th grade; Lower Inter Boy) and Jessica Klein (6th grader; Freshman Girl).  Liam plays baseball in both the Fall and Spring months and plays a wide array of positions, including second base, shortstop, third base and pitcher.  In the Winter, you will also find him training for baseball at indoor facilities, but during those months, he also plays on two basketball teams.  When the weather is nice outside, you can also find him fishing on the Chesapeake Bay.  Liam is a fan of the Red Sox, Nationals, Giants, Celtics, Wizards and the University of Michigan teams.  At camp in his first summer, he is really excited for the hondas, rocketry, fishing, baseball and playing in the CBL, basketball, waterskiing and Color War.  As for Jessica, she has been on a championship run as her Soccer Team, the Hoover Middle School won their second divisional title in a row.  Jessica played goalie on the team.  In Basketball season, she won a championship again with her Hoover team.  Over the holiday season, Jessica danced “The Nutcracker” as part of the Washington Ballet.  Jessica wanted to give a shout out to all of the girls in Bunk 11 from Summer 2014.  She can’t wait to have an awesome summer again, which will be her 4th at Canadensis.  She is looking forward to her Hershey Park trip and having her brother at camp.  Her is a picture…

In Brookville, MD, I stopped by to see the Hesse Family where I got to see Ben Hesse, Lauren Hesse and Emily Hesse.  All three are very busy with their sports seasons.  Currently, Ben is playing high school baseball and Lauren and Emily are playing softball.  In Summer 2015, Ben will be joining the ranks of our staff as a JC (Junior Counselor) while Lauren and Emily will be in the Upper Senior Girls division.  All three Hesses are returning for their fourth summers at Canadensis.  Here is a photo…

Finally, you know camp is coming soon when even the Empire State Building is lit up in Camp Canadensis Blue and Gold!

Well, that completes my Friday Blow Out Blog!  Thanks for reading!  See you soon!

Have a great day!

-Brian

Hello Canadensis…

As the saying goes, the month of March goes in like a lion and out like a lamb.  I can only hope this holds true this year.  This winter has been pretty chilly, so I’m sure hoping that the weather outside can at least start to make me think that Summer 2015 is soon upon us.  I know it’s been quite some time since my last blog post, but life in the Canadensis Winter Office has been super busy over the past few months.  Just recently, I “hit the road” on one of our many Winter recruitment weeks.  I had the pleasure of travelling to upstate New York and experience some lovely temperatures, which at one one point reached -33-degrees.  Wow, that’s cold!  However, along the way, I got to see some of our amazing staff from summers past, including Emily Schmeichel (Alfred University); Jake Asman, Maggie Maurice and Mike Levien (Ithaca College); and Paige Gindi (Binghamton University).  Here are some pictures from my visits…

A few weekends ago, we also had our Leadership Weekend, which is where we have many of our leadership staff come in for two days to talk all things camp.  This “meeting of the minds” is something that really kicks off many of the ideas for the upcoming summer.  We discuss everything from new activity and program ideas to ways of improving the camp day to facility updates.  We also had a great team building exercise to learn about our working personalities.  At night, we took the team out to a cooking class, where we made our own dinner.  Here are some pictures from the weekend…

Just recently, we opened up registration for enrollment to our 75th Summer Alumni Reunion.  We cannot believe all of the responses so far.  It looks like we will have campers and counselors from most, if not all, decades present at this amazing event on Sunday, June 14 from 12:00-5:00 pm.  If you haven’t registered already, you can do so by clicking here.

With so much time having passed since my last blog, here are some home visits to update everyone on…

In New York City, I hung out with Max and Zach Ehrlich, who are both in the 3rd grade and will be part of our Upper Junior Boys division this summer.  Max and Zach are also 2nd generation Canadensis campers as dad Justin attended as a camper.  In the Spring, Max will be playing baseball.  He also plays flag football.  When at home, he enjoys playing Madden Football on his iPad.  Max told me that his favorite movie is “Million Dollar Arm.”  When he gets to camp this Summer, he is really looking forward to Flag Football, the Hondas, Waterslides and Tubing.  As for Zach, when Spring rolls around, he will be playing in the Chelsea Piers Soccer Club, playing defense.  Right now, in Winter, he plays Futsol.  When at home you can find him rooting for his favorite teams, the Barcelona Soccer Team or the Seattle Seahawks.  At camp this year, he can’t wait for the Quads and Hondas, the Waterslides and Flag Football.  Here is a photo…

In New York City, I also spent some time with Eli Goldman.  Eli is in the 3rd grade and will be an Upper Junior in 2015.  In the Winter months, he plays on a basketball team.  But, as soon as the weather warms up, he will move into baseball.  Eli loves to root for his favorite teams, which are all of the New York teams such as the Yankees, Mets, Giants, Jets, Knicks, Nets and Rangers.  Eli also enjoys hanging out with friends and family as well as watching some of his favorite TV shows on the Cartoon Network and Food Network.  For his first summer at Canadensis, Eli told me that he can’t wait for all of the sports at camp, making new friends and decorating his area.  Here is a pic…

In Syosset, NY, I saw Jack and Molly Cohen.  Jack is back for his 3rd summer at camp as an Upper Inter boy and is happy to introduce his sister Molly, who will be joining us for her first summer as a Lower Junior girl.  Molly, currently in 2nd grade, is a competitive ice skater and figure skates in a number of shows.  She also likes to do art, watch movies and build Legos.  She also is involved in Girls Scouts, takes dance classes and does yoga.  In the Winter months, Molly told me that she enjoys building snowmen.  At camp this year, she is ready to try activities like Ceramics, the Waterslides at the Pool and the Banana Boat at the Lake.  As for Jack, now in 5th grade, he is busy with two travel basketball teams where he plays guard on the Syosset Braves and the AAU Lightning.  In the Fall and Spring, he plays WR in Flag Football leagues.  Jack also wanted to give a shout out to the Boys of Bunk 8 from Summer 2014.  At camp in 2015, Jack can’t wait for the IBL (Inter Basketball League), the Lake, Color War and seeing all his friends.  Here is a picture…

In Short Hills, NJ, I got to know Samantha Rose, who is a 2nd generation Canadensis Camper as her dad Scott and two uncles attended camp back in the day.  Samantha is in the 2nd grade and will be a Lower Junior this summer.  She likes to play tennis all year round.  In the Fall, she played on a soccer team.  In the Spring, she will be playing on a softball team.  She likes all sports, but also enjoys arts and crafts, playing on the Wii, as well as playing board games like Monopoly and chess.  Samantha roots for her favorite team, the New York Yankees.  When enjoying some quiet time, she likes to read books, preferably biographies or anything from the Junie B. Jones series.  This summer, Samantha let me know that she is really looking forward to making new friends, playing Basketball, Waterskiing, Rock Climbing and going out for the Camp Show.  Here is a snapshot…

In Syosset, NY, I got to meet Ava Graff, who is currently in the 3rd grade and will be joining our Upper Junior Girls division in Summer 2015.  Ava is very busy right now with her ballet and jazz dance as she is rehearsing for a recital in the Spring.  She is also taking an acting class called “Stage to Screen.”  On top of all that, she plays the piano.  In the Spring, she will also be playing softball.  When at home, Ava can be found doing art projects, drawing or listening to her favorite music like Arianna Grande, Taylor Swift and One Direction.  Ava also let me know that she is very involved with raising money for causes such as ALS and Canine Companions.  This summer Ava is excited for Swimming, being in the Camp Show, all of the Lake activities and making new friends.  Here is a picture…

In Syosset, NY, I also saw Darren and Jordyn Weinstein.  Darren joins us for his first summer as an Upper Junior boy and is happy to join his big sister Jordyn, who returns for her 4th Summer at Canadensis as a Lower Senior girl.  Currently in 3rd grade, Darren plays in the Syosset Basketball League.  In the Fall and Spring, he plays flag football.  He also plays on lacrosse and soccer teams.  When at home, Darren enjoys playing Minecraft, Clash of Clans and Madden 2015 video games.  When he comes to camp, he can’t wait for Football, Basketball, Color War and Canteen.  Jordyn, who is now in 7th grade, has been seeing all of her camp friends on the Bar and Bat Mitzvah circuit this year.  Jordyn wanted to give a shout out to all of the Lower Senior Girls for Summer 2015.  She is also very busy with her competitive dance teams in hip hop, jazz, lyrical, ballet and tap.  Her competition season is already underway.   Finally, Jordyn plays on her school volleyball team.  This summer, Jordyn is ready for all of the great stuff ahead of her on Senior side, including her trip to Lake Placid.  She is also happy to have her brother at camp.  Here is a photo…

In Syosset, NY, I also go to see Jack Bahrenburg, who will be joining our Upper Junior Boys division as a current 3rd grader.  Jack plays a lot of ice hockey in Syosset Hockey League where he plays both left wing and left defense.  In the Spring, he will also be playing baseball.  On top of that, Jack takes tennis lessons.  Jack is musical, too, and plays both the violin and piano.  When at home, you can find him rooting on his favorite teams, the Islanders and Mets, as well as playing NHL ’15 on his X-Box.  In his first summer at Canadensis, Jack is looking forward to Waterskiing, the CHL and meeting new friends.  Here is a pic…

In Plainview, NY, I got to know Max Marcus.  Currently in the 3rd grade, Max will be in our Upper Junior Boys division in his first summer at camp.  These days, he is playing in the Plainview Basketball League on his team, the Thunder.  In the Spring, he will play both baseball and soccer.  In the Fall, he plays soccer and flag football.  At home, you will find him dunking on his bedroom basketball hoop as well as rooting for his favorite sports teams, the Giants, Mets, Nets and Rangers.  When I asked Max what he is looking forward to the most this summer, Max enthusiastically responded, “It’s camp!  I’m looking forward to everything!”  Here is a snapshot…

Finally, here was a great photo I received from some of our 2015 Lower Inter Girls that recently had a sleepover.  It was nice to see that they had a special guest appearance from counselor Lindsay Gelber.

Some of our Upper Junior Girls for Summer 2015 got together recently at a 76ers basketball game…

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

Have a great day!

-Brian

Hello Camp Canadensis!

Happy New Year!  I hope this blog has everyone that attended camp in Summer 2014 excited for our annual reunion this weekend!  I can’t wait to see everyone.  Our new location is perfect for this event.  For two hours, the place will solely be ours and it is packed with great games and rides.  Of course, I can’t wait to hear just what everyone has been up to since camp ended in August last year.  From what I’ve heard, many of you are coming.  I’ve even got word that a number of our amazing staff will be able to make it!

Things here at the camp office have started to kick into high hear with the calendar turning over to ’15.  Me, Eric, Pam, Cara and Matt have started to get out on the road or will be going out very soon to do our staff hiring.  Eric just got back from Australia and New Zealand.  Matt was in Eastern Europe hiring our support staff.  Me, Pam and Cara will be hitting a number of spots in the U.S., trying to hire some of the best new counselors out there.  Of course, if you know of anyone that would be a great counselor, which in our opinion is someone that could be a “Mature Goofball,” please have them complete an online application on our website.  Or, by clicking here.  Of course, we are happy to let you know that we also have so many counselors returning for another summer.  If you are one of those staff that are “still on the fence” about returning, please try to touch base with us as soon as possible to let us know if you can make it back for another amazing summer.  Spots are going quick!

For those that didn’t know, February 1 is I HEART CAMP DAY!  Have you ever mentioned camp to someone you’ve met and seen how their eyes suddenly light up? Did this then lead to a lively conversation loaded with camp memories? Perhaps you recounted kayaking on the lake, playing capture the flag, going on wild scavenger hunts, meeting your best friend, or singing incredibly silly songs. Although there may be people in your life that do not understand your camp love, the people at I HEART CAMP do understand. In fact, the people at I HEART CAMP have a website to allow to share your love of camp, beginning on February 1, 2015. For more about how you can find others that share their love of camp as much as you, go to the I HEART CAMP website by clicking here.

For all of our 2015 camp families, our first mailing for Summer 2015 left our Winter office this week.  This mailing predominantly deals with camp shopping.  In the mailing, you will find our official camp catalog.  Some cool new items this year, too!  Please be on the look out for it.  For new families, if you have any questions about camp packing, be sure to get in touch with us.  We are happy to answer any questions you might have.

As many of you know, outside of my family and my love for camp, I love football.  I am really looking forward to the Super Bowl next weekend!  And, it’s officially the last time I can break out my tailgating grill to cook up some delicious steak tips before we put it away until next year in September.  What a game it should be!  Who do you like in this year’s match-up?!  The Seahawks?  The Patriots?  If you send me an e-mail, guessing the winner and the correct score, I’ll send you a camp T-Shirt.  Good luck!

In this blog, so many home visits to tell you about…

In Narbeth, PA, I saw the Reisners…Anna, Lindsay and William!  Anna, who is back for her 4th summer, and Lindsay, returning for her 3rd summer, are thrilled that brother William will be joining them for his first summer at Camp Canadensis.  William, currently in 2nd grade, will be a Lower Junior in Summer 2015.  William plays flag football and baseball as well as currently playing in a basketball league.  In the Winter, he enjoys going skiing.  William also let me know that he is a big Lego builder.  At camp this year, he can’t wait for archery, the quads, mountain biking and gaga.  Now in 6th grade, Anna plays softball in the Fall and Spring and basketball in the Winter.  This time of year, you will also find her skiing.  Anna wanted to give a shout out to her camp sisters of Summer 2014’s Bunk 10 and wanted to let them know that she misses “Ammy the Bike.”  As a Freshman this upcoming Summer, Anna is pumped for her Hershey trip and Color War.  Lindsay, who is now in the 5th grade, plays soccer in the Fall and Spring while skiing in the Winter months.  She also wanted to give a shout out to her bunkmates from Summer 2014’s Bunk 8 and wanted to them to remember “Febreze.”  For the upcoming summer at camp, where she will be an Upper Inter, Lindsay looks forward to her out of camp trips and having her brother at camp.  Here is a picture…

In Bellmore, NY, I saw Jordyn Sherman (currently in 6th grade) and Carly Sherman (currently in 2nd grade).  Jordyn is back for Summer number 2 as part of our Freshman division while Carly joins us for her first summer in the Lower Junior Girls group.  In the Fall, Carly played on a soccer team called the Rock Stars.  All year long, she is involved in gymnastics classes at Platinum Athletics.  She also loves arts and crafts, watching movies (her favorite is “Elf”), playing tennis and collecting Shopkins.  When she comes to camp, she is so ready for things like gaga, making s’mores at campfires, eating waffles and ice cream for breakfast and having her birthday at camp.  Since camp ended last year, Jordyn has seen her camp friends several times.  She wanted to give a shout out to the Girls of Bunk 11 from Summer 2014 and had the message of “Soy salty” that she wanted to say to them.  Jordyn plays tennis, hangs out with friends throughout the year as well.  She is really looking forward to the camp reunion.  In Summer 2015, Jordyn can’t wait for her Hershey Park trip and Color War.  Here is a photo…

In Merrick, NY, I spent some time with the Liebermans…Adam, Bradley and Sarah, all who will be at camp this summer.  Adam (currently in 6th grade and a Freshman for Summer 2015) and Bradley (currently in 5th grade and an Upper Inter for Summer 2015) are back for their second summers while sister Sarah (currently in 2nd grade and a Lower Junior for Summer 2015) joins us for her first summer at Canadensis.  Sarah plays on a soccer team in both the Fall and Spring months.  In the Winter, she is on a basketball team.  When at home, Sarah enjoys watching her favorite TV show “Zoey 101” and listening to music.  When she gets to camp in June, she is ready to have a whole lot of fun and meet new friends.  Adam is currently on two basketball teams, including his travel team, the Cougars.  In the Fall, he was on a soccer team, the Gunners.  When Spring rolls around, you will find him playing baseball on his travel team, the Cyclones.  Adam can’t wait for Summer 2015 to get here when he gets to live on Freshman Hill.  He wanted to say hello to all of his buddies from Summer 2014’s Bunk 12.  Bradley is also on two basketball teams this Winter.  In both the Fall and Spring, it’s baseball season for Bradley.  He wanted to give a shout out to his camp crew, Summer 2014’s Bunk 7.  For Summer 2015, Bradley is psyched about hondas and playing in the CBL and IBL sports leagues.  Here is a a pic…

In Armonk, NY, I got to hang out with Michael Solow, who is currently in the 3rd grade and will be part of our Upper Junior Boys division this summer.  Michael currently plays on a travel basketball team, the Greenwich Stars.  In the Fall, he played second base and pitcher on a travel baseball team.  In the Spring, it will be baseball season again when he plays in the ABC League.  When at home, Michael enjoys watching sports and rooting for his favorite teams such as the New York Giants, Knicks, Mets and Syracuse Orange as well as playing X-Box and wii video games.  When he comes to Canadensis for his first summer, Michael is looking forward to all of the sports at camp as well as all of the lake activities.  Here is a photo…

In Syosset, NY, I got to know Jossie Freedman, who is currently in the 4th grade.  Jossie really enjoys performing.  She sings in her school chorus and soon will be part of her school’s Winter Concert.  Jossie also let me know that she will soon star as Ms. Hannigan in the “Stars of Tomorrow” performance of “Annie.”  Jossie also plays in a basketball league on her team called the Purple Donuts and plays tennis.  When she is hanging out at home with friends and family, she loves listening to music.  Her favorites are tunes by Meghan Trainor and Taylor Swift.  She can also be found playing games like Clue, cards and Just Dance on the wii.  When I asked her what she is looking forward to in her first summer camp as part of the Lower Inter Girls division, Jossie replied, “Everything!”  In particular, she is excited to be in the camp show and go banana boating.  Here is a snapshot…

In Plainview, NY, I got to hang out with Dylan and Bailey Germain.  Dylan will be in the Upper Junior Boys division in his first summer while Bailey returns for her fourth summer as part of our Freshman Girls division.  Currently in 3rd grade, Dylan plays and trains for baseball all year round and enjoys playing second base.  In the Winter, he plays in a basketball league.  On top of all that, he takes tennis lessons and works with a swimming coach.  When at home, Dylan enjoys rooting for his favorite sports teams, the Islanders, Mets, Jets and Nets as well as watching his favorite TV shows such as “Survivor” and “Worst Cooks in America.”  When he gets to camp, Dylan let me know that he is particularly looking forward to the water slides, cooking, the lake and all the sports as well as getting to meet new friends.  As for Bailey, now in the 6th grade, she has been busy with dance, dance and more dance.  She is currently on a competitive dance team and is rehearsing routines in hip hop, jazz and tap.  Recently, she was selected to rehearse in a trio routine and will be showing that performance in an upcoming competition.  She is also playing in a basketball league.  But, Bailey has made some time since camp to see as many camp friends as possible, although she is constantly talking to them online and in texts.  She also wanted to give a shout out to the Girls of Bunk 11 from Summer 2014 and let them also know to remember “Soy salty.”  She is really excited to have both her brother and cousin at camp this year for the first time as well as going on the Hershey trip.  Bailey also let me know that “every summer at camp is all about your friends.”  Here is a picture…

In New York City, I got know Rebecca Hacker, who is currently in the 3rd grade and will be an Upper Junior girl in 2015.  Rebecca likes to do a lot of things from rollerblading in the park to playing basketball and indoor soccer (known as Futsol),  On top of that, when shes at home she loves learning magic tricks, doing science experiments and making cool things on her rainbow loom.  She also loves watching TV shows on the Food Network and HGTV.  Finally, Rebecca let me know that in March, she will be playing a grandparent, a detective and an oompa loompa in “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.”  When she comes to camp for her first summer this year, she is looking forward to going camping, waterskiing, ziplining and rock climbing.  Here is a a photo…

Also in New York City, I met up with 4th grader Jonah Saltzman.  Jonah will be a Lower Inter at camp in his first summer.  He is a busy guy.  In the Spring, he plays baseball.  In the Fall and Spring, he plays soccer.  In the Fall, he also plays flag football.  On top of all that, he plays lacrosse.  Jonah is a big fan of college football, the Yankees and NASCAR.  He also let me know that he enjoys learning about different cars and enjoys technology.  Jonah told me that one day he could see himself being a sportscaster on television.  When at home, he likes to play Minecraft and games on X-Box.  At camp in 2015, Jonah is excited about the quads and hondas, soccer, gaga and just being outside.  He also mentioned that he is thrilled that there is no homework at camp.  Here is a pic…

In Westfield, NJ, I spent time with Jacob Hafer.  Jacob is in the 3rd grade and will be an Upper Junior is his first summer in 2015.  In the Fall, Jacob plays in a soccer league.  This time of year, he is in a basketball league.  And, come Spring, he will be in a baseball league, where he likes to play second base and shortstop.  On top of all that, he plays lacrosse and tennis.  In the past year, Jacob has also started to take guitar lessons.  When at home, Jacob likes to watch TV shows and root on his favorite teams, the New York Giants and Yankees.  When he gets to camp, Jacob can’t wait to try waterskiing, the quads and playing in the Canadensis Baseball League.  Here is a snapshot…

Finally, here are some great reunions and get togethers we learned took place over the past few weeks.

Well, that’s all the blogging for now.  More to come soon.  Looking forward to seeing as many Canadensis campers and staff on Sunday!

Have a great day!

-Brian

Hello Canadensis…

As I sit here with just a few days remaining in 2014, I want to first wish everyone in the Camp Canadensis Family a very happy and healthy new year!  This is the time when we tend to both look back at the year gone by and look forward to exciting things ahead.  At Camp Canadensis, 2014 was a truly stellar year for all of us.  When I remember the past summer, I think about how 2014 saw our largest group of CITs ever assembled at camp…50 CITs!  In honor of them, for the first time in the history of camping, our Color War break included their parents to start the annual event.  Since Summer ended, I have probably watched that video a handful of times and it still gives me goosebumps when I view it!  That moment of this summer’s break will stick with me forever.  Of course, there were so many other great memories, too, from a Revolutionary War Day which featured three teams (Red, White and Blue) for the very first time, great Spirit Days like wearing your PJs All Day, the water and shaving cream fight, the MTV Night Finals and the introduction of Snack Chats to camp are just a few of the many that come to mind.  Of course, we will do our best to top it all in 2015.  We have heard so many great and wonderful ideas from campers and staff and plans are already underway in putting our Summer calendar together.

This time of year is also when we think about New Year’s resolutions.  Anyone have anything that they would like to accomplish in the upcoming 365 days?!  One thing I’ve been thinking about is trying to blog more.  I really enjoy reaching out to everyone in camp cyber-land and have some ideas for some new twists to our blogs.  I’d also like to reach out to any camper or staff member or even parent that would like to Guest Blog on our site.  If interested, please e-mail me at brian@canadensis.com.

In addition to all of the great planning going on at camp, a few weeks ago I got the chance to get away to a place I had been wanting to go for years.  For my birthday this year, my wife Jaime surprised me with a December trip with my buddies to Nashville, TN and to attend the Giants-Titans football game.  We had an amazing time!  Nashville is a really fun city.  Over the course of an extended weekend, we ate a lot of delicious food and barbecue and went to cool places like the Country Music Hall of Fame, the Johnny Cash Museum, Opryland and cruised the Broadway strip of Nashville (we even did a little line dancing with the locals).  I’ll have to show off my new learned moves this summer at Rak Dan!  Here are a few pictures…

This time of year also brings with it plenty of family holiday traditions.  In our house, one of our favorites is building Gingerbread houses.  Here is how ours came out this year…

As always, I’ve been busy seeing campers this month.  Here’s an update of my trips to seeing camp families…

In Jericho, NY, I met up with 4th grade girl Maya Akiva, who will be joining us at Canadensis for her first summer as a Lower Inter Girl.  This Fall, Maya played on a soccer team, the Jericho Heat.  Now in Winter, she is playing on the Nets in the Jericho Athletic Association Basketball League.  When at home, Maya loves to sing and dance.  Her favorite singer these days is Ariana Grande.  She also enjoys playing Tops Trumps card game as well as taking care of her pet fish and snails.  When she gets to camp in June, she is really looking forward to canteen, all of the activities on the lake and making a whole bunch of new friends.  Here is a picture.

In Merrick, NY, I spent some time getting to know Bradley Rowe, who is currently in the 5th grade.  Bradley loves to play baseball and spends a lot of his time playing third base and catcher on his travel team, the Long Island Force.  Bradley just started his basketball season and is looking forward to a successful season on his team the Cougars.  He also enjoys playing flag football, making up games to play at home and bike riding in the neighborhood.  As an Upper Inter Boy in Summer 2015, Bradley can’t wait to play baseball in the CBL, ride the Hondas / Quads and making new friends.  Here is a photo…

In Lower Gwynned, PA, I hung out with Madi Schwartz, who will be an Upper Junior in 2015 as she is currently in the 3rd grade.  Madi loves to dance and she is rehearsing for her big recital in the Spring where she will be performing routines in hip hop, ballet, lyrical and tap.  In March, Madi will also be performing in the production of “Annie”.  In the Fall, Madi was on two soccer teams, the Whitpain Wind and the Green Gators.  When at home, Madi likes to do arts and crafts, listen to music, watch movies and cooking shows on the Food Network.  When camp time rolls around, she is super ready to meet new people and tray all of the activities in the lake and pool.  Here is a pic…

In Lower Gwynned, PA, I also got to see Sydney Salin, who is currently in the 2nd grade.  Sydney takes gymnastics lessons at the Little Gym and she told me that she enjoys the floor exercises and routines the best.  Sydney plays on a soccer team, the Sharks.  She also really enjoys arts and crafts, likes to draw, play cards games like Uno and board games like Monopoly as well as surf the web on You Tube and play video games such as Minecraft.  As a Lower Junior in Summer 2015, Sydney is very excited about the Water Trampoline, Woodworking, the Zipline, Waterskiing and the Water Slides.  Here is a photo…

In Livingston, NJ, I enjoyed meeting 2nd grade boy and 2015 Lower Junior Steven Marlin.  Steven is currently involved taking piano lessons and doing Crossfit training.  He also enjoys this time of year because it means he can go skiing.  When at home, Steven enjoys watching TV shows and movies.  Some of his favorite shows are “How It’s Made” and “Factory Made.”  These days, his favorite movie is “Spaceballs.”  When I asked Steven what he is looking forward to in his first summer at camp, Steven gave me a whole bunch of activities, including Tennis, Mountain Biking, Sailing, Ice Mountain, Pottery, all the Lake Activities, Woodworking, Rocketry, Canteen and Horseback Riding.  Here is a pic…

It seems like the month of December was a great time for camp friends to see each other as well.  Here are some great pictures that were sent to me over the past few weeks…

On a final blog note, a lot of times, I always get the question from jealous parents who ask, “Can the parents come to camp?”  Traditionally, their kids always tell them, “No!  Camp is for us!”  Ha Ha!  Well, that didn’t stop Craig and Danielle Nurick, whose daughters attend Canadensis (much to their jealousy), from getting in on the camp spirit.  In fact, back in October, they let me know that they dressed up for Halloween 2014 as this past year’s Color War teams.  Here is a great photo they sent me…

Well, that’s all of the blogging for 2014!  Can’t wait to see everyone in the New Year!  HAPPY NEW YEAR TO EVERYONE!

Have a great day!

-Brian