Hello Canadensis!
I am writing this blog on an October Friday, where temperatures are in the 80s and it just feels like that we should all be at camp enjoying this summer-like weather. For me, that will be a reality as tomorrow, I am making the drive up to the 18325 to spend a few hours in our favorite place. I will be sure to take some pictures of camp as I imagine the trees have started to change and camp looks so cool in yellow, orange and red.
Over the past few weeks, our Winter team has started to delve into plans for Summer 2014. First off, we’d like to thank all of the campers that took time to fill out our annual survey. This information always helps as it allows us to see what areas of camp thrived in 2013 as well as letting us know what our campers would like to see in 2014. In our plans, we will use this feedback to start planning some new and wonderful events and activities. Some of the feedback we received was that campers really enjoyed the Bunk-O period that we instituted into the schedule this summer and that all loved the Free Play afternoon with the surprise frozen yogurt truck. As we look back to this time last year, these were ideas that were created based on past surveys.
At the same time, we have gotten some great reviews from many of our staff, hearing what they thought of the summer. Their perspective also provided us with great insight on how to make 2014 the best summer ever! Furthermore, we have already started to receive applications from many staff that would like to return next summer. As always, our returning staff will set the tone for all of our new staff next year.
Recently, we just announced the dates, times and locations for our annual Canteen on the Fly events. This is a great opportunity for campers, staff and any future camp family to come and hang out with us for a bit, talk about camp and enjoy some frozen treats! The Winter team is very excited to see everyone very soon. Here is where we will be this year for Canteen on the Fly…
We will also be announcing the date and location for our 2013 Annual Reunion very soon.
Something cool that we just announced was a Holiday Mystery Box that is being offered, with all proceeds going to our Canadensis Cares! scholarship program, which was designed to benefit Canadensis campers whose families are impacted by adverse or unusual circumstances. In some small way, every member of the Canadensis community can help families facing circumstances less fortunate than their own. The Mystery Box can be purchased for $60 and will be delivered in time for the Winter Holiday season. It will include never before designed Canadensis merchandise. We can’t tell you exactly what is in the box. Then, it wouldn’t be a mystery. But, it’s some really cool stuff. For details, you can visit our Facebook page by clicking here. Be sure to order it by October 9 for it to arrive by the end of November.
This is the time of year when we start booking home visits with new and returning families. As we have traditionally done, all first time campers receive home visits from one of camp’s directors. If you are interested in setting up a visit, give us a call.
Just recently, I got to spend some time with Dylan Carruba, who will be returning to camp in 2014 for his 5th Summer as a Lower Senior and receiving his honor jacket. Dylan told me that he has been playing pitcher, first base and outfield for his Fall Baseball team. After camp, he traveled to Baltimore and Long Beach Island with his family. Dylan was also one of the lucky Yankees fans to be at Mariano Rivera’s farewell ceremony in September. Dylan is a huge baseball fan and shared with me his extensive memorabilia collection of autographs and rare cards. Here is a pic…
Me with 2014 Lower Senior Dylan Carruba.
As for me, life outside of the camp office has been busy and fun! Last weekend, Jaime and I went apple picking at Wightman’s Farms in Morristown, NJ. If you haven’t been there, check it out. You can check out a link here. Lot’s of fun (and eating) for the family. We went with Jaime’s sister and her family and enjoyed a day of going through the apple trees and picking our own fruit, hay rides and pumpkin sling shooting. There was also a roasted corn man, which had me reminiscing about one of my favorite summer time treats. Here are some pictures from our sunny afternoon…
Me and Jaime with our nephew Harry in the Apple orchards at Wightman’s Farms.
Me and Jaime with some massive pumpkins. We bought a much smaller one for our house!
Pumpkin Sling Shot is my favorite thing to do there. They have targets set up, where if you hit one, you win free pumpkins. Unfortunately, we didn’t win, but had a lot of fun anyway!
Last week, Jaime and I, along with two of our close friends, played the role of “Game Master” in an annual nighttime scavenger hunt that we call Midnight Madness. Basically, teams of 6 drive around Northern New Jersey to clues that we have written. The top three teams to finish win the prize. The idea is based on a movie from the early 80’s called “Midnight Madness,” which stars Michael J. Fox in his first ever movie. You can actually find the entire movie (in about 8 different parts) on You Tube. As a child, this was actually one of my favorite movies. In our version of the game, the last clue leads to a restaurant, where all the teams gather for a bit. This year, which was the 4th Annual Event, we had 16 teams involved and it was awesome! Here is a picture of the four “Game Masters” at the restaurant…
Me and the other three Game Masters (Jaime, Kevin and Ilisa) at the Midnight Madness finish line. We are the people responsible for giving all of the teams their clues throughout the evening. So much fun!
Very hard this year to write in my blog about my beloved New York Giants. In fact, there isn’t much to write about. I am hoping this weekend’s game versus the Philadelphia Eagles changes that all around. The last time the Giants were 0-4 was 1987. None of our campers and many of our staff weren’t even born in 1987! There is a wonderful chance that Lauren “L-Mac” McGuire will be showing up at our tailgate. Of course, she will be wearing her Eagles jersey, but it will be great to see her!
I found something this week online that I thought was worth sharing. In New York City, there is an exhibit called “The Art of the Brick” and features really cool art work made out of Lego bricks. The exhibit is at the at the Discovery Museum in Times Square. Click here to see more about it.
“The Art of the Brick” exhibit at the Discovery Museum in Times Square looks really cool.
By the way, with Halloween just a few weeks away, has anyone seen the new S’Mores Candy Corn? Check it out…
S’Mores Candy Corn mixes our love for camp with Halloween! So cool!
Well, that’s all of the blogging for now. More to come soon! Have a great weekend!
-Brian
