May Day Up at Camp!

This blog entry comes on Friday, May 2, a day after I was up at camp to see how everything is progressing for Summer 2014.  I must say that a visit up to camp this time of year got me really pumped up!  Even with harsh winter we experienced this year, camp looks absolutely terrific and many of our projects are either completed or in full swing.  Matt Unger and his initial team of pre-camp workers are busy setting up camp for the arrival of our first pre-camp group this weekend.  And, our kitchen is up and running as Chef David Stein and his team are serving three meals a day in the dining room.  Yesterday, it was grilled cheese and tomato soup (a Brian favorite)!

As for all of the projects this year, here are  just a few of the things that you will see for Summer 2014…

– Several of camp’s cabins will receive major renovations.

– Our Senior Basketball Courts will be repaved, resurfaced and repainted.  They will also have brand new hoops.

– We will be continuing with our multi-year plan to pave many of camp’s internal roads.

– There will be a new deck with additional entrances to our Rec Hall facility.

– New tetherball courts will be added to the campus.

– There will be a new garden at camp.

– Several of our tennis courts will be repainted in addition to receiving new fencing.

– There will be a multitude of new signage around camp.

– We will be upgrading the ventilation system in our Gymnastics Pavilion.

– We will have new decking for the outdoor seating area of our Dining Hall.

– We will have a new Summit (which is currently being custom built for us).

On the scheduling side of camp things, we are working really hard to bring in a number of different one day workshops and clinics in a variety of different activity areas to make the summer a bit more special and unique.  On top of that, we have added a number of new electives to the camp schedule.

Now that we are into May, we remind all of our camp families that CAMPER FORMS are due on May 9.  So, please do not forget to submit all of our campers forms by next Friday.  Very soon, we will be sending out Camper Elective choices.  And, as has always been the case, we will only input choices for campers with all of their forms submitted.

Here were some great updates we received from campers over the past few weeks…

2014 Upper Inter Girl Brooke Bednoff celebrate her birthday, Color War style!  Brooke’s mom invited the bunk over (however, with Spring break, several of the bunkmates were away).  However, that didn’t stop the fun for attendees Avery Shaw, Paige Miller and Skye Kades as Brook’es mom broke Color War, complete with whistles and silly string. An afternoon and evening of competition ensued between Blue Winter and Gold Summer.  In the end, the blue team won, but both teams were definitely winners!  Here are some pictures…

2014 Lower Senior boy has teamed up with a very special partner, New York Giant David Diehl, as part of his bar mitzvah project.  Recently, they were at the Project Sunshine Annual Gala at the Waldorf Astoria in N.Y. and the two will be working together this spring spending time with sick children.  Here is a photo…

As always, some great home visits to report on over the past several weeks…

In Warren, NJ, I saw Danny and Sophia Brociner, who join us for their first and fourth summers at Canadensis, respectively.  Danny, who is currently in the 4th grade and will be a Lower Inter, enjoys fishing and can be found at a nearby Dealeman’s Pond when the weather is warm with rod and reel.  He also likes biking and gaga.  Year round, he is active in his Cub Scout den and recently competed in the annual Pinewood Derby competition.  In the Fall, Danny plays soccer.  At camp this year, he is looking forward to Woodworking and the Hondas.  As for Sophia, who currently in 7th grade and will be a Lower Senior this year, she is currently playing catcher on her Basking Ridge travel softball team.  She also told me that her basketball team won the Warren Rec League.  This has also been a big year for Sophia to see so many camp friends at a number of bat mitzvahs.  Sophia celebrated her own back in October with an “Under the Sea” theme.  Sophia wanted to give a shout out to the girls of Bunk 14 from Summer 2013 and is really looking forward to being a Senior this summer.  Here is a pic…

In Livingston, NJ, I got to hang out with Ben and Justin Nikpour.  Justin joins us for his second summer as a Lower Inter and welcomes Ben for his first summer as an Upper Junior.  Both boys have been very busy these days.  Currently in 3rd grade, Ben is taking guitar lessons and also takes art classes, where he is currently working on different sculptures.  Recently, he participated in his school’s law fair where students have to present a case and argument to a jury.  The winner will actually get to present their case in Trenton, NJ.  On top of that, Ben plays soccer and lacrosse in the Livingston Rec programs.  At camp in 2014, he is excited to try woodworking and the quads.  As for Justin, now in the 4th grade, he is playing attack on his Livingston Lancers travel lacrosse team.  In the Fall, he played tackle football as a defensive lineman on the Livingston team.  Recently, he had a sleepover with his camp friends from last summer and he wanted to give a shout out to the boys of Bunk 4 from Summer 2013.  These days, Justin is also watching a lot of the NBA playoffs.  At camp, Justin can’t wait for waterskiing and Color War.  Here is a photo…

Also in Livingston, NJ, I was with Ryan and Rachel Stern.  Rachel is back for Summer #3 as an Upper Senior and is happy that Ryan will be at camp for his first summer as an Upper Junior.  Ryan, who is in 3rd grade, is currently playing baseball on his team, the Brewers, where he plays pitcher, third base and shortstop.  In the Winter, he plays on a basketball team.  When at home, he can be found making videos.  Some of his work can be found at the Awesome Cheese Channel on You Tube by clicking here.  Ryan is also a fan of the New York Yankees, likes to write and and enjoys art.  When he comes to Canadensis, he is ready for all of the sports, water sports, swimming and art activities.  As for Rachel, who is in the 8th grade, it’s been a great year seeing many of her camp friends at a bunch of bat mitzvahs.  Rachel celebrated her own big day in November, which was attended by many of her camp sisters.  Rachel wanted to give a shout out to the Girls of Bunk 17 from Summer 2013 and she can’t wait to be with them in just a few months.  Here is a snapshot…

For a final stop in Livingston, NJ, I was with Mason Levitt, a 4th grader who will be in our Lower Inter division this summer.  Mason is currently playing third base and centerfield on his Cincinnati baseball team.  He is also a purple belt in Tae Kwon Do.  Also on his schedule of activities is his involvement with the Livingston Cub Scout pack.  Recently, they took a trip to Washington, DC.  Mason also let me know that his car won “Most Humorous” in this year’s Pinewood Derby competition.  On top of all that, Mason is a trivia maven when it comes to all things Star Wars and Superheroes.  In fact, Mason had me stumped on some Star Wars trivia (and I consider myself pretty knowledgeable on the subject).  When he comes to camp for his first summer, Mason is ready to try the hondas and quads and waterskiing as well as spending the summer with his cousins (Rebecca and David Altschul).  Here is a photo…

In Richboro, PA, I spent some time with Jack and Nicole Zibelman.  Nicole will be joining us at camp for her 6th summer as a Super Senior and she is beyond excited to welcome Jack to camp for his first summer as an Upper Junior.  Currently in 3rd grade, Jack plays drums and is recently practicing for an upcoming concert at Penguin’s where he will be playing Rolling Stones classic tunes “Satisfaction,” “Get Off My Cloud,” and “Honky Tonk Women.”  In addition to that, he plays hockey and tennis and is a talented hip hop dancer.  At home, he enjoys magic and card tricks.  This summer, he is excited for Color War, the banana boat, water trampoline and the trip to Dorney Park because he really likes roller coasters.  Now in the 9th grade, Nicole is playing tennis for her JV school team.  As always, she is keeping in touch with her camp friends and recently went to bunkmate Ali Beyda’s house.  Nicole wanted to give a shout out to the Girls of Bunk 18 from Summer 2013.  She is really looking forward to having her brother at camp as well as all of the privileges of being a Super Senior, including the College Tour trip.  Here is a picture…

In Armonk, NY, I met up with Abby and Alex Yallof, twins who are in the 4th grade and will be part of the Lower Inter division in their first summer at camp.  Abby is busy with gymnastics lessons as well as rehearsing her hip hop routine for an upcoming dance recital.  She is also involved in her community theater, where she recently played the lead role in Mary Poppins.  In another rendition of Mary Poppins, she played as Michael.  She has also performed in other shows such as Wizard of Oz, Aladdin and The Sound of Music.  At Canadensis in 2014, she is looking forward to having her birthday at camp, meeting tons of new people and making memories with her bunk.  As for Alex, he is currently playing pitcher on his baseball team, the Bulls, and midfield on his soccer team, the Castleford Hurricanes.  In the Winter, he plays indoor soccer and basketball.  Alex told me that when it comes to rooting for teams, he cheers for the Yankees, Nets, Rangers, Islanders, Giants and Jets.  At camp, he can’t wait to try the hondas and playing all of the sports.  Here is a photo…

In Millwood, NY, I saw the Forsters…Sammi, Ally and Erik.  Twins Sammi and Ally are back for a 4th summer at camp as part of the Freshman division and are happy to introduce Erik to camp as an Upper Junior.  Currently in 6th grade, Ally and Sammi have been busy since camp ended last year playing on the Northeast Regional Olympic Development Soccer team.  Sammi plays forward on that team while Ally is a midfielder.  Both also play on a local team, the Red Storm.  In the upcoming weeks, the twins will celebrate their bat mitzvah.  This summer at camp, the girls said they are basically looking forward to everything and wanted to give a shout out to Girls Bunk 10 from Summer 2013.  They are also excited that their brother Erik is coming for his first summer.  Erik, currently in 3rd grade, is playing right now on his baseball team, the Diamondbacks.  He also plays midfield on his soccer team, the Red Storm.  When at home, Erick enjoys playing video games like Madden 25 and Call of Duty and rooting for his favorite teams, the Heat, Nets, Mets and Seahawks.  At camp in 2014, Erik can’t wait for all the activities at the lake, woodworking, glass fusion, Color War, the water slides and the trip to Dorney Park.  Here is a pic…

In Plymouth Meeting, PA, I got to know Zoey and Tanner Joseph, both who will be joining us at camp in 2014 for their first summers.  Zoey is in the 5th grade and will be an Upper Inter while Tanner is in the 7th grade and will be a Lower Senior.  Zoey is currently rehearsing a modern lyrical dance routine at the Institute of Dance Artistry for an upcoming recital in May.  She also plays midfield on her travel soccer team, the Colonial Wildcats.  When at home, she likes to write her own songs and sing.  Zoey let me know that she loves dogs and animals.  When she gets to Canadensis, she is excited for the ropes course and zipline, the quads and all of the sports at camp.  As for Tanner, he is playing third base on his baseball team, the Blue Jays.  In the winter, he plays in a basketball league.  In the fall, he plays midfield on his travel soccer team, the Colonial Pythons.  When it comes time to rooting for sports, he is a big fan of the Eagles, 76ers, Phillies, Flyers and Union.  Tanner is really excited for the hondas and all of the sports at camp.  Here is a snapshot…

Well, that’s all of the blogging for now.  I’m sure everyone coming to camp this summer has their Canadensis Countdown in effect!  Have a great day!

-Brian