Hello Canadensis!
If you are coming to Camp Canadensis this summer and haven’t seen the new “Are You Ready?!” video produced by Jason “J.Cal” Calabretta, you need to check this out right now…
After watching this, you have to be psyched for Summer 2012! Or, as our CITs girls would cheer…P-S-Y-C-H-E-D! P-S-Y-C-H-E-D! P-S-Y-C-H-E-D! LET’S GET PSYCHED!
On Sunday, March 25, our new campers in our Junior and Lower Inter age groups were psyched to be part of our New Camper Bowling Day in New Brunswick, NJ. This annual event gives campers the opportunity to meet other new campers, participate in get to know you games, bowl and eat pizza. The event was attended by more than 70 campers and their families. What a great turnout! You can see pictures of the event at our Facebook Page at www.facebook.com/campcanadensis. Of course, there will also be another opportunity for new and returning campers to meet at our Annual Open House up at camp on June 3. We hope as many families as possible will be able to attend.
Speaking of Facebook, seems like everyone is loving the new Facebook Timeline format. Still trying to get to the 2000 likes plateau. Like us if you haven’t already. Let’s get to 2000 before camp!
Things are still getting busier and busier by the day. Matt and Eric have been back and forth to camp several times over the past few weeks. They have been overseeing many of projects from the new pool to renovated tennis courts to renovated baseball / softball fencing and backstops to the new fitness center. Pam and Cara are very busy with a number of staffing plans and scheduling for the summer. Later in the week, me, Eric and Pam will be meeting at a top secret location to begin working on our 6-day master calendar for camper activities. There are some plans in the works for some new activity areas including Zumba, Cheerleading and Jewelry (as its own activity). We just recently received the first draft of the Pike County Athletic Inter-Camps and will be involved in a number of events where campers will compete with other camps in our area. Here is a picture of some of the construction of the new Blue Pool…
Workers starting to lay down the cement.
We have also opened up our Tour Schedule for any families interested in Camp Canadensis for Summer 2013. If you are looking to book a tour for this summer, please give us a call soon. We are also returning this summer with our Tour and More Weekends for younger siblings and any prospective campers. The dates are July 7 & 8 or July 28 & 29. More info about Tour and More Weekend can be found by clicking here. The past two summers, these weekends have been an absolute blast, allowing us to introduce the Canadensis experience to 40 campers each weekend!
As always, if you have some good ideas for camp, let us know by e-mailing info@canadensis.com. As I mentioned in my last blog, we will once again have our campers and counselors voting on our drive-in movies for the summer. If you have any good suggestions, e-mail us.
Some more great home visits to report about since my last blog…
In Cherry Hill, NJ, I saw Sammy and Paige Miller. Sammy is back for his 4th summer as part of the Freshman Boys division while Paige returns for Summer #2 in our Junior Girls division. That day, Sammy was competing in his basketball leagues championship game, which I got final word the next day that he won. Congratulations! Sammy is also beginning baseball season with practices. Sammy can’t wait for camp and wanted to give a shout out to Boys Bunk 12 from Summer 2011. Paige has been very busy with hip hop and lyrical dance competitions, rehearsals and recitals. She also filled me in that she performed “The Nutcracker” over winter break. Paige has also been playing basketball, soccer and lacrosse. She, too, wanted to give a shout out to her bunk from last summer….Girls Bunk 2! Here is a photo…
Me with Freshman Boy Sammy Miller and Junior Girl Paige Miller.
Also in Cherry Hill, NJ, I spent some time with Justin and Lauren Liebman. Justin is back for his third summer and will be a Freshman while Lauren returns for her second summer in our Upper Inter Girls division. Justin said that he desperately misses camp and is really counting down the days ’til summer. He has been playing a lot of tennis lately and even told me that he is currently writing his own book, which he hopes to get published. This summer, he is really looking forward to tennis and the Triple Dare. Lauren is also excited to return and has been thinking about camp a lot these days. She is excited to continue making great friends and activities like cooking. Here is a picture…
Me with Freshman Boy Justin Liebman and Upper Inter Girl Lauren Liebman.
In Merrick, NY, I met up with Lauren and Chase LaMagna. Lauren is back for her 5th Summer Honor Jacket year and will be in the Upper Senior Girls division. She is happy to introduce her brother Chase to camp, who is currently in the 7th grade and will be a Lower Senior. Chase is very active in sports like baseball and basketball. This summer, he can’t wait for all of the different activities at camp. He also heard from his sister, that Color War is awesome at Canadensis! Lauren is super excited for camp, too! She has seen many of her camp sisters throughout the year at many Bat and Bar Mitzvahs. She wanted to give a shout out to the Girls of Bunk 15 from Summer 2011! Here is a pic…
Me with Upper Senior Girl Lauren LaMagna and Lower Senior Boy Chase LaMagna.
In Allentown, PA, I had breakfast with Jenna Fromer, who is back at Camp Canadensis after a summer away. Last year, she had an incredible experience traveling with her family to Israel, but is super ready and excited for another summer at camp. Jenna, currently in 7th grade, will be in our Lower Senior Girls division. This is her 4th summer at camp. Jenna filled me in on all she is doing these days. For starters, she plays on the middle school tennis team and is also taking tennis lessons. She has been seeing many of her bunkmates and camp friends at a number of Bat Mitzvahs this year. She recently traveled to Capetown, South Africa to see some of her relatives there. She also filled me in that she is a big fan of the “Hunger Games” books and movie. At camp in 2012, she can’t wait for tennis, the new pool and Bunk-O. Here is a photo…
Me with Lower Senior Girl Jenna Fromer.
Here are some great photos that were sent to me over the past few weeks…
Some campers from Summer 2011's Bunk 11 and younger siblings had a get-together a few weekends ago. I got to hang out with them for a little bit, too!
Bunkmates Jason Green (left) and Jeremy Brecher coincidentally found each other on a plane trip to the Domincan Republic.
Jeremy Brecher (right) also met up with bunkmates Ethan Levinbook (left) and Ben Kaller for a day of hanging out in Connecticut.
As a big music fan, I had to share this story and photos that were sent. Freshman Boy Eric Miller went to the Bruce Springsteen concert last week in Philly with his family. Turns out, they got right up to the front of the stage. During the concert, Bruce Springsteen, after playing his harmonica on a song, threw it into the crowd. Eric was the lucky recipient of this rock-n-roll memorabilia. Check it out…
Eric Miller has great seats to the Bruce Springsteen concert in Philadelphia. There is Bruce and guitarist Steven Van Zandt in the background.
Eric Miller shows the harmonica he got thrown to him by Bruce Springsteen! I must say I am a bit jealous.
2012 CIT Rebecca Altschul sent me a great photo the other day. Turns out, everyone at her school dressed in blue for Autism Awareness Day. For Rebecca, this was not only a way to show her support for autism, but a great way to show off her camp colors. Here is the picture…
Rebecca Altschul in Candensis gear!
This weekend, I also got to see camper Oliver Shaw and his band Going Dark play down at the Stone Pony in Asbury Park, NJ. Going Dark rocked the amphitheater at Camp Canadensis last summer! The band has certainly reached new heights, releasing their first album in January, entitled “Play Your Game,” has opened up for both Big Time Rush and Sebastian Bach since the summer and has been on radio stations WDHA and WRAT. Of course, while at the show, I saw Oliver’s sister Avery, who is so excited for camp! She just recently had a sleep over with bunkmate Paige Miller. Here is Going Dark’s new video for the single “Play Your Game”…
Well, that’s all the blogging for now. Summer is creeping up on us. Continue to be P-S-Y-C-H-E-D!
Have a great day!
-Brian
