Notes from Camp, December, 2021

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Hi Folks,

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving. Camp had no snow before Thanksgiving but it is a winter wonderland up there right now. Please take a look at the rest of the blog with some exciting staff joining us this year.

IT OCCURS TO ME:

The holiday season brings about a lot of time with family and friends filled with laughter and hanging out. These times are made more special when we are present and in the moment and not using our devices. I found that this year it was harder than in years past to not be on a device. People were showing funny TikToks (or making them), checking fantasy football and just looking at their phones out of habit. It feels like our lives have become increasingly connected and attached to our technology.

This got me thinking about how there are very few times in our current lives where we have a chance to be around a lot of people without our technology. But I do know a magical place in the Northwoods that we can do that ……… CAMP! Camp gives us all a break from the constant use of technology that seems to have become more interwoven in our lives due to the pandemic. 

When campers  reflect on time and memories at camp, they think of the friendships with campers and amazing staff members, the jokes, and games. Camp lets them be kids again without the social pressures that are associated with social media. Camp memories are memories that will last a lifetime! Things like your first ski run, and the first time you met your best camp friend are memories that will always be with you. Being present and in the moment are what make the memories that we make at camp, and triumphant moments from the summer are so impactful. They are moments that have changed our lives and will continue to do so in the years that we get to go back to camp. 

During the upcoming holidays I challenge you all to put down your phones and take some time away from technology. Go outside and play and laugh and enjoy each other’s company. During this time you will have a moment when you realize how magical it is to be free from your tech. At camp we are lucky because we have those everyday and the feeling never gets old. There are so many reasons that camp is important for our boys and one of those is to get away from all the technology and be present and in the moment for a few weeks. 

YO PARENTS:

We don’t want to forget to mention that we have opened enrollment for next summer, and already have lots of kids signed up.  We invite you to REGISTER YOUR CAMPER as soon as possible.
Returning Staff:

We sure have some great news to share with you.  We have just this month sent out invitations to our returning staff, and we think it’s gonna be another banner summer with staff. Already we can share with you some folks who are planning to be back at camp this summer.  Ya ready?

Rick Jones

 We are excited for Rick’s 37th summer at camp!! RJ is from Mooresville, IN where he is a high school art teacher at Center Grove High School. He joins us again as an Assistant Director. 

Holly Jones

 Holly keeps the trains running on time in the office. She is joining us for summer number 37! Holly lives in Mooresville, IN, andwill be the office manager again this summer. 

Corrie Hitchens

 Corrie is back for her 16th summer at camp!! She spends the off season as the Assistant Principal at Chatfield Senior High in Littleton, CO. Corrie will be helping in the office and with programing this summer. 

Steve “Hitch” Hitchens

 This will be Hitch’s 18th summer at camp! Living in Littleton, Colorado Hitch has embraced life as a retired teacher enjoying extra time with Carter and Liam. Hitch i will be the Director of our Trips Program. 

Jeff Melrose

 Mel joins us for his 29th summer at camp. He now hails from  Highland Park, IL. He is the Instructional Technology Specialist in Glencoe School District. Mel will again be an Assistant Director at camp this summer.

Prestin Cooke

 Prestin joins us for summer number 5! She is the year round associate director at camp. During the summer she focuses on the operations of camp and working with campers and parents.

Bill Miller

 Bill is back for his 28th summer in the kitchen. He is our amazing Kitchen Manager and keeps us all very well fed and happy. Bill lives in Tucson, Arizona where he spends lots of time hanging out with his grandkids!

After a few summers away we have a great old timer joining us in the kitchen as a cook…………

Brian Strain After few summers away Brian is back at camp. Brian has spent summers mostly as the fishing director and a village director. He has spent the last year in culinary school and is excited to be joining the amazing kitchen staff.

 

 

CIT’s 2022 – We are so excited to have a great group of CIT’s joining us this summer! 

Henry Anderson of Alexandria, VA; CJ Rizzo of Breckenridge, CO; Sam Kline and Simon Kanovitz of Chicago, IL; Ben Goss and Seth Fish of Deerfield, IL; Caleb Gerstein of Evanston, IL; Alex Goldberg and Noah Lederer of Glencoe, IL; Aaron Berns and Gabe Feldman of Highland Park, IL; Jackson Schneider of Nashville, TN; Evan Waldman and Sam Salzer of Northbrook, IL; Oliver Lucoff of Omaha, NE; Elliot Rubin of Wilmette, IL

BRAVO TO OUR DECEMBER BIRTHDAY BOYS & GIRLS!

Eden Kaplan 12/2,  Henry Styles 12/2,  Zachary Styles 12/2,  Erica Florimonte 12/3,  Sam Siwak 12/4,  Holly Jones 12/10,  Prestin Cooke 12/11, Alexander Zlotnik 12/11,  Zachary Hearst 12/12,  Bill Miller 12/12,  Dan Van Buren 12/13,  Ever Williams 12/18,  Leslie Cohen 12/18,  Noah Morales 12/19,  Oliver Morales 12/19,  Reis Lourie 12/26,  Nathan Liberman 12/27,  Johnathan Robertson 12/28,  Mel Melrose 12/29,  Jacob Rosenstein 12/29,  Alex Goldberg 12/30

 

Benches up,

Sam