Volume L, No. 9, May, 2010

Dear Campers, Parents, Staff, Alums, & Friends

I would guess that a vast majority of you campers, and probably a large chunk of you staff members will disagree with what I’m about to say.  I’ll also guess that most of you camp parents will agree with me.  Here goes: I have to believe that the very best music ever played was written, performed, and recorded in the 1970s.  There, I said it.  That’s not to say that ALL the music in the 70s was great, nor is it to say that all of the music recorded these days is bad.  Not at all.  It’s just that the 1970s brought us so much great music.  It had rhythm.  It had melody.  It had soul.  It had musical richness.  And it wasn’t all about calling attention to the person who was writing it.  It told stories about love and protest and peace.  And the guys singing it had their pants up where they belong…but that’s another story.

I don’t say all of that just to sound like some old curmudgeon.  I do sound like that, though, I know.  Last month, we had the opportunity to go see one of the 70s’ greatest bands in concert.  It’s one of the few bands still playing, and still very much in tact.  We saw The Eagles, and they were nothing short of amazing!  At 60 something years old, they still sound great!  Their voices are still strong and clear (Joe Walsh…not so much, but the others for sure!), and if anything, they’ve actually polished and perfected the harmonies over the decades.  They’ve added horns and violins to the arrangements, and it was full and beautiful, and so very familiar and comfortable.  Leslie and I just kept saying to ourselves that it sounded like we’re listening to it back in high school, only much, much clearer (vinyl records back then, boys…nothing digital at all!).  There was a definite and distinct moment in the show when I just knew everything was right.  Early in the show The Eagles played “Hotel California.”  Moms and dads out there, I promise you this; there is NOTHING like hearing that song live, singing along, and then looking down the row of seats next to you and seeing your children sitting up tall, smiling widely, and singing right along with you…..and the band.  It was one of those moments when we could think, “Maybe we have raised them right.”

Okay, enough of that.  Let’s get to camp, shall we?  As we speak, we are packing up the office and shipping stuff to Wisconsin.  I will leave Tucson on May 14th, and arrive at camp very late on the 15th.  En route I’ll pick up our awesome cook, BILL MILLER, so you moms out there don’t have to worry about me being all alone at camp.  We’ll eat very, very well.  I’ll have the camp office up and fully functioning by May 17th.  So, if you can please hold your emails and faxes till then, I’ll be able to respond if needed.

YO PARENTS: A few reminders for you:

1. Payment is due for this summer by May 15th.  We will always keep your account updated on your Parent Keylog page if you ever have questions about your balance, payments received, etc. 
2. Many forms are also due on or before May 15th.  You will receive an email from us this month listing which forms we have and have not yet received from you.  We cannot stress enough how important this information is to our preparations.  Even if your son is a 2nd session camper, those preparations happen now, before camp starts, so your cooperation is critical and very much appreciated.
3. If you are going to mail any payments or forms to us, please stop using our Winter address after May 10th, and direct all mail to our Summer address. 
4. REMEMBER THE DEADLINE FOR FILLING PRESCRIPTIONS AT RAPP’S PHARMACY FOR 1ST SESSION IS MAY 22ND TO REGISTER, AND MAY 29TH TO GET PRESCTIPTIONS TO RAPP’S.  2nd session deadlines are June 19th to register, and June 26th to get your prescriptions to them.
5. If your son will take non-pill form medications this summer (which you do not fill at Rapp’s), please be sure to send those up to camp to arrive at least 1 week before your son arrives.  So the deadlines are June 14th for 1st session/8 week campers, and July 11th for 2nd session campers.
6. ANOTHER DEADLINE: If you are going to buy logo’d items from the Cloz website, you should place your order in the next few days to assure receipt of your items before the start of camp. 

YO STAFF:  Your reminders are:

1. If you are a cabin counselor or activity specialist and you have not yet completed your Activity Expertise Survey, we need you to do that TODAY!  This includes CITs.
2. If you are planning to attend our pre-camp training classes – LGT, Boat Driver Training, Climbing Wall Instructor, LGT or CPR Re-certification – please be sure to send us your Extra Training form.  Guess when we need that?  TODAY!
3. Do you know how you’re getting to camp?  If you have not yet completed your Travel Plans form, please do so.  We need that one REALLY SOON!
4. If you are a first-year staff member, you will soon receive a manual from us in the US Mail.  Please be sure to bring that to camp with you.  Thanks.
5. And finally, if you have not yet sent us an email with your t-shirt size, please do that……TODAY!  Thanks.

YO CAMPERS:  A few for you too….we don’t wanna leave anyone out:

1. If you qualify for one of our “Big Trip,” remember that you can pre-register for those by clicking here, or by just having your parents email us.  Have you checked out the Trips Calendar online yet?  It’s pretty amazing.
2. If you are a camp Big Brother this summer, PLEASE be sure to call your little brother in the next few days.  The sooner, the better.  Thanks.
3. If you haven’t yet gotten crazy, ridiculous excited about camp yet, now’s as good a time as any!  It’s our 50th summer!!  Think we may just go a bit overboard this summer?  Woooooo Hooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

As we mentioned last month, we have filled just about every age group in the 1st session.  There is still room in our youngest age group 1st session.  2nd session has room in several age groups still.  So, if you know of a family that has recently decided that camp could be a good idea for their son, please let them know that we have room!  At this date, lots of families may think it’s too late, but there’s still time.  Thanks very much.

Welcome back to the following “old-timers” who re-enrolled last month: PHILIP SIEGEL of Denver, CO; DALTON ROTH of Long Grove, IL; DREW HYMAN of St. Louis, MO; and after a summer’s absence, GABE SENNETT of Milwaukee, WI.

And welcome aboard to first-year camper LEE GOODMAN of St. Louis, MO.  We’re very happy to have you all with us this summer.

Our staff is all set, and has never looked better.  Later this month we’ll start seeing folks arriving at camp ready for training, and kick-off the most exciting start of the most  amazing summer ever!  Welcome back to the following “old-timers” who will be back again:

CRAIG HAUPTMAN: Craig is 24 years old, and is back for his 2nd summer at camp.  He lives in Manassas, VA where he is a graduating senior at Old Dominion studying Education.  Craig returns as a Trip Leader again this summer. 

THOMAS MURDOCH: Tom is back from Auckland, New Zealand.  He’s 19 years old, and this will be his 2nd summer at camp as a cabin counselor and co-head of our Waterski Program.  In New Zealand, Tom has been spending a lot of time on the water skiing and wake boarding/wake skating.  He’s also been busy doing plenty of dirt-biking. Sounds like fun!

Welcome aboard to the following folks who will join us for their first summer:

CLAYTON KAISER: Clayton is 21 years old and joins us from Sammamish, WA.  He attends Central Washington University and is majoring in Philosophy with a minor in History/Russian Studies.  Clayton has been a camper and volunteer at camps in the past, and truly loves the camp environment.  He joins our Maintenance Staff this summer.

CATHERINE “CAT” JONES: Cat is 20 years old and she joins us from Charlotte, NC.  She is a Sophomore at Cabarrus College of Health Science studying Surgical Technology.  Cat is a certified nursing assistant and is pursuing a career as a surgical nurse.  This summer she will be our Nurses’ Assistant, and she’ll also take photos and help us post ‘em on the website. 

  In the Chicago area, SCOTT MUTCHNIK won gold medals at local and district science fairs.  He’ll compete state-wide this month.  Congrats, Scott!!  ARI LACKNER and some of his colleagues at school won a video contest sponsored by Clorox, and the prize is a visit from Danny Gokey (former American Idol contestant).  Congrats to you too, Ari!!  ADAM KAZ co-starred as the Genie is a Northbrook Theatre presentation of “Aladin.”  Perfect role for you, Adam.  JORY and JESS NATHAN recently went on a cool rafting trip on the Colorado River, and sported their Timberlane sweatshirts to help us reach out to the rafting public. 

 

SAM KUSIN is in Houston and working on becoming an Eagle Scout.  JEREMY SUTTON will be leaving Houston next fall and  going to school at Mc Gill University in Montreal.  In the meantime, before camp starts, he’s traveling with his school to Israel and Poland.  Nice!  ALANNA DILLON has made the most of her semester in Edinburgh, traveling last month to Greece and Spain!  In Chicago, SCOTT MAYER has applied to be part of the National Honors Society.  CONNOR LEHR made his school’s varsity dive team….never been on a diving board before.  JAKE GORDON was involved in a drama competition for his high school, and his group’s performance finished in 2nd place.  Pretty amazing!  In Mooresville, IN, HANNAH JONES is playing #3 singles on her school’s tennis team and – at last check – was 10 – 1 on the season.  Last month, JAKE “BIDMAN” POURCHOT went on a 3 day bike trip around Lake Superior (actually starting out at camp!) and other than freezing at night, had a great time.  He’s now focusing on running, and planning to run in a marathon in Ohio this month.  KATHY LEVERTON is in South Africa getting ready to head to camp.  She has been working with Chilli Adventures, which is a company that sends counselors from South Africa to American camps.  She’s also been camping recently in the desert.  Ready to cool off in Lake Towanda?  NICK DARLEY is planning an epic tour of national parks on his drive from Utah to camp early next month.  MICHAEL SCRAGG made the short trip from Australia to New Zealand last month to run in the New Zealand Ironman, which he completed in 13 hours, 15 minutes, and 15 seconds.  Amazing. 

         

 BRAVO TO OUR MAY BIRTHDAY BOYS & GIRLS!  Get ready for some Bravos!!  Adam Susman - 5/1/1999, Ben Tamsky - 5/1/1997, Chad Kamen - 5/2/1998, Adam Wasserman - 5/2/1998, Jack Kaplan - 5/3/1996, Steven Cooke - 5/5/1991, Vicki Setzer - 5/6/1956, Charlie Highum - 5/7/1997, Emilio Madrazo - 5/7/1998, Connor Lehr - 5/9/1994, Blake Berkowitz - 5/12/1998, Adam Hoffman - 5/12/1999, Corrie Hitchens - 5/15/1971, Ryan Miller - 5/16/1996, Ben Kite - 5/19/1999, Eliot Padzensky - 5/19/1996, Luke Sclamberg - 5/19/1999, Ben Schachter - 5/20/1999, Dan Shelanski - 5/20/1999, Jake Hoffman - 5/22/1999, Ryan Elias - 5/24/1993, Andrew Lehr - 5/24/1995, Sam Rakestraw - 5/26/1996, Jacob Elias - 5/27/1998, Rich Mc Gowan - 5/27/1972, Jon Kibel - 5/29/1995, Ben Gordon - 5/30/1991, Ian Jacobs - 5/30/1997, Ben Levey - 5/30/1995.

Alrighty folks!  This is our last desert edition for the time being.  Our next publication will originate inside the friendly confines of CAMP!!  Please, everyone, stay healthy, and we will see you very, very soon!  Wisconsin!  Get ready, here we come!!!

Benches up,