Dear Campers, Parents, Staff, Alums & Friends,
There are so many reasons why May is our 2nd favorite month. Finally, the weather is turning nice in most parts of the country, so we can start to really focus on the upcoming summer. Ironically, here in Tucson, the weather is getting waaaay too hot, so we’re more than ready to head north and get some more spring-like temperatures. At the same time, much of the Midwest and the Rockies have had decidedly NOT spring-like weather. In fact, there’s a good chance that when BILL MILLER and I arrive at camp on May 10th, there could still be snow on the ground! And it is also likely that the lake will still be frozen. Amazing! I know what some of you might be thinking, and not to worry…a frozen lake on May 10th does not necessarily mean cold water in June. Really. This wouldn’t be close to the first time we’ve arrived with ice on the lake, and since Towanda is just so friendly, all we need is some warm days this month, and the lake water will heat up quickly. Late last month, I spent about 3 days ordering all of the equipment, balls, canoes, camping gear, etc. that we’re going to need this summer. May is when it all arrives, and I’m waist deep in boxes and cool stuff! Our staff training actually starts this month, with WFR training for tripper, and our cooks will all arrive by the end of the month. And May is always a big construction month, this year being no exception. In the span of a few short weeks, we’ll have the cement slab poured and the new “Arena” building built out by the Mountain Biking area. This huge new building will be home to Floor Hockey and Ga-Ga, and we’re really looking forward to that. It’s always fun pounding nails, and since our incredible caretaker GREG FUS will have finished most of the hard work for the new trampoline area deck, I’ll have the joy of just putting the decking boards on it and pounding in those nails…probably with a high-tech nail gun….which is even MORE fun! Y’see, May is just awesome. Of course, June, July, and August are all tied for our favorite month of the year! Too predictable.
We don’t have a lot of camper enrollment information to tell you about this month ‘cause we’re mostly filled up anyway. We do have room in a few age groups 2nd session, in case you know of anyone. Welcome back to the following “old-timers” who re-enrolled recently: AARON JAFFE and MICHAEL NATINSKY of Highland Park, IL.
And welcome aboard to the following new campers who will join us this summer: JAMES LOVETT of Los Angeles, CA; and JOEY & JOSH ETTINGER of St. Louis, MO. Fasten your seatbelts! Summer is coming!!
May is an exciting month, but if you’re a camp parent, it is also time to pay your camp bill. If you have not yet paid the balance on your son's camp account, please remember that it is due by May 15th. Recently we emailed you all a copy of your camp statement. And remember, you can access your account info whenever you wish from your Parent Keylog Page. You can even print it out if you like by clicking on the link on the statement that says "Click here to to print this Statement." Your payment can be made by check, or if you prefer to pay by credit card, you can do so on Google Wallet by clicking the link on your statement that says "Click here to make a payment online using Google Checkout." REMEMBER, the online transaction is assessed a fee of 2.5%. As always, please feel free to call us if we can be of assistance.
CAN'T REMEMBER YOUR KEYLOG PASSWORD? If you're like most people, you have tons of usernames and passwords for various purposes. In the event you cannot remember your password for your Keylog account, it's easy to get. Just click on the blue "Keylog" tab in the top-right corner of every page on our website. Then click the "Forgot your password?" link. Enter your email address and make your selection in the "I am a" field (Parent, Camper, Staff, etc), and you will receive an email right away with your password. So easy!
A few other reminders for parents:
- Many forms are also due on or before May 15th. 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. - If you are going to mail any payments or forms to us, please stop using our Winter address now, and direct all mail to our Summer address.
- REMEMBER THE DEADLINE FOR FILLING PRESCRIPTIONS AT GROUPRX PHARMACY FOR 1ST SESSION IS MAY 17TH. 2nd session deadline is June 14th to get your prescriptions to them.
- If your son will take non-pill form medications this summer (which you do NOT fill at GroupRX), please be sure to send those up to camp to arrive at least 1 week before your son arrives. So the deadlines are June 12th for 1st session/8 week campers, and July 7th for 2nd session campers.
- 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
- If your son is or may be planning to participate in one of our trips to Canada, HE WILL NEED HIS PASSPORT! We ask that you err on the side of caution and send his passport to us even if he is only considering such a trip. We ask that you mail the passport to us when or shortly after your son is coming to camp. Please address it to Leslie's attention. We hold all passports in a safe place until the boys need them. The Trip Leaders hold the passports during the trips into Canada, and then after the trip, we mail the passports back home. So your son is never responsible for the safe-keeping of his passport.
If you have been assigned a camp Little Brother, please remember that you are to CALL (not text, email, tweet) your little bro as soon as possible. Thanks very much. - We have had a very good number of guys pre-registering for our big trips this summer. If you are eligible for one of these trips and you want to go, we recommend your pre-register to help assure you will have a space on the trip available to you. THIS IS FOR RETURNING CAMPERS ONLY. Trips eligible for pre-registration include:
- BWCA Canoeing (1st and 2nd Session)
- Isle Royale Backpacking - 10 Day trip (1st Session)
- Sand River Canoeing (1st Session)
- Apostle Islands Sea Kayaking (1st and 2nd Session)
- Quetico Provincial Park - The Canadian! - 12 Day trip (2nd Session)
- Isle Royale Backpacking - 6 Day trip (2nd Session)
- Lake Superior Provincial Park Backpacking - 8 Day trip (2nd Session)
YO STAFF: We've sent many of you some snail mail recently. All first-year staff have been mailed (or emailed to those from other countries) a copy of our First Year Staff Manual. We have also mailed out manuals to our Nurses, Rock Climbing Director, Waterfront Director, Waterski Directors, Riflery Director, Trip Leaders, and Cooks. Phew! If you are a CIT, we have mailed you a great little book to help you start thinking about how to communicate well with kids. That's just a little platform that we'll build on throughout Staff Training, so read up, and everyone - please be sure to bring all the manuals and books we have sent you to camp. Thanks.
CERTIFICATIONS: We still have room in our American Red Cross Lifeguard Training school from May 31st- June 3rd. The course will cost you nothing, and the certification is valid for 3 years. We pride ourselves on having a staff full of lifeguards (more than 40 each summer), and it is so vital to our program. So even if you're primary role at camp is not on the water, we want you to get this training. You can sign up from your Staff Keylog page. Click the "Extra Training" link.
- If you are a first-year Junior Counselor (CIT last year), your LGT and CPR certs are valid through this summer.
- If your LGT will expire before the end of the summer, you must re-certify. You can do that at camp FOR FREE! That class is on June 7th and 8th. The cert will then be good for 3 years.
- You know we think this is important, right? Why else would we make this so easy for you and so affordable (FREE!). Please sign up today if you haven't already. To see our list of who we have signed up, please click here. Thanks.
One more reminder for our staff:
- Do you know how you’re getting to camp? If you have not yet completed your Travel Plans form, please do so. You can access that from your Staff Keylog Page. We need that one REALLY SOON! Thanks.
It’s May, and we are (almost) fully staffed for the summer. That’s some exciting news! It has been a fun time getting to know the great new folks who will be with us this summer, and we’re so gratified by the huge return of staff (again) this summer. We will have a grand total of 5 new cabin counselors this summer…out of 53. That’s pretty impressive, but most importantly, it spells another awesome summer coming right up!
 JORDAN HERZ | After a short absence from camp we’re so thrilled to welcome Jordan back to camp. Originally from Tucson, AZ, 19 year-old Jordan is currently a freshman at Indiana University in Bloomington where he is studying Informatics. He will be returning to camp for his 9th summer where he will again be a cabin counselor and will take on the role of our Golf director. |
And join us in welcoming these new folks who will be with us this summer:
 TIM GROLL | We’re so excited to have Tim join us as our Lead Cook for this summer. He is from Lansing, MI and has been in the food service industry for many years, working before as a Head Cook and Kitchen Manager at Blue Mountain Ranch, a co-ed camp in Colorado. Tim will be driving on his motorcycle from Michigan all the way to camp. |
 TRENT HUDSON | Trent is a 17 year-old senior from Merrill, WI. Trent has previously worked at a boy and cub scouts’ camp. He has also spent time learning carpentry through a local remodeling business and does work on steel-based projects out of his garage. This summer Trent will be joining us as one of our maintenance staff members. |
 SAM THIEL | Hailing from Wausau, WI, Sam is an 18 year-old senior in high school who will be attending the University of Wisconsin-Stout in the fall where she will be studying Criminal Justice. When not at school Sam is busy with a part-time job, various babysitting gigs, and likes to volunteer on mission trips for her church. Sam is looking forward to joining us as part of our kitchen staff this summer. |
 LISA SALAWAY | Lisa is looking forward to join us as part of our nursing staff this summer. She lives in Madison during the off-season, but during the summer months she enjoys her time at her summer home right down the street from camp. Lisa has worked as a Registered Nurse for many years, working with patients of all ages through an Urgent Care center. |
 JOSH SCHULTZ | After serving bravely in Iraq for four years, 23 year-old Josh is looking forward to his freshman year at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point this fall where he will pursue a degree in Culinary Arts. Josh is also excited about his first summer at camp where he will be our Assistant Cook. |
We’ve had some impromptu camp reunions here and there. In Dallas, BEN SCHACHTER, ZACH RUDNER, and JAKE MAZOW hosted Houstonans GARRETT GLOVER and BRANDON GOMEL, and Chicagoan MICHAEL 
NATINSKY for a fun weekend of theme parks and swimming pools. In the Chicago area, ADAM WASSERMAN hosted a small group of first-year campers for some Frost gelato (a Tucson company, btw), and some talk about camp. He was joined by BEN & ARI KADEN and MATTHEW PALEY. Not long after that, the Kaden boys, got together with fellow first-year campers ALEC SCHLOSSBERG and NOAH GOLDSTEIN for a camp “preunion.” This is all great stuff!! Congrats to JACK KNUETTEL in Denver who was nominated for the National Junior Honor Society! Wow!!
EMILY JONES has finished the school year out on a good note, and is headed to Germany for a little vacation and to spend time with “old-timer” JAKOB SHARNAGL. BRIDGET MASUR also finished up the school year, and was honored with a distinct recognition for her work as an outdoor leader in the program at Indiana University. As a result, she will participate in a special training program in Duluth, MN before she heads to camp to be a trip leader. Congrats to Bridget. In Chicago, some CITs including ARI LACKNER, MAX GLICKMAN and SAM KAHN (who came up from St. Louis) as well as camper JACOB ROSENSTEIN and “old-timer” RYAN COHEN got together for what could be the earliest camp campfire in history.
THE JUICE
A special section by Michael Breen
Okay, let’s try a little experiment. Let’s try and do an audio-visual piece this month. Please click on this link and, while you read, enjoy one of the greatest movie scores ever written: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9iteRKvRKFA
For those under the age of 21, you may be confused to hear music that is not Rap, Bieber, or Dub-Step (side-note: is it just me or does Dub-Step just sound like Transformer robots fighting?). However, let your ears savor the sweet sounds of the theme to the greatest Western ever made: The Magnificent Seven.
My dad was a big fan of Westerns and would plop me down with him when I was younger to watch the classics. Our favorite was The Magnificent Seven. Made in 1960 (yes kids, they made movies before your parents were even alive), it starred the coolest guys around at the time—Charles Bronson, Yul Brynner, Eli Wallach, James Coburn, and…drumroll please…STEVE MCQUEEN! For those who don’t know, in his prime Steve McQueen would make Ryan Gosling look like one of the lamer guys in Hollywood today. He was the epitome of cool.
A quick synopsis: a poor village is being tormented by a gang of outlaws, so some of the villagers hire the previously mentioned cool dudes to come to the village to protect them and rid them of the bandits. For those who have seen A Bug’s Life, this is where Pixar got their story idea.
Anyway, I loved this movie when I was a kid because of the characters, the music, the setting, and the action. Then, there were many years when this film fell out of my consciousness—big budget productions pushing this old-timey Western to the wayside. However, just last week I found it on TV and within a few seconds of hearing the opening theme I was transported to when I was 12 years old, mesmerized by every scene and line of dialogue
But, this time around, I realized there was a different reason I loved this movie. I think something that happens when you get older is that clearly defined lines of good and bad, which seem so black and white when you are younger, often become blurred in a multitude of grey shades. I know the world is complex and these shades definitely do exist, but it was nice, for a few hours at least, to watch this movie and be immersed in a world where the good is so clearly good and the bad is so clearly bad. It was just so simple and reaffirming to root for the true good guys—to know right from wrong.
And, as I often do with things in my life, I relate it to my feelings on camp. September through May I can read the news and live in a world where I have to shift through the hues of a multifaceted world. However, June through August, life becomes a lot more simple. Right from wrong are much more identifiable and I can often learn from what is wrong and how to make it right. Of course, Steve McQueen has nothing on the group at camp, which I’ll dub the Magnificent Two-Hundred and Fifty (y’now, that just doesn’t quite have the same ring to it as Magnificent Seven). I’m not naïve enough to think that the outside world is this simple. It’s not. But, it is refreshing as an adult to go to camp as an adult and know the world could be this simple. And, as a camper, it has been so critical to learn this better understanding of right and wrong, giving me (and everyone else who has spent a summer at camp) the tools that allow us to see the true colors of these shades of grey when we enter the real world.
Now, ride off into that sunset, beg your parents to watch this movie with you, and let’s wheeze some juice:
· You are a first session camper and on the first full day of camp when we are set to have the swim assessment it begins to heavy dew (please note: it never rains at camp). Everyone is excited to sign up and begin their activities, but we’re unable to do that until we complete the swim assessment. The dew is becoming quite heavy, but instead of letting the weather dampen our plans (enjoy that pun, Eric Brown and Eric Thompson), the entire camp comes together to pull off some pretty impressive logistics. We run a van rotation into town, conducting our swim assessment at a local, indoor pool. The campers were excited for the mini cruiser day, the counselors were professional and efficient, and everyone could look back on that day fully assessed, ready to sign up for activities, and now loaded with a first-day memory they’ll never forget.
-Michael Breen
BRAVO TO OUR MAY BIRTHDAY BOYS & GIRLS! Next month we get to sing to our lucky birthday people! Josh Blum - 5/1/2003, Adam Susman - 5/1/1999, Chad Kamen - 5/2/1998, Adam Wasserman - 5/2/1998, Sean Bailen - 5/3/1999, Jackson Turner - 5/6/2004, Mateo D'Agaro - 5/7/1999, Brandon Tucker - 5/11/1998, Leo Sclamberg - 5/12/2004, Jacob Kline - 5/13/2002, Jules Blum - 5/15/1999, Corrie Hitchens - 5/15/1971, Tait Gray - 5/18/2000, Trent Hudson - 5/19/1995, Ben Kite - 5/19/1999, Luke Sclamberg - 5/19/1999, Ben Schachter - 5/20/1999, Dan Shelanski - 5/20/1999, Blake Berkowitz - 5/21/1998, Jake Hoffman - 5/22/1999, Jack Van Ooyen - 5/23/2002, Ryan Elias - 5/24/1993, Stephen Wayne - 5/24/1989, Jacob Elias - 5/27/1998, Rich Mc Gowan - 5/27/1972, Grant Kaufman - 5/28/2003, Henry Echt - 5/29/2002, Ian Jacobs - 5/30/1997, Ben Levey - 5/30/1995.
This is our LAST newsletter that we will post from Tucson, AZ. The next one we write ya will be from the great Northwood!! We’ll see all of you full season and first session campers NEXT MONTH!!
Benches up,
