Dear Campers, Parents, Staff, Alums & Friends,
“I have a great memory…it’s just short.” If you hang out with middle-age folks enough, you’ll hear that joke now and then. It’s funny and true for a lot of people. Memory, though, can be one of the most powerful resources that people who work with children can put into play. This is true for parents, teachers, coaches, and camp counselors. While it is helpful to have a good memory for current things like doctor’s appointments, your kids’ sports or music or theater calendars, etc, that’s not – in our estimation – the most powerful type of memory to have when you work with children. The largest and most positive is the memory of your own youth. If you can remember vividly enough how you – as a child and adolescent – viewed the world and the people around you, that helps you interpret the things the kids you are with are doing and saying. We tell our counselors that remembering what it was like to be a camper at camp (if you had the good fortune of having that experience) can be immensely helpful when you connect with your kids, understand what they’re thinking and why, and navigate the way you interact with and guide them. This is why we value our younger counselors – our Junior Counselors and CITs – so much. Who better to identify with the thoughts and feelings of a camper than someone who was a camper himself so recently? We learn a lot from them every summer.
Nearly 10 years ago, Dr. Carol Dweck, a researcher and professor of Psychology at Stanford University, authored a book called Mindset; The New Psychology of Success. It’s a worthwhile read for parents and youth development professionals. The main thrust of the book is illustrating that some people have a “fixed” mindset, which (in general terms) focuses on character traits that are deemed permanent…things like intellect, creativity, athleticism. Others have a “growth mindset” which sees those traits as dynamic and therefore focuses on growth and progress. The argument is convincing that a growth mindset is healthier in all aspects of life. It is more productive, and it blazes a trail that more often leads to success and happiness than the fixed mindset. The concept is important now in your kids’ lives because most of your boys are heading into finals and the end of school. Think back to what that was like when you were a high school or middle school student. Pressure and stress levels can be enormous. In fact, most sociologists contend that today’s kids throughout the school years experience substantially higher levels of stress and perceived pressure than their parents felt at the same age. If you’re kids are on the right track, that means they are going to be working very hard in the coming weeks to perform at their highest level and complete the school year on a strong note.
Dr. Dweck’s research is a great guide for parents on how to best support and encourage their kids at times like this. And it can be a little tricky. We’re very accustomed to complimenting others, particularly children, on their attributes. “You got an A (or a B) on that exam. You’re so smart!” “Your art project was selected to hang in the school gallery. You’re so talented!” It’s natural….but not optimal. This kind of praise can backfire, leading kids to think, “Okay…that means if my artwork is not selected next time, I’m not talented.” This not only may reinforce a fixed mindset, it also may lead them to believe they will NEVER be talented. The kind of feedback that kids thrive on actually recognizes their effort and progress. “You got a B on that exam. You really worked hard for that!” “Your art project was selected to hang in the school gallery. You put in a lot of time and effort into that, and your art has come a long, long way!” Whether consciously or subconsciously, this can help guide your kids into a healthier, more productive growth mindset. We encourage you to try it during this upcoming end-of-school time.
Space for camp this summer remains available in our 2nd Session only. We’re happy to welcome back the following “old-timers” who re-enrolled last month: BEN LITMAN of Denver, CO; after an absence of a few summers, ETHAN GOMBERG of Chicago, IL; DESMOND BROWN of Hillside, IL; ZEV BURTON of Carmel, IN; DARION STARLING of University Heights, OH; ALEXANDER WEITZMAN of Nashville, TN; DANIEL & ETHAN ROTHSTEIN of Dallas, TX; and LUIS CORRAL of Chihuahua, Mexico.
And welcome aboard to first-year campers CHARLIE CARROLL and GIL RON of Chicago, IL. and HENRY ANDERSON of Alexandria, VA. We can’t wait to see you all up in the Northwoods!!
YO PARENTS: April is upon us, and May is sneaking up pretty quickly. So there’s some preparation coming up for camp that we know you’re all involved in. In a few weeks we will send you an email notifying you that your balance payment is due on May 15th. Your son’s account information is always live and (almost) always up to date on your Parent Keylog page.
We’ve also posted a few new things for you to read on your Parent Keylog page. Please check out the creatively named document, “April Information.” It’s an overview of several important things like food, communication, etc.
MEDICATIONS: Please remember that we require any REGULARLY SCHEDULED, PILL-FORM medications to go through the 
CampDoc pharmacy. This applies to prescription or OTC meds (such as Zyrtec). There is a new document on your Parent Keylog page that has information and FAQs from CampDoc regarding their pharmacy procedures. If your son’s medications fit the criteria, please be sure to read that document right away. Thanks.
YO OLD GUYS: We have mailed out Little Brother information to all of our Big Brother guys so far. We will have a few more new campers on the way, and if you do not have a little bro yet, you may still get one in the coming weeks. It is really important that you CALL (which is different from texting, emailing, Facebooking, etc) your little brother in the next week or so. Please reach out and make a new friend. It may feel a little awkward at first, but you have the bond of camp with each other, you're just getting it started a little early. Parents, if your son is a Big Brother, please help him remember to make that call. If your son is a new camper, please let us know if you don't hear from his big brother by the end of this month.
And if you are a returning camper, we hope you will heed the call of the wild! What are we talking about? Boundary Waters, Isle Royale, Sand River, Apostle Islands…wild places that most humans never get the chance to explore or even see. Here is your opportunity to experience some true wilderness. We have emailed everyone their trip histories and a list of what your next possible trips might be. Take a look at that, and also check out our Trips Progression chart on our website. If you’re eligible, or can become eligible to get out there this summer, we really encourage you to do so.
| WHY ARE TRIPS SO IMPORTANT? We’re so glad you asked. There are many reasons. Here are just five to consider:
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Regrets…who needs ‘em? We feel confident that if you cannot yet see how amazing these opportunities are, someday you will. Wouldn’t you prefer to be the guy who seized the opportunity (admittedly with some reservations and some risk) while it was in front of you, instead of joining the ranks of those who stepped back, took a pass, and very much regret that decision later? We already have plenty of those guys. We (and the world!) need more of you who lean in and take that leap.
YO STAFF: You can feel the excitement building, can’t ya. It’s real, and before you know it, school will be out and you will be waking up each day in a beautiful setting, working with extraordinary people and kids. There’s some stuff to do between now and then. Ready?
- If you have any certifications that are relative to camp, please be sure we have copies of those. If you are a returning staff member, and the copies we have from last year are still valid, you're set. If there are any changes, we need a copy of the new card or certificate. If you have certifications that will expire before the end of the summer, please be sure to contact us and either sign up for one of the courses we are offering at camp (Lifeguard Training, Lifeguard Challenge, CPR Challenge, etc), or tell us what course you will take before you arrive at camp. If you have already taken care of this and informed us, you don't have to do so again. REMEMBER, WE STRONGLY ENCOURAGE YOU TO BECOME A CERTIFIED LIFEGUARD! The more, the merrier, and this certification, which lasts 2 years, is FREE!. Beat that deal! To see who we have signed up for certification courses at camp as of the publication of this issue, please click here. Thanks very much.
- Check your Staff Keylog Page!! There, you’ll find:
- Your “official” way to sign up for extra training like Boat Driver, LGT, and LGT or CPR re-certs.
- Your Travel-to-Camp plans. It’s definitely not too early to get that sorted out.
- Your Tax forms. Need new ones every year.
- W4 and WT4Packing Lists to use as a guideline
- Child Labor Permit form (a requirement for 1st Year JCs only)
- STAFF MANUAL COMING SOON! We are completely revising our Staff Manual, and will upload a PDF version to your Staff Keylog page soon. We’ll notify you when it’s ready. Then you get to read, read, read!
- Please don’t forget to log into your CampDoc account and complete your Health Profile.
Our staff hiring has been cruising along. There is really so much that goes into our process, from outreach to interviewing to reference checking and more, it’s a lot to go through. We’re getting close to having everyone in place for the amazing summer to come. Please say hi to the following first-year staff who will join us this coming summer:
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| Alison is a sophomore at Washington University in her hometown of St. Louis, MO where she studies Psychology and intends to peruse a career in wilderness therapy. Alison has spent extensive time in the wilderness and will be one of our Wilderness Trip Leaders this summer. She is 19 years old |
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| Richard is 30 years old and joins us from Tucson, AZ where he is studying Early Childhood Education at the U of A, and also works as a Special Ed Teaching Assistant at a local elementary school. Richard has a wide range of interests and background, including some history coaching volleyball, playing baseball, as a competitive swimmer, and more. He has also been a volunteer Big Brother and a volunteer at a local children’s hospital. This summer he’ll be a cabin counselor, will head up Volleyball, and help out with Baseball and Swimming. |
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| David is a 20 year old student of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Plymouth in the United Kingdom. David is originally from Calabar, Nigeria and he will be joining us for his first year as part of our kitchen team. |
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| Chuck joins us for his first year as a part of our kitchen team, and comes to us from outside of Des Moines, IA. Chuck has worked in food-related factories and also as an auto mechanic. He is 27 years old. Hmmmm…he’s from Des Moines, and he’s a Miller…yep, you guessed it. Chuck is Bill Miller’s nephew. |
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| Anita, originally from Norway, is a 19 year old student of History, Math and English at the University of Sheffield in the United Kingdom. Anita also tutors at her local elementary school. She joins for her first summer as a part of our Kitchen team. She is very excited to visit the United States for the first time. |
CHUCK MILLER
In the Chicago area, SAM FRISHMAN was one of few 8th graders to make the high school JV hockey team. Later this month, DANIEL SOLOT will take in a Bulls game with ARI KADEN. ALEX PECK participated in the regional science fair and his project received the highest rating and qualified for the state fair next month. JOEY ROSENBLUM is going to visit his brother, Eddie in Shanghai over spring break. JOE BERNS is playing travel 
lacrosse along with JARED BLOOM. AARON BERNS was inspired by “Master Chef Jr,’ and has been taking cooking classes. JESSE STOLBERG will visit his sister in Costa Rica over spring break. DOX RASKIN plays trombone in a jazz band, and LEVI RASKIN is on the varsity robotics team. JARED LETWAT had the part of “Smee” in his school rendition of “Peter Pan.” ETHAN LETWAT is playing on a travel golf team. Both boys are headed out on a cruise over spring break. In Houston, HARRY SMITH went on a trip to Disneyworld for his spring break and loved the Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster. St. Louis boys are hitting the spring break trail too. While on a trip to Beaver Creek with MAX & JUSTIN GOLDENBERG, ETHAN & TYLER DEUTSCH also bumped into a whole flock of Nashville GORDONS, including MICHAEL, GAVIN, and CAM. BEN & SAM SIWAK are traveling around southern California for their spring break, hoping to encounter a Santa Monica Lovett or two. Bar Mitzvah congrats to ZACH HEARST from way back in December. Both he and brother, RYAN HEARST received straight As at their spring teachers conferences. Nice!! ILAN REISS is in LA, and finished his last session snow boarding camp, now getting ready for spring baseball. He’s also playing tennis. San Diego camper LEO HANDELSMAN is spending his spring break in Hawaii! He’s also starting spring baseball season. Here in Tucson, DAVID BERK got to spend his spring break in Florida with his grandparents. In the Washington, DC area, WILL & NOAH SEXTER hosted a meeting for a new camper, and then showed off their bowling skills.
JEFF MELROSE has been featured in several news stories in Florida as he takes up the debate against an earlier start to the school calendar down there. His quotes reflect the thoughtful and practical outlook Jeff has, balancing what is best for the students both in and out of school. In Milwaukee, RICKY ROMERSI placed 2nd at the state swim meet in the 50 free and 4th in the 100 free. He also set school records for those events and will compete in a national swimming competition in North Carolina. TAYLOR FRISHMAN is going to Florida for a college visit to the University of Tampa. ARI ASARCH was recently on a college visit from Denver to The University of Iowa where he spent some time with JORDAN FINE. ELLEN SCHARFENBERG has been preparing lesson plans for student teaching in Eau Claire, WI. ANNA WILKE is spending her spring break in 
Florida soaking up some sunshine. DUSTIN COHEN is spending his spring break at a waterski school near Panama City, Florida with some of his teammates from UW. In Tucson, SAMMY COHEN is on spring break and plans to take in a spring training ballgame up in Phoenix. COLBY SHARLIN was in Colorado for a ski trip and spent some time in Denver with BRIAN STRAIN, PARKER DAWSON, and DAVID GLAZER at a Nuggets game. He also caught up with the HITCHENS family. And CORRIE HITCHENS was with her school’s choirs, band, and orchestra for a trip to Florida, and she was able to get away and hang out with JEFF & ANDY MELROSE. Spring break sure is a great time for camp people to spend time with camp people!!
BRAVO TO OUR APRIL BIRTHDAY BOYS & GIRLS: Jack Eichner - 4/1/1999, Michael Gordon - 4/4/2003, Jordan Plocker - 4/4/2005, Sam Pawlan - 4/5/1999, Charlie Callen - 4/8/2004, Owen Monieson - 4/8/2003, Ethan Letwat - 4/10/2001, Jeremy Tubbs - 4/10/1993, Brian Barlow - 4/11/1995, Alejandra Rodriguez - 4/11/1992, Daniel Solot - 4/11/2003, Matt Mossler - 4/12/2000, James Wood - 4/12/1990, Nathan Friedman - 4/14/1999, Zachary Liss - 4/14/2005, Joey Bursten - 4/15/1997, Nick Von Kuensberg Sarre - 4/15/2001, Henry Lovett - 4/16/2001, Evan Bloom - 4/18/2004, David Elemi - 4/18/1994, Daniel Friedland - 4/18/2003, Josh Meyer - 4/18/2002, Keghan Connor - 4/19/1993, Santy Arriaga - 4/20/2001, Aaron Berns - 4/21/2006, Brandon Gomel - 4/21/1999, Zach Kallmeyer - 4/21/2001, Alexander Weitzman - 4/21/2000, Matthew Paley - 4/22/2004, Evan Goreham - 4/23/1995, Noah Sexter - 4/24/2006, Adam Stewart - 4/25/2005, Levi Raskin - 4/26/2002, Hitch Hitchens - 4/27/1957, Simon Kanovitz - 4/27/2006, Bryan Berkowitz - 4/29/2001, David Gaidamak - 4/29/1996, Evan Waldman - 4/29/2006.
Next month will be the LAST issue of this newsletter that we’ll draft in Tucson. We’re already starting to box stuff up and ship it to Wisconsin. We can’t wait to point the car north!! Have a great May!!
Benches up,
