Have you been connecting with camp friends you formed this summer?  A big part of camp is forming relationships with people and being a quality friend to others.  I hope you email or call your camp friends and stay in touch over the winter.  I will be connecting with some of our California camp friends this November when I travel to Los Angeles to stay with Molly Lovett’s family. Her younger sister Jane will be joining her at camp this summer.  I’m looking forward to visiting with them as well as Lila Mass, Olivia Henrikson and a few other potential campers. 

The staff list for next summer is growing daily.  Bridget Murphy, Lainie Kleifield, Jessi Morris, Katelyn Horn, Liane Cameron, Natalie Cameron, Lauren Chilow, Margaret Duffy, Emily Gurner, Nikki Gunn, Bronwyn James, Alexa Boorstein, Jamie Gorchoff and Jenna Spathis will all be back to enrich your camp experience. We have a warm and talented staff already forming and I’m thrilled to have so many returning staff members back.  Former assistant director Dewey (Karen) Abrams just gave birth to a beautiful baby girl, Kylie.  Congratulations to the proud parents. I’m hoping she’s an Agawak girl one day!  Stephanie Becker is about to tie the knot this weekend in Chicago.  It will be a fun wedding and I’m looking forward to seeing loads of “camp people”.  The connections we make at camp run deep and become deeper the older you become and the longer you’re at camp.

A few weeks ago, I pulled up my car next to my mailbox to gather the daily mail and I pulled out a newspaper from Tau Delta Phi Fraternity addressed to, former director, Oscar Siegel. He’s been gone from camp for over 27 years yet I’m still reminded of him in different ways and at different times.  I feel a bond to a man I’ve never spent time with but who loved Agawak as much as I do. At random times, I find myself thinking….What would Oscar think about this? Or, Oscar would shake his head at this one. Or a simple, Oscar is looking down smiling. I find myself thanking God and Oscar for watching over us. I want all of you to love your camp and develop a bond with Agawak where you can discover yourself and grow in ways you never thought possible.

Registrations are steadily coming in. The initial priority registration period is now over and registration has been opened up to new families interested in our program. If you haven’t registered and plan on returning please contact the camp office right away. I’d like to welcome the following new campers to the camp Agawak family: Molly Fisher, Ally Linn, Tessa Maier, Abby Rudman, Lexie Bergman, Jenna Berk, Paige Bordo, Harley Cohen, Vivienne Kaufman, Peyton Kessel, Ava Levine, Jane Lovett, Sophie Sinder, Jillian Sondag, Cassandra Cokefair, Morgan Gurtz, Liv Ludwig, Mallory Sawyer, Olivia Vigran, Rachel Wartell, Georgie Seifman, Carly Siegel and Jessica Schlossberg. All of you are the future leaders that every strong camp needs.

With more holidays fast approaching I’d like to offer a suggestion to parents.  Purchase an inexpensive music only device and here’s why. We have a problem at camp with iPhones, iPods with screens, iPads, Gameboys and other electronic devices. Electronic devices with internet and video capabilities are NOT allowed at camp. I’m tired of seeing campers sit on their beds and “veg out” rather than play a cabin game or hold a conversation with their cabin mates. I’m frustrated with a few select campers getting in trouble because they “snuck” a call and tired of parents saying, “I didn’t know she packed it.”  And what about a camper who watches a movie brought by another camper which is highly inappropriate?  It’s happening folks and I now have to enforce a stricter policy. Pink-eye and swimmers ear are possible givens at camp but sitting in the cabin watching movies and playing video games is not what we’re about.  Like one parent said, “It’s time to connect in a very disconnected world.”

I was impressed with the services we received from Melissa Gurvey and Hair Picksies this past summer. The free lice checks prior to camp truly helped keep our camp family healthy, happy and moving full speed ahead. We were able to clear up several cases of lice before campers even arrived at camp. A big THANK YOU to Melissa and all of you who were wise enough to take advantage of her services. My plan is to use Melissa and Hair Picksies again next summer.

The past summer was a very special summer for me as we celebrated Agawak’s 90th birthday. A few former Agawak Alumni came to enjoy a day at camp. They stole the show by participating in the final closing of our Blue and White ceremony. I was touched by their enthusiasm and unending camp sprit.  Mark your calendars for August 2013. We will be hosting an alumni reunion. More information will follow.

Remember to send me pictures of any Agawak gatherings you have. If the pictures are clear, I’ll gladly post them on the website. Until next time enjoy the colder weather headed our way except for our camp friends from Mexico where it’s always warm.

Smile On,

Mary and Staff