I hope everyone had a safe and Happy Halloween! Wish it was June 30th at camp. We’d be riding the camp fire truck, decorating Halloween cookies, playing Conk the Crow, screaming in the Agawak haunted house and dunking our lovely CIT’s.  It’s hard to believe November is upon us. I’m still reminiscing about the fantastic summer of activities, fun, friends and memories that happened this past summer. Camp is unique in that you learn so much about different people, but more importantly, you learn about yourself.  No matter how many summers go by I’m still learning new tricks. At camp self discovery never ends.

Things at camp are quiet except for the sound of Brandon’s hammer.  The kitchen girl’s cabin, located next to Pinewood, is under construction. My plan is to add another bathroom and increase the size of the front bedroom and entrance area so our wonderful kitchen staff will have more room and longer, warmer showers.  A few weeks ago I had Brandon relocate the camp dumpsters near the service entrance to the staff parking lot. Why didn’t I move those years ago? Resting in their place will be a small, half log cabin which will be the new location of our indoor cooking classes.  The walls are up. The windows are in. Now all we need is for it to be roofed and sided.

By now many of you may be aware that the Agawak Alumnae foundation and Camp Agawak will be hosting a reunion in August next summer. The reunion aptly named, “Coming Together” is being organized by a great group of women.  Our reunion committee consisting of Diane Melhman, Nancy Fleishman-Borzak, Emily (Coleman) Nagler, Marquex (Silver) Sayer,  Rhonda Deutsch Abramson, Abbey (Deutsch) Cross,  Louise (Abell) Holland, Liz (Weinstein) Kleifield, Lauren (Mehlman) Litchfield, Diane (Leaf) Mehlman, Amy (Adler) McGowan, Sara (Mehlman) Mervis, Carole (Millman) Rosenberg, Karen (Schwartz) Sutker and Stephanie Becker Tasman  have been meeting regularly to organize and prepare for a weekend of fun and memories shared with numerous generations of past Agawak alumnae.  The reunion dates are August 16th-19th. Any past alumnae who is 24 or older is welcome and encouraged to attend this special event which I’m sure will be etched forever in the hearts of those who attend.

Although things are quiet here we have been busy preparing for the summer ahead. I’ve had the opportunity to visit several new campers and will be heading to Milwaukee this afternoon to visit a family in Mequon. On Friday, November 16th I will be visiting our Ohio families and two new families. We will be meeting at the Fisher home. A BIG thank you goes out to them for providing me with a venue for this event. The Fisher family has been a strong supporter of Agawak. I’m proud of the long history Camp Agawak and Camp Kawaga has had dating back all the way to 1921! After Ohio I’m off to Houston December 1st to spend time with my Texas families.  Thank you also, to the Halperin family who has graciously offered to host this gathering.  I will be able to spend some time with Gracie and her younger sister (Sophie) who will be attending Agawak this summer.

Our assistant director, Stephanie Tasman, will be heading to St. Louis for a camp fair on January 26th. She’s hoping to connect with Jaclyn Raskas while she’s in town.  On Wednesday, January 15th I’ll be in Michigan at the JCC in West Bloomfield promoting Agawak. If I’m lucky Emily and Carolyn Cohn will pop by as well as Gillian Pfaff. On Sunday, February 3rd, Suzi will be heading to Los Angeles for a camp fair at Marymount High School. I’m hoping my CA girls will be able to stop by and give her an official Agawak camp hug. If any of my CA families would be interested in providing a venue for us while in Los Angeles please let me know.  Don’t forget about the Chicago reunion as well. Mark your calendars. It’s Sunday, February 10th with a new camper orientation meeting preceding the reunion.  Check out the web site for times. Throw in more camper visits, a visit to Indiana, a possible staffing trip to Mexico and Australia and winter is over. 
 

Speaking of the web site……has everyone taken the new virtual tour of camp? If you haven’t you’ll want to check it out. Also, we are working hard and eliminating some old unknown Agawak Facebook pages from the internet. We have officially created a business page on Facebook. I encourage all of you to visit the page and “Like It”.  Our Agawak Face page is for campers, staff, former alumnae and anyone who loves Camp Agawak and wants to stay better connected to their camp family. We will still continue to have a staff only page on Facebook as well. Remember this is a work in progress so be patient. Any suggestions you have send our way at fun@agawak.com.
 

It’s time for me to “hit the pavement” and head to Milwaukee. I hope this up-date finds all of you doing well any enjoying life. I’m thankful for the wonderful summer we completed and truly appreciate the special staff and campers that makes Agawak the magical place it is. I will be working hard getting camp ready for all of you to return next summer. I know my senior campers are eager to have more freedom and privileges and I’m brainstorming ways to implement that this summer currently with my administrative staff.   Please send any pictures you have (that are of good quality) of your Agawak sleepovers, gatherings, B-day parties, etc and we’ll be sure to post them on our photo gallery.
 

Take care. Be well. Smile on. Full speed-ahead.
Mary