Yesterday was a glorious bright sunny day at camp. It was the first time in many months I was able to walk into the camp office by the lake without my winter parka and thermal boots. As I reached the screened in porch I turned around for several moments, closed my eyes and imagined the waterfront filled with girls swimming and I could actually hear in my mind the sound of laughter. I imagined the sailboats skimming across Blue Lake and speedboats pulling skiers off from the ski docks. A wave of excitement hit me as I thought… there’s no place on earth I’d rather be. Where did 20 years go? It feels like 1989 was just yesterday. Honestly, I can say I’m ready for another 20… God willing that is.
During the past twenty years, I’ve witnessed tremendous Agawak growth and seen countless young girls mature into successful women. I’ve seen campers become mothers and I’m honored to have been a part of every Agawak girl’s life and development over the past 20 years. In the past, I’ve considered it a true privilege to have worked with your daughter(s) and this summer will be no different. Although Agawak’s long outstanding history has been extremely important (and always will be) it’s not nearly as important as what lies ahead in the future. So focus straight ahead and get yourself “pumped up” to go “full speed ahead” into the bright future.
Ducky and I have been educating ourselves on commercial ovens these past few weeks. Apparently, over the last fourteen summers Ducky has made so much pizza that he finally wore out our Vulcan pizza ovens. Scotty, who’s fixed them over and over and over for the past five years informed us that he will no longer subject himself to that frustration anymore. Needless to say, Ducky is one happy camper. With new ovens on the way, I expect Ducky’s pizza to be better than ever. Look out Alexander’s Pizza. Here comes Ducky’s pizza!!
Today the skies are grey and the sound of rain patters lightly against my window. I can hear Brandon’s hammer in the background and visualize the mess pile outside the small shower house. Near the end of post camp last year the drains in the small shower house began “acting up”. After hours and hours of problem solving and professional input the logical solution was to “gut out” the entire inside. For most campers, the small shower house has always been the shower house of choice. This summer, more than ever, I expect to see high traffic numbers coming and going from there. Camp Agawak is always in the process of up grading something. Some of these improvements are very noticeable and others less obvious. This summer will be no different.
Bob’s truck pulled into camp this afternoon which officially signifies the “beginning” of our precamp preparations. The light rain has quickly changed to snow but it won’t deter Bob from completing his long “to do” list. On that “to do” list is replacing and upgrading the windows in cabin B in addition to building me a small library in Alumni Hall. I remember, like it was yesterday, paging through the endless dust covered books in the “old library” that is now the candle shop. I can still recall the musty damp smell of those antique books that sat for several summers untouched and damaged by water. I couldn’t bear the thought of throwing those books away but what use is a book if you can’t read its contents? It was my hope that one day, just like the war canoes, we would be able to bring back an old favorite. Several of you have shipped me boxes of used books and I can’t thank you enough. A special thanks to Rachel Cantor, Chloe and Mari Weiss for sharing their “old” books. If any of you have used books cluttering your house and want to donate them to the Agawak library we’d be grateful. I look forward to Bob uttering these words, “Your library is finished.” I’ve always believed that early reading is truly the foundation to a child’s success in school. Read to your young children. Knowledge is indeed power and I hope many campers will visit the Agawak Library this summer.
Sara Stuckert and Meredith Reich will be our Program Directors again this year. They provided us with lots of great evening programs which I’m sure will only be improved upon. Stephanie Becker, Sarah Zollo, and the Barizlay sisters will all be assuming administrative roles this summer. Final Four and Olympic Day were such an enormous success last year and Zollo is already planning for these huge events. Ashley Isaacson will assist Zollo in the absence of Carrie Weismann. Stephanie Becker and Mike Fried will be my right and left hand. Thanks to Mike Fried, our new international staff looks outstanding. Sally Turner is scheduled to arrive the first part of May to help with precamp preparations and will partner with Brittany Wasserman to oversee the waterfront. Jami Breiter and Jenna Stucket will be heading up the Blue and White program this summer. Jordan Stupell and Emily Gurner will step-up to organize our camp competition program. Veteran staff like Brittany Kass, Ashley Isaacson, Simona Glasgow, Michelle Mostyn , Sarah Hibberd, Jillian Hyman, Arianna Zallik, Jamie Boyer, Amanda Burger,Paige Saltzberg, Carly Lustig, Maggie Gorchoff, Amy Joesph, Emma Goldman, Kendal Broderick, Amy Greenswag, will all be here this summer.
Suzi Schroeder who’ll be here for her first summer hopes to take our gymnastics program to new heights. I hear her passion for gymnastics in her voice when she speaks and look forward to watching this program area grow with her assistance. She’ll also be the voice parents will hear when they call the camp office. I’m excited to bring Amy Brickheimer and Hannah Schneider into the camp family. Amy will be helping out in our tripping program and Hannah Schneider has wanted to work at Agawak ever since she first came to post camp as a young girl. Hannah runs cross country in college so naturally she’ll be utilizing her skills in our running program.
Mike Synder will once again be our ski director with assistance from MP as well as Rachel Barzilay, Mike Krueger, Conor Bolger and Wes Gabel. In addition, MP will direct the CIT Boundary Waters trip. Get ready 2008 CITs! Sandy Bowen will be back for her eighteenth summer as Health Director. Larna Kennedy, Erin Willes and Yvonne Karlson will complete our nursing staff and all have previous experience at Agawak.
First year junior counselor contacts were mailed out and so far Megan Miller, Dana Glink,Shana Sternberg, Rachel Schlechter,Lindsey Gordan,Daniella Mayer,Jenny Groover,Marissa Cherner, Leah Hargaraten, Jenna Lewis, Brittany Curtis, Rachel Berzon, Emily Senoff, Marni Sommerfield, Sara Maeglin and Hannah Gilbert are all on board and official staff members. Beth Grosky, Abby Fivel, Sara Maeglin, Carly Gerber, Casey Rifkin, Rebecca Semon and Leslie Epstein are all verbally committed. This is a solid group of first year junior counselors and I know they’ll give 100% of themselves.
I literally can’t wait for the buses to roll into camp and for all of us to be back together again creating new memories and new friendships. So, until next time, start thinking and dreaming of the fun filled summer that’s just around the bend.
Smile On,
Mary
