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Things to ponder this holiday weekend…!

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Who will the Counselors be in bunk Daisy?

Why are the boys in Bunk Banana always so wild and crazy?

Who will the fastest ‘man’ & ‘woman’ in camp be on College Day?

What new additions will Barbara add to the camp menu?

What will this years 85th Color Days themes be?

Who will win the 2015 5K Camper Scamper?

What will be the summer song of PFC 2015?

What riddle should Lisa tell at the first line-up?

What will be the schools in this years College Day competition?

What will the camp shows be?

Who will win the ‘much anticipated, often imitated, but certainly never duplicated’ Junior Skeeter Swift?

Will Craig Wallace’s hair still be blonde?

Will I finish a whole bottle of shampoo?

Are there really blueberries on Blueberry Island?

Will the ice cream truck break down?

Will ‘Dusty’ still be there?

Will I find a salamander?

Will I be in a Color Days skit?

Who goes up on the 10-Year Tree this summer?

Does the sky really begin at Pine Forest?

Do the stars shine brighter there?

Are we there yet?

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What’s new in 2015!?

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Here’s something to talk about this Memorial Day weekend. What’s new and awesome at PFC this summer!

– Most bunks will have new sinks, new vanities and…fans!

– Pool makeover – Expect some colorful umbrellas, beach chairs and landscaping at both the girls’ & boys’ pool. Ya Mon!

– New stage at Netsy Playhouse!

– Boys’ camp game deck for our knock-hockey fanatics! Score!

– Sports Broadcasting Clinic! Who’s the next Howard Cosell? or better yet, Zach Gelb!?

– New movie theater seating in Greeley Theater!

– An additional LAUNDRY RUN! WHAT!?!?!?!?!?!?! #GAMECHANGER!

– New paving & landscaping around camp! A facelift, if you will…!

– Kelli Moshen is back! Hip-Hop Boot Camp!

– Night at the Ballpark (RailRiders AAA Baseball) for all upper campers!

– Surf Bikes at the lake! THEY’RE BACK! Bigger and better.

– Another wood-burning pizza oven! That makes two! We love Pizza.

– TOP Baseball. No extra charge. Available to all players interested. Gonna be a home-run!

– All-camp Survivor Day!

– Special Krav Maga Clinic!

These are just some of the things we’re working on in the Pine Forest Camp Laboratories…

Sounds of Summer

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Hi, From Camp!

There are lots of sounds that make me happy- great music, the songs of birds in the morning, the crackle of a campfire at night. But there’s one sound that we hear only once each year and it fills us with joy, excitement and anticipation.

Last week, Barbara and I went up to Greeley (the temperature was down into the 30s at night!) to open the doors for our first guests of the season. Not our regular PFC campers just yet! It was the Spence School from NYC, whose students and teachers arrived for a few days of team building and discovery at Pine Forest.

When we walked into the dining room for the first meal of the season (PFC Chef Dave Lang’s special BBQ chicken), we heard it. The sounds of children back at camp. Oh, what a happy sound! Laughter, cheers, applause. That’s what we look forward to and work towards all year long. They may not be our “true campers” who arrive on June 27th, but after a long winter, Pine Forest has come alive with the sound of children having fun. And that’s the best sound of all.

Come Meet Us This Summer!

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Explorers

Choosing the right camp for your child is not an easy task.  That’s why Pine Forest offers several options to help ease the transition to sleepaway camp, by actually allowing your child to experience a taste of Pine Forest first-hand.

There are a few great ways to get to know us.

Our Explorer Weekend is the ultimate experience for future Pine Forest campers.  The weekend is designed to provide all the fun and excitement that our campers love, while giving future campers an opportunity to start making connections that will help in their transition to a longer stay at camp.  Explorer campers will experience a full camp schedule including boating at the lake, climbing our adventure course, creating a special project in arts and crafts, games with our athletic director, participating in evening programs, making s’mores at a campfire, and then sleeping in a real cabin – WOW!!

A Play Day has all the wonderful aspects of our Explorer Weekend without the sleepover.

The last way a future Pine Forest camper can experience camp is on a tour. On a tour, you will spend time with our directors and have an opportunity to meet campers and staff and, most importantly, feel the excitement and warmth of Pine Forest Camp.

Enrollment in our programs are limited, so check out your summer calendar and come meet us this summer in Greeley, PA!

Unsure if camp is right for your child? Check out this Parents Magazine blog post written by a Pine Forest parent!

Camp 101.

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Things that every camper should and will learn this summer:

Sure it’s all about fun and friendship, becoming independent and  learning to live together, but every camper will also return home with these skills. Every Pine Forest camper will come home knowing  how to:

–          Do the J-stroke

–          Start a campfire

–          Identify the North Star

–          Make a hospital corner

–          Build a raft

–          Say Hello in Mandarin (we have a few campers coming from China!)

–          Make a s’more

–          Shoot a lay-up

–          Use a compass

–          Swim the backstroke

–          Belay a rock climber

–          Throw a pot

–          Tie dye a T-shirt

–          Hit a backhand

–          Set a table

–          Field a ground ball

–          Raise the Flag

–          Read a trail map

Happy Earth Day!

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Wake up to the sound of a morning dove, a woodpecker or two.
Walk out of your bunk, the grass is still wet with dew.

On the way to the lake, what’s that rustle that I hear?
An eagle taking flight, a chipmunk or a deer?

At the far end of the lake, there’s a beaver dam, it looks new!
Just past Blueberry  Island, we can see it from our canoe.

You can smell the pines wherever you go,
Feel the sun on your shoulders, the warm summer glow.

At night around the campfire, it’s that fresh mountain chill.
Look up in the sky, a shooting star! Now that’s a thrill.

From sunrise to sunset, nature puts it’s stamp.
Every day is Earth Day at Pine Forest Camp.

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Unplugged and Happy

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Hey Parents,

Yesterday, there was an article in the New York Times Style Section about the benefits of disconnecting from electronics entitled “Hey Kids, Look At Me When We’re Talking” by Bruce Feiler.

In particular, it highlighted the positive impact of unplugging at overnight camp.  Here is the key paragraph:

“In 2012, Dr. Greenfield and her colleague Yalda T. Uhls performed a study of their own. They invited 51 preteens to spend five days at an overnight camp without television, computers or mobile phones. These students were compared to a control group that retained usual media practices. All participants took before and after tests that required them to infer emotional states from photographs and videos. After five days without screens, the children at the camp were significantly better at reading nonverbal emotional cues.”

Last week we heard from one of our Hi-Senior girls’ parents, who wrote:

“Last night I drove 3 9th graders into NYC for a concert. As the driver, I remained silent and there was an interesting conversation going on between the 3 girls. Two were from camp… and the 3rd, [was]  a non camp kid.”

The camp girls were extolling the virtues of unplugging for the summer. They said that it wasn’t easy, but they really appreciated not feeling the pressure to stay on top of social media all summer. After the first week, they really enjoyed the separation. Late night chats with friends without everyone being distracted by their screens are really unique in this day and age. There is great importance in authentic face-to-face communication.

Just 2 days ago, another camp parent sent us a picture of a t-shirt that said “There is no WIFI at camp, but the Connection is Awesome!”

Exactly!

Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/19/fashion/hey-kids-look-at-me-when-were-talking.html?_r=0

Spotlight on: Andy!

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Meet Andy Borowsky, Head of Boys Camp and new father to daughter, Beau!

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Hometown: Newtown, PA
When I’m not at camp, I’m: An Elementary Teacher and Ice Hockey Coach
Years at PFC: 4
Favorite camp meal: Chicken Fingers
Favorite camp tradition: Boys Campfires
Favorite camp song: Any former Color Days song
Favorite evening activity: Tennis Ground Hockey
Favorite part of being Head of Boys Camp: Line ups!
What I’m looking forward to most in 2015 is: Being reunited with all of my camp friends and making new ones.
Describe PFC in 3 words: PINE FOREST CAMP (Ha!)
Fun fact about myself: My wife and I just had our first child!!!

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Spotlight on: Amy!

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Meet Amy Klimkowski, Head Counselor of Girls’ Camp!

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Hometown: Chicago, IL

When I’m not at camp, I’m: A Teacher and Sales Associate for Burton Snowboards

Years at camp: This will be my 10th summer!!! Can’t believe I’ll be going on the tree this year!

Favorite camp meal: Tacos. I can’t get enough. My record is 5 in one lunch! Burp.

Favorite camp tradition: Anything to do with 4th of July. It used to be the only day I would get homesick at camp. Now, 10 years later, I couldn’t imagine spending it anywhere else. The talent show is a highlight of my summer every year. You all rock for getting up there!

Favorite camp song: “I’ve got a pair of combination underwear…”

Favorite evening activity: Capture the Flag or Beach Ball Bonanza

Best part about being a camper: I was never a camper at PFC but I did go to camp when I was a kid. My favorite part of camp was the lake! I couldn’t get enough of it. I spent all day, every day there. Is that a big surprise to you? :)

Favorite part of current role: This is my first year in this role at camp but so far I have been loving it! Having the opportunity to work on projects and continually plan for camp all year long is a dream come true. This summer is going to be AMAZING! Andy and I have some exciting things up our sleeves… Also, a key to the ice cream barn will be a GREAT perk! Shhhh… I’ll share!

Favorite Camp Memory: There have been so many …but hitting a home run over the fence in the Boys’ Camp Home Run Derby contest is an absolute highlight. #hitlikeagirl

What I’m looking most forward to in 2015: Every year, the best part of my summer is spending it with you and making the most of every moment at camp. Also, my sneaker game is going to be on point this summer. I’ve got some funky new kicks I can’t wait to break in! Describe PFC in 3 words: Bliss, Happiness, Home.

Fun fact about myself: I am fluent in American Sign Language and all of the students I teach are Deaf.