The Best Summer of Your Life
We had such a blast at the reunion yesterday! It was awesome being able to spend time with our PFC family again and we could not be more excited for what next summer has in store. A big thank you to everyone who came out, from campers to counselors, to head counselors and beyond. With buses from Westchester, Livingston, and Maryland, we were so thrilled with the turnout. Next up: PFC 2016!
We are just HOURS away from the 2015 camp reunion! Final details and reminders:
Sunday, November 1st
10AM-NOON
The Funplex, Mt. Laurel, NJ
Please note that, if you are traveling from PA, the Ben Franklin Bridge will be closed that Sunday. It also happens to be Daylight Savings — don’t forget to turn your clocks back!
Westchester Bus (Bloomingdale’s in White Plains, NY):
6:45AM Assembly
7:00AM Departure
2:30-3PM Pick-Up
Livingston Bus (Livingston Mall, across from Macy’s):
7:30AM Assembly
7:45AM Departure
2:00-2:30PM Pick-Up
Maryland Bus (Wootton High School and the Maryland House):
6:45AM Assembly at Wootton HS
7:00AM Departure from Wootton HS
8:30AM Departure from the Maryland House
1:30PM Pick-Up at the Maryland House
3:30PM Pick-Up at Wootton HS
We can’t wait to see you there!
PFC is coming to the Philly suburbs! Know anyone in the Blue Bell, PA area looking for an overnight camp? Send them our way! We are having an open house in Blue Bell on Tuesday, November 3rd (Election Day!) from 11-1pm. We’ll be discussing our favorite topic: the magic of PFC! Directors from Camp Timber Tops and Lake Owego Camp will also be there.
Live nearby? Come say hi! Bring your family and have a slice of pizza with us! All are welcome.
There are friends at home, teammates at soccer leagues, and cousins who you see over the holidays, but there’s nothing like the bonds of camp friends, and especially bunkmates. Maybe it’s the conversations you have when the lights are out and you’re under the covers, or the campfires on an overnight with just your counselors. Perhaps it’s the candlelight ceremony when bunks cluster together and you can hear a few sniffles. Whatever it is, it’s special. And on Sunday, November 1st, we can all be together again. Bring your favorite memory of 2015, your plans for PFC 2016, and a hug for every camp friend. We can’t wait to see you there.
What a glorious weekend of fun, friendship and memories as PFC celebrated its 85th season. Former campers and counselors arrived on a beautiful fall weekend. Over 150 alumni from as far away as California, Colorado, and Florida sang a rousing chorus of the old camp welcome song, “We Welcome you to Pine Forest” when they were greeted by 4 generations of the 5 generation Black Family. Many dignitaries were in the crowd including several former head counselors. An especially warm welcome was extended to legendary Head Chef “Sparky” McIver’s daughter and granddaughter who were in attendance.
Activities were in full swing all afternoon with a pick up “A” game at Chadwin Court and arts and crafts featuring old-school tie dye and lanyard-making. Camp legend, Nafis ran alum through the ropes course and canoes were all out on Lake Greeley. Some alum even made a nostalgic trip out to Blueberry Island. A highlight of the weekend was the 85th season mural, created by Steven Charny. Almost everyone in attendance helped paint a part of it.
But it seemed like the most popular thing to do was relax with camp friends, smell the pines, listen to the acorns fall on bunk roofs, and recount stories from the past.
Late in the afternoon, everyone gathered at the corner of Route 6 and Pine Forest Camp Rd. to dedicate the red barn to PFC’s beloved Ricky Charny, a very special former camper, counselor, division leader, Color War leader, camp parent and all around, life-long PFC enthusiast.
Next, the group went back to camp just in time for line-up at the girls flagpole led by Lee Forest Black, with jokes by Lisa Sherman Fayne. Line-up was followed by a delicious dinner in the “new” dining room.
At night, everyone gathered under the stars for a campfire on Mitchell Field. Uncle Marv regaled everyone with his stories from the history of Pine Forest and we sang those classic camp songs that still resonate. And ahh, the taste of s’mores! Later, there was an “after party” with dancing to the classic sounds of a “Purple Haze” style DJ. Old bunkmates talked late, late into the night, even after curfew.
Thank you to each and every camper and counselor who attended and to those who could not but sent their many good wishes and support. Pine Forest is many things but most of all it is about the timeless bonds of friendship. May the happiness, joy, and adventure that it has brought thousands of campers and counselors for 85 seasons go on for the next 85. “Friends, friends, friends, we will always be…”
Was 3 days away from camp friends as hard for you as it was for us? Then we have some good news! The countdown is on (74 days!) for our summer 2015 reunion!
When: Sunday, November 1, 2015
Where: The Funplex in Mount Laurel, New Jersey
Why: Because we miss our camp friends!
How: Information on transportation to follow
The transition to “the real world” isn’t always easy for you and your campers. Here are some tips to help both of you make the transition as smooth as possible.
Yes, they’ll be SO happy to see you. They’re also very, very sad.
They’re sad to leave camp! They’re sad to leave their friends! They’re sad to leave their counselors! They’re sad to leave their independence and camp persona! It’s okay (great actually)! It means you gave them the best gift ever!
In the past week alone they’ve experienced Color Days, the play, song and cheer, a gymnastics show, banquet, packing and more. Over the past seven weeks they’ve been living with ten other people, hanging out with friends day and night, participating in activities from sun up to sun down. Enough said.
It might take a few hours or a few days to be entirely “on.” They might even seem a little numb. It doesn’t mean they don’t love you or didn’t miss you. It doesn’t mean that they won’t open up and start gushing in a few days. Nothing is wrong. They just need time! Things that are normal: wanting to talk to their camp friends immediately, all-day, every day for a few days (yes, they just spent seven weeks with them – we know). Wanting to spend some time alone before jumping into the deep end of home life (think family gatherings, sporting events, play dates). Any combination of the above. Normal. Normal. Normal.
Think about your two best friends who live far away.
Friend one: you pick up the phone no matter what, even if you only have a minute. Though it’s been months, you know she’ll cut right to the chase and start where things left off. Or not. Maybe you just answer a quick question, maybe you talk about who got the final rose- you can hang up when you need to. One word answers, longer answers, anything goes. No pressure.
Friend two: You love her. Really. You LOVE her as much as friend one. But you really only pick up when you have time to sit, totally focused, for an hour-long catch-up. So, no. You don’t always pick up. Because you’re at work, or you’re making dinner, or you’re about to get the kids ready for bed, or you just don’t feel like telling your life story. That. Sounds. Exhausting.
The moral? Be friend one. You’ll learn more! She’ll start talking!
Good questions:
What was this morning like?
Which choice activity was the best?
Who was the goofiest counselor in your bunk?
Less good questions/statements:
Tell me EVERYTHING about camp.
Can you explain your weekly schedule?
What were all of your counselors like?
Ask a few, manageable, lighthearted questions every hour on that first day. You’ll open up that can of worms without having to pry, without overwhelming your fresh-off-the-bus camper.
At camp they were the most independent versions of themselves and they’re still basking in the glow of those camp freedoms. Advocating for themselves, making independent choices— it’s why you sent them to camp! Think about how you felt the first time you came home from college. It was a little weird! Think about small liberties you can introduce to reinforce your camper’s summer growth. If you have an eight-year-old who didn’t make his or her bed before camp, encourage him or her to make the bed at home (even if it isn’t as beautiful as you’d like). Though seemingly a “chore,” having your camper do things for him or herself at home will continue the summer’s momentum and make him or her feel happy and confident. And isn’t that what this whole camp thing was about from the start?
Three words: “Keep playing tennis!” That is the mantra that Uncle Marvin
Black lives by and he shared those words with the Marvin Black USTA Tennis Tournament participants this morning. Uncle Marv is 90-years-old and he still plays tennis almost every day. He told the players that it is a lifetime skill and that they should stick with
it. Thanks to Uncle Marv, Pine Forest was one of the first camps in the United
States to host a sanctioned USTA tournament and it’s going stronger than
ever before than 30 years later.
While our tennis players competed, our Junior boys spent the morning at the lake and our Senior and Hi Senior boys played Capture the Asagi. Meanwhile, in arts & crafts, the Senior 8s from girls’ camp began their banquet preparations and tie dye was a huge hit. Over at Center Stage, Kelli Moshen has entered the dance floor! She will be here for a week teaching our campers a dance routine. They couldn’t have been more excited to see her back in the dining hall at lunch! Perhaps it was Klezmer band at last night’s campfire for all girls and lower camp boys that gave them the dancing bug.
Our CAs left for their trip to Washington, DC this morning and look forward to exploring the city, as well as local colleges.
After all of this talk and excitement about the Senior and Hi Senior trips, we thought it might be fun for you to hear about our CA trips! During the second half of the summer, our CAs go on trips to Boston, Washington, DC, and New York City to check out several area colleges. It’s a good way for them to get a feel for what kind of college would be a good fit for them. Do I want a city school? Do I want a small school? Could I envision myself as one of the students I just saw in the dining hall? Does the school offer a major I’m interested in? The list goes on! There’s nothing like experiencing colleges alongside your camp friends.
Their first stop was Boston. On their first day there, they got to spend some time exploring Newbury Street and went to a restaurant that offers made to order stir fry! They then checked into the Boston University dorms where they would be spending the next couple of nights. On day two, they took a tour of Northeastern University, ate lunch on campus, then headed back to BU for a tour. Next up: Quincy Market! Day three started at Tufts University, where our CAs had an information session, tour, and lunch on campus. What a productive three days!
On Monday, the CAs are headed to The District! When they arrive, they will get to explore a museum of their choice, followed by dinner at the famous Ben’s Chili Bowl! After spending the night at American University, they will head to George Washington University for a tour and lunch – then back to American for a tour! Their night will be spent enjoying dinner and movie at Gallery Place. As their trip comes to a close, they will be stopping by the University of Maryland on the way back to Greeley for a tour.
That brings us to New York City! On August 12th, the CAs will be taking a day trip to The Big Apple where, as you can imagine, it’s easy to fill a day! They will be taking tours of New York University and Columbia University and will have time to hang out in Union Square and Times Square. They’ll end their final college trip of the summer with dinner at a Food Network approved barbeque restaurant in Times Square!
Parents, we’re glad we could knock out some of those college tours for you and we can’t wait to hear your CAs’ feedback!
Can you believe it’s already time for senior trips?! Our 9s and 10s had on-time departures and a seamless border crossing bright and early this morning! Curious as to what they’re up to? We thought so! Below are some highlights.
9th Grade Trip to New England:
-Quincy Market and Fanieul Hall
-New England Aquarium
-Freedom Trail
-Red Sox game at Fenway Park
-Old Orchard Beach and Palace Playground
-Tennis Hall of Fame
-Touro Synagogue
-Brick Market Place
10th Grade Trip to Montreal
-Laser Quest
-Jet boating on the Lachine Rapids
-La Ronde Amusement Park
-Lake Placid Olympic Sport Complex
-Catherine Street
…And we didn’t even mention the amazing meals and downtown sightseeing! Can we please be campers again?
We invite you to schedule a one-on-one, interactive family tour of camp, led by one of our awesome camp leaders. You'll meet our owners/directors and learn more about our amazing, 95-year camp history and traditions. Come feel the love and warmth that Pine Forest Camp has to offer! Email hillary@pineforestcamp.com to coordinate!
