Tag: overnight camp
Happy 90th Birthday, Appalachian Trail Conservancy!
Today marks the 90th year anniversary of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, http://www.appalachiantrail.org/, the organization responsible for protecting the longest hiking trail in the world. The Appalachian Trail stretches 2,185 miles from Springer Mountain in Georgia to Mt. Katahdin in Maine. And it goes right through the Delaware Water Gap, not far from Pine Forest Camp. Many of our campers have hiked the Appalachian Trail, led by our intrepid leader Nafis. We have climbed its crests and camped in its valleys. Pine Forest campers salute the Conservancy and thank you for maintaining the beauty of our Appalachian Trail for all to enjoy.
Wilt Chamberlain: PFC Alum…Sort of.
53 years ago today, Wilt Chamberlain scored 100 points in a single basketball game. Did you know that before Wilt was famous, he worked in the kitchen at PFC!? He was actually “asked to leave”, but later came back to visit after much fame and fortune.
Some remember that when Wilt rode a horse out on Route 6 (not allowed nowadays) his feet would drag on the ground! We’re guessing that if Wilt played in one of our counselor basketball games today, he’d likely score 100 points again.
Here he is signing autographs and posing with Uncle Marv & Mickey.
Vote for PFC!
We’re excited to announce that PFC is currently in the running for three awards!
Camplighter Awards
Category: Promotional Video
Link to vote: http://www.camplighterawards.com/pine-forest/
Philadelphia Family Magazine
Category: Best Overnight Camp
Link to vote: http://phillyfamily.com/profiles/pine-forest-camp/
“Favorite” PFC’s page for 1 point or write an endorsement for 2. Don’t be afraid to do both!
Main Line Parent Magazine
Category: Best Overnight Camp
Link to vote: http://mainlineparent.com/profiles/pine-forest-camp/
Favorite” PFC’s page for 1 point or write an endorsement for 2. Don’t be afraid to do both!
We’ve got this!
The Best Internship Around: Camp Counselor
Many people will tell you that the key to a successful future in the workplace is a solid internship related to your field of (potential) expertise. While that may be true for a lot of people and a lot of careers, a job as a camp counselor can give you the skills to succeed in not only the workplace, but in all aspects of your life. We’ve come up with three major things a summer camp job has the potential to provide, but like anything else, you get out what you put in.
Confidence
One of summer camp’s greatest qualities is its appreciation for individuality. The most notable counselors are the ones who sing the loudest, dress the craziest, and are willing to participate in any and all activities that his or her campers come up with. At camp, it’s hard to feel embarrassed. It is surprisingly easy to step out of your comfort zone and into the uninhibited summer camp lifestyle.
Selflessness
While being a camp counselor can give you a great deal of self-understanding and important life skills, the most successful counselors are those who are not at camp for themselves, but for the campers. Camp teaches you how to put the needs of your campers, or of any group, above your own. In order to deal with confrontations, homesickness, shower hour, and anything else that comes your way in the bunk, you have to know how to prioritize. As camp counselor, you are truly a surrogate parent for your campers and, while their problems may seem small to you, to them they are big and should be treated accordingly.
Leadership Ability
At camp, campers do not judge your ability to show them how to kick a soccer ball, make a friendship bracelet, or ride a zip line. We find that campers instantly idolize a counselor’s ability to do anything, giving you a solid platform to develop and transform your leadership skills from the get-go. You’ve been hired as a camp counselor and specialist in a specific activity; your accountability is already there. This gives you the time to focus on building your character, integrity, commitment, enthusiasm, and open-mindedness.
Ski Day!
What a weekend!
Wow! With two extraordinary new campers events in the books, we’re ready for summer 2015! Campers from far and wide came to meet one another, bowl, tumble, bounce, climb, eat and most importantly, get super excited about the upcoming summer! Always great to meet some new friends before the summer even starts!
We’ll mark this past weekend down in the ‘win’ column. We are so lucky to have so many nice new families!
But wait, there’s more… FAMILY SKI DAY! Saturday February 7th – For more info, call us. 267-639-2488
And then, NEW CAMPER WEEKEND: June 6-7
PFC doesn’t stop!
We love our new campers!
Beginning tomorrow, PFC kicks-off a whirlwind weekend filled with new camper events!
A great opportunity for new campers to meet one another, eat some pizza and get excited for the 2015 summer!
Saturday Jan. 11th – Playdrome in Devon: 1 – 3pm
Sunday Jan. 12th – The Field House at Chelsea Piers: 1:30p – 3:30p
Any questions? Call us. 267-639-2488
SEE YOU THIS WEEKEND!!!!
Milestones for Pine Forest Leaders!
Congratulations to our own PFC athletic Director Steve ”Chad” Chadwin on reaching his 600th win as coach of Abington Friends School. His Kangaroos have won 16 league titles. As Chad said when interviewed after the big win by the Philadelphia Inquirer, “No one person was bigger than the program…we’ve had kids who are able to buy into the team concept.” In his own humble way Chad always credits the group, but he is truly an outstanding individual leader, at school and at camp each summer at Pine Forest.
And Congratulations to Michael Silverman, Pine Forest alumni, old-timer and PFC parent who was sworn in as Mayor of the town of Livingston, New Jersey over the winter break last week. Michael has been a leader ever since his days as a General in Color War at PFC back in the 70’s. As Michael said, “I talk about camp and my experiences in so many of my speeches and talks….the PFC family has shaped my life in many ways… PFC is more than camp – it is LIFE”. We salute you Michael, for your commitment to public service and for your bonds with Pine Forest Camp.
Pine Forest Camp = Leadership.
Crickets
There are three signs that nature sends us every summer to let us know that camp is fleeting; going too fast. First we see the Canadian geese overhead, in tight V formation flying low over Mitchell Field heading south in advance of the cold. You can hear the squawking as they approach, zeroing in on their flight path.
Next is the sight of the first red leaves. Usually, you can find them down by the lake. There they are, on the tips of the tallest trees, red, yellow and gold waving in the breeze coming off Lake Greeley. It’s always the first week in August, just before Color Days, color!
And finally there are the crickets. They start at dusk, just as the sun goes down over the tree tops above the girls pool. You can hear just a few, here and there, during the month of July. The sound gets louder each week. Louder and louder, a crescendo, until the final days of camp, when they sound like a symphony. Sometimes you have to raise your voice to be heard over the cacophony of sound.
The smell of pines, the sight of a Milky Way of stars above, the feel of brisk mountain air and the happy crazy sound of crickets.
Set your ringtone to crickets as a reminder of those glorious, magical nights at camp.
