The Importance of Socks: And a few other things…

In somewhat of a list format. In no particular order of importance. An ongoing list…

– Clean socks and maintaining pairs. Mesh sock bag, clothes pins, endless bags of cheap socks. Whatever you gotta do. Socks matter! To me, at least.

– Try something new. Not easy, but worth it. An activity, a food, a friend. It doesn’t matter. Try it. It’s safe to try at camp.

– GaGa is a sport…

– Battery Ball.

– You can be ‘camp good’ at something. You know what I’m talking about.

– To this day, when traveling with a friend, I always assume I can just use someone else’s toothpaste. Not true. If you’re traveling with a friend from camp, you’re likely out of luck…And toothpaste.

– Music.  Summer songs for me included: Too Sexy, Under The Bridge, I’ll Be Missing You (Puff Daddy Version), Can’t Touch This, Informer, Summer Girls, Waterfalls, Two Princes, This Is How We Do it, American Pie  —— I’m not saying these songs represent my taste in music. I’m just saying that, when I hear them…I know the lyrics. Like, ALL the lyrics.

– If someone has a guitar at a campfire, you can’t NOT sing The Weight.

– Finding the perfect s’mores stick is a talent unto itself. Not to mention the actual s’more.

– No matter how old you get, no matter where life takes you, when you’re with your camp friends it’s as if no time has passed. Those same silly jokes are just as funny. If not, funnier.

1990 bunk photos_Page_12

I’m seated on the ground, in the navy shirt, holding the sign. Likely in between scratching bugbites. One of my many summers in Bunk Banana over my tenure as a camper at PFC.

PFC FALL HAPPENINGS, OPEN HOUSES AND MORE!

For more information contact us at the camp office! 267-639-2488

Mark your calendars!

NOVEMBER

Camp Reunion/Get Together

Sunday, November 9, 2014 11:00AM-1:00PM

Jaxson’s Ice Cream Parlor & Restaurant
128 S. Federal Hwy
Dania Beach, FL 33004

Open House – Armonk, NY

Sunday, November 16, 2014 5:00PM-7:00PM
Armonk, NY
Call the office for more information!

Open House – Short Hills, NJ
Sunday, November 23, 2014 3:00PM-5:00PM
2 Fairfeld Terrace Dr.
Short Hills, NJ 07078

 

DECEMBER

Open House
Sunday, December 7, 2014 5:00PM-7:00PM
North Potomac, MD
Call the office for more information!

JANUARY

Bowling in Philadelphia – New and Prospective Camper Party!
Saturday, January 10, 2015 1:00PM-3:00PM
The Playdrome in Devon
300 West Lancaster Ave.
Devon, PA 19333

Chelsea Piers Fun –  New and Prospective Camper Party!
Sunday, January 11, 2015 1:30PM-3:30PM
The Field House at Chelsea Piers: Pier 62
New York, NY

FEBRUARY

Ski Day
Saturday, February 7th, 2015
Greeley, PA
New, Prospective, and Alumni Families!
Call the office for more info!

 

JUNE

New Camper Weekend at Camp!
Saturday, June 6 – Sunday, June 7, Greeley, PA
Call the office for more information!

Lee’s List: Favorite Evening Activities!

#10 – Blanket Basketball. It is what it is.

#9 – Social. Right? Who’s with me!?

#8 – Capture the Flag: Because to this day, I still do not fully understand Capture the Asagi.

#7 – Basketball Leagues. Under the lights. Lace ’em up!

#6 – Stealth Marble Band: Takes place on the nature trail involving marbles and rubber bands, oh my!

#5 – Escape from PFC: Costa’s ice cream? Yes, please.

#4 – Counselor Hunt: They’re not as fast as they look.

#3 – Luau: Always pack a Hawaiian shirt. ALWAYS! (In 2000, my entire bunk, Bunk Fir, wore Hawaiian shirts for our bunk picture. Our parents were less than thrilled).

#2 – GOLD RUSH: A multilayered event with costumes, real gold, fools gold, a general store…To this day, I think my backpack still has gold paint on the inside.

#1 – Campfire. Call me old-fashioned but to me, there’s nothing better than hanging with your buddies around the fire. Not necessarily a ‘kumbaya’ campfire. I’m talking jokes, songs, s’mores, more jokes and DEFINITELY more s’mores. And, if it’s a boys campfire, the fire has gotta be BIG. Right? Men?

PFC 365!

Keep the summer alive, all year long!

1) Keep in touch with camp friends! Call, text, email!

2) Login to Mom & Dad’s ‘MY PFC’ account and look at pics from this past summer!

3) Come to the 2014 reunion! Nov. 2, 10a-12p @ The Funplex in Mt. Laurel, NJ.

4) Read the blog and check for PFC events in your area!

5) Watch videos on the PFC Vimeo page!  https://vimeo.com/pineforestcamp

6) Wear your PFC gear! 5K, Hughie Black, PFC Official…it all works! Take a pic and tag us!

7) Follow PFC on Instagram – @pineforestcamp – Use #PFC2015

When I got home from camp, I…

(In no particular order)

– I ate bacon. Real bacon.

– Enjoyed the air conditioning.

– Took a long shower.

– Sat on the couch.

– Got bored.

Take me back to camp.

photo 2-6

Dribbler on the Roof!

A big day in sports: LeBron to Cleveland and Corey “The Dribbler” Rich to PFC.

Corey Rich brought his basketball dribbling expertise to Pine Forest, proving that hard work and practice really pays off. Corey has played basketball overseas, toured the country with his skills and has even appeared on the Letterman show! That’s cool!

Corey entertained our campers with interactive games, tips and drills and at one point dribbled six basketballs at once. It took ten campers to steal the ball from him!

Corey taught us that just because he isn’t the tallest, he never gave up on his dream of entertaining people through his love of basketball.

photo 2-11 photo 1-12

 

 

 

 

Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness at Camp

July 4th at Pine Forest.  It’s only mid-morning and it feels like a celebration. We awoke to a rain storm and the good news that we had “late sleep”! Awesome! One hour later the skies cleared and we walked into the dining room to find the entire place decorated with  red, white and blue balloons! And the food too, red strawberries, blueberries and white whipped cream on our homemade  crème brulee “French” (ok, we’ll call it “ American toast”, today!)   And of course the traditional Krispy Kreme donuts.

As the boys finished breakfast a little spontaneous joy broke out when, Lucy, one of our kitchen staff started doing the Macarena line dance with Josh, head of the lake. Before we knew it about 100 boys campers, counselors and even Mickey and Barbara joined in the dance and we were all goovin’ to the music in our red white and blue garb.

But the best is yet to come! This afternoon, Circus time brings huge inflatable rides, the pools will be open, and we have an all-camp carnival with booths created by campers. (They’ve been working on them for days) They’ll be prizes, face painting and music.

After dinner it’s the highlight of the day, our all-camp talent show, followed by the best fireworks display in Pike County, Pa.!! All under the watchful eye of our own Greeley Volunteer Fire Company.

This must  be what our Founding Fathers had in mind when they wanted us to pursue happiness. We are, and we’re grateful to live in a country where we can.

Pine Forest Camp Sets Sail!

Last night campers all over the world went to bed at home with great hopes and big dreams for the summer. New  friends, fun and adventure.  And today their dreams will come true.

Step off those buses, out of your cars, off of the airplanes and step into your summer home. We can’t wait to welcome you.

Parents, relax. We’ll take over from here.    Your children are in good hands, the best.

All of the planning and preparation is over and the first campers have arrived just hours ago.

Pine Forest’s 84th summer  begins now.

So sing it as loud as you can, from Florida, to New York City to Europe and back to Bethesda, Maryland  and Cherry Hill, New Jersey. It’s the Pine Forest Welcome song, “We welcome you to Pine forest, we’re mighty glad you’re here. We’ll set the air reverberating with a might cheer!”

Let the fun begin. Our ship sets sail now. All good things are yet to come.

photo 2-3

T.G.F.C.

T.G.F.C.

Thank Goodness For Camp.

Let’s face it, June is a crazy month.  With end of year school work piled high, recitals, playoffs and camp packing, even my lists have lists! June really is the craziest month of the year, at least for me. I’m sure most of you can agree. As I keep telling myself, this is all “good stuff”, so I try not to stress because it really is true. How lucky we are, moms and dads, and our children, who are wrapping up another successful school year and going to CAMP!!

I had the good fortune to be up at PFC last weekend for New Camper Weekend. While there, my daughter called me, stressed about her finals, etc.  All I could say to her was “don’t worry, it’ll be over soon and you’ll be here before you know it. Camp couldn’t look more beautiful and it’s waiting for you.”  She replied in four simple words, “I can’t wait, Mom.”  It might sound corny but that reply brought tears to my eyes. Camp makes my daughter happy.

Camp provides a well-deserved, healthy escape for our kids…a place to re-invent, to unplug, to have fun. Pure unadulterated fun. In this day and age, I can’t imagine anything more necessary. For 10 months out of the year, our kids run around like crazy. They live on their iPhone, iPad, iTouch and all I want, is for them to go to camp. It gives my children joy and so too, me.

I am so thankful for PFC and for the opportunities it provides my children for 7 weeks.  PFC is my daughter’s happy place.  I don’t know what she would do without it.  She has grown to need camp, to work all year to have camp and to cherish it every day. She never takes it for granted.

I share this story with you because my hope is that every child who steps foot off the bus on June 28th can exhale like I know my daughter will. Eventually, I’ll exhale too.

T.G.F.C.

Hillary Slovin