Friday, April 28, 2017

Visit us tomorrow at Rutgers Day!

Tomorrow we'll be taking part in the colossal event down in New Brunswick that is Rutgers Day!

Yes, we'll be manning a nice little Camp-info table making sure folks know about Rutgers' very own sleep-away camp nestled up in the woods of Stokes State Forest. So, if you're at Rutgers Day checking out the NJ Folk Festival, Ag Field Day, or any of the other million activities offered, stop by and say hello!

But that's not at all! L.G. Cook 4-H Camp will also be featured in the R Gardens Sculpture Display: 




The classic Rutgers logo...

Camp collage-ified.

With photos from Camp-present on the front...

And some classic Camp history throwbacks on the back.

This  Camp arts and crafts project...

Was designed, photo-selected, cut-all-up, and mod-podged like no-tomorrow...

By our very own Camp Secretary Heather!



So check it out on display tomorrow!



And if not, you'll get to see it any way because we'll be keeping the R here at Camp all summer long. Something tells me we'll be able to find some creative uses for it during the summer season...

Thursday, April 27, 2017

Quadruple Digit Day!

A few days ago we celebrated a new holiday at Camp, one we observed for the first time last year: Quadruple Digit Day!

Yes, Quad-Day marks the moment that we have over a thousand bunks filled for the coming summer. That's a thousand camper spots being enjoyed during campfires, talent shows, and leaps into Lake Shawanni. That's a thousand bunk mates, Battlers-for-the-Island, and new friends waiting to be made. Ideally, that's a thousand happy campers.


Last season was the first year we hit the thousand mark as an open enrollment Camp. 

We wanted to let you know about this Camp Holiday via the screen in front of your face for TWO reasons.

Reason 1) If you've already signed up for one of these bunks (or more) for Summer 2017, thank you! We can't wait to create an amazing Camp experience for all our campers this summer, and there is no better way to support L.G. Cook 4-H Camp now and in the future than to send campers our way, to spend a week in the woods with the classic-American-Summer-Camp-experience.

Reason 2) If you haven't signed up for one of these bunks (or know someone who hasn't and should) now is certainly the time. Most sessions of Camp are now within ten bunks of being sold out. For campers looking to join our Lantern Family, refer your friends now, while there are still bunks open to refer them to!


Camp is nothing without the Camp Community, and we couldn't be happier to welcome (and welcome back) the thousand-filled-up-bunks for 2017 to that Camp Community.

Here's hoping to keep Quadruple Digit Day a holiday we observe annually at L.G. Cook 4-H Camp for years and years to come!






Tuesday, April 25, 2017

Another Day, Another Volume of Meet the Staff of 2017!

VOLUME IX- If you thought the journey from South Carolina to Michigan was a long one, just try going from Michigan all the way to POLAND, because the relay is traveling internationally as...





Dorota was the very first staff member we hired at the Camp America Fair in Krakow this year, and right away her enthusiasm and positive attitude made it clear she'd be a great team-member to join the Summer Staff of 2017. That's why we're looking forward to Dorota joining us...what's Dorota looking forward to?


"I'm looking forward everything new! New people, new experience, new places! :)
I am so happy because the summer is really close!"

Monday, April 24, 2017

The Relay Keeps Rolling, and We've Got More Staff to Meet!

VOLUME VIII: The Photo Relay bounces from down at a college in South Carolina all the way up north to a college in Michigan, because...




Sarah is a long-time member of the Camp Family, and last year was her first season on Staff. She resided in the infamously wacky Cabin #10 all summer long and patrolled the shores of Lake Shawanni as one of our intrepid lifeguards. We're thrilled to have her joining us on staff again for a second summer. 

But what is SARAH looking forward to about coming back to Camp for Summer 2017?

Why, it should be easy for you to guess, and for emphasis she'll let you know in all capital letters:

"I AM SO EXCITED TO GET BACK IN LAKE SHAWANNI!"


Wednesday, April 19, 2017

But is there still more Staff to meet? YES!

Volume VII:

Someone brand-new to Summer Camp introduces someone not-so-brand-new to Summer Camp as...











Yes, Robyn is another long-time camper, CIT, Volunteer, and Camp Counselor. After taking a hiatus for Summers '15 and '16, Robyn is back to teach the same Counselor in Training Program she was a part of just a few summers ago. And why is SHE excited about Summer 2017?


"I am looking forward to being back at my second home and helping develop the future C.I.T program!"


You can see on this here friendly-photo-relay just how many of our Staff members have been through our C.I.T classes here, so you imagine just how important to all future summers the C.I.T. program is. We're thrilled for Robyn to be in charge of the C.I.T. class of 2017, to get to work on creating the Summer Staffs of 2019, 2020, and 2021! 

(Seeing them typed out, those years look like they're all from Science Fiction.)




Friday, April 14, 2017

We've got plenty more staff, so keeping meeting them!

Volume VI:

A brand-new counselor passes the relay to someone brand-new to Summer Camp in general as... 








Sara is a longtime 4-H member, and this is her very first summer at L.G. Cook 4-H Camp! She'll be keeping Lake Shawanni safe and sound as one of our lifeguards.

And what is Sara looking forward to the most? Why, she decided to go nice and simple, and look forward to what so many of our campers happen to look forward to every single summer...


"I'm am looking forward to my first summer at camp!"

Wednesday, April 12, 2017

Welcome a brand-new (quite-old) staff member to our year-round team!

Please join me in welcoming a very familiar face in a brand-new way, as we have added a staff member to our year-round-full-time-not-just-for-summer-time-team.




No!

It's not our camper Roman. 

(Though, I'm sure he'd love that.) 

It's Tyler "T-Nivi" Nivison!

You may remember him from popping up all sorts of interesting places around Summer Camp, like ...

As the sleepy chicken...

Who sometimes guards our...

Wednesday night snack.

Or as a part-time Disc Golf instructor...



Or an architect of Camp Clue...



Or most likely, simply hanging back...

Behind the scenes...

Helping all aspects of summer camp...


Run as smoothly as possible.



Why, you just might even remember him as a counselor...


Way back at the turn of the century.




Yup, there we are. In ol' days.




For the past several seasons Tyler has served on our Senior Staff as our "Logistics Coordinator", overseeing many parts of the puzzle that need to come together to run a successful summer camp program.  This is exactly the same service Tyler will now be providing, not just in the summer, but every single season on the calendar.


Tyler has been passionately supporting the L.G. Cook 4-H Camp program since he first attended as a camper, 25 YEARS AGO, and we're thrilled to finally have him here to support Camp the whole year 'round.



Monday, April 10, 2017

The Photo Relay Keeps Rolling As...

Volume V:









Chase has been coming to Camp for summers and summer, but this is her first year on staff! There's nothing more exciting than welcoming someone who has been a camper, CIT, and Junior Counselor to our summer staff team.  And what is Chase excited about for Summer 2017?



"I'm most looking forward to Thursday nights. And what do we do on Thursday nights other than the Talent Show? VIKING DINNER!"



Friday, April 7, 2017

Continue meeting the Staff of 2017!

VOLUME IV: A veteran of the Camp staff passes the relay along to another veteran of the Camp staff as...












Ms. Lindsey Filo is another long-time member of the Camp Family, and after a summer away in 2016 she is joining us this year as a member of the Senior Staff.

And what is it our Creative Arts Coordinator is looking forward to the most about Summer 2017?

Well, she summed it up in one hyphenated phrase:


"TIE-DYING!"

Thursday, April 6, 2017

KEEP Meeting the Staff of 2017...

Volume III: When last we checked in the with the Staff of 2017, our photo relay had crossed the Atlantic, and now it's taking the return trip back as...














Yes, it's Amber! Amber was a camper, CIT, volunteer, and this will be her THIRD summer as a counselor at Camp. Not only will Amber once again be teaching archery, shooting sports, and the rest of the classes in our Recreation Course Area, but this summer she'll be serving as an assistant to Nurse Tosti as well. 

And what is Amber looking forward to most about summer 2017?

"Everything at summer camp is great, but what I'm most looking forward to is the talent show, it might just be my favorite camp activity. "



Yup, Amber agrees with Nurse Tosti (and myself), that there's no better night than Thursday Night and the Talent Show at 4-H Camp. Though, Monday night, Tuesday night, Wednesday night, and Friday night at 4-H Camp are very close runners up.


Next Up: We can't run a Camp with four people! We've got plenty more staff for you to meet.