Some Early-History for Early-Bird

We are currently in the midst of Early Bird registration!

Open to both new and returning campers, Early Bird registration extends through March 15th. Not only does it feature a reduced Camp rate, but it's also a great chance for campers to get prime choice on sessions and classes as Camp begins to fill up.

To celebrate Early Bird, we're hauling some brochures from the Camp Archives. We promise to offer essentially the same 1951 camping experience we always have, so have a quick look at all that has stayed the same (and a couple things that have changed.)

Enjoy some classic camp marketing from '59, '61 and '68!

(If you're new to the Camp Blog, check out some posts from July and August as well for a glimpse of  what a day at Summer Camp is like...)

Yes, let's! Another fine idea from history.

Another thing that has not changed! This is still where Camp is. And it's still one of the prettiest spots in New Jersey. (We're just as modest as always, too.)

This is like 92% accurate.

Our application has gotten slightly more in depth though.

But you still choose three classes!

Yup.  Why do we bother writing new descriptions of Camp when we've got perfectly accurate ones in the archives. 

See, Archery has always been a hit. And we are of course now open enrollment, offering the Ol' 4-H Camp experience to all youth. 

Yes, history, you're correct once again. Let's go to 4-H Camp. (And there's the War Canoe image we've been looking for!)

International Edition

Uh-oh.

Wait one second.

What's going on here.

Oh no.

This is not our Flag Pole!

This body of water is NOT Lake Shawanni.

These aren't our birds!

This isn't the road past the cabins!

That's not the Dining Hall!

And that's definitely not Jim!

This can only mean one thing.

I'm in London again.

Yes, it's the end of January and that means it's time for my annual trip across the Atlantic to find our next batch of international counselors with the Camp America organization. 

My friend Brian, who runs a camp in New York was with me. It doesn't matter which camp. You can't go there, you already have a camp!

Camp America gave us a nice reception, high above the skyline. Camp America is the best.

And then the main event! The Camp America recruitment fair.

Applicants were lined up around the block (and around the Abbey)...

Looking forward to come inside...

And discover which of the many camps in attendance...

Would be their future summer home.

This is our table. Oooh. This looks nice. I want to go to this camp. (Wish granted.)

All right!

No more waiting!

No more suspense!

Time to meet the brave and exciting international counselors of 2016!

Meet EE Counselor, Hannah!

Meet Hannah ridiculous-style. 

Meet Creative Arts counselor, Olivia!

Meet Olivia, ridiculous-style. 

Meet Waterfront Counselor, Ben!

Meet Ben(s) ridiculous-style. 

And meet Grace, who will be Kitchen Staff!

And of course, meet Grace ridiculous-style.

It was great to get to find, meet and hire these fantastic folks in person. We already can't wait to reunite in a few short months on this side of the pond here in Stokes Forest, for a whole summer of fun. 

Welcome to the Camp Family!

Quite the Announcement

I am now handing this blog post over to our intrepid Camp Director, Jim Tavares.

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Many years ago during summer camp I sat around the campfire with my fellow staff members and talked about what I would do if I owned my own camp. That was over twenty years ago, but I still talk about it from time to time. I have been here at Lindley G. Cook for 15 years. In that time, I watched a number of young people meet at camp and become great friends, and I have even seen a few of them get married! 

I have watched Ben grow from a counselor to a Program Director. I have seen campers grow and become staff. And I have seen the program grow as a result. I’ve had as much freedom to form the program as any camp owner would have had. But it isn’t the same thing.

The old 4-H camp that I was the director of before L.G.Cook in Upstate NY

closed around 2005. It was bought a few years later, and the couple that bought it put a lot of work into it, but haven’t been as successful in running the program as they had hoped to. I have maintained a relationship with them, and shared my dreams of successes for this camp with them. 

They offered me the opportunity to buy their camp. This is a once in a

lifetime opportunity that I can’t pass up. So I will be leaving

L.G.Cook and starting my own camp program. Leaving here is hard, and I

have so many fond memories, but I am excited to have the opportunity

to create a whole new program from scratch, using all of the lessons

that I have learned over the past 30 years of summer camp. It will be a new camp program with an old camp heart.

I know I am leaving the camp in good hands, and many of the senior staff and Ben are stepping up to the challenge of continuing on what we all have created. I know that they will not only keep the program going, but take it to the next level. I will still keep in touch and help out as much as I can, and will contribute to the Campfire Council. I will keep in touch with everyone, and will continue to be a part of camp…just in a different role. 

It has been an amazing journey over the past 15 years. Much of what has happened here could never of happened without the love and support of many people. I want to personally thank all of you, and hope that you will continue to be just as dedicated to Lindley G. Cook 4-H Camp as you have been during my time here.

Thank you for the opportunity and the trust you have given me over the years. If you're ever up north in Lake Pleasant, NY, stop in for a cup of coffee and reminisce over the times we have shared here. I would love to show you the new (old) place.

And remember, as the camp song Linger says…”And as the years go by, I will think of you and sigh, This is goodnight and not goodbye”.

- Jim

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WOW. 

The title of this post was not lying, that was quite the announcement. 

I can't believe I had to hear about this for the first time on the Camp Blog! (Kidding. I heard about it slightly before the Camp Blog.) 

If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to us at the Camp Office. (And I'm sure this is something we'll probably continue talking about.)

Snow Camp

I am now fulfilling my yearly off-season obligation of sharing what our beautiful 108 acre woods look like all covered in the season's first lovely/substantial snow.

Obligation fulfilled.