Briarwood Bugle 2017-Week 1

Check out our latest Briarwood Bugle! You can read it below or click here

The Briarwood Bugle 2017-week 1

What a fantastic week we’ve had! Camp is already in full swing. It is wonderful to walk around camp and see so many kids playing and smiling and laughing and enjoying their friends and counselors.
The Busy Bees are swarming all over camp and, if you listen closely, you can hear many of the older bunks beginning to practice their bunk shows. Fun stuff!

Leagues started, the Briarena opened (hockey has a new and permanent home!), Lower Camp had tournaments, the CITs and Super CITs had their annual Fun and Wacky Games Event in Doylestown (always a fan favorite!), the Zoom Floom and Jumper started getting a workout. Awesome!
Next week, we’ve got our regular fun stuff plus Mini-Campouts, Clubs, Crazy Hat Day, Art Night and much, much more! Have a great weekend! Let’s do it all again next week!

MINI-CAMPOUTS The Mini-Campout is a fun event when a small number of lower camp, upper camp and senior camp bunks have the opportunity to enjoy many camp activities after hours. The activities include swimming, sports, and other specialized events. Campers also enjoy a BBQ dinner and watermelon for dessert! We suggest that campers bring an extra towel and an extra change of clothes on the day of their Mini-Campout. Parents are asked to pick up their campers from the Mini-Campout at 6:45pm at the flagpole. Our Mini-Campouts are highlights for our campers!

SOME FRIENDLY BRIARWOOD REMINDERS:
· If you want to reach your camper’s counselor during the camp day, call the office at 215-598-7143 and we will gladly relay your message. Please do not TEXT or CALL your child’s counselor directly during the camp day. Our counselors are busy watching children and we have asked them not to check their phones during the day.
· Early and Late Care is available from 7:30 am—6:00 pm sharp. Please call the office if you will need this service.
· While it never rains at Briarwood, in the event of a passing shower, please send your camper with the appropriate rain gear should the forecast call for rain.
· Apply sunscreen daily prior to coming to camp.
· Please label all clothing and personal items. That said — and because we know kids — our Lost and Found is located by the Sports Center on Upper Field.

NURSE LISA’S NOTES by Lisa Birkhead, R.N.
Welcome back! What a great first week at Briarwood! Let’s go over a few summer safety tips for our campers:
• DON’T FORGET SUNSCREEN! Apply in the morning and throughout the day.
• If it’s okay with Mom and Dad, apply some insect repellent on the lower legs and exposed arms.
• Let’s stay hydrated! Start drinking water before you get to camp.
• Wear sneakers or closed toe shoes around camp. Flip-flops are for the pool areas only.
• Did I mention, NO RUNNING in flip-flops?
• Parents—we need your camper’s health forms so we can best care for your child.
Any questions or concerns, call camp and ask to speak with me, Nurse Lisa at 215-598-7143. Thanks!!

BRIARWOOD
COUNSELORS
OF THE WEEK:
Senior Staff: Hallie Newman
Junior Staff: Dan Levy
Congratulations!

CLUB NOTES
One of the great things about Briarwood is that our lower, upper and senior campers get to choose an elective (we call them clubs) each week. Clubs meet first period every day and it gives our kids a chance to try new things or to dig deeper into things they like.
Our campers got to sample clubs this week. “Real” clubs start next week.
Some campers try a different club every week. Some stick with the same activity all summer. Both ways are great! While most clubs end each week, a few like Drama (because we’ll be doing a show) or Ceramics (because the projects take more time) last longer.

READ WHAT OUR SUPERVISORS HAVE TO SAY ABOUT SUMMER 2017!

Busy Bees Buzz around Briarwood by Anne Witkin, Associate Director and Busy Bee Program Director: Busy Bees are always happy and this summer will be no different. They may be our littlest campers but they will go BIG this summer on their very own Busy Bee Raceway! As the big kids ride past on their dirt bikes, the Bees will be waving from their Big Wheels. Our Bees participate in just about everything. The Zoom Floom and Jumper are fan favorites, but there is so much more! The Busy Bees shine all over camp as they learn strokes on the tennis court, splash in the pool, and run the bases on Briarfield. Busy Beach will get a lot of action as the Bees build sand castles and, during science, their curious minds will journey to the world of wonder. Once again I predict Briarwood’s cutest will WOW the audience with their performance at the annual Busy Bee show. From our Busy Bees to our Super CITs, smiles will be all around camp. We have fantastic events planned for ALL of camp. Every day is action-packed. This will be my 21st summer at Briarwood and what a privilege it continues to be to watch Briarwood campers grow up!

You’re Gonna Love Lower Camp Boys! By, Sheryl Cohen, Lower Camp Boys Supervisor. It is amazing how our camp community is growing! I am so happy for Melissa to join me in lower camp. To all of our boys in lower camp, it is super exciting. Just ask the senior boys, CITs, and yes, our staff, what fun it was to be a lower camper. Those transitioning from Busy Bees will experience new and exciting activities, and campers new to Briarwood will get to experience many “FIRSTS.” Our returning 2nd and 3rd graders will build on their previous two summers. After 13 years, I still say that there is nothing like watching the campers reconnect with their friends. It’s as if they have won the jackpot, and I feel so fortunate to watch our campers progress from grade to grade each year. The possibilities in lower camp are endless! Things like passing the deep-water test, finally going down the zip-line or even hitting a bull’s eye at archery. Let’s not forget a favorite at Briarwood; you get to go to clubs every morning! But not until you get to lower camp! Want to try different activities, go for it! Our club offerings are tremendous, exciting and enriching. First time campers or not, our campers are creating memories that will last a lifetime.

Lower Camp Girls Rock! By Melissa Berkowitz, Lower Camp Girls Supervisor: Briarwood Day Camp has been my happy place for myself and my own children for the past 4 summers. In order to celebrate my 5th summer, I am doing so in a new role as Lower Camp Girls Supervisor! Besides already knowing the girls that went through the Busy Bee program, I am very much looking forward to meeting all of girls who are experiencing the Briarwood magic for the first time. Partnering with Sheryl is just another fabulous perk. Lower Camp has so much to offer our amazing 1st, 2nd and 3rd graders! From former Busy Bees to new campers, all lower camp girls will share such an unforgettable experience. From bunk shows and deep water testing, to archery and ceramics, lower campers are always ready to try something new. Let’s not forget about CLUBS! Each camper can try different activities of their choice. They can attempt something new and exciting or continue with a club that they are passionate about! Overall, memories and friendships will be made at Briarwood to last a lifetime! I am ready to help make 2017 the best summer ever!

Upper Camp Boys…a story by Spencer Glass. After being a Bluejay and Flys™ counselor for the past 17 years at Briarwood, I am so, so, so looking forward to my new venture: Upper Camp Boys Supervisor. This summer we will again have amazing leagues, enjoy a wide variety of clubs, adventures, sports and not so sports. Our superior counselors and junior counselors “on the hill” will help make your son’s summer memorable. It’s great to see all the kids!!!

Upper Camp Girls, Bouncing around Camp, by Randi Weisman- Upper Girls Supervisor: Growing up within this division is amazing. I can’t wait to share my heartbeat with all “MY” girls! The upper girls division is in store for some great Briarwood days this summer. Some traditional … like bunk shows, carnival and mini-campouts … and some AWESOME surprises along the way! (Wait till you see, I can’t tell you. But I surely CAN’T WAIT!!) Girls coming from lower camp finally participate in senior leagues, and enjoy every minute of it. I love being with this group of girls and sharing their fun days. They may come home at the end of the day full of glue, glitter, clay and dirt and exhausted from the sun, but I can promise you one thing, they can’t wait for more! Memories will happen right before their eyes. The kids soak up not only the sun, but the Briarwood heartbeat! It beats in a rhythm that stays within us and that we share with others for a lifetime.

CITs and Super CITs Rock, by Dan Feldgus, Senior Camp Supervisor We are so excited for another fantastic summer in Senior Camp. This year, joining Bri and Dan are Sherri Boiselle, Paul Richman, Sorelle Sax and Danny Glickman. That is a staff you simply can’t beat. But it isn’t just the staff. Our CITs and Super CITs are the best too. Working with bunks is the place we shine the brightest, but we love to play and hang out together too. Some of our favorite times are when we hang together out of camp. That’s something no other division gets to do. In Senior Camp, we get to go to the beach, Dorney Park, Hershey Park, Rice’s Flea Market, Bowling & Laser Tag, and Williamsburg for 3 days! Quite frankly, we get it all! We play hard at camp and out of camp. You can’t tell us this doesn’t sound like a great summer at Briarwood Day Camp!

Ready-Set Go! By Harris Sax, Sports Supervisor and Athletic Director – I, along with Dan Green direct the sports programming here at Briarwood. Our staff is a group of qualified high octane individuals that give their all each and every day. Briarwood campers not only participate in traditional sports, but also participate in innovative games, fun fitness activities, and unique team sports games. The sports staff works with all of our campers from our youngest to our oldest. Our goal is to provide a fun and enjoyable experience for everyone. We believe in the motto, “If you had fun you won.” Our campers will feel this way during Intercamp Games, Olympics and Color War just to name a few. It’s not about the winning or losing, but most importantly about having fun and gaining a greater appreciation for physical activity. We are looking forward to a great summer with all of our campers and can’t wait to see you out on the fields.

Specialists are Special, by Harry Markovitz, Specialist Supervisor (AKA Briarwood Traffic Cop) – Where did the time go? I have been at Briarwood for 31 years and I have even seen many of the Busy Bees grow up to become counselors. What a great place to spend the summer. Our specialists are topnotch and have an enormous amount of talent to share with each camper. Year after year it amazes me how much kids evolve. I once again will see so many smiling faces during the activity periods. This year I hope and believe we can top last year. Once again I will be walking around to see how everyone is progressing and I am sure it will be as I suspect, amazing! I wish everyone an enjoyable summer filled with lifelong memories.

Splishing and Splashing by Rob Resnick –Pool Supervisor It’s hard to believe that 32 years ago I put my name on the dotted line and I’m still here. I’m excited to get started with our swim program. Briarwood Day Camp has an impressive swim program; we follow the guidelines of the American Red Cross as well as have an enthusiastic team of WSI’s and lifeguards Our Busy Bee swim program consists of three levels where they are taught basic aquatic safety and swimming skills, all while increasing their comfort level in and around water. Achieving success and social interaction with others is very important. In fact, it catapults them to the next step, our Learn to Swim Program. Learn to Swim is for ages 6 years and up and is designed to help swimmers achieve maximum success. Learn to Swim is based on a logical six level progression that helps children of different abilities develop their water safety, survival, and all-around swim skills. Our motto at the pool is consistent… SAFETY FIRST! The pool staff is looking forward to making this summer a rewarding, safe and enjoyable summer for all of our campers. If you come to watch your child swim, please introduce yourself to me.

2017 SGF OVERNIGHTER– by Spencer Glass If your son has been to an SGF OVERNIGHTER, you don’t need to read this. You know what a fantastic time he had. If he hasn’t, read on. Patterned after my own overnight camp experience, the SGF Overnighter is an action-packed boys weekend beginning Friday July 21st right after Briarwood’s day and runs to 2:00 PM on Sunday. If your son really likes camp and wants to experience overnight camp, this is a fantastic experience. Most of our bunk staff consists of Briarwood counselors. The others are former Briarwood counselors who return just for this event because it has remained a true calling in their hearts. My phone number is on the brochure if you have any questions. Call me between 4:00 and 7:00 PM.

EARLY DISMISSAL
IF YOUR CAMPER IS LEAVING EARLY, PLEASE SEND IN A NOTE IN THE MORNING WITH THE TIME YOU WILL BE PICKING UP YOUR CAMPER.