Briarwood Bugle 2019 – Week 1

Check out our latest Briarwood Bugle! You can read it below or see it in glorious color and with photos here.

Briarwood Bugle 2019
Week 1

From Mike and Matt
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, Lower Camp had tournaments and the CITs and Super CITs had their annual Fun and Wacky Games Event in Doylestown (always a fan favorite!). Meanwhile, the Zoom Floom, the Jumper the new courts and everything (and everyone) else started getting a workout. Awesome!
Next week, we’ve got our regular fun stuff plus Clubs, Olympics, and much, much more! We’ll send home bunk schedules, too. Have a great weekend! Let’s do it all again next week!

COMING NEXT WEEK TO BRIARWOOD…THE OLYMPICS!!!
On Wednesday, July 3rd and Friday, July 5th campers in lower camp, upper camp and senior camp will participate in the annual Briarwood Olympics. Each camper will be assigned a country team. While not mandatory, campers should feel free to show team spirit and dress in the following colors:
Canada-Gray England-Blue Mexico-White Spain-Yellow Italy-Green China-Red

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.

READ WHAT OUR SUPERVISORS HAVE TO SAY ABOUT SUMMER 2019!

Busy Bees Buzz around Briarwood by Anne Witkin, Associate Director and Busy Bee Program Director: Even though I am starting my 23rd season at Briarwood, the excitement never gets old! Meeting new Busy Bees and welcoming back returning Busy Bees is a pure joy. From week one to week eight, I get to witness Briarwood’s littlest campers achieve amazing growth. I feel very privileged to be a part of the eight-week evolution. While it is true that new skills emerge in swimming, tennis, gymnastics, art, and in just about all activities around camp, what impresses me the most is the social and emotional advances each Busy Bee makes by the end of the summer. On the stage the Bees shine like Broadway stars. At Songfest, the blue and gold Bees sing with a winning spirit, at our gaga tournament, the Bees go for the win. The Briarwood Busy Bees have made their place at camp known, and in fact, the older kids are their biggest cheerleaders. And, yes, many of those big kids were once Busy Bees themselves. Nothing is better than GROWING UP BRIARWOOD!

Lower Camp Is the Best! By Melissa Berkowitz, Lower Camp Supervisor: Briarwood Day Camp has been my happy place for my children and me for the past 6 summers. It is great to meet the lower campers who are experiencing the Briarwood magic for the first time, in addition to seeing the smiling faces of our returning campers. Lower camp has so much to offer our amazing 1st, 2nd and 3rd graders! From former Busy Bees, new campers, and returning campers, all lower camp 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 or sports of their choice. They can attempt something new and exciting or continue with a club that they are passionate about! Look out for amazing theme days, a spirit week, and even mini campouts! Lower Camp really is the place to be!!! Overall, memories and friendships will be made at Briarwood to last a lifetime!

Upper Girls Are Awesome! By Sheryl Cohen, Upper Girls Supervisor
You are going to love the Upper Camp Girls!!! It’s amazing to watch these girls go around camp, smiling every minute. They are going to have an amazing summer enjoying their bunk shows, mini campouts, and carnival. Let’s not forget about clubs and leagues. Girls moving up from lower camp finally get to participate in senior leagues. Whatever sport they are playing, they enjoy the friendly competition among their friends. Our first period club offerings are tremendous, exciting and so much fun. You can try a different activity every week, if you want. And the rest of our schedules are as fun packed as it gets. From art and ceramics, to swimming and sports, our days are never boring. As I begin my 15th summer at Briarwood, I’m always excited to see the returning campers, and welcome the newest members to the Briarwood family. Summer 2019 is going to be the best one yet!!!

NURSE CARMEN’S NOTES
by Carmen Blum, R.N.
Hello! 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 Carmen at 215-598-7143.
Thanks!!

BRIARWOOD
COUNSELORS
OF THE WEEK:
Senior Staff:
Danielle Lean

Junior Staff:
Charlotte Segal
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.

Upper Camp Boys (The Hill) …a story by Spencer Glass We are looking forward to great things on The Hill again (Upper Boys for the unknowing). Bunk shows are making a comeback. I heard some talk about volleyball, and I’m sure Harris has some great games in store for us. Of course, league play is getting bigger and better than ever. That and all of the fantastic counselors, junior counselors and campers are going to make Briarwood 2019 a summer to remember!

Senior Camp Is Ready For A Special Summer, by Dan Feldgus, Senior Camp Supervisor: There is really no way to describe the activities that only Senior Camp campers get to enjoy everyday without making other people jealous. This summer, like all summers, our campers will work with younger bunks and enjoy the full complement of activities that Briarwood provides all campers, but we are the only campers that get to venture off-site every week. As you read this we have already had our whole Senior Camp enjoy time at Central Park in Doylestown and our Super CITs went to the Escape Room. But we aren’t finished. We will be sending groups to the beach, to Lincoln Financial Field, to NYC, to Hershey Park, to Bowling/Laser Tag, and even to spend a few days at Busch Gardens and Williamsburg! I’m exhausted just thinking about it. Our incredible Senior Camp staff this year consists of Paul Richman, Devyn and Sorelle Sax, Brendan Cohen and Hannah Wind. This all adds up to the greatest part of being in Senior Camp, the smiles and laughs that we share. Briarwood’s Senior Camp is simply the place to be!

Splishing and Splashing by Rob Resnick – Pool Supervisor It’s hard to believe that 34 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. Given after all these years, my motto 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.

Specialists are Special (and Super!) by Harry Markovitz, Specialist Supervisor (AKA Briarwood Traffic Cop)
Another summer at the Briarwood is right in front of us! I look forward to interacting with the wonderful campers.
The specialists do a great job of teaching fundamentals in their skill area. Every time I go to an activity to observe a bunk, they are always engaged and having fun. What better place is there than to be than at Briarwood Day Camp.
Every year it gets better and to see former Busy Bees now as counselors is so rewarding as well.

Ready, Set, Go! By Harris Sax I direct the sports programming here at Briarwood. Our staff is a group of qualified high-octane individuals that give their all each 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 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 our campers and can’t wait to see you out on the fields.

Camp will be CLOSED on Thursday, July 4th! Enjoy your holiday!

Important Dates

• July 2nd-CIT trip to Dorney Park and Super CIT trip to the LINC
• July 3rd and July 5th-Briarwood Olympics
• July 8th to 9th-2nd year CIT trip to Hershey Park
• July 9th-Crazy Hat Day
• July 11th-Super CIT trip to the beach 
• July 12th-Art Night (3:30-8 pm)
• July 15th-1st year CIT Laser Tag and Bowling, Super CIT Tubing
• July 16th-Lower Camp Bunk Show at 10:30 am
• July 17th-Upper Camp Bunk Show at 10:30 am
• July 19th-Halloween in July
• July 22-24th-Super CIT trip to Williamsburg
• July 23rd-Lower Camp Bring a Friend
• July 24th-Upper Camp Bring a Friend
• July 25th-Make Up Picture Day
• July 26th-Goofy Day, CIT trip to the beach, Ceramics Night (3:30-8 pm)
• July 30th-Busy Bee Show and Breakfast, Super CIT Dave and Busters
• July 31st-CIT NYC Trip
• August 1st-Carnival
• August 2nd-4th-Briarwood Overnighter
• August 6th-Mystery Day
• August 9th-Nature Night and Sports Night (3:30-8 pm)
• August 12th-Briarwood Birthday, Briarwood Marathon and Wiffle ball tournament week
• August 13th-Drama Show 10:30 am
• August 15th-CIT and Super CIT Dance
• August 16th-Last Day of camp early dismissal at 2:30