Dear Santa, do you know where I live?

Dear Santa,

Is it really that time already?  How is it, that this year has flown by so fast and I simply can’t believe it’s time to put up the tree, battle with the Christmas lights and think of cunning ways to stop the cat from climbing it and destroying everything shiny…..again.

I’m sure your year has also been very busy, working away with your Elves trying to keep up with the new and latest gadgets…I think you forgot to bring me my Wii Fit last year by the way….either that or you delivered it to the wrong chimney! Well, I HAVEN’T MOVED HOUSE, so maybe this year?

I have also been busy myself, mainly trying my best to be nice, keeping in touch with friends, helping old people across the street….. (sometimes, even when they don’t want to cross) and generally trying to be a good person. It’s exhausting!

It’s funny, as I look back and remember all the Christmases I have experienced so far ( I try not to think about how many really,that’s a secret only you and I share) and although I have spent many of them in different places and with different people- on beaches, up mountains, across the sea from my family, I always marvel that you are still able to find me,so I feel it’s important and try my best, to hold on to the traditions that make Christmas’ Christmas-y’ for me. Long gone are the days of waking up at the crack of dawn, feeling my way in the dark to the end of my bed to my pillowcase …. (well it was a makeshift stocking, improvised by my mother) blearily inspecting everything with glee, before running excitedly down to create chaos under the Christmas tree. I tend to take it easier these days, sit down have breakfast and welcome the day with my family…there may even be a Christmas Mimosa involved in there somewhere, when we are lucky enough to be in the same country and I really stop to appreciate each gift as its carefully unwrapped. Well I suspect it takes the Elves most of the year to wrap everything; seems a shame to rip it open so quickly.

 I also feel it’s important to reach out to those that I haven’t been able to keep in constant contact with all year, a little reminder that I’m still here and thinking about them. With the many friends and acquaintances we make throughout our lives, especially those I only see during the summers at Long Lake, there really is no better time than Christmas time to extend well wishes, greetings and salutations, to those you love, like or just want to say ‘Hi’ to. That reminds me it’s almost time to send out our Long Lake Camp Christmas cards, I already know there has been some anticipation as to when they are going out, but all I can assure you is, it’s soon. So be on the look out. I’ll of course be sure to include you Santa, along with the Elves and the reindeers, on our vast mailing list.

With warmest wishes,

Me

P.s. I know you must eat a lot of cookies and milk on Christmas eve, so I have decided to make you Sherry Trifle instead, Just a dash of sherry however, so as not to interfere with your sleigh driving.

Who needs plastic reindeers....

So as I start hitting the shops at night (mainly because this seems to be the best time as its so cold out most sensible warm blooded people are already curled up on their couches with hot coco) I  feverishly scour the heavily laden shelves for that perfect present. I desperately look at everything, because I want to give something thoughtful and unique and my promise to myself that I’m going to make every one I know, something cool next year, fly’s out of the window because its already December… eek.

 After hours of this and when my blood sugar is dangerously low, the panic has started to slowly creep its way up and I start grabbing at anything shiny. I suddenly wonder what an earth I’m doing. Why is there a compulsion to spend ridiculous amounts of money on lets face it, things nobody really needs…..ok so maybe I really did need that pizza stone my mum got me…how would I cook pizza otherwise?…oh and maybe without that drill set a few years ago, I wouldn’t have been able to put up those shelves…but most of it…most of it is just extra clutter in our lives that we just don’t need!

Catalogues then start arriving in droves, the postman can barely fit them into our mailboxes and small woodland creatures have started to gather outside the windows looking for shelter as most of their forest homes, have ended up in our recycling bins. Its Christmas madness I tell you!!!

Wouldn’t it be far better to get an experience as a gift instead, you know like those ‘sky dive lessons’ or ‘spend a day grooming monkeys’. Or how about a big red shiny brochure to Long Lake wrapped under that tree, with a golden ticket saying ‘admit one’ …holy Christmas cake… a million experiences all in one go, what could be better.

 Now please don’t get me wrong… I love the sound the paper makes as you rip it open on Christmas morning, and the anticipation of hidden surprises….but actually I think a wrapped up adventure sounds much more exciting and less environmentally destructive as I guiltily look at the crumpled tinselly explosion under the tree after everything’s been unwrapped.

However……

Saying all of this….

Surely the joy of Christmas at the end of the day, should be about being alive and spending quality time with the ones you cherish, rather than wondering if you’ll get something useful this year, that you won’t have to return. A time to be kind to others, appreciate what we already have in our lives and worry less about what to buy people to let them know how much we love and appreciate them…when all you really have to do is tell them or show them , just by being there.

 So lets just take a step back shall we, breathe in the peppermint, take a whiff of the cranberries and kiss the ones you love…with or without the mistletoe, because really how many singing Santa’s and inflatable reindeers does one person need.

Hoglake summers

Hoglake summers.

Well having read all of the Harry potter books cover to cover over the years, it was only natural that I go and see the new adaptation of the film the deathly Hallows, this Thanksgiving weekend. Actually what with the turkey overload and the only activity I could actually still manage after all that pie, sitting down in a darkened movie theatre to digest was perfectly welcomed, especially as I’ve been waiting desperately and patiently for a year now!

It was of course everything I hoped it would be…kind of similar to the book…well as much of the book you could cram into a film already hours long and in two parts!

Anyway…as I sat there caught up in the magic and with a wondrous sense of anticipation, it got me to thinking how much I would have loved to have gone to a school like Hogwarts. Ok so I’m sure I’m not the only one that’s fantasized about such things, but really, how fabulous would it be, to get involved in such amazing activities have exciting adventures and cool lessons and be surrounded by all my friends all day long!....

Wait a minute…..hang on to your broomsticks….. so the activities aren’t actually magical per se, and I can’t actually create potions, walk the grounds in my invisibility cloak (although that would be handy for bunk sweeps), or hide Horcruxes amongst the millions of different studios we have…. mainly because I would have to kill someone first and that’s just not an activity we do at camp, but when you actually think about the magic that is created at long lake every day, it truly is astounding.

 The way a kid can come to camp, timid, shy and unconfident in their abilities (a bit like Harry potter on his first day at Hogwarts) and after just 3 short weeks, they have magically been transformed into this amazing, creative and much more confident being.

 Strong bonds have been made, some for life, and a sense of accomplishment and team work that can only be brought out by like minded people. Also the great sense of togetherness, as if we were all in the same house team (Gryffindor of course, well, that’s just my preference) and the overwhelming sense that are all party to a secret magical world that only us Long Lakers’ know about.

So yes all in all, long lake is a bit Like Hogwarts in a sense, definitely somewhere to grow and learn new things, but most of all a place to discover the creative magic in all of us!

Being thankful is soooo good for you....

So ThanksGiving is upon us which means Christmas isn’t too far away eek! I know that now is probably not the time to be thinking about summer camps and all you can really think about is how much turkey you can safely consume, still of course allowing room for pie, before falling into a blissful tryptophan coma.

Being from the UK, we obviously don’t celebrate Thanksgiving, but from what I have gathered over the years, it’s a bit like Christmas day, minus the gifts. It’s a time where families and friends come together to be thankful for each other and where family feuds are brought to peace….or not!

I was listening to the radio last night and the radio host said something interesting. By being hospitable and gratuitous, it is actually beneficial to your health! Spending time with friends or loved ones makes us happy, relaxed and gives us a sense of well being, which in turn we bestow on others, making them feel good too. I kind of feel this way about Long Lake. Being at camp with so many old friends that feel just like family and seeing such excitement in the kids’ faces when they first get off that bus, it’s infectious… especially as that excitement spreads.

 The minute I arrive at camp after being away for the whole year, I immediately feel a sense of well being, that at last I’m home, back with family, and I’m thankful for what I am lucky to have. Let’s face it, anything that is good for my health, is worth doing over and over again.

Show tunes and sticky pudding………

Well let me firstly start by saying…wow was last week busy!!!

 We had a truck load of Show DVD’s delivered and piled up in the office creating quite the chaos as I had to meander through, ‘Once on this island’ and ‘West side story’ to get to my desk!, We then all went into the Elves and the shoe maker mode, to try and get them out to you all quickly before the Thank giving festivities begin. We hope you enjoy!!!

Therefore, I do apologize for not gracing you with my presence last week and hope you didn’t all miss me too much.

So, amongst the feverous label writing and DVD stuffing, we did manage to squeeze in a desert cook off, here in the office. Oh yes it was quite serious, with both Geoff and Lee taking  it all quite seriously, buying special pans and spending laborious hours after work, chopping, whipping and sifting. Obviously I was the busiest one out of all of us, as my contribution consisted of a box mix from Trader Joe’s due to lack of time and I was pretty pleased with how it turned out.

Being thrown together …quite closely I might add, as we stuffed envelopes, we had some how gotten onto the subject of deserts, and how fabulous it was that we have our very own chocolate fountain at camp. Long Lake camp really is a place to create, as numerous kids come in on their free periods to help make cakes and goodies for the evening meal, which are all snapped up in the first 10 minutes. It then went from “well if the kids can get so creative in such little time, then I wonder what we could come up with” well that and we all desperately needed a severe sugar rush to keep us going.

Lee was the first to create a delectable Banana cream pie filled with gooey, Banannary goodness, which we all of course devoured in about 10 seconds, and two days later ( we had to have time to digest) Geoff created an amazing lemon Tart, paired with …wait for it….Curry flavored Ice cream…I know!...who knew how delicious the combo would be!

It was tough to pick a winner….so we didn’t…it was ALL so good, so quite frankly we are all winners here…especially me, due to my small contribution….I WAS BUSY!

So to all of you out there who love to cook and create small yummy miracles on a plate and thought….”if only I could do that kind of thing at camp”….well you can! Chef mike is always delighted if you have desert ideas and would like to try them out…I know a lot of you like to decorate the hundreds of Birthday cakes that get presented over the summer, mine included, or if you just want to get creative with strawberries and a chocolate fountain then we have it all. So come join us for the summer and experience a little slice of heaven…but be prepared….it could get messy.

Happy cooking everyone….why not practice this Thanks giving!

Electing the right summer camp…

Electing the right summer camp....

In the wake of the Elections this week, I thought it was important to talk about choices and about making the right choices for you when it comes down to choosing a summer camp.

I remember when the idea first came to me all those years ago and how the decision to spend the summer in the USA working at a summer camp for children, became so unexpectedly influential to the path that my own life would eventually take. I had no idea what to expect, (considering we don’t have summer camps as such in the UK, due to high precipitation and the lack of blue skies) but I knew because of my background in the Arts and my personality of course, that I wanted to go to a place where I would be surrounded by creativity, yet experience the things that a traditional camp had to offer.

See… I had this idea about summer camp that had been influenced by American movies and teen novels growing up as a kid and I guess I had a romantic notion, and a completely fantasized idea about what summer camps were all about. So when choosing the right sort of camp for me, I really made it a point to learn everything about the candidates that I could, candidates being the many thousands of camps out there. It was important for me to see what each candidate had to offer and to hear each camps obligation to put forward a good representation and argument as to why they were the right place for me.

 Long lake stood out as ‘the one’, never stooping to negative campaigning, but just plain and simple promises;

*To create an environment where kids can explore their creativity, without judgment.

*A place to develop on going skills and develop new ones

*A place where kids can be Theatrical, Artistic, Musical and Energetic all in the same place.

*Somewhere kids can be themselves, develop some independence and meet friends for life.

*A place where kids can be kids and have the best summer of their lives.

 I wanted a place that had all of these qualities and believe me long lake delivers on its promises, hence why I have been here for 14 summers so far. I also didn’t realize at the time, that it was important to find a place that would benefit me in the long run, and Long Lake has certainly proven to be a significant part of my life and somewhere where I have grown to be the gal I am today.

So when electing the right camp for you or your kids, let your voice be heard. Ask a million questions, read all of the literature, talk to references, study the candidates at length, look out for negative campaigning, search for somewhere that will benefit you or your kids in the long run and the most important of all, make sure it’s a place that delivers whole heartedly on their promises. You are voting for the right choice, so….. ‘Make your vote count!’

zombies witches and ghouls..oh my!

Soooooooo…. its almost All Hallows eve, and as parents frantically subject them selves to gridlock, lines that seem to reach around the whole entire store, parking lot rage, and the howls of offspring begging for the most expensive costume in the shop,( that would most likely give anyone heart failure with the right lighting), looking for a perfect summer camp seems to be far from anyone’s thoughts.

 Now don’t get me wrong, Halloween is definitely my favorite time of year and I’m always impressed with the outrageous creations people come up with but I do get a little antsy with the huge crowds and feel a little sorry for all those left over bits at the end….. you know, the severed arms and legs that no one wanted, the plastic skeletons that are missing bones and the dusty old grave stones that you remember from last year .What we really need is another  rendition of ‘Zombie Day’ at Long Lake this summer. Kids having immense fun, hands tied behind their backs, tucking into plates of jellied brains….. Well it was a competition after all! Halloween come early at Long lake camp… see we’re months ahead of anyone!

 For anyone who is still on track, not at all distracted by witches and ghouls, and  still diligently looking for a summer home for next year, here’s some useful info about Music camps. Happy Halloween everyone and have a SPOOKTACULAR weekend.

Music Camps

 What to know and how to ask.

Music camps are wonderful places to let children learn music and enjoy all the benefits of a traditional camp summer. Music camps are very varied and run the price range from free to $6000 for 3 weeks. Some offer a very studious and conservatory like learning atmosphere where the focus is on private study and competitive growth.  Other music camps offer a balance style approach where music education is an integrated part of a performing arts and fine arts environment.  

 What to ask a Music Camp director?

 When researching music camps you really need to ask about the music faculty and the music camps teaching philosophy.  A well run music camp will be more than happy to discuss every aspect of their music camp program and ideals.  Ask if the instructors are just as great at teaching music as they are as performers. Music camps can have a very wide ranging style of accommodations. Ideally your children will be well supervised by instructors living in the same room.  The bathrooms and showers should be en-suite and in the same building as the living area. Music campers do not like having to go outside in the rain for a shower!

 What are some great music camps to explore?

 Depending on your needs a few music camps stand out above the rest.

 Long Lake Camp for the Arts, www.longlakecamp.com

Long Lake music camp offers a unique combination of fine arts, music, theater, circus, magic, film, dance and rock bands to campers ages 9 to 16. 914 693 7111

 Interlochen. Offers a conservatory style camp for musicians wishing to rehearse all day. 800.681.5912

 Eastern school of music summer school. Offers older teenagers a taste of university music life 718-229-0911.

 Juliard School of Music New York City.

The greatest song in the world..

Well blogging Wednesday seemed to shoot past in such a blur yesterday that before I knew it , it was already time to leave and I hadn't had a chance to verbalise my thoughts for the week. This past week has been incredibly busy with re-enrollment forms piling up around my ears and no matter how fast I put all of these returning old friends into the computer, the postman arrives and neatly stacks another pile onto my desk!! So what I'm saying is...we are filling up folks and you need to get those forms in! The DVD order went out yesterday so get excited as little bubble mailers will soon be shooting through your mail boxes in time for Thanks Giving and to those who are now panicking as you "forgot" it was 'THAT' time of year and need to order DVDs before your kids find out and decide to mutiny, I will be putting in a second order next week..so hurry hurry hurry...if you want to keep the peace.
Yesterday was a spectacularly fun day in the office,Geoff is on antibiotics for a sinus infection and so was on top form, especially when he challenged us all to pick the " Greatest Rock song EVER made".I'm not gonna lie there were a lot of "no way"s and "I don't think so"s...its a hard choice to be challenged with, especially as Geoff was split between 'The streets have no name' U2, or just about anything from Guns and Roses.... I suggested Tenacious D but purely for the entertainment factor and Lee added Mr Roboto by Stix....well just cause its a weird yet awesome song, but we all agreed on an oldie but goodie and think it's pretty hard to beat 'Bohemiam Rhapsody' by Queen. Its a tough one and i'm sure there are many of you screaming NOOOOO...but hey it was the only one we agreed on! However, this led us on to listening to some of our campers Rock songs from this summer and quite frankly they are brilliant,it was hard to tell they were campers on some tracks!!! So It just goes to show, that the greatest song EVER, still might be out there, yet to be sung or written and if you come to Long Lake, you could just be the one to write it!

Imagine a bully free world....

So, there seems to have been a lot of discussions lately on the topic of bullying. Oh yes its being discussed everywhere, news papers,websites, CNN did a week special on bullying and lets face it if Oprah is concerned well then so should we! Of course the topic of bullying is not by any means a new one and has been plaguing our school systems,work environments and camps for years, turning safe havens into terror filled experiences that follow us into our adulthood.
If we could suddenly somehow eradicate the problem creating a bully free world... well then we'd be geniuses and there would suddenly be world peace  mmm... not something that can be done overnight unfortunately, however, we can create an environment for kids where they can come and relax, be creative and not worry about being made to feel stupid or different like its a bad thing. Kids of course will be kids and can sometimes say things without thinking  in response to their own feelings or insecurities, but I can genuinely say that in all of the years I've been at camp, bullying is something that has rarely existed in our Long lake world. Our kids just seem better than that, more in tune with each other and generally just "get" the fact that  because we don't always like the same thing, or follow the same music, or have the same tastes,we are not  all weird or somehow, not as important as everyone else. It is of course, our individuality that makes us so unique and something we should all be proud of.
So to all you bully's out there....beware...and be very afraid...you will be eradicated one day!

Continuing your Art after camp.....

First things first, we were contacted by the Artistic Director for New Worlds Theatre today, looking to cast boys for a new up and coming straight play called 'Displaced Wedding' that will be playing in the West End Theatre in Manhattan. She is looking for boys around 4'8 ft in height, red or dark brown hair, who can play a 9-10yr old role. It runs from Dec 10th till Jan 2nd, scattered throughout Christmas, with some matenee shows in between. There is a small stipend of $300 and rehearsals start around November, so they are on a deadline to find the right person immediately. If you are interested at all ( might be good experience for all you budding actors out there) then please send your head shot, or just a really clear Photo, to Ellen Parisman, Artist Director email epercman@newworldsproject.org  or contact us directly and I can give you her telephone number.
Which leads me on to...........Continuing your Art after camp, and how many of you Long lakers or non Long Lakers out there are doing just that? It can be anything from your school play to chorus groups,professional theatre work or art or music classes, we would love to hear what you all get up to the minute you leave our gates, so get commenting I want to hear EVERYTHING!!!

I myself  come from a very Artsy and creative background ( oh yes it positively oozes out of me at every given opportunity) and I try to keep my creative juices flowing by doing outside projects whenever I can. I have just spent the last few weekends painting giant murals of Dr Seuss characters for a friend and later on in the year I become props master extraordinaire  for a children's theatre in the area. I actually start to get antsy if I don't have some kind of creative project on the go and I think it is really important to continue to do the things that you love and make you happy, because self expression indeed makes us who we are. Long lake has played a huge part  in this for many of you I know, but if  you don't have a creative outlet where you live, then there is no better place to dream big than camp..... get creative everyone, there is nothing like it......

friendship is it really important?

Some one asked me once, how do you manage to keep up with all your friends?...especially as they are dotted all over the world? How can you even be bothered?.....and is it really important to keep up with all of them?
..ummmm... my reply was pretty much immediate...and without hesitation...Of course!, I feel so lucky to have so many!!!
The friendships we make and the people who enter our lives at some point here and there, are what make us who we are. Having been at Long lake camp for as long as I have been, has allowed me to meet hundreds if not thousands of people over the years. True... not all of them have become good friends, and some I can barely remember their faces after all these years, but some...some, have gone on to become some of the best friends, I have ever had. I have shared so much drama, tears, laughter, and amazing times, not to mention,been bridesmaid for several of them, and seen them grow as they have me, over the years.
I'm not only talking about  the counsellors but also of the many many campers who have also  touched my life, and it still amazes me when they come back and visit years later,now the wonderful adults they have become.
Soooo...basically what i'm trying to say  is, keep in touch with all those people you meet at Long lake, they will be part of a significant chapter, people you will always remember and who have helped make you who you are, and those who haven't experienced Long lake yet....come, come and meet the best friends you will ever make!

They are done!

Well the second session photo galleries have just gone up today, so be sure to go to our website longlakecamp.com and check those out, it's so exciting to see whether you appear in any  of them!!.....don't blush....we all do it!!! I Just want to know how I happen to miss being in all of them!! Seriously where was I? busily unit leadering I suspect!
Well the enrollement forms for next summer are flooding in furiously, so if you havn't gotten yours in yet.....GET ON IT!!!  how about this weekend...go on do it!
 For those Adventurer's out there, Lee went back up to camp a couple of weeks ago and scouted out some new trails for next summer, along with David our very multi talented maintainance man! They hiked up Algonquin, Mt Marcie,Marcie dam, and Irquois, so some new hikes coming up in 2011...and if I can hike Algonquin (the second highest peak in the adirondacks, I might add) then you can do it! Look at our face book page for photos. Talking of photos, don't forget we are constantly updating photos on both of our websites long lake camp for the Arts and long lake camp adventures.
Have a wonderful weekend everyone...dream Long lake dreams!!!

This summer...why is it over already?

So this is the first time I have "blogged" anything in my whole entire life and thought it was about time I tackled this fear of cyber space once and for all!!! For those who know me, computers have never been my strongest forte... no really.... I'm learning as I go along, However the 'POWERS THAT BE" in the office all decided I needed to get with the program and what better way than to take the oppertunity to talk about Long Lake and tell you how much this place has affected me over the years !!!
I have been coming for many years about 13 or 14 summers to be precise!..and have seen a huge amount of growth and development over the years..... ok so maybe not as much as some of the hard core die hards , or even Marc,Susan and Lee, but enough to know that this place is always changing and forming into something bigger, better and more amazing,every year. It has changed me completely, and allowed me the oppertunity to meet and befriend some amazing people over the years, both staff and kids.These people I have met through out the years and still know and keep in touch with to this day...thank god for facebook thats all I can say!!!
No really, there has been so many peole that have touched my life in someway and it has given me a better understanding of friendships and how important they are.
Every summer, so many Long lakers tell me that this has been the best experience they have ever had and they are not quite sure how they are going to face re-entry into the "real" world.......and I always tell them....I completely understand what you mean......

Long Lake Adventure Camp

Our campers embark on different adventures everyday!  Twice a week we take trips to explore nature from the mountain tops to the caves below, raft mighty rivers and serene lakes, we go to amusement parks, water slide parks and take to the skies on our sea plane rides.  While on camp we are playing paintball games, riding ATV’s, tubing and boarding on the lake or creating in our fine arts building.  Campers develop new skills, improve their game and make friends with other adventurers.  We encourage team spirit and offer individual instruction- all in a beautiful setting: New York’s Great Adirondack Mountains.