New York YMCA Camp has made some exciting changes to our facilities for our new participants of 2013. One change made was to our dorms at Greenkill. Maple and Kleinstuber have had a complete remodeling. Maple has now become our main staff house with a few guest rooms while Kleinstuber has been renovated to fully support our wonderful camp participants who choose to stay at our year-round village of Greenkill.

In Kleinstuber we have put in new beds, flooring, paint and bathrooms. The flooring has a wonderful wood grain treatment to give our guests that rustic feel. The ceramic tiling in the bathroom has been redone in the bathrooms as well as new sinks and tubs. Sticking with our goal of becoming as green as we possibly can, the sinks have been outfitted with motion activated faucets. To allow our guests to feel as though they are completely at a home away from home in the woods, we have also added all new light fixtures and completely new and comfy furniture for our lobbies and rooms. We have also added two full beds and two single beds to each dorm room.

We have done all of the above and more, to Maple. We have opened up our lobby to include a fully functioning kitchen and included a coffee bar and prep table. The rooms have also incorporated one full bed and one single lofted bunk with a 5 foot desk space underneath. We have the utmost respect for our employees so it was absolutely necessary to give them a living space that can feel like a second home. Another new and exciting change that was made to our Greenkill facility was to our dining hall. Our goal was to make it a more soothing atmosphere for dining. We’ve changed the color scheme with the base being a color called “cozy fireplace” and the name really does it justice. The colors are proving to be much more relaxing while at the same time complimenting the beautiful atmosphere of the outdoors. Rod iron chandeliers replace the institutionalized lighting and a dimmer switch will be added to make for a very relaxing setting during evening dinners. Area carpeting will be laid that blends in with the new curtains and provide a warmer feeling. A very creative idea has been implemented to cover the garbage receptacles and bring the sense of the great outdoors inside. Finally, a unique method for covering our tables is being developed- a method that has not been done anywhere else. The kitchen staff is working very hard to make these changes and we are very excited to present a warmer and more inviting atmosphere for our guests.

We can’t wait for all of our guests to enjoy these new and wonderful changes to our facilities!1

Table of Contents:

Greenkill Gets a New Look! Pg. 1 CIT Program in 2013 Pg. 2

Putting SEDL into Practice Pg. 3

Kids Page! Pgs. 4 & 5

World Series of Birding: Pg. 625 Years!

Share your Camp Story Pg. 7

Thank you! Pgs. 8 & 9

Summer Camp Pg. 10

Greenkill Gets a New Look!By Jeff Conklin and Steve Sumnick

New York YMCA Camp300 Big Pond Rd Huguenot, NY 12746

www.nyycamp.org

877-30-YCAMP

CampfiresIssue: Spring 2013

In 1983, several like-minded people got together to discuss ways to showcase the various habitats in New Jersey and how wildlife, especially birds, depended on those areas. Over dinner and a few beverages, the foundation was laid for the inaugural World Series of Birding. Sponsored by the New Jersey Audubon Society, the WSB is a competition in which teams try to identify, by sight or sound, the most species of birds in a twenty-four hour period. So, at midnight on May 19th, 1984, thirteen teams started something that has grown to incredible proportions over the last 30 years. By the following stroke of midnight, the team with Roger Tory Peterson as one of its members, had seen or heard 201 species within the state, something that had never been done before.

In 1989, the New York YMCA Camp agreed to sponsor a team of former naturalists from the Greenkill Environmental Education Center. With high hopes of showing up the big guns, the Greenkill Naturalist Alumni Team (GNATcatchers) breezed into the finish line with a grand total of 102. If it wasn’t for the Zoological Society of Buffalo, we would have been dead last. But hey, we were hooked!

Besides being a competition, the WSB is also a fundraiser. Each team raises money for its sponsor or for a concern close to its heart. We have always looked for donations to help bring children to the campus in Huguenot for either Summer Camp or Outdoor Education. Over the years we have averaged $2000 per year toward this cause, brought in by pledges from friends, family and staff. Pledges are made as either a dollar amount per bird or a single donation. So, if you had pledged 25 cents per bird and we see 150 species, your donation would amount to $37.50. Since it’s a species count if 300 Canada Geese are seen, it counts the same as if we hear one Great Horned Owl.

Over the years we have become much better at song recognition and now ID close to 60% of our total by ear. Much better than that morning in 1989 when one of us asked, “We need to know the calls too?” Our team has gone through changes since then also, and since 1993 has stayed with the same four people - Scott Reichert, Mark Schilling, Fred Von Mechow and Dan Zmoda. For some strange reason, we keep coming back. This will be our 25th year of trying to outdo someone, but we just haven’t figured out whom yet. Even the middle school groups are putting us to shame, so now we have our eyes set on the Senior Category. It just doesn’t impress too many people when you say you beat a group of 3rd graders.

If this article introduced you to something you never thought of doing, let it lead to something you probably should have done. Write a check to a worthy cause and help the GNATcatchers in their effort to send kids to camp.

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World Series of Birding: Our 25th year!By Dan Zmoda

To learn more about the World Series of Birding please visit

http://www.njaudubon.org/SectionWorldSeriesofBirding/WorldSeriesofBirding.aspx

To make a pledge please visit http://www.njaudubon.org/SectionWorldSeriesofBirding/WorldSeriesofBirding.aspx

In 2009 the New York State Education Department and the Office of Mental Health developed guidelines for school districts to incorporate Social and Emotional Development and Learning (SEDL) practices which focus on 5 skill areas involving social and emotional competencies in children:

Self awareness: recognizing their own emotions, values, strengths and limitations. Self management: the ability to manage emotions and control behaviors as a means to reach goals. Social awareness: the ability to demonstrate empathy and understanding towards others. Relationship Skills: the ability to form positive relationships and positive conflict resolution. Responsible Decision Making: the ability to make ethical and constructive choices in regards to both personal and social behaviors

Following the SEDL guidelines can help play an important role in making a safer school as well as a positive school culture.

The guidelines are an excellent way for schools to grow both academically and socially. There is also the opportunity to build a better school-family-community relationship. Studies show that students learn best when all of their needs are met; this includes their academic, emotional, physical, and social needs.

One study involving over 700 SEDL programs found many benefits including:11% Improvement in achievement test scores

10% Decrease in emotional distress such as anxiety or depression23% Improvement in social and emotional skills

Greenkill can work with schools to develop plans for the school that allow the staff to set goals and action steps in achieving SEDL goals. By having students participate in Outdoor Education curriculum which incorporates so many of the SEDL outcomes, participants in the OE programs will come away with a greater sense of self, respect for self and others, communication skills, social skills, and critical thinking.

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Putting SEDL into PracticeBy Jason Marker

Can you spot the 8 differences?Photo Hunt!1. Clouds 2. Rocks 3. Wibit Handle 4. Lifeguard Floating Device 5. Girls wrist band 6. Pool Noodle Color 7. Number on head band 8. Life vest Buckle

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Color Camp’s New Mascot Snicklefritz!

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The CIT program has been a popular part of camp for many years with a focus on teaching participants the skills necessary to be a future staff member at camp. We have taken the program and examined it to see what is working in terms of educating our participants. The New York City’s YMCA Camp’s CIT program will have a new look and feel in the Summer of 2013. The new focus will be on learning skills that will be not only be applicable for our industry, but also for working with their peers and supervisors wherever their careers may lead them. Along with imple-menting the YMCA’s four core values of Respect, Responsibility, Caring and Honesty, we are introducing some new and exciting elements to reinforce those values. Our program will stay true to its roots of teaching our participants how to work in the camp environment and giving our CITs a basic understanding of how our summer camp operates from the front office, to program instruction, and all the way to the maintenance department.

The CIT programs offered in the past have had an abrupt move from training to jumping right into a cabin with a counselor and their campers. We have addressed this and believe that gradually transitioning our CITs into working with campers will benefit both the CITs and counselors alike. The program will be based at our Talcott Village (our older children’s village) where during our first week, we will be focusing on classroom based training, using group discussions, role playing, listening and talking with speakers from different departments of camp and our association office. This will give our CITs the proper foundation to become fantastic and positive leaders.

CITs will also have the opportunity to have fun with their peers and choose their own activities. During the second week of the program, we will begin to introduce the CITs to the staff and campers in the McAlister Village (our younger children's village). Utilizing half-days and evening programs will allow them to become properly acclimated to working with one another. CITs will have the opportunity to plan and co-lead evening programming at both villages, spend time getting to know staff and campers they will be working with, yet still have a fun time with their peers at Talcott.

In the third and final week of camp the CITs will be based at McAlister Village and assigned a cabin with a staff member chosen as their mentor. CITs will move with their cabin group throughout the day, assisting and observing when necessary. They will learn the importance of supervision and how the values of the Y play out within the cabin group.

During the three week program, the Teen Directors along with staff who have worked alongside the CITs will be evaluating their progress daily. Each evening the CITs will meet with the Teen Director to discuss the events of the day and evaluate what they did and what they saw. The evaluation will culminate in a program appraisal in the third and final week of the program.

New York YMCA Camp has always been a proponent in giving our youth the tools to allow them to succeed in life. Our CIT program is no exception. This program will help our future leaders take the next step in their emotional, physical and mental development. We are very much looking forward to our new crop of CITs for the Summer of 2013!

“The CIT program taught me the power of a strong team and the value of communication and working with others.” - Alex. 2011 CIT

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CIT Program in 2013By Neil Allmark

Thank you so much for allowing my friend, Susan Terry, and I to drive through the Y camps this past month. I can’t express how much living at the YMCA camps from 1948- 1956 meant to me. I learned to appreciate nature, hiking, water sports and tennis. I actually learned to drive on the ball field below our little house. Greenkill looks especially wonderful with all the new buildings. I also noticed the work being done on the dock there. Both my parents, Ted and Beth Archer, enjoyed playing tennis, canoeing, ice skating and hiking. When we moved there full time in 1952 I rode my bike into Port Jervis on Saturdays so I could visit friends. Susan Terry was one of those friends. Also, kids came out to camp to visit me! Thanks again! I belong to the YMCA Sports Complex in Engle-wood, FL where I swim, do yoga, and use the exercise machines. Yea for the YMCA! Keep up the good work. Susan A Burgess 1948 - 1956

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Upon the recommendation of my college gymnastics coach I started out as a senior counselor during the summer between my junior and senior year at Southern CT State University. That was the summer of 2007. One year at the YMCA National Gymnastics Training Center Camp and I was hooked for life. The friendships that have developed between fellow coaches have really grown into a relation-ship that is more like family. One week with them and you feel like you have known them your entire life...you share successes, challenges, and learn from each other. The hours may be tough and the days are long, but being able to introduce children to the sport that I grew up with and love is an unbelievably rewarding experience. It’s been a month since camp and I’m already counting down the days until next year. Brittany Otto 2007

I sing a song to my son every night; he in his crib, me on the bed. It's a silly made up song, called "Bubba, Daddy". Just a few days ago, he had trouble falling asleep, and I was tired of singing the same song, so I was thinking "What's soothing, short, and sweet?" "Day is Done" came to mind (not sure if we called it Taps or Day Is Done). As I lay there singing it, it brought back memories of standing in the dark at the McAlister Chapel, dirty and dusty, the sound of crickets and shuffling feet, the smell of sweaty kids and a smoldering campfire. The sound of the camp director or their designee dismissing villages, "Youngest Boys can head back. Quietly, please!" Getting snack at the picnic table, hoping beyond hope it was chocolate chip cookies, disappointed as hell when it was fruit. It was startling. The details I remembered that I didn't know were still tucked away, in the part of my brain that I guess is reserved for camp memories.

Bob Lassonde

My first encounter with the YMCA was when I was a teen. I used to go to my local Y to play ping pong and hang out. At the age of 17, I started working for the Neath YMCA in Wales, UK just as a part time youth worker. I first started working to help earn some extra cash while I was in school. Within a few months, I was hooked! I loved working for the Y so much that I applied to work at Camp McAlister at New York YMCA Camp. I was 18 and had never been on a plane. The journey over was so nerve wracking! I arrived at sleepaway camp, and little did I know how much of an impact this would make on my life. I loved Y camp so much; connecting with the kids, meeting staff from all around the world, getting to know the American culture and learning and being a part of the Y mission. I went home at the end of the summer with a determination to come back the following summer. The next summer I worked at Camp Talcott with middle school aged youth/teens. I found my calling. Not only was the summer a great success (with many more to follow after), but I met my future husband. In 2003 I made the giant leap across the pond and married my camp “sweetheart”. After leaving camp that summer we moved to Brooklyn. Fast forward to now- there has not been a time when the YMCA has not been in my life, whether it was spending my spare time working out at the Greenpoint YMCA or volunteering at New York Y Camps. In 2005 I started working full time for the Flushing Y and moved over to Chinatown in 2009. I have continued with my passion of working with middle school youth/teens and have been a part of many of the great teen programs at the Y. I have also had the privilege of chaperoning Global Teens trips to Hong Kong, Mexico and Italy and taking part in a study tour to South Africa. In the last year, my husband (who also works for the YMCA of Greater New York) and I had a baby. Our son Maddox is very much a part of the Y and is sure to be a future YMCA camper.

Lisa Garcia 1990s

The love I have for this camp is unreal, each year I work here I leave a piece of my heart.

Jenna Dobbin 2010

If you have a camp story you would like to shareemail it to us at camps@ymcanyc.org or

post it on our facebook page www.facebook.com/newyorkymcacamp

Share your Camp Story!

THANK YOU SO MUCH TO OUR2012 DONORS

-NEW YORK YMCA CAMP-

Our sincere thanks to all who donated to our 2012 Strong Kids Campaign. Your generosity helped us provide a fun and safe camp experience to more than 600 youth, who could not have participated without your help.

Thanks to you all!

$10,000+Virginia DeanDorothy DoughtySCOPEThe Children’s Hope Chest, Inc.The Timber Lake FoundationYorkville Community Association

$5,000-$9,999Camp Brooklyn Fund, Inc.The Frank and Gertrude Kaiser FoundationSharon Stein

$1,000-$4,999AV Grantor Trust Patricia HubardKenneth and Linda Bell J. Timothy KellyMonica Bermiss KeyBank FoundationCampus Coach Lines Frederick KincheloeGraham Daw Maser Consulting P.A.Federation of Protestant Welfare Agencies Metropolitan Judo AssociationGlaxo SmithKline Foundation New York State YMCA Funds, Inc.Marcia Gowen John and Pamela SnowdenWheaton Griffin Arthur TaylorRuth Haupert- Lengemann Tres Chic Furs, Ltd.Joshua Heitler William Lass Land ClearingDawn Rubel Herbert Thomas WilsonEdith Hsu-Chen

Phil BrownCarol Brown-HagemanPenny BrusoDwan BryantAnna BuckleyDavid BuranBruce and Susan BurgerSusan BurgessMichelle BurkeLauren BurnsJennifer CaiafaEarl CallahanZachary CarterDianne CartyNatasha ChalmersChenango Bird ClubKailee ChimentoBeverly Choltco-DevlinDennis CialiniMr. and Mrs. Ken ClarkOwen ColombSusan CondonCaitlyn ConklinJeffery ConklinKasey ConklinCharles ConklinL. Davin CraineBob CulverSarah Culver

Jilian DaltonCleveland DavisLaura DelanySusan DelmarAlain DemersJohn DietzMichael DobbsElyse DullCalla DulmageWilliam EaganLois and Ingvar EliassonMatt ElliottRichard EngelmannRobin FarrChris FarrellJohn FichthornWendy FichthornJoseph Fiore Jr.Bonnie Fisher HalleMolly FitscherVictoria FoggCarlos FonsecaJuan FonsecaSheila FoxLeanne FraccioJane FrancisGeorge FrankeSarah FreedmanFriends of FPL Fund

Noel AceyLynn AdlerMeghan AndersenKimberly AndersonSean AndradeKathleen AndresAlan AppelbaumLoretta AustinLawrence BakerJared BakerJared BarrDorothy BarthKellyann BaxendellEmily BeananMelissa BellGuillermo BernalMiron BesicPhillip BestorCharlotte BlackOlivia BleakleyJohn and Maria BlockGarry BlumHunter BlumJustin BlumMr. and Mrs. George BramwellJames BregmanDanielle BrownKevin Brown

Katherine FullerJ. Charles FusterSydney GabrielPaula GavinIsrael GelpiGeneral Electric CompanyDr. William GessnerJoan GinterDanielle GintertChryse GlackinHarold GlackinMr. and Mrs. Alan GoldsteinHazel GoldsteinPaula GonthierAmbar GracianiCassandra GrayJanet GroatGrace GuentherSonia GueyeMarcha GuzewichAnnette HallLiz HallHamilton Village Real EstateCynthia HamptonMya HarrisSharon HartnettMargaret HarveyHCST (HCAVTS)

Up to $999

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$1,000-$4,999AV Grantor Trust Patricia HubardKenneth and Linda Bell J. Timothy KellyMonica Bermiss KeyBank FoundationCampus Coach Lines Frederick KincheloeGraham Daw Maser Consulting P.A.Federation of Protestant Welfare Agencies Metropolitan Judo AssociationGlaxo SmithKline Foundation New York State YMCA Funds, Inc.Marcia Gowen John and Pamela SnowdenWheaton Griffin Arthur TaylorRuth Haupert- Lengemann Tres Chic Furs, Ltd.Joshua Heitler William Lass Land ClearingDawn Rubel Herbert Thomas WilsonEdith Hsu-Chen

Up to $999 Cont.

Tracy Hedges-WalekoMr. and Mrs. George HeitlerRobert HenekerMr. and Mrs. Ben HennebergerJenna HoffmanMr. and Mrs. John HoffmanMarty HoffmanJoseph HoganYong- Soon HwangFelix IvanoffMr. and Mrs. George IvanoffDenise Jarrett DowJonathan JefferAlexandra JohnsonScott JohnsonShawn JohnsonJoseph JonesJulia Parshall and Hilla KatkiThomas KalinMegan KearneySidney KellyLaura KerperKevin KilroyJohn KnappSuzanne KnappFrank KnightAmy KochemTheodore KoronyBonnie KorteKathrine KourakosEstate of Charles H. LamburAdam LandonMike LandryJennifer LassondeDr. Michael LavyneEden LawsonAlison LeavittJohn LefevreSam Lefkowitz-QuianaMr. and Mrs. Edwin Deane LeonardJuliet LodesJillian LosierNathaniel MacapinlacLeone MackPatrick J. MaguireMain Street Ltd.George MaloneBonnie ManeyJacqueline MarchalJason MarkerRegina MartinMarubeni America CorporationAntoinette MattochSheila McAndrewF. Joseph McCranelsElizabeth McG HemmingerLinda McGivern

Lucy McGuffinDr. Robert McGuffinJane McKnightRachel McMahonKelsey MeinsArianna MenendezJenna MerchantTara MililloLindsay MillerMargaret MillerMr. and Mrs. Tom MillimanJacqueline MineoSophie MontgomeryMarialice MorganMacAllister MossDavid MussonMihoko NagasuJanet NavonMr. and Mrs. Sydney NearLettie NelsonAlbert NeumannDonna NgKatie NickolausMr. and Mrs. Richard NowakJudy NoyesLiliko OgasawaraHelen O’ LearyAlexei OrlovIvan OrlovGrace OswaldSelmin OzbudakKristen OzbunSpencer OzbunAtir PabonMr. and Mrs. Jerry PacilloWillow ParchmentPassaic Bujinkan Buyu LLCDave PassoffJimmy PedroMegan PenninoDr. Fred PescatoreJennifer PetersonSamantha PetrarcaDylan PollockDaniel PolowtzkyBen PoreskyRichard PoreskyJoyce PostJulie PotashTerri PotashPatricia PotterRachel PrayMr. and Mrs. George PrenticeMarsha ProehlTariq RamkalupJorge RamosBrendan Rearer

Scott and Nancy ReichertShirley ReynoldsNancy RhodesOleh RiznykGeorge and Joan RollmanJorge RosalesRobin RosenthalKathryn RossLilly RudzinskaJoe RyanSylvia Sanchez-AbreuJoan SandlowMarina SauschuckMatthieu Sauvage-MarNancy SchaufflerBrid SchenklTracy SchrannScott’s PaintingThomas SeabastyShaila SegalFrank ShanbackerRoy ShirwindtChristian SmithDejanae SmithEric SmithWesley SmithOlive Smith QuinaAlexander SnowJeffrey SnowChris SouthardMichael SpiveyMadalyn StellaJessica SternMr. and Mrs. John StevensRacine StewartSusan StockdaleGail StocktonMr. and Mrs. Jerry StroufStephen SumnickT.S.E. Lectric & PlumbingMark TanisMr. and Mrs. Kensuke TashiroMr. and Mrs. James TaskerFiona ThayerRobert ThomasPeter ThorpMark TobinTora Martial ArtsAmanda TothAnna TurekCatherine UhrigAnthony UnchangoEmily Van IngenAbbie Van NostrandRandall Van NostrandEster and Regilio VaneerPamela Vanzandt

Judith VelezAstrid VermeulenJill VexlerDiana Villaneuva-AlparFred von MechowWilliam WakefieldJaida WalcottJasmone WalcottJo Ann WalczakJoseph WaltersElizabeth WardRichard WaschFrederick WeckLara WeedJesse WellsHonna Whelley-BowenShirley WhitneyBarry YarwoodMartha YoumanElizabeth YzquierdoLoretta ZannisLara ZazycznySarah ZazycznyF. Christopher Zusi

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Summer Camp is Almost Here!

Summer Sleepaway: Ages 6-16

June 30 - August 23

Outdoor Adventures: Ages 10-15

June 30 - August 23

Day Camp: K - 8th Grade

July 1 - August 23

Gymnastics: Ages 7-17

June 23 - July 5

Volleyball: 5th - 12th Grade

July 14 - August 9

Judo: All Ages

August 11 - August 17

Reserve your spot today!

Visit www.nyycamp.orgor call us at

877-30-YCAMP for more information

Summer Family CampAugust 30th - September 2nd