The Walt Street Journal

The Walt Street Journal
Winter Edition 2016
4 New King Street
White Plains, NY 10604
p: (914) 948-9151
f: (914) 652-2433
www.campwalt.com
A LETTER FROM THE DIRECTORS
Dear Whitmanites,
growth for our campers.
It’s a book written for
parents but made for camp
directors. As parents we try
every day to do what we
think is best for our own
three children and we’re
often left wondering at the
end of the day – have we
succeeded? Did we find
The Dorfman Family
the balance between being
involved, knowing what is
happening while also stepping back and giving each of
our children the room they need to try, fail and try again.
This book reminded us to take appropriate steps back and
let our kids develop the resiliency, resourcefulness and
inner determination necessary for leading satisfying adult
lives. The themes in this book are as relevant to camp as
they are to our own house, as the author provides guidance
on how to raise children with true self-reliance instead of a
false self esteem. Many copies of the book will be brought
to camp and used as a training tool for our staff as we will
intentionally provide even more opportunities this summer
for our CWW campers to take charge of their lives and
feel the competence and confidence they want and need
for the future. After all, this is ultimately what the camp
experience is about.
While camp is currently covered with snow, our
thoughts are always about the coming summer.
Just like our campers, we live 10 for 2 and have
been spending the off-season focused on how we
can make this coming summer even better than
Summer 2015 (no easy feat considering what a great
summer we experienced last year)! We’ve read
every camper survey, every parent survey, and every
staff survey to gain as much information as possible.
We’ve attended camp conferences throughout the
country and read dozens of books always seeking
information on how we can improve the summer
experience for our campers. We’re never satisfied,
never feel justified to rest on the laurels of last
summer as our commitment to our campers and
families is that we’re always trying to make camp
more meaningful and impactful.
So what is it that can truly make the camp
experience even better this summer? While we have
made many purchases for and physical improvements
to our facility this off-season, as big and expensive
as these have been, we don’t believe this is in
itself creates a better camp experience. However,
we found our answer recently upon reading Julie
Lythcott-Haims’ book How to Raise an Adult. As
we were reading, neither of us could stop writing
down ideas for Summer 2016 - how we can use
the concepts in this book to promote even greater
TITUS HALL CONSTRUCTION UPDATE
Lew Chase and his crew (Andy Chase & Bob Garvin) are happy to report
that the main construction of Titus hall (all 5000 square feet of it) is
complete. Thank goodness the weather this year was cooperating with
construction, as it would have been nearly impossible to be this far
along if it had been a ‘typical’ north country December. Lew, Andy and
Bob are shifting their attention during the winter to finish work on the
interior. The greatest amount of attention is focused on the new stage
area. It is much larger than the old Titus stage. We are converting the
three storage rooms from the ‘back’ of the old Titus and this area will
now be the backstage, dressing rooms and paint rooms for props. There
will be plenty of space to move around backstage during play performances. We are excited about
this additional space, as it will have a much more theatrical feel. Let’s not forget about a new sound
system, curtains and lighting. Each of these new and improved elements will lend to a better play
experience. One of the finishing parts that will make the building look really polished is a brand
new dance floor. Construction of a building of this size is a massive undertaking and while they
had help with the foundation and trusses, for three men to essentially create this building from
the ground up is an incredible accomplishment. We can’t wait to see the finished structure
and for each of you to enjoy it as well!
2
More than
75,000 nails
will be used in the
construction
of Titus.
MEET JACKO: CWW’s Newest Full-Time Employee
What’s your favorite sport and
team to watch?
So tough to choose. I love my NY
Giants, Mets and Maryland Terrapins.
As much as I would love to watch
more Mets baseball, I’m usually pretty
busy over the summer. So I would say
I spend more time watching my New
York football Giants.
Although you’ve spent 24 years
of your life at camp, what do you
think will be different about this
summer?
A huge part of camp to me is tradition
and the people that make each
community unique. Summer 2016
is going to be all about me getting
to know each tradition, person, and
component that makes CWW such a
truly terrific, and unique summer camp
experience.
What do you love about camp?
The community that we as a camp
family get to create is what I love
most. To me, the opportunities that
exist in a 7-week residential experience
are tremendous. The chance to see
relationships and skills develop is all
around us, in every moment and I love
being a part of that.
What are you most looking
forward to for Summer
2016?
Junior Camp! Getting a
chance to work with all the
youngest campers and the
patient, fun-loving, energetic
staff. I want to do my part to
make junior camp a really exciting,
special place this summer.
Enjoying Camp!
What are your favorite memories as
a camper?
Time with my bunkmates, campfire
cookouts, color war, my counselors,
spaghetti and meatballs.
What was your childhood camp
experience like?
In addition to learning a great deal
about myself, I learned that I could be
accepted for exactly who I was.
Where does your long-standing
commitment to volunteering with
Project Morry stem from? It started with knowing Morry Stein
as my Camp Director and supporting
Project Morry as a camper and staff
member at Echo Lake. When I started
working full time at Echo Lake, I was
allowed the opportunity to join the
Project Morry Young Professional
Committee, which eventually became
Dare to Dream. I started as a committee
member until becoming co-chair. I love
any opportunity to work with Dawn
Ewing (Executive Director) and the
entire Project Morry team. I believe
in both the summer and year round
educational support component. The more kids that
we can get to
experience
summer camp
the better!
Matt & his 3 sisters: Amy, Shelby
and Dana
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Matt Jackowitz – known to
most as “Jacko” - began his
camp career at Camp Echo
Lake near Lake George, NY
in 1992 as an 8-year-old
camper. He became a staff
member in 2000 and never
looked back. From Junior
Counselor to Program
Director, he held many
positions during his 16
years on staff at Echo Lake.
Jacko graduated from the
University of Maryland
– GO TERPS! – with a
degree in Psychology. He
then received his MBA
from Iona College. Prior
to working full time
for Camp Echo Lake for
nearly 10 years, Jacko
worked at the American
Camp Association’s New
York office and continues
to volunteer with the
ACA. He is also the
co-chair for the Dare to
Dream fundraising event
for Project Morry – an
organization that is near
and dear to the Walt
Whitman Community. Matt grew up in Livingston
New Jersey, has three
sisters, one being a twin.
He is engaged to Ashleigh
Streng and they are
looking forward to their
camp-themed wedding in
September. He is a hopeless
Mets fan who will never say
no to a chipwich.
Coach Porter’s Top 10 Winter Tennis Tips
Coach Porter’s top 10 ways to improve your tennis game this winter so you’re at
the top of your game for the summer months.
➊
➋
➌
➍
➎
Stay active in sports/games that require a change of direction. Tennis would be best followed
by basketball and indoor soccer.
Play catch with a parent, sibling, or friend with a small football or even tennis ball. The throwing motion is close enough to the service motion to a have beneficial impact.
Practice your service swing without a ball. You can hit a balloon if you have a highceilinged room.
Remember your
follow through
Rally with a friend using a foam ball in a gym or large room. Using a foam or transitional ball, see how many balls you can volley
in a row with a parent, sibling, or friend from 10 feet apart. 20 feet
apart. 30 feet apart.
➏
➐
Practice your service toss with a ball or even a rolled up pair
of socks.
Work on your fitness level. Download mobile app “TimedX” from the
fitness area and do your best. This is only for those who really want to
be fit and great tennis players. My college teams do this every day.
Contact the ball out in front
➑
Watch a match on TV or Internet and think through why a particular
player won or lost a match. Remember that tennis is thinking and
moving first and hitting last.
➒
If you can get to a court, rally with a parent, sibling or friend and see
how many times you can hit 10 balls in a row (that’s a rally of 20) in
the court. ➓
Go to www.tennisresources.com and watch a tennis tip each day.
Coach Porter
Coach David Porter has been the Tennis Director at CWW for 21 years. He received his B.S. & M.S.
degrees from Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah where he also played collegiate tennis and
basketball. He then went on to receive his doctorate degree from the University of Hawaii. He has
coached tennis at BYU-Hawaii since 1984, starting the program and making him the only coach BYUH
has ever had. Coach Porter’s combined career record of 1,322-172 is second all-time for combined
wins in collegiate tennis. He has achieved 1,000 collegiate coaching victories in fewer contests
than any coach, in any sport, in any division in NCAA history. He is also the first coach in NCAA
tennis history to coach both men’s and women’s teams to national championships in consecutive
years (2002 and 2003). He has been the president of the 15,000-member United States Professional
Tennis Association and is currently the Chairman of International Testing and the Player Development Committees. In
2012, Coach was named the USPTA Alex Gordon Professional of the Year. Adding to these accolades, he has the highest
winning percentage of any NCAA women’s tennis coach in history (673 wins, 22 losses, .968 winning percentage). Coach
has four children and ten grandchildren, and enjoys reading, listening to music, and spending time with his family.
On December 25th, 2015 the high temperature at
camp was 57 degrees. That is 25 degrees above
the average high temperature for all previous
December 25th’s at camp according to Weather
Underground.
4
“ I have learned that to be
with those I like is enough.”
– Walt Whitman
OUR NEWEST PROGRAM FOR TEENS…
Zeal Adventure and Travel
Travel with Zeal!
At the end of every summer, we receive numerous phone calls from parents of children who have just graduated from
CWW, all of whom ask a similar question, “What should my child do now”? After receiving this question so many times,
we’ve come up with our own answer… Zeal Adventure and Travel (www.travelwithzeal.com). As the brainchild of
two camp directors, Zeal is the ideal travel program for teenagers who have graduated from camp but still seek to enjoy
all of the best attributes of CWW. Zeal is a slightly more grown-up version of sleepaway camp; a teenage camp on the
road that still incorporates everything that makes CWW so special - the friendships, the sense of community, the personal
growth, the excitement, and the opportunity to give back to others. Each Zeal trip combines an exciting combination of
outdoor adventure, sightseeing, community interaction, and 25 to 30 hours of community
service. With three trips running this summer to Hawaii and Alaska, Ecuador and the
Galapagos Islands, and The National Parks of the Western US and Canada, we know our
graduating campers are going to have an incredible experience.
Meet David Jacobson-Fried, the Director of Zeal Adventure and Travel:
Zeal Director, and
former CWW staff member,
David Jacobson-Fried
While Zeal was developed by Carolyn and Jed, David is the Director of Zeal. David spent
five summers working at Camp Walt Whitman before moving on to become a trip leader,
medical specialist and SCUBA instructor for Broadreach. Before joining Zeal, David spent
the past three summers working at the United World College of the American West where
he was the Director of Summer Programs and head of the school’s experiential education
program.
Did you
know?
2015 REUNION
Who says you need winter weather to
have an awesome Winter get together?!?
Despite borderline tropical December
temperatures in NY, over 250 campers
and almost 50 staff members converged
The 2015 CIT’s present the donation check
at Purchase College for our 2015 Winter
to Dawn Ewing
Reunion. We danced to our favorite square
dance tunes, shared stories, played games
and received endless hugs. One important component of our annual reunion is the recognition
of thousands of laps swam and hundreds of hours spent in the pool and lake to support Project
Morry. In Summer 2015, our campers swam over 39,000 laps, resulting in donations exceeding
$26,000 from our generous families. We presented this check to Dawn Ewing, the Director of
Project Morry, who was overwhelmed by what the CWW community contributes every year to
the program. It is always an energizing feeling to meet up with camp friends and family midwinter. It’s in these months that camp feels further away and reconnecting with bunkmates and
counselors reminds us that we’re already halfway to Summer 2016!
5
The summit
of Piermont
Mountain is 2,717
feet above sea
level. That is the
same distance as
the height of 9
Statues of
Liberty.
LAND VS. WATER
A Debate Between
Our Leaders
CAMPCRAFT - Geoff Ashworth, CampCraft Director
The clouds were drifting across the face of the midday sun and a cool, refreshing
wind blew down from the summit high above us. Mount Lafayette was still a long,
hard, steep way to go. We had been hiking for four hours and most of the boys
of cabin 6a were doing well, even though lunch seemed a long while ago. One,
however, was not doing well. “I hate this,” he sobbed. I convinced him that in
my pack, I had a pair of shorts that were designed for the Russian equivalent of
Geoff conquering another
mountain
the Boy Scouts, who trek through knee-deep snow for 30 hours at a stretch and
go days without food and water while they ascend 20,000+’ mountains. He was
initially just a little skeptical but as the day was hot and the ascent not getting easier, he soon took up my offer,
disappeared behind some trees during a water break, and reappeared resplendent in the miraculous garb. Tears
flowed copiously as we got higher. I grabbed his arm, put him near the front of the group and we went at his pace.
Now over the ridge above tree line, 360° views, a cobalt-azure blue sky and Mount Washington shimmering in the
distance with a tiny puff of smoke from the railway pointing vertically upward into what must have been a rare, still
day on the Old Rock Pile. What a perfect day. An hour later, blood, toil, tears, and sweat forgotten, we reached our
destination, the high, flat summit of Mount Lafayette. “Geoff” says the wailer, “this is amazing! Thank you, thank you
for everything”. On saying that, he ran over and gave me a bear hug. Wailing forgotten, he jumped around spotting
the surrounding peaks, leaping from rock to rock, chomping on a candy bar, laughing outrageously. So there, in a
nutshell, is why campcraft is so great. Get kids out of their comfort zone, push themselves safely beyond what they
think they can do and have them achieve the impossible and garner a lifetime of memories in one afternoon. Other
areas do the same, of course, but perhaps not with the same intensity or frequency as we can do on a mountain.
That’s what makes Campcraft the best program in the known universe.
VS.
WATERFRONT - Steve Lamb, Waterfront Director
During your time outdoors at camp, you will always wind up having to deal
with things nature throws your way. It will be too hot, too cold, too windy, too
rainy, too hailstormy, or there will be too many mosquitoes. Some areas of camp
think they’ve got it made, like Campcraft, but who wants to be stuck in a driving
rainstorm on top of a mountain?
Steve in his element at the
The Waterfront is where it’s at! Too hot? Take a refreshing dip. Too cold? Go
waterfront
for a paddle to warm up. Too windy? Go for a sail, see if you can one-hull
the Hobie-cat! Too rainy? You’re already wet, might as well do some laps for Morry’s camp. Too hailstormy? We
wouldn’t swim in that, but you can be sure we’ll all be chillaxin’ under the awning of the dining hall watching the
spectacular show! On top of that, there’s no way a mosquito is ever going to beat you doing a 50 yard butterfly, and
if it did, why, we have Niall!
Besides just beating nature at it’s own game, the other reason the waterfront is the best place in camp is the people!
We may not have the chiseled calf muscles or rugged beards of the great Campcrafters. And we may lack the potency
of a hiker who’s been five days without a bath. But gosh darn it… we know how to have a great time, anytime!
Swim lessons are a joy, tip-tests a blessing, boating is a breeze, and our live-in staff make every cabin better.
Still not convinced the Waterfront is the best place in camp? I want you to close your eyes and count to five
thousand. Go to your happy place. Go to camp. Where do you picture yourself? I’d bet, and chances are, you’re on
the shores of Lake Armington, taking in that breathtaking view all who have spent time at CWW cannot forget.
6
FAMILY CAMP 2016
WELCOME
Stephanie Herr
Building on last summer’s
incredibly successful inaugural
Family Camp – we are so excited
to announce that this summer,
from August 15 to August 19,
Camp Walt Whitman will run
Family Camp Season 2!
As many of you know Kathy
Mannis, our longtime Office
Manager (20+ years), has
decided it is time to move on to the next phase of
her life and career. Kathy has been essential to
Walt Whitman’s ongoing success and her tireless
work ethic has been a model all of us have learned
from. Kathy’s commitment to camp and our camp
families is unparalleled in CWW’s history. While
Kathy’s departure is bittersweet, we are excited
to introduce Stephanie Herr, who will take over
Kathy’s responsibilities.
Come to CWW with your family
and spend the week waterskiing,
swimming, playing tennis, hiking mountains, creating art
projects, sailing and zip lining (just to name a few of the
available activities). Each day is filled with family activities as
well as adult only and child only activities. Each family has
their own cabin for the week and we provide food, fun and
camp spirit! Stephanie is joining our year-round office team
as our Office Manager. She is happy to be joining the Walt Whitman family on a full-time
basis. Stephanie worked for Procter & Gamble
Productions, the producer of the popular daytime
dramas Another World, Guiding Light and As the
World Turns for 15 years as their Human Resources
Manager and Special Events Director before leaving to raise her son. Stephanie, her husband Brett
and their 7 year-old son Joshua live in Armonk,
New York. She has a degree in Communications
and Rhetoric from SUNY Albany; and she and her
family enjoy cooking, biking, tennis, their annual
beach vacation to OBX and playing with their one
year-old dog Harley.
Our families from last summer couldn’t
say enough positive things about their
experience. One parent said: “Getting
to spend the day waterskiing and zip
lining with
my kids
and then
having
time at night
around the
campfire with my
husband and our friends was
perfect. I can’t imagine a better
way to spend a family week.”
“This was the best family vacation we have
ever spent together. My kids will tell
you it was even better than
Disney World!”
“We had the best time, great idea!
The staff was fantastic, we
adored them all.”
We can’t wait for Family Camp 2016 to kick off. Visit
our website at http://www.campwalt.com/family-camp for your enrollment application!
November 29th was
National Square
Dance Day!
How did you celebrate?
7
Stephanie did not go to sleep-away camp as a child
but feels it would be a wonderful experience for
her son. She sees camp as a place to have fun,
make lifelong friendships and grow through new
experiences. When asked about her thoughts on
joining the CWW Family, Stephanie said, “I am
happy to be part of a team with such great experience and passion for what they do. It’s great to
come to work and
be with people who
are so happy and
energized to be
there.”
We are excited for
all of you to get to
know Stephanie as
she will often be
the warm voice at
the other end of the
phone when you
call us during the
winter. Welcome
aboard Stephanie!
Stephanie, husband
Brett, and son Joshua
ALUMNI NEWS
Sonya Soloway is working and living
in Washington, DC running an early
childhood literacy program at Howard
University. She still regularly sees camp
friends Allie Leifer, Sami Corbin,
Emily ‘Gordo’ Gordon and Whitney
Anderson.
Congratulations are in order for Lindy
Gier who is getting married in April and
moving to Bellville, TX with her soon to
be husband.
Sam Margolin just had his first baby,
a son named Harry born on December
30th! Sam is working as a research
analyst for a bank called Cowen. He
was recently spotted on CNBC discussing
oil prices.
Nathan “Bleecker” Crowe is living
happily in Cali, Colombia with his wife
and teaching at Colegio Bolivar. He
adopted two street puppies and will
complete his Masters Degree in the
spring.
Claire Dean reports that since having 5
amazing years at camp almost 20 years
ago, she became a teacher, owns a
supermodel black labrador, got married,
became a head teacher/principal, and
has two beautiful baby girls.
Allison Leifer is roommates with
Sami Corbin. They get together with
Gaby Koenig on Mondays to watch
the Bachelor. Allie is starting her 4th
year at Macy’s where she works as the
associate buyer for women’s sleepwear
and robes!
Mel Roth currently lives in NYC. She
received her LMSW in October and
works as a Social Worker at two Middle
Schools, one in the Bronx and one in
Brooklyn.
Becky Williams is enjoying her time as
a college counselor at a boarding school
in Ohio. She recently adopted a puppy,
Walt, named after her favorite place.
After being away from CWW since 1996,
Barbi Kern loved bringing her family to
CWW’s inaugural Family Camp. She was
super excited to show them what the
CWW experience is all about!
David Helfenbein is currently working
at DKC Public Relations in New York
City. David focuses on strategic and
crisis communication,
public affairs
Stan the counselor.
and government and
community relations.
His background
in helping fellow
bunkmates repeatedly
get out of trouble
has helped him
immensely in his crisis
management work.
Nathan “Bleeker” Crow
and his wife
Dunn Neugebauer was CWW’s tennis
director from 1995-1997. Currently
he works as the Sports Information
Director and cross country coach at
Holy Innocents’ in Atlanta. Dunn has a
book out on Amazon entitled - Funny
Conversations With God.
Libby Bakalar has been living in
Juneau, Alaska for almost ten years
where she and husband, Geoff, are
raising their kids Paige, 8 and Isaac,
5. She works as a lawyer for the state
alongside CWW alum Janell Hafner
-- a close friend, ski buddy, and fellow
mama.
Stan Soloway recently stepped down
after 15 years as CEO of the Professional
Services Council and has launched a new
company--Celero Strategies--working
with tech and other companies seeking
to bring innovation to government.
Stan Horowitz spent an annual CWW
alumni weekend with Neal Seidman,
Dan McKinney and Dennis Reisman
catching up on all things camp from
the late 80s and early 90s. Annual
guests who couldn’t make it this year
were Rich Poller, Jordo Bick and Phil
Hansell. Rumor has it Rich Stempinski
and Kevin Eames will join next year.
Jody Coats is teaching sixth grade
math and science in Goffstown, NH. He
and his family take advantage of their
proximity to the White Mountains and
hike a lot. Occasionally Jody runs into
groups from CWW on the trail.
Leah Furst Alani is living the suburban
life in Chappaqua, NY with her four
kids: Asher 7.5, Delilah 4, and twins Liv
and Noa 1.5yrs. She is thrilled that her
camp BFF, Shara (Dalgin) Gordon
moved to town recently and they now
get to see each other everyday and
watch their kids grow up together.
After 5 awesome years in Washington,
where Brad Jacobson played soccer
8
Becky & Walt
and completed his masters at the
University of Washington, he has moved
back to NYC to begin working.
Enjoying living in L.A., Karye
Luppen is teaching a great group of
preschoolers and pursuing her interest
in photography. Karye is currently
preparing for a trip to Haiti in February
with a group of 7th graders and faculty
from her school to visit their Haitian
sister school.
Debbie Neft (‘88-’96) is a clinical
psychologist who lives in Westchester
with her husband and three kids. She
stays close with her camp buddies Bibi
Prival, Liz Mayer, and Alex Socarides
and is so excited to be a camp mom for
the first time as she is sending her son
Theo to CWW this summer!
In mid-March, after nine and a half
terrific years at Educational Alliance,
Lynn Appelbaum is moving on to
become the Deputy ED of United
Neighborhood Houses. UNH is the
umbrella organization of settlement
houses including Educational Alliance
and Lenox Hill Neighborhood House
and promotes and strengthens the
neighborhood-based, multi-service
approach to improving the lives of New
Yorkers in need. Matt Smith and Susan Mao, both
CWW alumni, have a year and a half
old daughter named Mackenzie and
are awaiting the arrival of their son any
minute! Susan is finishing her Ph.D. in
Psychology and Matt has been working
in startups for the last several years.
Alana Frankfort started her own
business working with cool new
business concepts called A Founder’s
Lab. Coincidentally, she has worked on
some projects with fellow CWW alum,
Hudson Gaines-Ross. She is excited
that her niece is starting at Camp Walt
Whitman this summer and can’t wait to
visit her.