Thank You all for an incredible summer — we miss you already! Here is a digital copy of our Final CE Buzzer.
All Our Best,
The CE Team
EBR Camps Blog
Category: Uncategorized
Simon’s Fund – Checking Hearts, Saving Lives
Simon’s Fund is a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to raising awareness about the conditions that lead to sudden cardiac arrest and death in young athletes and children.
Simon’s Fund raises awareness about the conditions that lead to sudden cardiac arrest and death in children through prevention, education and innovation. Under the leadership of Phyllis and Darren Sudman, Simon’s Fund helped make Pennsylvania the first state to pass a law that prevents sudden cardiac arrest in student athletes. Since, the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Prevention Act has been passed in five other states too.
This year, the organization is launching a first-of-its-kind national youth cardiac registry of seemingly healthy kids. HeartBytes will promote research and help standardize the heart screening process. “Losing a child is every parent’s worst nightmare,” Phyllis states. “I don’t want another mother to lose her child to a detectable and treatable heart condition.”
Nicki and Lizzy Contribute To Camp Navigator Magazine!
Camp Blue Ridge Assistant Directors, Nicki Alpern and Lizzy Lean wrote an article for Camp Navigator Magazine about selecting the perfect residential camp experience for your daughter.
Read The Article By Clicking Here!
CECBR Night of Giving Back
CECBRs Night of Giving Back | 3.12 in NYC
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Camps Equinunk & Blue Ridge Launches #WELIVEFORTHIS, A Night of Giving Back
New York, New York — February 16th, 2015 — Camps Equinunk and Blue Ridge, a children’s summer camp located in Northeast Pennsylvania will be hosting #WELIVEFORTHIS, A Night of Giving Back in New York City on March 12th, 2015. The event will support three youth-centered charitable organizations; Zander Neuhaus Memorial Fund, Summer Camp Opportunities Promote Education, and Simon’s Fund.
“As a community that cares for and enriches the lives of children since 1920, comprised of generations of campers, staff, and alumni, we believe it’s our responsibility to help others” said Camp Director Adam Baker. “Not only do we see this event as a terrific opportunity to give back but also to introduce the children in our community to the act of giving.”
Shortly after releasing information about the event, Blue Ridge Camper, Erica Sosman (15) emailed Owner and Director Sheryl Kamen with an elaborate plan for a spin-off event (literally) aptly named CECBR Spins. The event will be held at The Roslyn JCC on March 29th and is completely camper run and spun in coordination with the year-round team at Equinunk and Blue Ridge.
“When I heard about camps Night of Giving Back, I immediately thought, I would like to be a part of this” said Sosman. Knowing my camp family would also love the opportunity to get involved, I thought why not run an event that would give us campers a chance to give back? CECBRSpins is going to be a fun energetic and amazing way for us to get involved in raising money for the Zander Neuhaus Memorial Fund, SCOPE, and Simon’s Fund.”
The Night of Giving Back event will be held at The Chester located in the Meatpacking District and will feature a Silent Auction featuring items autographed by Bruce Springsteen, Taylor Swift, One Direction, Dave Matthews Band, Katy Perry and more along with tickets to see professional New York Sports Teams and more. All proceeds will be going to charity. Tickets are available online by visiting the event website — CECBR.org.
About Camps Equinunk & Blue Ridge:
Located in Northeast Pennsylvania, Camps Equinunk and Blue Ridge has been at the forefront of resident camping since 1920. CECBR is a traditional brother/sister camp and has been a summer home to hundreds of campers, staff, and alumni. To learn more about Equinunk and Blue Ridge, visit their website CECBR.com.
Charity Information:
Zander Neuhaus Memorial Fund:
Alexander Neuhaus (Equinunk Camper 2012 and 2013), “Zander,” was a gifted student, multi-sport athlete and friend to everyone he encountered. Zander lived his life in an exemplary manner; giving of his time, friendship, compassion, support, concern and love to everyone he came across. He was an amazing young man with an infectious smile who touched so many people. We want to carry forward the lessons we have learned from Zander and the ideals he conveyed in a memorial scholarship fund to benefit student athletes of low economic resources. Sports, wherein Zander learned the importance of effort, sportsmanship, and teamwork helped him to mature and grow, be tolerant and patient, recognize that while people are different they must be accepted and embraced, and learned life lessons. Sharing, teaching, and inspiring these qualities to children through sports regardless of economic status is the mission of the Zander Memorial Scholarship Fund.
SCOPE, Summer Camp Opportunities Promote Education:
SCOPE’s mission is to provide children in need the edge to succeed in life through the summer camp experience. We accomplish this by funding summer camp scholarships at nonprofit, resident camps where children will benefit from a positive, safe and healthy environment led by excellent adult role models, who will help them develop their full potential.
Simon’s Fund:
Simon’s Fund is an organization dedicated to raising awareness about the conditions that lead to sudden cardiac arrest and death in youth athletes and children. Simon’s Fund Educates, Advocates, Screens, innovates, Collaborates, Funds and Empowers.
Learn More About A Night of Giving Back by Visiting CECBR.ORG
Contact:
Nicki Alpern, Assistant Director — 631.329.3239 — events@cecbr.com
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Camp Cup!
Last year, Equinunk alumni Brett and Jeff Kotcher ran the first ever Camp Cup Roller Hockey Tournament in January. The Camp Cup is a roller hockey tournament for ONLY current and former campers and counselors. Participants traveled from New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Florida and even Ottawa, Canada! The Camp Cup brought together Equinunk families and staff and saw both our Alumni and 11th grade and under team win their respective divisions.
14 teams, a total of 8 camps, participate in last year’s event. It was an incredible day at Skate Safe and the atmosphere in the building was electric! At times 600-700 combined players, parents, campers, counselors, alumni, head counselors, owners and directors attend the Camp Cup! Roller hockey industry equipment leaders, Alkali Hockey and Labeda Wheels sponsored the event and t-shirts as well as gloves and wheels were given out to MVP, MVG and tournament high scorers.
This year, the Camp Cup is back and will be held once again at Skate Safe America on Long Island on January 3rd and January 4th. The 2015 Camp Cup divisions will consist of…
11th grade and under
Alumni (Current/former counselors as well as former campers)
30 and over
If you are interested in lacing up the skates again for Equinunk this winter, please contact Brett or Jeff Kotcher at brett.kotcher@gmail.com or jeff.kotcher@gmail.com. They will handle all registration.
WE LIVE FOR THIS!
Dear Camp Letter from Upper Senior Adam First
Dear Camp,
As I sit here at the close of my upper senior summer, I think about everything that I’ve done and been through while growing up here. 336 camping days, 980 meals, 224 laps around the mess hall during color war cheering, 18 different counselors, 5 group heads, and 7 life-changing summers. The word change tends to have a negative stigma around camp. People who have spent their entire lives here want everything to remain the same with little to no change. Since we’ve all had such amazing and cherished memories of past summers, we want the new generation of campers to have the same experiences as we did. But in this world, the only constant is change. Diamonds disappear, pools are built, and mess halls redone. These are all things that make camp appear to be different, however, these are not things that make camp appear to be different, however these are not things that make camp what it is and what it means. Camp is that we still continue traditions that have lived on throughout nearly a century of constant change. Camp is that we still keep score for color war with the hitting of colored hatchets into numbered blocks. Camp is that we still gather at the flagpole twice a day to hear the upcoming activities as if we didn’t have walkie-talkies or the PA system. Sometimes camp isn’t the only thing that changes throughout each summer. You could come to camp, and after one, two or seven summers be a changed person. That’s what happened to me throughout my camping career. I’ve come a long way from being a small, nervous, homesick sophomore who spent way more than his fair share of time in the hobby center. Camp taught me how to be responsible, how to have different personalities, and to try every activity, because you never know which one you might enjoy. That the one thing I wish I had known all along. Don’t take any day at camp for granted because like the song says, “know that time will fly, in Color War we’ll try, but in the blink of an eye, our summer heaven is gone.” Trust me when I say this, but one minute you’ll be touring the campus with Kevin Gray the first day of Sophomore summer, and the next thing you know, you will have just three days left as a camper, and all you can do is sit back and wonder where all of that time went. Camp, you made me who I am, and I thank you for that. My only hope is that you continue to do the same for years to come, turning small homesick campers into true sons of Equinunk.
With love,
Adam First
US 2014 Red Elite
CBR Color War Update – August 12th!
If this Color War had one message, it would be the blending of old traditions with new ones to create an experience unparalleled by any other!
We began the war right away by holding our traditional indoor games outdoors on our new basketball courts. The lights shone bright as we ran and cheered for blue and grey.
Yesterday, we played group games in the morning. In the afternoon, the Lower Camp played capture the flag and tug-of-war while the Upper Camp had a swim meet. The main event of the day; however, was the much anticipated PC basketball game.
The night of the PC basketball game is always filled with honor and pride as the PC girls are individually introduced at dinner and given their Chief Lehrer Upper Senior Basketball Game t-shirts. The PC’s see those who came before them wearing these shirts throughout their camping years and are excited to receive theirs. This year, instead of heading to the social hall for the game for evening activity, we made our way to the outdoor basketball courts once again. To officially begin the ritual of PC games on these courts, we had a special ceremony complete with fireworks and the national anthem. Then, the players were announced again to cheers of the entire camp. The grey team was victorious in an incredibly well-played game that truly honored the new tradition, with a score of 46-42. At the end of the game, the PC’s cut down the nets to keep pieces as a memento of the night.
While it did not seem as if the weather would cooperate with us this morning, we were able to play all of our morning games. The highlight was Senior soccer, which we introduced with a “world cup” style procession of the PC’s and Lower Sophmores, representing our oldest and youngest campers. In the afternoon, we had a spirited full-camp tug-of-war.
At this time, we are getting ready for our Senior volleyball games this evening and the war is incredibly close with only about 20 points separating Blue and Grey- and our main event, Color War Sing, is still to come tomorrow!
Monday Morning CE Color War Update!
Over the course of the summer we have made note of some moments and events which were out of the ordinary. In the six weeks past there has been Red, White and Blue Day, Visiting Day, Alumni Day, Boys Sing, mini-trip day, Trip Day, the Marty Gelobter Games, College Games, Carnival, the Wounded Warrior Run, Color War Cheering and the Color War break, just to name a few. But all of those pale in comparison to what we have arrived at once again.
As of this writing it is five to eight in the morning on Monday, August 11 which for 2014 is the day of days. Every camper, counselor, Color War Judge and camp administrator will wake to the electricity in the air knowing tonight we will have reached the top of the mountain.
The boys will go through Color War activities today, and will fill the fields with intensity and pride. But come tonight in the Social Hall the camp summer will be at its apex with the climax of summer, The Upper Senior Basketball Game.
People will come from far and wide just to be on campus this afternoon and tonight for Equinunk’s signature event in which the oldest campers play a basketball game in front of several hundred people, from the screaming teams to former Color War Chiefs all spanning some six or seven decades of camp history.
It is a date camp Alumni mark on their calendar a year in advance, taking work vacations, days off, or just leaving the office early today to make sure they are in camp tonight. The Opening Ceremonies in which the Hall will be packed, all former Chiefs introduced and the game itself are teeming with pageantry and tradition. In short, it is our most special of nights.
To give you an update on Color War, as of Monday morning wakeup Red is holding a 220-point lead over Gray, however with so many events to be played today and so many points available, anything can happen.
Blue Ridge Color War Is HERE!
The Blue and the Grey are here, everybody give a cheer…
For those of us who have experienced the anticipation of a Blue Ridge color war, we know that it’s that “what’s going to happen next, can’t take our shoes off, every sound makes us run outside,” kind of feeling! The past few days have certainly reignited this sentiment in our returning campers and created it in our new ones. The cheering reached its peak yesterday afternoon after the girls witnessed Equinunk’s Color War break. Now, it was our turn for fake-outs, tricks, and, of course, the real thing.
The buildup continued last night. We had our CBR dance showcase, followed by our weekly camp cast. The end of the camp cast was interrupted by a “special report-“ video interviews with all of the groupheads, Lizzy, Nicki, and Lori recalling their memories of past Color Wars and advice for the PC’s about what was to come. The interviewees also gave their predictions of when the war would break- some even said they thought that it would break that very minute, stimulating a huge reaction from the crowd. At the end of this fabulous fake-out, which was organized by the CA girls with Mel Cameron’s assistance, it was brought to our attention that there were 2 interviews missing from the video- Sheryl Kamen’s and Julie Dorfmans’s. It was decided that we would see their interviews live in the morning.
As soon as reveille blew this morning, campers could be found on bunk porches waiting for the next sign of Color War. To our surprise, we were treated to a fantastic morning Zumba class at the flag pole led by our Zumba specialist, Julie Dard. The class added to the hype and helped us get into the spirit even more with an activity that we all know and love.
Cameras in hand, we headed to breakfast. Finally, it was time for the missing interviews. Julie and Sheryl stood in the front of the mess hall with the camera on them. Of course, the interviews wouldn’t have been complete without a traditional Camp Cast ending- “Back to you Lori!” Julie and Sheryl said that together, and silence hung in the air as we waited for Lori’s dismissal. However, instead of her voice, the first blast of the cannon was heard…then the second…then the third, signaling the official start of Color War along with papers flying through the air.
Now, we are deep into competition between the Blue Storybook, Led by counselor chief Lauren Lazarus, and the Grey Sesame Street, led by counselor chief Sophie Foster. The Storybook theme will focus on how we create our stories at camp through kindness, friendship, and the magic that can only be found at Blue Ridge. The Sesame Street theme will focus on our strong sense of family and working together to help others be the best that we can be.
After our traditional opening ceremonies, the fields were alive all afternoon and the beginning rehearsals of what is sure to be a beautiful Color War sing could be heard from the social hall. Tonight, we will begin a new tradition by holding our “indoor games” outdoors on our gorgeous new basketball courts.
Over 250 points have already been scored with many more to come.
Make sure to follow the action during Color War on Twitter and Facebook. We will update you as often as we can.
We look forward to many special moments in the next 3 days of Blue and Grey 2014.
Blue Ridge On Broadway IS BACK!
Hello Blue Ridge Parents!
It’s hard to believe another summer at Camps Equinunk & Blue Ridge is coming to a close. While our in-camp special events are approaching rapidly; we wanted to let you know about another terrific off-season get-together!
We are thrilled to announce that Blue Ridge On Broadway will be back in 2014 (by popular demand). We would love for Mother’s and Daughter’s to join us on a magic carpet ride, lunch at Carmine’s and a matinee performance of Disney’s Aladdin on Saturday October 18th, 2014.
To purchase tickets for Blue Ridge On Broadway — Please Click Here!
* Payments Made by Credit Card ONLY.
If you have any additional questions, please contact nicki@cecbr.com. Please remember that only a limited number of tickets are available for the event.
We hope to see you there!
All The Best,
The CECBR Team