A glimpse into 50 years at a Camp

Time flies.  And if you catch yourself not paying attention to it, a whole month will pass by and you'll be left wondering where it went.  Today I realized that a whole month had passed since my last entry.  I found myself day after day saying "I'll do it tomorrow".....days became weeks and weeks became a month.  This is the life you have and if you aren't careful, it'll pass you by!

Below is a link to a video that was created to celebrate my camp's 50 year anniversary in its present location in the Catskills.  In May of 2008 I had attended an annual Board of Director's meeting/dinner.  During dinner, sitting with our volunteers, staff and supporters of the Frost Valley YMCA, we were shown this video.  As the lights dimmed and the movie started, I found myself being swept away in emotion.

This video captured the essence of camping - with still photos dating back to our camp's early days in the 40's and 50's to present day snapshots.  While I did not know many of the people in the video, I found such a strong sense of connection to many of the images that I was seeing.

I know my view point is biased.  I'm the kid that was dropped off at camp, didn't want to go, threw a teenage hissy fit leading up to going to camp - and as soon as I arrived, my life changed forever.  When I watched this video for the first time, that feeling of magic I experienced as a kid came ringing through my brain loud and clear.

Every time since May of 2008, it evokes the same emotion.  I don't know many of the people in this video, but I find myself strongly relating to them.

The video is great.  The experience is greater.

This Is The Life You Have.......

Summer Camp and The Toothless Rooster Man

Have you ever been put on the spot to tell a story to several hundred people and not have any idea what is going to come out of your mouth?

Well, this post has an audio link of me doing just that.  Enjoy as I ramble through a story about a scary yet utterly ridiculous character called: The Toothless Rooster Man.

Enjoy.

This Is The Life You Have.....

http://media.sas.upenn.edu/afilreis/toothless-roosterman-0708.mp3

25 Random Things About This Author

1. I once sang a 20 minute duet with Sinead O'Connor in London. 
2. I've eaten worms. 
3. I love to travel and have been to several countries: England, Ireland, Scotland, France, Spain, Belgium, Netherlands, Mexico, Canada, South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Thailand, and South Africa. 
4. When I was 16, I wished upon a star that I would become the Camp Director for the Frost Valley YMCA
5. I spent 6 amazing years completing that wish. 
6. I'm a new dad to an amazing daughter who lights up my life. 
7. I've climbed the peaks of the highest mountain in the Castskills and the French Alps. 
8. I am an actual Simpson's Character.  Somewhere, I'm in the database as an extra for the TV Show"The Simpson's"
9. In College, I was the music director for a radio station. I was one of 311's first radio interviews.  
10.The best concert I've ever seen was Living Colour/Fishbone/Public Enemy. A close second was Rage Against the Machine & Quicksand. 
11. I have an unhealthy obsession with the movie 'High Fidelity' and must watch it whenever it is on tv. 
12. Condiments are the antichrist to me. Seriously, if you come running at me with mustard, I might start swinging! 
13. In high school, a shot-put hit me in the head and I didn't fall down. 
14. Cliffs of Moher in Ireland is my #1 favorite place on Earth. 
15. In 1997 I stood on the shoulders of my best friend, Brian Butler, in Speakers Corner in London and preached to over 200 people about finding their 'inner vegetable'. The energy of the crowd was amazing. 
16. This means nothing to most people, but I won the spirit award in the Frost Valley Olympics 3 times in my career and am still very proud of the accomplishment. Australia, Israel and Russia forever. 
17. 26 Cows attacked me by pooping all at once. I barely survived. Barely. 
18. Volunteering with Global Camps Africa has been one of the most moving experiences I have ever had. 
19. In 1990 I went on a 10 day hike through the Catskills and it still is one of the most memorable moments in my life. 
20. I've been a golf caddie, stromboli maker, DJ, Record Store Employee, Movie Usher, Camp Counselor, Warehouse employee, Software Reseller, Music Director, Sports Director, Teen Director, Camp Director and Executive Director. 
21. I'm co-owner of an amazing company that provides amazing opportunities for people to impact lives through Camping. We're called 3 Adventures....and we rock.
22. I met the most amazing person at the greatest place on Earth and can't wait to spend the rest of my life with her. 
23. I have a zombie plan.  It will work.
24. Autumn is my favorite season, but Summer will always be where my heart is. 
25. Blue Man Group is and will be the best theater performance I ever will see.

I'm in the middle, alongside my wife Kelly. (a former Frost Valley alum and good friend is an artist for the Simpson's).

This Is The Life You Have........

Summer Camp and The Dead Poets Society

In the spirit of the Dead Poets Society, there is a neat tradition at my old camp that I feel is truly fantastic.  Just as in the movie, our camp’s “Dead VC Society” is a way for the many dynamic personalities in camp that have come before current generations of staff and merge the memories and experience with the past with the drive and energy of the future.  Each summer during our “Village Chief” training, our Unit Leaders, Directors and various camp leadership would huddle together late one evening and read letters of advice from those that have come before them. The power, inspiration and magnitude of these messages are felt by each and every leader in that camp. 

Shortly after leaving this camp, I was asked to provide my own ‘Dead VC Society’ letter.  This is an excerpt of a letter I submitted for the leadership staff of the 2011 season:

"To The Greatest People In The Entire World:

I truly believe in you. Right now, each of you in this room are the greatest people in the entire world. In just a short period of time, staff and campers will be looking up to you for guidance, instruction, leadership, laughter and perspective. Regardless of your position, you'll make lasting impacts on thousands of people this summer. You'll alter the course of people's lives. You'll inspire kids and staff in ways that you never imagined. Someone, somewhere is going to change what they want to “be” as a result of you this summer. 

This is power. True Power.

And society does not classify this as a 'real job'.

While you read these words and the other letters throughout this devotion, I want you to take a moment and look at those around you. Chances are that 365 days from now, they'll be a slightly different group of people taking part in this devotion. This moment is yours....all of you are together for one summer to lead staff and campers. All of you are together to impact their lives. You'll never be together fully again. People will move on after this summer, take on new roles, and further their journey in whichever way it takes them. 

Embrace these moments. Embrace this summer. Embrace the glory and honor that comes with impacting lives. Embrace the challenges. Everyone's Camp experience has an expiration date. Live every moment as if this will be your last. Treat every opening campfire as it is the last time on earth this will happen. While you may have several opening campfires left in your time at Camp, the camper who is here for two weeks might only have 1. Give them the experience of a lifetime. 

I believe in you. Believe in yourself. Make a difference this summer. I wish I could tell you that making a difference is easy....unfortunately that is not the case. Making a difference sometimes comes at the most inopportune times. You might find yourself tired, wanting sleep, or simply time alone, when that moment comes that requires your attention. Embrace those moments, life is waiting to be impacted at that time. 

As I write this little letter, I am thinking about my own past summers at camp. I'm thinking about the 1st year Counselor who was so nervous to be working with teens flourish into a leader amongst her peers today. I'm thinking about the little girl who grew up at camp dreaming of being a director and excelling in that role today. I'm thinking about young counselors thrust into the role of a Village Chief mid-summer and providing several more summers of leadership. I'm thinking about the 16 year old CIT who was hired as a Nurse's Aid for 4 weeks climb his way into the Director of Camping Services position. All of us are on a journey and where it goes, only you can decide. Think about your summer. Think about your staff. Think about how you can shape lives.

The camp is waiting for you. Treat it with care. Choose right over wrong, ethics over popularity. Save the Carrots. Choose Dumbledore's Army over the Death Eaters. Defy Gravity. 

No wizard that there is or was is ever going to bring you down. 

What are you waiting for – go make your impact!"

This Is The Life You Have……

Campfire Memories: Finding Your "Dash"

One of the more powerful memories I have of my Summer Camp experience has been those quiet evenings after a long day of activities.  In many camps throughout America, the end of a camp day is a great time of reflection.  At my camp, we called this period of the evening as 'devotion'.  Each night, a cabin group of campers and their staff would sit in their bunks, lay out and gaze upon the stars and have a discussion.  Topics were often varied.

As a counselor, I often had a sense of humor about these topics and on occasion would be known to play Phish songs and ask the kids to discuss the meaning of them.  It was quite the discussion when 12 year olds would  dissect "The Mango Song" and delve into the meaning of the lyrics 'Your hands and feat are mangoes, You're gonna be a genius anyway" and watch it evolve into a discussion on inclusiveness for all people.  Imagine if every 12 year old in the world engaged in discussions on inclusiveness (regardless of whether it came accidentally from a Phish song).  I can guarantee, we'd have less talk of bullying than we currently do in society.

As I progressed through my years in Camping, I began to truly enjoy the impact that these 'devotions' could have on people.  One of my last devotions while running a summer camp is one that I will remember forever.

During a staff training, I led a devotion with many of our younger camp counselors.  We sat outside under the stars and discussed the "dash" in our life.  Too often we define ourselves by our length of time. The length of time we've had at a job, a home or a lifetime. As these young staff began their counseling careers, I asked them to reflect on what they want that 'dash' to be - that oh so important moment of impact that lies between our start date and end date for everything that they do.  These young counselors talked of what they wanted their impact to be on the lives of their campers, the inspiration they wanted to bestow upon them, the ability to be remembered for their contributions, etc.....

As the stars illuminated the night sky, their hopes and dreams laid the foundation of their 'dash'.  Planning their 'dash' became their blueprint for impacting people's lives.

At the conclusion of that devotion, I remember walking back to the camp with the staff.  The cool summer night air was crisp, the stars were bright and theses young staff were even brighter.  Little did I know that moment would be my last camp devotion as a Camp Director.  It was a satisfying 'end' for me as far as devotions go, but it also was a great reminder of how fragile that 'dash' can be.  How soon it can end.

What do you want your 'dash to be.  How do you want to be remembered.

This Is The Life You Have....

Every Journey Has Its First Steps...

Here's a little ditty, prequel if you will, about my origins in Camping.  Enjoy!

Way back in 1988, my mom sent me to the Frost Valley YMCA for a sleepaway camp.  As a 14 year old boy making the transition into being a teenager, this concept was out of my comfort zone and in no way in my own summer plans.  However in accordance to just about every disagreement I’ve ever had with my mom, Mom won and off I went to camp. When I mention the word ‘camp’, I am not referring to the traditional summer camp program.  My mom signed me up for a two week backpacking trip through the Catskills in Frost Valley YMCA’s Adventure program.

The thought of hiking around the mountains, carrying my gear, cooking food in the wilderness and sleeping in tents did not sound appealing to me in any way.
Reluctantly, I arrived at Frost Valley on Check-In day.  My luggage was whisked away and soon enough I found myself with 9 other teens and our camp counselors. I distinctly remember over 1 million butterflies being unleashed into my stomach at the thought that I was on my own and this New Jersey suburban boy was going to go where no child on my street had ever gone before….into the wilderness.

As the two weeks progressed, I learned a lot about myself.  I learned that I can climb mountains.  I can tie knots. I can cook spaghetti in the woods.  I learned random bits of inforamtion such as: porcupines like to eat salty (read: sweaty) items and to this day, will always keep my boots with me in my tent whenever I camp and not leave them outside.  I made friends.  Good friend and great friends.  Friends that I’ve kept until this present day.  The same friends who put pictures of me on the internet when I was 14 so I will never forget my camp experience.

After two weeks, I transformed from a boy who argued about going on this adventure to becoming a teen that absolutely had to do this experience again and again!  1 month later I found myself entering the doorways of High School as a freshman.  The overwhelming feeling of adjusting to this new environment brought back a familiar feeling…the feeling of 1 million butterflies entering my stomach.  However, I was prepared.  I had climbed the tallest mountain in the Catskills!  I climbed three mountains in 1 day! I had made a fire!  I had cooked in the outdoors! I even knew the inner wants and desires of porcupines!  Surely high school would be no match for me!

High School had its challenges.  Being a teenager had its challenges. Life has its challenges.  However, to this day, I give credit to that very first backpacking trip through the Catskills in the summer of 1988.  I gained such confidence and perspective, that allowed me to come ‘out of my shell’ and provide me with the tools I needed at such a crucial time in my development from child to teen to eventually adult.

I wanted to take a moment and share this story with all of you.  This trip transformed my life in a positive way.  In 1988, Frost Valley had a relatively smally offering of trips, however today I am amazed at some of the offerings that are available to teens.  If you haven’t ever explored an Adventure Trip through a camp, I urge you to look into it.  It changed my life. 

Thank you for reading this little story about my own beginnings in Camping. 

This Is The Life You Have......

Our Hero/Author on his first moment in camp:

The Camp Counselor

In 2005, our gift to the camp staff was a long sleeved t-shirt with the following blurb written on the back of the shirt:

"Camp Staff:  Overworked, underpaid camp superhero who is expected to be everything to everyone, including, but not limited to: doctor, lawyer, police officer, child psychologist, paid baby sitter with neither television nor refrigerator, referee, coach, teacher, advisor, bathroom monitor, role model, song leader, entertainer, and play director.  Crazy enough to work with bugs, caring enough to work with children.  They must simultaneously stand on a pedestal while at the same time play in the mud.  They can cure homesickness, air out bed-wetting, create a Neverland, all while singing 37 versus of Blaaaack Socks on just four hours of sleep, and without whom summer camp would cease to exist..."

Each summer, thousands of camp staff pack their bags and travel to their summer camp to impact the lives of hundreds of thousands of children.  They make up the backbone of each camper's experience. They are a whole industry of themselves with the power to inspire, direct, change and impact the lives of everyone around them.

I chuckle because this is true power....yet the rest of the world dismisses this as something that isn't "a real job".

It's the most 'real' job you are ever going to have.

Be a Camp Counselor.  Impact lives.

This Is The Life You Have.....