Spring 2025, Edition 104, Issue #3
The Final Countdown
On a Sunday evening in May, a Zoom with the 2025 Junior Counselors marked the first official bunk counselor meeting of the season. Twenty-two (of 26) graduating campers from 2024 are returning as first-time counselors, one of the largest such groups in recent memory.
Scanning the assembled faces naturally brought back memories from years past, of nervous 8 and 9-year olds first embarking on their Scatico journeys. Today, cumulatively, they account for more than 150 camper years. And when reviewing their requests for activities at which they want to assist, it’s exciting to note the range of interests: tennis, chess, baseball, archery, wood shop, basketball, yoga, ceramics…. Like with most Scatico divisions, it’s the dynamic of differ ent personalities with different passions that makes the whole somehow greater than the sum of the individual parts.
Friday, July 19th, 6:30AM: Soopers and Upper Seniors in front of the Admin Building, getting set to board the bus to drive to JFK Airport, to board a plane to fly to Puerta Plata, to board a bus to drive to Cabarete, Dominican Republic. The adventure begins. The day camp that they will help run for 5 days in the D.R. begins on Monday. Twenty-two of last summer’s 26 graduating Scatico campers will return in 2025 as Junior Counselors .
As these Junior Counselors begin the next phases of their Scatico careers, replete with new learning curves (like entirely new sets of “bunkmates”), thoughts turn as well to another cohort within the community. For 49 campers (count as of the end of May), 2025 will celebrate their first times ever at a sleepaway camp. This rep resents more than 15 percent of the entire camper population and they’ll be traveling to Elizaville from 9 States and two European countries. They too will bring to Scatico all their different personalities and different pas sions, helping their divisions to become wholes that are greater than the sums of their parts. As it should be.
As for the Junior Counselors (soon to be High School seniors), we know from their leadership throughout the summer of 2024 (both at camp and on their Service Trip to help run a day camp for more than 100 children in the Dominican Republic) that they are ready for this next step. And, flash forward to the spring of 2033 or 2034, more likely than not, 20 to 30 of this year’s first time campers will join a May training meeting in antici pation of becoming Junior Counselors. And we’ll ask them to reflect on how a Junior Counselor their first year at camp was there to provide the support, care, and fun they needed at the beginning of their Scatico journeys.
Meet the Leadership Team
We're excited to introduce our Senior Leadership and Program team in a blog post on the Scatico website (www.scatico.com/scaticoblog)! We're very lucky to have lots of returnees in our Scatico community heading key program areas from Art and Cooking to the Waterfront and Outdoor Adventure to Athletics and Tennis! Plus, all 17 Division Leaders were on staff last summer (16 are former campers). We figured it was about time to share a little more about them. Who wants to do the math on how many combined Scatico summers they represent? As we say often at camp, life should never be about the things and the stuff, but about the people. When we think ahead to the summer of 2025, we are so grateful for all of the staff returning to camp year after year. At last count, we will have more than 50 staff at camp this year who have spent 10 or more summers in the 12523. They comprise nearly one-third of the entire staff.
Staying in Touch
The final Staying In Touch column of the 2024-25 off-season. When next we “meet” it won’t be through the Newsletter, but in the 12523 (a certain zip code).
Nothing makes us happier than reports of Random Scatico Sight ings (RSS)…. Maybe a first-ever two-in-one-day international RSS? Former division leader and assistant head counselor Matty Carroll separately ran into 2024 staff members in Belfast, Ireland—Josh Thompson (at a soccer match) and Michael Ochser (who was visiting friends). Matty will return to camp for 7 days this summer, his first time back in Elizaville since 2022. Michael re turns to once again head the soccer program….
Matty with Michael…
…and Matty with Josh
Sisters Sylvie and Frankie Eichel ran into Jamie Segal, the head of Performing Arts, on a Manhat tan street corner. For Jamie, this will be her 17th Scatico summer…. 2025 Sooper Liza Zelkin and 2025 SIT counselor Emma Rosh had their RSS moment at the annual Jingle Ball concert at Madi son Square Garden (MSG)…. At Yankee Stadium for the Mets vs. Yanks Subway Series: bunkmates Jack Dermody and Sam Tunick…. Two RSSes on the softball fields of Westchester County, NY: Jordan Henry and Ruby Elkin played against each other in May; Spencer Hellman (who manages his high school softball team) spotted Liv Berk on the opposing squad… And though not an RSS (but continuing the softball theme) Liv’s team matched up against Charlotte Florin’s in April. (Liv claims to be the impetus for scheduling the pre -season scrimmage).
Frankie, Sylvie, and Jamie
Emma and Liza
Jack and Sam
Jordan and Ruby
Liv with Spencer…
…and Liv with Charlotte (C-Flo)
In other non-RSS news…. Joy for Crispin Cecka, when his favorite NBA player Trae Young handed him his sneakers after a game at the Barclay’s Center versus the Brooklyn Nets. (We’ll have to get the full story this summer!) … When Ryder Millman attended a Knicks game at MSG this season, he naturally took a photo standing adjacent to the gold plaque for Scatico founder Nat Holman, found in the en trance lobby. Nat is a member of the MSG Hall of Fame in honor of his coaching City College from the 1920s to the 1950s (including an NCAA championship)…. A new(ish) Scatico tradition that we fully em brace! When high school juniors and seniors tour colleges, they connect with college fresh man with whom they shared summers togeth er in the 12523. Rob Orseck recently toured the University of Wisconsin and met up with Oz Rubinson. Rob and Oz will return to work on staff this year as assistant counselors (respectively) in the baseball and basketball programs.
Crispin
Ryder
Robert and Oz
Thanks to everyone who contributed to Staying In Touch this year. Next stop, Elizaville!
For Parents
As a reminder, we need all luggage to arrive at camp no later than June 21. You can drop off duffels and trunks anytime between June 1 and June 21 at the main office;
Or… Send using Ship Camps (shipcamps.com/camp scatico), an independent vendor servicing camps through out the United States.
Or… ship luggage by UPS or FedEx Ground to: Camp Scatico, 1558 County Route 19, Elizaville, NY, 12523. · Camper forms due on the Camper Portal on June 1.
New in the 12523…
It’s been a busy off-season in Elizaville—with a range of projects completed and new equip ment/supplies ordered. Some highlights:
Program
Two new inflatables for the waterfronts · New dugouts for Field 4
Two new pickleball courts on the girls Hill · Resurfacing and painting of the Pavillion and “C” basketball courts
A permanent outdoor sound system for the amphitheater
Renovated interior in the boys’ art studio
Buildings and Infrastructure
Renovated bathrooms (with additional showers) in bunks 5-6, 7-8, and the Den · Sandwich bars in the dining room
Generator installed in dining room with automatic activation
Camper towel washing on site
New flooring for the exam room and main entrance of the health center
New photo sharing app
Twelve new industrial overhead fans for the dining rooms
Two new Hydration Stations (with ice!) to refill water bottles
A new roof on 3A-B
From the 12523 to the World
Each summer we aim to embody From the 12523 to the World (one of the 4 core Scatico values), to extend the camp experience and philosophy beyond our front gates. As part of this goal, we're excitedly planning for Scatico's 4th annual Service Day, where campers will have the opportunity to partici pate in various service projects that give back to the local community.
As part of Service Day activities Scatico is once-again partnering with SCOPE, a nonprofit organization that helps send children from under resourced communities to summer camp. For the SCOPE Service Day pro ject, campers will create “Dream Boxes” for SCOPE campers at Ramapo for the 2025-2026 school year. Each “Dream Box” will contain new school supplies and be personally decorated to reflect each recipient kid! Rampao is Scatico's neighbor, located in Rhinebeck, and serves campers with social and emotional challenges and developmental disabilities.
This is where we need your help! On Opening Day, families will have the opportunity to donate new educational supplies for the “Dream Boxes.” We’ll have a bin where you can drop off donations by camp's entrance. The list of supplies needed includes but is not limited to: Pencils; Pens; Note books; Pencil Cases; Crayons; Highlighters; Stickers; Pencil Sharpeners; Sharpie Pens; Glue Sticks; Folders; Index Cards; Tape; and Rulers.
We’re also looking to expand camp’s ever-growing libraries! Reading in down time (and swapping books with bunkmates) is always a cherished part of camp culture. We’re looking for a range of age-appropriate books to round out our boys side and girls side collections. Please bring any books you’d like to contribute.
Scatico Get-Togethers
Scatico at the University of Michigan! In the picture to the left, boys athletics director Randy Au was in Ann Arbor to attend a photo exhibit at an art gallery and connected with three 2024 division leaders: Logan Cooper; Jordan Klein; and Tyler Winderman. To the right, all former campers and counselors celebrating St. Patrick’s Day (green and white works well!).
2025 Sub Juniors reunion included two first-time campers! We love that welcoming spirit.
2024 Juniors, each receiving a photo album from the previous summer.
2024 Centers and Juniors have been turning out throughout the school year to support divisionmates at their Bar and Bat Mitzvahs. Left, celebrating with twins Ruby and Ezra Elkin; Right, with Sylvie Eichel.
Latest on the Scatico Blog
Looking for some additional camp-related reading? We’ve got some timely content on www.scatico.com/scaticoblog including:
Meet Scatico’s 2025 Senior Leadership and Program Heads
Meet the 2025 Division Leaders (DLs)
Preparing for camp with your child’s school year in mind
News from the Dining Hall
A recap from the 2025 Tri-State Camp Conference
March Madness
Congratulations to the camper winners of this year’s March Madness contest: Sam Tunick and Parker Percival. They each received limited edition Scatico aprons as a prize. The 2025 theme was “Categories of Scatico Activities”—and Competition (Divisional Sing) defeated Ceremonial (4th of July) in the finals.
Coming soon to a camp near you…. From the basketball courts to the fishing dock, lots of activity.
2025 graduating Soopers (as Seniors in 2024) have their game faces ready!
