Spring 2026, Edition 105, Issue #3

Jun 4

Soon to be in the 12523....

I have a camp confession to make. As much as I love the special events and calendar highlights (see right)—Campfires, the Carnival, and DJ Pure; sports leagues and tournaments; full-camp BBQs, the Art Show, Open Mic night and the 4th of July Talent Show and fireworks; Teams, College Bowl, and Color War; divisional trips and full-camp Sing—my favorite camp moments may actually occur when it feels like nothing much is happening. An impromptu chair circle in front of 3A-B on boys campus or the girls camp relaxing before a meal on the “U” deck outside the dining room. Younger camper free-time pickup games of Chicago on the basket outside the social hall or Gaga on the court in front of the Coves. Walking with divisionmates between activities or to meals. Pausing for a moment to take in a flyover from a resident bald eagle or a particularly star-filled sky. You get the idea. What often makes these day-to-day rhythms so special are that they occur organically and are open at all times for everyone to join. Walking by a chair circle or the U? Grab a seat and join the conversation. Passing a game of Chicago or Gaga? Jump in when the next game begins in approximately 4 minutes. In a world of over-scheduling, constant scheduling, and go-go-go, camp often provides the valuable opportunity to simply slow down.

All of this may explain why a recent article in The Athletic (a digital sports magazine/newspaper owned by The New York Times) particularly resonated with me. The Louisville Bats, a minor-league affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds, have surprisingly discovered that perhaps their most popular promotional special event is not “Root Beer Float Day” or “Paw Patrol Night” or “Peanuts Halloween Night” or “Star Wars Night” (or any of the many zany promotions/games for which minor league baseball is so renowned), but “Nothing Night.” Literally, nothing. No walk-on music for batters. No contests between innings. No sponsors. Nothing. Just take in the game, talk to the person in the seat next to you, and relax. The feedback from fans was so positive, they they’ve added a second Nothing Night to the calendar.

Which, of course, doesn’t mean I’m not excited for all of the special events already on the schedule for this season, but there’s wisdom as well in embracing the Scatico mantra that (quite often) “less is more” (Think plain white t-shirts as a camp uniform!)

Less leaves space for the organic. Space to just be and connect.

Staying in Touch

The final Staying In Touch column of the 2025-26 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 Sightings (RSS).... 2026 Junior Counselor (and high school Junior) Henry Berlach was visiting the University of Virginia as a potential college destination when he spotted UVA freshman Josh Mazarin. Congratulations to Josh, a third-year staff member and longtime camper, who will work as a Division Leader this summer.... Maybe a first-ever Utah RSS? In February, divisionmates Isla Tatom and Millie Rodriguez traveled from Chicago and Brooklyn respectively and unexpectedly connected in the boot room at Deer Valley Ski Resort.... Staying with a ski theme, brothers Leo and Jake Del Bene celebrated their RSS connection with brothers Max and Josh Rappaport at Mt. Snow in Vermont.... Divisionmates Aaron Taubenfeld and Logan East found themselves on opposing teams on a Westchester County basketball court.... 2026 Inter Charlie Curreri (not surprisingly in a Celtics’ shirt) and boys’ head counselor Mark Gretenstein celebrated their RSS in Miami.... Zach Chait traveled with his 12th grade English class from Pikesville, MD, to New York City, where Zach ran into fellow second-year counselor Jessica Hochberg.... Plus, two New York City RSSes for Henry Braverman (Nicki’s son): first, with 2026 Center Sasha Shapiro and then (a week later) with 2026 Sub Noah Thaler(on a baseball field in Central Park).

In non-RSS news.... Jonah Cooper and Asher Kazi joined forces at their high school in Ardsley, NY, to help organize a drive to collect sporting goods that will travel with the Soopers and Upper Seniors to the Dominican Republic, where they will be donated to our nonprofit partner the DREAM Project.... 2026 Junior Counselor Gio Belli will once again travel with his sister Maria from Vienna, Austria, to Elizaville for a Scatico summer. During the school year, Gio plays on a rugby team that competes throughout Europe (see photo). Anyone who has seen him dominate the Greasy Watermelon competition during College Bowl can envision his prowess on the rugby pitch.... Congratulations to Assistant Head of Girls Side, Jane Rosenfeld, who received The Brizendine Scholar Award from the Spence School! Jane will spend the 26-27 school-year working on her children's book, “Who’s in Charge of New York State?,” and developing a Law, Government, and Civics elementary school curriculum.... A special episode of Love Dial (a social media series) featured Survivor star Kyle Fraser giving away tickets to the Mets-Yankees Subway Series. And what Mets fan did Kyle find outside Citi Field? Senior staff member Cory Schwartz who, with his three extra tickets, invited his son Bash (a soon-to-be 2026 one-weeker in the Scatico-in-Training program) and former divisionmates, counselors, and Division Leaders Emmett Miller and Tyler Winderman.... Staff members Josh Thompson and Emely Diaz spent several months during the academic year teaching music at a school in Ecuador run by Laura and Ishai Eshed (girls art director and boys waterfront director respectively). While there, Josh and Emely helped direct a production of “The Jungle Book.” They are currently working with the DREAM Project in the Dominican Republic, getting set to travel to camp in June. Thanks to everyone who contributed to Staying In Touch this year. Next stop, Elizaville!

New in the 12523

It’s been a busy off-season in Elizaville—with a range of projects completed, programs planned, and new equipment/supplies ordered. Some highlights:

The start of a multiyear project to revitalize the boys’ social hall. For this year, the back porch (side facing the lake) is replaced with an 1120-square-foot covered deck and storage area.
Following the popularity of the hydration stations added in 2025 (dispensing ice and water at the girls’ athletics fields and the boys’ HC bunk), we’re adding new stations at the girls’ HC and the boys’ ballfields.
Four fully renovated camper cabin bathrooms: bunks 13-14 and 15-16 on boys’ campus and the Cornerhouse and Clubhouse on girls’ campus (the first three with a second shower added).
A new PA system for the boys’ camp that adds additional outdoor speakers as well as speakers inside camper cabins. The system comes with a power backup. (Girls’ side scheduled for 2027!)
The tree planting continues. A special shoutout and thank you to alumnus Hank Alpert (1960s-70s) who has donated more than 30 trees to Scatico in recent years in memory of camp friends. This summer you can spot new plantings along the tree-lined road; by Cove C; in front of the girls’ social hall; on the girls’ athletics fields; and by the A Court.
A new floating dock at each waterfront to replace existing units.
New kayaks and cookout grills for the waterfronts.
A renovated bathroom at the boys waterfront.
As in 2025.... DASH returns (Diver Assisted Suction Harvesting). In early June, a team of divers will spend a week at camp to prep the swimming and boat launch areas.
World Cup Day! A new special event to join the nationwide celebration.
Re-surfaced tennis courts and new nets.
Divisional mp3 players! Nothing more camp than the power of music! Scatico has purchased divisional, camp-approved mp3 players to ensure it’s easy for groups to have music on the go.

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 5th annual Service Day, where campers will have the opportunity to participate 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 underresourced communities to summer camp. For the SCOPE Service Day project, 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 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: Camp Toiletries; Socks; Pencils; Pens; Notebooks; 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 on the Radio

Thanks to our Camp T-Shirt Day fundraiser and donation to Woodstock Cares, Nicki and David Fleischner will be DJing on Radio Woodstock (WDST 100.1), Monday, June 8, from 9-10 AM. Expect a lot of camp-themed music and just maybe closing with “I Don’t Want to Go Home” by Southside Johnny & the Asbury Jukes (played annually in the boys dining room after the last lunch of the summer).