SCATICO BLOG
Summer 2022, Week 3
Summer is moving fast, and we have lots to share. Tournaments, TEAMS, DJ Pure, Legends, Scatapalooza, and Visiting Day marked important milestones of summer 101!
Summer is moving fast, and we have lots to share. Tournaments, TEAMS, DJ Pure, Legends, Scatapalooza, and Visiting Day marked important milestones of summer 101!
Time during the pandemic has been an odd thing— for everyone— and as we reflected on life since March 2020, the specialness of the past weekend really began to sink in. Getting to welcome our Scatico family back to campus after two summers off; seeing campers share their summer home and introduce bunkmates; and taking in a tree-lined path abuzz with family-reunion-style energy; made us feel extra grateful and excited to embrace the rest of the summer ahead.
It’s hard to believe that we are almost halfway through the season, and we want to take a moment to recap some highlights of the past week!
TEAMS
It was TEAMS Day 2 on Thursday, a day jam-packed with action and activity. In the AM, RacingArrow (Yellow and Red) and FlyingBolt (Green and Blue) competed in a series of divisional sports. One highlight was Senior/Sooper soccer, which ended in a tie and had to go to a shootout! In the PM, it was the Track Meet with RacingBolt (Blue and Yellow… aka Channukah) and FlyingArrow (Red and Green… aka Christmas) going head to head. During the Track meet, campers compete in divisional relays, races, and one-off challenges like the softball throw, soccer kick, and standing broad jump.
The evening brought our second TEAMS campfire, where each team had the opportunity to showcase everything they’d been practicing for the past week. Week 2 Campfire highlights included: Rhythm Band (each team has a representative from each division act out a scene or concept using only sounds, e.g., one was “The Wizard of Oz”); Comic Songs (each team rewrites the lyrics to portions of three songs making fun of camp and all the things “wrong with it,” but ultimately sharing their love of Scatico); and Counselor Imitations (two campers from each team pick one of their counselors to imitate).
The places switched up a bit by the end of week two, and we have: Flying Eagle in 4th, Blazing Arrow in 3rd, Racing Wind in 2nd, and Thunderbolt in 1st. The final TEAMS day is July 22… can’t wait to see what it brings!
DJ PURE
A weekly recap wouldn’t be complete without mentioning a Scatico summer highlight… DJ PURE! This year marked DJ Pure’s 12th summer at Scatico, and the enthusiasm for him just keeps building! After a full day of activities (including some dance practice), campers got to dance the night away. The Pavilion was transformed by music, lights, and lots, and lots, of jumping. A sneak peek of the night is posted on camp’s Instagram page. Take a look!
LEGENDS + SCATAPALOOZA
Following Visiting Day, boys side and girls side split to enjoy two relatively new traditions to camp: Scatapalooza and Legends!
For Legends, boys side campers are divided into four teams: Harbingers, Guardians, Alchemists, and Seers. Once you’re on a Legends team, you are on it for the duration of your Scatico career! Each team has its own symbol, which campers spray-painted on T-shirts.
There are many components to Legends, each with their own rituals and meanings. First, there is a chess tournament with each team sending their selected “chess champion” to play while the rest of the camp intently watches. Congratulations to Lawson Davis and Greyson Nestler (the overall winner) who made it to the finals!
Following chess, everyone heads to the ball fields, which are transformed into a giant hang session, with campers gathering in the shade under trees to chat, or to play on the soccer fields, or to throw a frisbee. Then it’s time for activity 2: The obstacle course! Lower Hill and Upper Hill are divided, with the campers from each team competing in an obstacle course that is timed. The team with the best time, wins! For Lower Hill the obstacle course involves running along the gravel path from the ball fields to the A-court, pushing along a metal trash can, dodging water balloons, carrying a mattress overhead, and a tennis ball and water bucket race. For Upper Hill the obstacle course winds its way through the Sunset Trail, in the woods behind the ballfields, and involves scaling benches and dodging objects.
Following the obstacle course… it’s time to eat! Senior Staff cooks on grills brought out to the ball fields, so it can have the feel of a giant picnic.
The evening concludes with a series of stories, with a member of each team selected to tell a tale. This year’s storytellers were David Fleischner, Ishai Eshed, Alan O’Neill, and Ryan Derasse. At the end of the stories, each team gets to vote for the best storyteller with each camper on the team getting a vote. A big congratulations to Ishai— head of the boys waterfront— who won storytelling for the Seers! Ishai is the head of the boys waterfront, and lives in Ecuador— where he runs a school and tour company with his wife, and longtime Scaticonian, Laura. Ishai’s story focused on a tribe of the Amazon he came in contact with while doing an exchange program with his school. Having spent time in the Amazon, Ishai shared how this one particular Amazonian village came to be, and the oral histories of its inhabitants.
Over on girls side, a whole different set of activities was taking place with Scatapalooza! A post-visiting day festival-style afternoon, Scatapalooza may just bee camp’s most colorful (quite literally!) day. The first event is a color run, in which older and younger camp sisters line up with one another and run along the road path while dyed powder is thrown at them from counselors. The color run culminates with a giant color throwing party on back campus.
Following dinner, Scatapalooza continues with a glow in the dark dance party! The Social Hall is transformed with neon, glow sticks, and black lights! There is glow in the dark face painting, limbo, and, of course, lots and lots of dancing.
FEATURED CAMPER POSTS!
We’re continuing an exciting new feature of the Scatico blog this week… campers as contributing writers! This week the Scatico blog optional moved to boys side, and we have three new contributors: Grayson Klein, Crosby Synnott, and Alex Callahan.
HC PORCH
by Grayson Klein
The HC Porch is a great way to be calm and reset from all of the energetic activities. For example, chess is a calming sport, right? Well, there are four chess boards to play. There are also comics to read and cards to play.
Another reason is there are sometimes events happening there. For example, one time, the art teacher, Ken, brought a TV to the HC porch. He showed us when scientists made a super telescope to see the stars made so far away, and as old as 13.1 billion years ago.
And since Scatico loves and cares about baseball, there is a baseball bench and a speaker above it, and you can listen to the Mets and Yankees games.
But there is another side to the HC Porch. The HC Porch gives snacks, and everybody loves the snacks. For example, one of them was pop tarts, but s’mores flavor. The HC changes like bing, bang, bong!! Everybody is screaming, and the HC is crowded with people.
The HC is my happy place and the place I would spend my time at.
FULL CAMP CAPTURE THE FLAG
by Crosby “Bing” Synnott
Full camp capture the flag is a very fun game. It is part of College Bowl, which is where there are four college teams on boys side. They split boys side in 4 teams and do activities. One of them was capture the flag.
Two of the teams, team up on the other two. We go to the golf course and we draw one line in the middle. Then we take each side and divide it into two parts. The two parts are for different ages. One part is the Freshmen, Sophs, Sub-Juniors and Juniors. The next part is for Inters, Sub-Seniors, Seniors, and Upper Seniors. You cannot pull a flag off a person who is in a section younger than you. And you cannot steal a flag (frisbee) from a section younger than you.
The flags are numbered on the bottom for how many points you get. The team(s) who got the most points win. And if you come to Scatico next year you will see how fun it is!
MAKING FILMS
by Alex Callahan
Filmmaking at camp is a lot of fun. They come up with the idea of the movie. They write scripts. When the scripts are finished you get to audition for parts.
The fun part about the movies is that they’re horror.
Once you get your part you start filming scenes. This is when you really get to act. It’s a lot of fun filming scenes, and there are a lot of them. You shoot scenes in parts.
After filming you edit, and then you’re done with the movie!
DIVISIONAL SNAPSHOTS
GIRLS SIDE
Pixies - Have been busy with a few creative projects! They made delicious merengue cookies in Cooking, and have been hard at work on their “Hot N Cold” music video in Media.
Juniors - Got in the zone for DJ Pure with a DJ Pure bootcamp! Part of the activity? Mastering the worm.
Jinters - Had a “Behind the Scenes” tour of the Admin with David Fleischner! The Jinters got to see secrets of the main house, including the basement and the Fleischner pet turtle… speedo!
Inters - Put on their wizarding hats and played an intense game of Quidditch complete with three-ringed goals and a sprintingly fast Snitch to capture (aka Audrey and Katie, running around).
Centers - Got creative with a co-ed Scavenger Hunt in which they had to find unique items, and complete trivia, around camp.
Debs - Had their treasure hunt! The Debs were tasked with completing a puzzle and finding the missing items, which were scattered around the campus. In the end, the final prize was hidden in the office, and it was a trip to Holy Cow! Another highlight of the week? A “sip n paint” party with Ken, complete with sparkling apple cider.
Subs - Stole a favorite activity from boys side and made it their own … greasy watermelon! The Subs donned their white tees and hopped in the lake to play what is essentially water polo with a watermelon covered in vaseline.
Seniors - Couldn’t pick just one activity, and listed both their Volleyball tournament at Romaca and their first-ever “battle ships” as two weekly highlights.
Soopers - Prepared for their upcoming trip to New Orleans with a special period of cooking in which they made NOLA staples such as shrimp po boys and jambalaya!
BOYS SIDE
Freshmen - Headed out on their hike to Mills Mansion, followed by a stop at Holy Cow! Another highlight of the week? Night fishing for evening activity!
Sophomores - Also embarked on their hike, to Millbrook, followed by ice cream. The Sophs were also excited to share tales from their first-ever game of Human Stratego, a Scatico favorite.
Sub Juniors - Had an intercamp with Kinder Ring in which they played basketball (we won) and soccer (they won!). They also couldn’t help but mention a particularly spirited game of water polo, which took place yesterday!
Juniors - Participated in an NFL Combine, a special activity in which campers put their football talents to the test in a series of drills and skill displays (a la a true NFL combine).
Inters -Headed to Mah-Kee-Nac for a football tournament, where they played their hearts out (even if they were not victorious)! Holy Cow on the way home always softens the blow.
Sub Seniors - Headed to Kenmont for a baseball tournament! A highlight tournament of the summer, the Subs won by 16 runs!
Seniors - Enjoyed a co-ed “wellness” theme day, complete with yoga, card games, and waterfront hanging.
Upper Seniors - Hosted Camp Kinder Ring for an Ultimate Frisbee tournament… and won!
Summer 2022, Week 2
Days fly by at Camp Scatico! This week was sprinkled with special events, including our 4th of July celebration, Girls TEAMS and the Boys NAT.
WEEK 2 AT SCATICO
Days fly by at Camp Scatico! This week was sprinkled with special events, including our 4th of July celebration, Girls TEAMS and the Boys NAT. It has only been two weeks since Opening Day, but already we haves stories that will last us through the rest of the year.
We know with phone calls this week, families got a little filled in on all things camp… but here are a few highlight moments we want to share.
TALENT SHOW, TEAMS + NAT
THE 4TH OF JULY
The 4th of July is always special day of traditions at Camp Scatico. It’s the first big, full camp event of the summer, and campers and counselors exchange their regular uniforms for red, white, and blue. A day of activities is followed by a BBQ, talent show, and fireworks (with bomb pops!). Chef Jim and Ricardo go all out decorating the BBQ deck and cooking up corn on the cob, pulled brisket, turkey legs, burgers and hot dogs, and, of course, lots and lots of watermelon and ice cream sandwiches.
This year’s talent show had us enjoying many creative acts: from singing and dancing, to gymnastics, beat boxing, comedy routines, and magic tricks. Talent show hosts Kate Metzendorf, Kate Greeley and Jacob Schumer led us through a (potential record) 30+ impressive performances. Some of the highlights included:
Singing acts from Eva Marcus, Caleb Sanchez, Sophia Behar, Avery Lobel and Allie Stavrides, Sam Ryan, Carly Messitte and Daniel Pisetzner, The DLs, Lawson Davis, Spencer Hellman, and Kylie Hall. We went from Pixar Movie soundtracks to Billboard 100 to old school classics!
Comedy routines from Sander Gross and Lucas Nestler, Jayden Olenick, Ava Stavrides, and Jacob Strauss.
Dance routines from Harper Odell, Ella Bernstein and Kyra Razos; Eve Jacobs; Ruby Elkin and Abby Harwood; Lila Harvis and Liliana Micelli; and Ari Cuevas (fittingly, one of our dance counselors). Lots of cartwheels, round-offs and walkovers involved!
Poetry reading from Ethan Rosenberg and Ryan Derasse, and the Inter boys
Beatboxing from Eli Porter
Magic from Hickster the Trickster (JJ), and Jacob Hirschl.
A sneak peek from the day is posted on Scatico's Instagram Reels. Take a look!
TEAMS
As we covered last week, TEAMS broke, with girls side divided into the four teams of Thunderbolt, Racing Wind, Flying Eagle, and Blazing Arrow (you can see the team splits here!). Much prep and many meetings later, Tuesday marked the first official TEAMS day!
On a typical TEAMS day, two teams combine to join forces in the competition, with the Soopers at the helm. So on Tuesday, we had Racing Wind (yellow) and Flying Eagle (green) aka “Lemon and Lime” against Thunderbolt (blue) and Blazing Arrow (red) aka “Berry and Cherry.” After a quick morning pump up meeting, the teams headed to the athletic fields to compete in Volleyball, Soccer, Kickball, Basketball, Football and more! After two sets of AM activities, it was time for lunch, and then the afternoon brought… the Swim Meet! During the Swim Meet, campers compete in swimming races, boating (a highlight of the event is the war canoe, in which one representative from each division participates in rowing a canoe out to a far buoy and back in record time), and silly events like the “Plate Toss,” in which Pixies and Juniors have to find plates hidden in the crib.
TEAMS Day 1 concluded with the first TEAMS Campfire! Somewhat of a misnomer (there is no physical fire involved), at the Campfire each TEAM showcases the songs and routines they have been practicing all week long. For Week 1 each TEAM presented their cheer– a ditty about their team set to the tune of a popular song– and their human pyramid. Each Campfire also comes with its own “novelties” (activities where representatives from each division compete is a small, mini-challenges). This week brought the Sub Talk down (two Subs go head-to-head talking as animatedly as they can about opposing viewpoints, e.g. “Tik Tok vs. Instagram”) and the Jinter word definition (one Jinter from each teams presents what they believe to be the definition of a long, complicated– and actual– word).
By the end of week one we had: Flying Eagle (4th), Racing Wind (3rd), Blazing Arrow (2nd), Thunderbolt (1st). We’ll see what the next two weeks bring!!
BOYS NAT
One of the biggest summer sports events, the Boys NAT tournament took place on Wednesday! The entire camp gathered on the A Court to cheer for the team… and you can bet there was a lot of green!
The day always starts with a giant huddle on campus, filled with cheers and pump up. At the end of the cheer session, everyone sprints to the A Court, creating an archway for the team to run through. Our announcers did their usual show-stopping presentation of each player, and Coach Michael Tolstoi had a special handshake with each team member impressively choreographed.
Five other camps were able to attend the tournament: Kinder Ring, Pontiac, Lenox, Greylock and Wah-Nee. First, we faced Kinder Ring, and beat them! Special shoutouts to team Captains Oz Rubinson and Matt Roban. In the semi-finals we lost to Pontiac by 10 points. Pontiac eventually went on to win the whole tournament (defeating Greylock).
FEATURED CAMPER POSTS!
An exciting new feature of the Scatico blog this week… campers as contributing writers! We’ve started a Scatico Blog optional during which campers can pitch their own article ideas, and interview Scaticonians to execute them. We’ll have a rotating selection of contributors. A big shout out to our first batch… Kayla Schmeidler, Kate Miller, Isabelle Hellman, and Mia Groom! Kayla and Kate decided they wanted to work together to illuminate new aspects of the Scatico summer. Isabelle and Mia opted for a video interview… posing 15 questions to members of Scatico Senior Staff.
10 NEW THINGS AT CAMP
By Kayla Schmeidler and Kate Miller
Fishing dock
The Ropes Course
The first new addition to camp is a ropes course also referred to as “The Jungle.” The ropes course is located behind gymnastics and campers from both boys and girls side have been enjoying the new obstacles.
Fishing Dock on Boys Side
A new dock has been added next to woodshop, and has quickly become the new spot for fishing for both girls and boys! Caught fish (and once, a turtle) are temporarily displayed in the Scatico tank, before being released back into the wild.
Pixie Division
A new division has been added to camp this summer: the Pixies on Girls Side, who are rising 2nd and 3rd graders! While Pixies used to be a division back in the 1950s and 1960s, they haven’t been one since. Director David Fleischner was a Pixie, and shared how the division used to live where the camp doctor now lives (in the house above the boys waterfront), which is why that building is still referred to as the Pixie House! Back then, the Pixies also had a mini playground to themselves, which was located where the boys flagpole circle is now.
New Sports
This summer field hockey and lacrosse run by Karlie Saed have been added to the variety of sports on the hill! Boys side has also been using the gymnastics studio for a new invention: bouncy dodgeball.
Soopers are also CITs
Due to the age shift after the 2020 summer season was canceled, and the absence of CITs, this summer Soopers are now taking on CIT roles and privileges. This includes apprenticing with other divisions and learning how to be a counselor for the future. They also get rewarding and fun privileges like going out of camp on van nights once a week.
Mark as the new Boys Head Counselor
For boys side, the newest addition and change for them is Mark Gretenstein! Mark grew up in Miami going to a camp in North Carolina called Blue Star. His first summer at Scatico was in 2018, when he started as Cory’s Assistant.
Revamped College Leagues
This summer College Leagues has been revamped! Jane Rosenfeld and Audrey Fleischner decided to combine lower hill’s D-League (day league) and Upper Hill’s T-League (twilight league). College Leagues gives the Seniors the chance to lead the camp in fun and competitive activities. This is a great opportunity for the Seniors to practice leading the camp since they will be Soopers next summer.
College Leagues
8. Lake Inflatables
In the lake, there are two new features to the lane swim, the iHop and the “bone.” The iHop looks like a bunch of floating marshmallows, or lily pads, you jump between. The “bone” looks like a bone, with a mini trampoline on each end.
9. Philosophy with Ken is now on girls side too!
Philosophy with Ken has always been an activity on boys side, but is now offered as an activity on girls side too. Each day Ken poses a new, thought provoking question on a white erase board next to the bulletin board, like, “What does it mean to have an original idea?” and people are invited to write their answers and thoughts around it.
10. New Trips
This summer, the Senior and Sooper/Upper Senior trips have been changed. Due to the Seniors being the equivalent age to Soopers/ Upper Seniors they are going to Lake Placid. And because the Soopers/ Upper Seniors are really the age of CITs, they are going on a service trip to New Orleans, Louisiana. In NOLA the Soopers and Upper Seniors are partnering with a non-profit called SBP to help revitalize neighborhoods impacted by Hurricane Katrina and other natural disasters.
15 Questions with Jane + Dusty
by Isabelle Hellman and Mia Groom
Mia and Isabelle came up with 15 questions to ask Senior Staff… and found Jane (Head of Programming/ Special Events) and Dusty (Assistant Head Counselor) in the HC. Next week we’ll head to boys side!
DIVISIONAL SNAPSHOTS
BOYS SIDE
Freshmen - Said goodbye to Matt Gross and welcomed their new (and now here for the rest of the summer) DL, Branden Rothenberg! Matt’s goodbye gift to the Frosh? “Matt Gross Surprise!” It was a campfire and s’mores party with the Pixie and Junior girls.
Sophomores- Had a campfire s’mores party of their own with the Jinters, and then were introduced to a new camp game: Matt Ball (hard to explain, but like kickball with multiple bases). Each base is represented by a hoola hoop, and if you accidentally step out of the base circle, you’re out!
Sub Juniors - Headed out on their Hike to Inspiration Point (followed by Holy Cow, naturally). The Juniors also had a boys side activity favorite… battle ships! The group is split into two teams, each with their own canoe. The canoes are placed in the crib of the lake, and each team tries to fill the other’s canoe with water using empty paint buckets. The goal? Capsizing the other team’s boat!
Juniors - Spent a lot of time on the water, enjoying both a Waterfront Cookout and Battle Ships (see description above).
Inters - Had their first session of “Philosophy with Ken.” Their topic of choice? The value-lessness of money. Another highlight of the week was an activity with the Debs: Volleyball and 9-square!
Sub Seniors - Competed in Gladiators. Essentially a giant obstacle course set up on the tennis courts and on campus, in Gladiators the Subs had to complete a set of challenges while tennis balls were (lightly) thrown at them.
Waterfront cookout
Seniors -Enjoyed a picture perfect Scatico sunset at their Waterfront Cookout, staying just as the sun dipped below the horizon at the lake. Another favorite activity? Music appreciation!
Upper Seniors - Along with the Soopers, the Upper Seniors have started their “apprenticeships,” where every day for 2nd activity they help out with a division in order to get counselor training.
GIRLS SIDE
Pixies - Had their first-ever woodshop activity, and got busy making book ends with Arturo and Brett! After getting painted, they will hopefully be coming to a shelf in your home soon! Another highlight moment of the week: Saturday’s Pixie/ Junior Talent Show! From counselor imitations, to dance routines, and songs… the Pixies displayed their talent.
Juniors - Embraced a little friendly competition with the Freshman boys, going head to head in a game of capture the flag on the golf course! They also listed the Pixie/ Junior talent show as a highlight.
Jinters - Everything’s better with s’mores! The Jinters and Sophs had a campfire and s’mores party. The Jinters also hosted their divisional evening activity on Sunday: a blind auction!
Inters - With backpacks and sleeping bags in tow, the Inters embarked on the first overnight of the summer! Held at the girls campout site (down the path that used to be camp’s stables), the Inters pitched tents, cooked over a fire, and stayed up late telling stories.
Center Theme Day
Centers - Enjoyed a Spy Theme Day! Dressed in all black the Centers engaged in a series of “spy” themed activities including a Treasure Hunt, full camp hide and seek, and a bake off involving mystery ingredients.
Debs - Had the first undernight (all parts of an overnight, but you don’t actually sleep in the tent) of the summer! The Debs cooked their own dinner over a fire with the help of Chef Ally, followed by a campfire and s'mores. The cooking continued on Saturday with a special Debs-only waterfront cookout for lunch!
Subs - Hosted the first-ever Scatico Showdown! The Subs invited representatives of different divisions to participate in a series of timed challenges a la “Minute to Win It,” such as chocolate milk chugging, moving an oreo from your forehead to your mouth without touching it, and popping as many balloons as you can by sitting on them.
Seniors - Have taken on leadership positions with the newly revamped College Leagues (see Kayla and Kate’s article above)! Similar to TEAMS (but more silly, and less frequent), in College Leagues, girls are split into four teams with the Seniors at the helm. Certain evening activities– including a night time sports league– count towards College League points!
Soopers - Have enjoyed their first set of divisional meetings and van nights! Now taking on more of a “CIT” role, the Soopers held their first meeting about their apprenticeships (divisional activities they are assisting in), and headed to habachi!
Summer 2022, Week 1
It is so exciting to be back for summer 101 in the 12523!
WE ARE BACK!
It is so exciting to be back for summer 101 in the 12523! Time is a funny thing at camp, and while each day has been jam-packed with camp firsts, the first week flew by. By the end of Opening Day, each bunk was flooded with stories from the year, chatter, and cheers.
We welcomed 50 new campers just seven days ago, and yet already we are fully immersed in the rhythm of camp.
While it’s hard to convey everything that happens in even one camp activity (let alone a full day, or week!-- there are simply too many small in-between moments, natural phenomena, and interactions between peers), our hope is that the Scatico Blog will share a taste of the summer experience.
OPENING CAMPFIRES
Each summer, Opening Campfires mark a special first tradition at Camp Scatico. For both campuses, it happens on the second night of camp, and campers and counselors gather outside cabins to walk to their respective campfire sites. O the boys side, DLs run a series of activities, followed by a musical jam session. On girls side, the Soopers (oldest division) take charge of the night, explaining several time-honored camp traditions and leading the camp in songs.
This year, the boys side played long-time favorite games: pillow fights, fool ball, and screaming eagle (essentially running around in a circle, holding a note with a single breath). Each division has their time to shine. One highlight of the night was a performance by Carly Messite, a new camp nurse , who played the guitar and sang “I am a believer” by Neil Diamond. For Scatico alum, Carly’s name might sound familiar! Her grandpa, Lenny Messite, served as the boys head counselor in 1979/80 and as an assistant for many more years.
On girls side, the Soopers led the campfire, and started (as always) by introducing the “spirits” of camp (spirit of the Old Camper, New Camper, Fire, Health, and Happiness). They then led camp through a series of campfire traditions, including sprinkling the ashes from last summer’s Closing Campfire over the flames to signify the bond between each camp season, singing campfire favorites like “Circle Game” and “The Year Song,” and distributing candles for each camper to light and make a wish on. The campfire also included a Land Acknowledgement, a new tradition from last summer, which highlights Scatico’s connection to Schaghticoke First Nations.
TEAMS AND COLLEGE BOWL!
Two key summer competitions are officially underway…. TEAMS and College Bowl!
Soopers waiting to hear their TEAMS
In TEAMS girls side is split into four– Racing Wind (yellow), Blazing Arrow (red), Flying Eagle (green), and Thunderbolt (blue). The start of TEAMS (aka the “break”) is always a much-anticipated surprise, with girls side never knowing when the word TEAMS, or the four judges, or the four colors might appear. This summer, TEAMS broke during a new camp evening activity: CAMPLE (modeled after the now-popular WORDLE). In CAMPLE divisions had to solve for the five-letter word that was somehow related to camp (early words were Buddy, Admin, Crafts…). Finally the word everyone was waiting for appeared… TEAMS! Instantly the Social Hall erupted into cheers as the judges split campers into their four teams. Now, for one day a week over the next three weeks, the Soopers will lead each team in sports, arts, and singing!
For College Bowl, boys side is split into Ohio (red), Michigan (dark blue), UCLA (light blue), and USC (yellow). The first big kick-off event, which happened Friday evening, is a full-camp Capture The Flag on the driving range! Campers of all ages work together to capture the “flags” (frisbees) of the other team, each of which are worth different points. The following day of College Bowl is chock-full of special events including full-camp Mass Softball and Dodgeball; a giant Rock-Paper-Scissor tournament (as people get out they cheer on their team until it’s down to just two campers); Egg Toss; Relay Race; Upper Senior Knockout; and always a favorite the Upper Senior Slapball Homerun Derby!
Rock, Paper, Scissor
Capture the Flag
DIVISIONAL SNAPSHOTS
A quick look at what different divisions have been up to throughout camp! This week marked a lot of group hikes!
GIRLS SIDE
Pixies - Had a full day of exploring the many treats of Dutchess County! On Friday, the Pixies headed out to Poet’s Walk, a scenic trail along the Hudson in nearby Red Hook. Not only did they spot 15+ butterflies, but the Pixies also “crashed” (from afar) a wedding ceremony happening at one of the park’s gazebos! Poet’s Walk was followed by blueberry picking at Greig’s Farm and (of course) Holy Cow.
Juniors - Hit the road on Friday and went to Montgomery Place, a historic estate located on the campus of nearby Bard College. The Juniors wound their way through several trails and gardens, before heading to Greig’s Farm for blueberry picking and ice cream! The goal is to use the blueberries for a creation with Chef Ally and Justin in cooking.
Juniors at Greig’s
Pixies at Poet’s Walk
Jinters - Have been loving gymnastics, showing off their cartwheels, round-offs, and handstands! The Jints were also introduced to a new favorite game called “Time ball” (hard to describe) and also had their hike to Millbrook.
Inters - Started on pots and soap dishes in ceramics. The soap dishes are to compliment another camp project… making soap with Laura in Crafts!! They also went on their hike to Inspiration Point.
Centers - Went out on their hike to Sunset Rock with their counselors and none other than Kerri! Located alongside North-South Lake just across the river from camp, the Centers made it to the viewpoint and then enjoyed ice cream at the General Store.
Debs - Led girls side in the first division-led evening activity– SCATO! SCATO is camp’s version of Bingo, but instead of numbers/letters you fill your board with signatures of Scaticonians. The Debs created fun categories for each square (a camper who has never been on green for Color War; a camper who can sing the alphabet backwards; a camper who can do “the worm”) and then if the name of a camper on your square is called you get to X it. Five Xs in a row is SCATO! But the win is not complete until each person proves that they can in fact do the challenge they signed for (needless to say, we have a lot of good breakdancers at camp!).
Subs - Kicked off this week’s theme in cooking… “kicked up bunch”! They made Oreo-and cream-cheese-stuffed French toast with Chef Ally and Chef Justin. The Subs also mastered the most challenging hike of the season: Breakneck Ridge.
Seniors - Always love a little friendly competition. The Seniors went head-to-head with the Subs in Kickball and emerged victorious! They’re all set to step into their new leadership roles, taking charge of College Leagues (an evening activity league series) starting this evening!
Soopers - Jumped right into the spotlight and led the first Friday Night! Each Friday, after dinner, a division on girls side leads camp in a values-based talk on lessons learned at camp. For this week, the Soopers dove into Scatico’s four values, and what each one means to them.
BOYS SIDE
Freshmen - Had two very popular and first-time activities this week– “gymnastics dodgeball” and their “waterblaster fight.” In Gymnastics dodgeball the Frosh headed to the girls gymnastics building (it has a bouncy floor!) to amp up their dodgeball. “Waterblasters” was a game picked out by the Frosh staff during orientation for a particularly hot day… which we had Friday!
Soph football
Sophomores - Rain can’t stop them. When asked about their favorite activity, several Sophs yelled, “football in the rain!” The group also had a special evening activity and headed out in row boats for sunset fishing. They successfully caught several fish including a 22 inch bass by Teddy Gourevitch!
Sub juniors - Enjoyed two oldies but goodies… slapball and the wibit! For those not in the know, slapball is played on the B Court. Any hit that goes over the tennis fence is a home run, and any hit that actually scores a basket wins the group a pizza party.
Juniors - Nothing like ice bucket backyard baseball on a hot day! The Juniors played on Friday on campus, where instead of bases, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd are represented by buckets of ice.
Inters - Headed out to Bonticou Craig for their divisional hike. Involving a good amount of scrambling, every single Inter opted for the “hard route” and made it to the top! The Inters also enjoyed their first T-Leagues (now that they are on upper hill) and first-time camper Asad even had a walk off home run!
Sub Seniors -Loved a little friendly competition. The Subs had a Shark Tank challenge, in which they split into teams and presented their best business/ product ideas. One highlight? Pants that also turn into a napkin!
Seniors - When asked their favorite activity of the week? BP, BP and more BP! (BP being batting practice). Maybe having Brett (former baseball counselor) as their DL has something to do with it. Another highlight? Capture the flag against the Upper Seniors for evening activity.
Upper Seniors - Were honored during the closing ceremony of the College Bowl campfire. At the campfire’s conclusion, DL Michael Tolstoi presents each Upper Senior with their Scatico backpack and shares a few words about their journeys as campers. David also chimed in, sharing how special it is to see two Upper Seniors— Diego Groom and Danny Kedwards— back for the first time since 2019, and how they’ve helped to unify the group.
Get to know the 2022 DLs!
It’s time to introduce our 2022 Division Leaders!
It’s time to introduce our 2022 Division Leaders! With Opening Day looking a little differently again this year, we wanted to make sure families could “meet” our DLs ahead of summer 101. We cannot wait to see them (and your campers) in action!
GIRLS SIDE
PIXIES (Rising 2nd+3rd)
Bunk: Cove C
Name: Gat Leander
Number of summers at Scatico: 2
At camp you’d most likely find me…: At the lake…
My favorite camp special event is…: TEAMS!
A moment from my first summer I'll always remember is...: Being told I was grey! #GreyAllTheWay
This summer, most excited to...: Catch up with my friends, whether they’re grown or still growing. I miss the people more than anything.
Gat on the ukulele at Meet The Counselor Night, 2021.
JUNIORS (rising 4th)
Bunk: Cove B/D
Name: Marly Fass
Number of summers at Scatico: 11
At camp you’d most likely find me…: At the dining hall “U.”
My favorite camp special event is…: The 4th of July.
A moment from my first summer I'll always remember is...: Learning color war claps with older campers on my team.
This summer, most excited to...: Teach my campers Scatico songs and traditions.
Marly as a camper!
JINTERS
Bunk: Studio
Name: Jenna Miller
Number of summers at Scatico: 10
At camp you’d most likely find me…: Swimming at the lake.
My favorite camp special event is…: DJ Pure because the whole camp comes together and has a fun time dancing.
A moment from my first summer I'll always remember is...: Pulling into camp and seeing the Scatico sign for the first time.
This summer, most excited to...: Make special and fun memories with my campers.
Jenna (right) during Scatapalooza 2021.
INTERS
Bunks: Corner House and Chalet
Name: Kate Metzendorf
Number of summers at Scatico: 10
At camp you’d most likely find me…: Walking the road path with a speaker or catching up with friends.
My favorite camp special event is…: Divisional Sing.
A moment from my first summer I'll always remember is...: The butterflies in my stomach as I said goodbye to my parents on opening day and went to the Cove Courts where I met one of division mates and now best friends for the first time.
This summer, most excited to...: Build new friendships with campers and staff and participate in the unique camp traditions that make Scatico the most special place!
Kate (left) at the Carnival her CIT summer!
CENTERS
Bunk: Cove A
Name: Emma Krasner
Number of summers at Scatico: 10
At camp you’d most likely find me…: Teaching my campers about music they don’t know.
My favorite camp special event is…: Divisional Sing.
A moment from my first summer I'll always remember is...: When Teams broke at the Opening Campfire.
This summer, most excited to...: Get to know a new group of campers!
Emma (middle) lighting candles on Scatico’s 100th bday cake last summer.
DEBS
Bunk: Hutch
Name: Emma Rosh
Number of summers at Scatico: 12
At camp you’d most likely find me…: On the hill, at the waterfront or at tower. Yes, tower!! I was a tower counselor before I was a division leader and still love it.
My favorite camp special event is…: Divisional sing!! Watching the campers work so hard to create something special and then seeing them perform in front of the camp is incredible!!
A moment from my first summer I'll always remember is...: Coming to camp and meeting my best friends. My division mates are some of the best people I know and I can always count on them.
This summer, most excited to...: Spend time and have fun with 13 camp-loving Debs!!
Emma as a first-year camper.
SUBS
Bunk: Clubhouse
Name: Jamie Segal
Number of summers at Scatico: 14
At camp you’d most likely find me…: Sitting outside my bunk playing guitar, braiding hair, and hanging out.
My favorite camp special event is…: Divisional Sing and the July 4th talent show.
A moment from my first summer I'll always remember is...: Getting picked to do "pitch" for my team's Hannah Montana themed comic song.
This summer, most excited to...: Reconnect with my campers and friends!
Jamie as a Color War Judge in 2018.
SENIORS
Bunk: Lodge 1/3
Name: Katie Corren
Number of summers at Scatico: 8
At camp you’d most likely find me…: By the lake!
My favorite camp special event is…: The 4th of July talent show.
A moment from my first summer I'll always remember is...: How kind, inclusive, welcoming, and loving all of my new camp friends and counselors were. It is because of them that I was able to get past my extreme homesick feelings and fall in love with Camp Scatico.
This summer, most excited to...: Reconnect with my Scatico family and create life long memories with my campers!
Katie cheers at the Nat!
SOOPERS
Bunk: Den
Name: Daphne Zuckerman
Number of summers at Scatico: 11
At camp you’d most likely find me…: At an Adirondack chair or picnic table on back campus reading a book or playing card games!
My favorite camp special event is…: The Fourth of July talent show. It's the first time we really get to see the whole camp community together during the summer and the performances are always amazing.
A moment from my first summer I'll always remember is...: Getting my camp sister. Not only did I get my camp sister that night, but Teams broke and it was one of the most memorable moments of my Jinter summer!
This summer, most excited to...: Welcome new members into the Scatico community!
Daphne as a camper with an old-school favorite… Cup of Noodles.
BOYS SIDE
FRESHMEN
Bunk: 1-2 and 3-4
Name: Matt Gross (through 7/5)
Number of summers at Scatico: 13
At camp you’d most likely find me…: Playing rec hoops on the A Court.
My favorite camp special event is…: Minicamp!
A moment from my first summer I'll always remember is...: My first divisional sing with Matty Carroll in 2008!
This summer, most excited to...: Get back to camp after a 2 summer hiatus.
Matt (to the right) as a first-year camper.
FRESHMEN
Bunk: 1-2 and 3-4
Name: Branden Rothenberg (Rest of the summer)
Number of summers at Scatico: 11
At camp you’d most likely find me…: Chatting on the porch of 13-14.
My favorite camp special event is…: Tennis Extravaganza!
A moment from my first summer I'll always remember is...: Singing "I want you back" at the 4th of July talent show with the 2012 Upper Seniors!
This summer, most excited to...: Meet the Freshmen and guide them through an incredible first summer at the greatest place on earth!
Branden receiving his 10 year jacket in 2021.
SOPHOMORES
Bunk: 5-6 and 7-8
Name: Sam Meltzer
Number of summers at Scatico: 7
At camp you’d most likely find me…: Chilling at the HC.
My favorite camp special event is…: Color War.
A moment from my first summer I'll always remember is...: Playing T - league for the first time(my first summer was Inter summer). I remember distinctly that one of the counselors was up at bat and absolutely crushed the ball deep into outfield. I was playing right field at the time and previously dropped a ball in the outfield. The sun was beginning to set on the ball fields making it extremely difficult for me to see anything coming my way. Long story short I somehow stuck out my glove and caught the ball. Everyone was cheering around me and from that moment I became fully immersed into the Scatico community.
This summer, most excited to...: Be with the incoming sophomore division. I’m also very excited to coach a lot of inter camp tournaments this summer after inter camps not being allowed last summer due to covid. With that being said, I can’t wait for summer to get started!
Sam as a Frosh counselor in 2021.
SUB JUNIORS
BunK: 1AB
Name: Manny Jacobson
Number of summers at Scatico: 10
At camp you’d most likely find me…: In a chair village in center campus.
My favorite camp special event is…: Divisional Sing.
A moment from my first summer I'll always remember is...: Getting launched off the rave for the first time.
This summer, most excited to...: Hang out with my campers and my division mates.
Manny hosting the talent show in 2021.
JUNIORS
Bunk: 13-14
Name: Henry Lilienfeld
Number of summers at Scatico: 7
At camp you’d most likely find me…: Center Campus.
My favorite camp special event is…: T-League.
A moment from my first summer I'll always remember is...: Sitting on the yankee seats with Cory after a fight with a division mate. He calmed me down and made me feel comfortable.
This summer, most excited to...: Watch the Junior boys grow and mature as people with each other.
Henry getting his Color War team as an Upper Senior.
INTERS
Bunk: 9-10
Name: Jonah Levine
Number of summers at Scatico: 10
At camp you’d most likely find me…: Hanging out on a bunk porch.
My favorite camp special event is…: Color War.
A moment from my first summer I'll always remember is...: My first swim test.
This summer, most excited to...: Step into a leadership role and give the division a summer they will remember for the rest of their lives.
Jonah as a counselor last summer.
SUB SENIORS
Bunk: 2AB
Name: Daniel Kovacs
Number of summers at Scatico: 9
At camp you’d most likely find me…: Either at the HC porch reading comics and playing chess or on the A court shooting hoops.
My favorite camp special event is…: I love the July 4th bbq and the fireworks! That event has always been really awesome for me and I enjoy it every single time!
A moment from my first summer I'll always remember is...: My first summer was 2013 when I was a junior. It was my first time experiencing color war at Scatico and the intensity was something I had never experienced before. I remember that color war specifically because I was on the green team and we needed to win 5 out of the 7 divisional chicken fights if we were going to win color war and we did! I remember hugging all of my division mates after that not only because I was so emotional but also because I had had an amazing summer with all of them and was so sad to leave.
This summer, most excited to...: This summer I’m most excited to be able to hang out with everyone more and for all the fun bunk chill sessions or rec hoops… I’m excited for all of it! I’m just excited to be able to go back to camp again and be able to make this summer a memorable experience for all of my campers!
Daniel as a 2021 DL.
SENIORS
Bunk: 15-16
Name: Brett Simons
Number of summers at Scatico: 10
At camp you’d most likely find me…: On the ball fields.
My favorite camp special event is…: Color War.
A moment from my first summer I'll always remember is...: Running around meeting my counselors on my first ever day as a camper.
This summer, most excited to...: Become close with the division and run some great activities
Brett in College Bowl as a camper.
UPPER SENIORS
Bunk: 3AB
Name: Michael Tolstoi
Number of summers at Scatico: 12
At camp you’d most likely find me…: Center Campus.
My favorite camp special event is…: Color War.
A moment from my first summer I'll always remember is...: Meeting my best friends that I get to spend every summer with as campers.
This summer, most excited to...: Create memories with campers and co-counselors.
Michael hosting Open Mic Night in 2021.
Scatico x SCOPE Dream Boxes
Each summer we aim to learn from our neighbors and extend the camp experience beyond Scatico’s gates.
Each summer we aim to learn from our neighbors and extend the camp experience beyond Scatico’s gates. As part of this goal, on July 28, we are having Scatico's first-ever Service Day, where we will engage campers in projects and activities to partner with local and nonprofit organizations. Campers will have the opportunity to sign up for various activities, such as running a car wash to raise money for the local fire department and working alongside our friends at Kite’s Nest to compost and participate in their community garden.
As part of the Service Day activities, we’re excited to announce that Scatico is partnering with SCOPE, a nonprofit organization that provides children from low-income families opportunities at overnight summer camps to help them grow in the camp environment and beyond. SCOPE believes that summer camp is an essential component of the year-round education and development of children that impacts their futures. SCOPE raises funds to send kids to one of their dozens of their ACA-accredited nonprofit overnight camp partners across the United States.
For the SCOPE Service Day project, campers will create “Dream Boxes” for SCOPE campers at Ramapo for the 2022-2023 school year. Each “Dream Box” will contain new school supplies and be personally decorated to reflect each recipient kid!
This is where we need your help! On Opening Day and Visiting Day, families will have the opportunity to donate new educational supplies for the “Dream Boxes.” The list of supplies needed includes but is not limited to:
Pencils
Pens
Notebooks
Pencil Cases
Erasers
Colored Pencils
Crayons
Highlighters
Stickers
Pencil Sharpeners
Scissors
Sharpie Pens
Glue Sticks
Folders
Index Cards
White-out
Tape
Rulers
We can’t wait to create these “Dream Boxes” this summer with your help! On Opening Day, we’ll have a clearly labeled bin to collect all supply donations.
Scatico March Madness 2022
It’s March, which means it’s time for (drumroll please) the THIRD ANNUAL SCATICO MARCH MADNESS! This year we’ve got all kinds of beloved camp activities going head-to-head in 4 tough brackets: Evening Activities; Specialty Programming; Full Camp Events; Color War Events!
TOURNAMENT PROGRESS
View Scaticonians’ Completed Brackets Here!
Daniel Kovacs
Kerri + Tyler Winderman
Ryan Derasse
Maya Ziff
Sylvie Eichel
Lolli Kahn
Chase Baruch
Skylar Baruch
Ezra Elkin
Ruby Elkin
Nicki Fleischner
David Fleischner
Mark Gretenstein
Carly Hodes
Lilly Jacobs
Parker Percival
Ryan Percival
Marlon Reitzes
Sam Ryan
Diana Wallerstein
Cooper Jacobs
Patti Press
Jake Zirolli
Joey Smilgiewicz
Ella Bernstein
Gracie + Jordan Klein
Eliza Tarlow
Eve Jacobs
Olivia Berk
Jackson Tarlow
Maya Lederman
Sophie Rosen
Noa Newman
Kylie Yurdin
Letter from Cory
Dear Scatico Families,
As we look to the summer ahead and eagerly plan for the 101st season of Scatico, we want to share an important message from Cory, who will be transitioning from his role as head counselor this summer.
As Cory writes:
This is not easy for me to say, and I have gone through so many iterations of this message in my head and on paper, but I think the best way to do it is to come out and rip the band aid. I will not be returning to camp as the boys head counselor. I’ll be a head counselor for two this summer with Bash and Peyton, my children, as my division. While I will not be the boys head counselor, I am working out a role with Dave and Diana that will allow me to spend time at camp and to continue to make magic and memories.
Scatico is always home for me and has, in large part, shaped who I am today. It is a place where I was always putting forth my best self. Camp, since my first summer as a sub junior in 1988, helped me learn a lot about who I was and what is important to me. That happens when you have support, role models and friends who truly care about you. Scatico is a place where all those things were available to me and I took full advantage. I hope that in my time as Head of Boys side, the campers all felt they were given the opportunity to feel at home as I always have. It is all I ever wanted for all of your kids. To be heard, to be cared for, to be seen, and to know that no matter what they wanted for themselves, we were going to get them there. I have so many memories of every camper being their best selves and I feel lucky to have witnessed it and shared in it all.
There is just so much more I am feeling but for now this will have to do. To all the camp families - to everyone - it has been the pleasure of my life to experience this with all of your children. To all the Scatico campers and counselors through time that have shared in the magic - wow, are we so lucky! Thank you for being the pulse that keeps it all beating.
To new beginnings.
”We’ve only just begun”…
Love to all,
Cory
We cannot thank Cory enough for his inspiring, thoughtful, and ever-energetic leadership as the boys head counselor since 2016, when he took the role over from David. Cory helped shape Scatico for the better (and, of course, also added Mets equality to the HC Porch). As much as we will miss him in his former role, we are also so excited for him to be able to spend more time with his family and are looking forward to crafting a new, part-time (childcare flexible) position for him. He will remain a familiar face in the 12523!
We’re also excited to share that Mark, who has been at Scatico since 2018 and was the boys program director last summer, will become the new head counselor. Mark will have support from long-time Scaticonians Randy and Ken as well as Quinn Croland, Matty Carroll and Alan O’Neill, the three of whom are enthusiastically planning their returns to camp in new leadership roles after a year (or a few) away. And the dynamic duo of Kerri and Dusty will still be found in the girls HC! At Scatico, we are always tremendously appreciative of our longstanding senior leadership team.
Wishing everyone a wonderful holiday season,
David, Diana and Nicki
6/24- Scatico Staff Campfire
Hello Scatico Staff
It is my great honor to be opening our orientation campfire.
I am going to share a few thoughts with you, then Laura will be doing a land acknowledgement we hope will become part of our campfire tradition moving forward. And so, I would like talk about acknowledgement in a more general sense.
I want to acknowledge that on a normal year orientation is difficult. Many people come together, some who know one another, and some who do not, and must in a very short time become a cohesive community. It is an imperfect process, and will remain an imperfect process. I want to acknowledge that we are not perfect. But, I also want to acknowledge that we are good. I see so much goodness in this circle and I am excited for the children that are coming in less than 48 hours because I am very proud of the team we have built. Reach out to your teammates in the days ahead, and be there for one another.
I want to acknowledge our purpose for gathering. 22 years ago, I sat at one of these campfires and David Fleischner stood up and said that ‘the work I was about to do would be the most important work of my life.’ I was much younger. So, it was a great surprise to me that David was right. Working with kids is the most important work I have found, and I want to acknowledge that all the work we’ve done this week, and we’ve done some hard work, is for that purpose, the purpose of providing for children a place to connect with nature, themselves, and each other. And if we do that right, we will have a great summer.
Like many camp events this campfire will have its moments of solemnity and its moments of fun and play. This is the complex art of camp life.
During the summer of 2019, Cory Schwartz gave a speech at the first sermon on boyside. It was our 99th summer and Cory was aware that our minds might drift to summer 100 and there is nothing Cory hates more than having a summer be taken for granted. So, he inspired us to call summer 99 ‘the Great One’ not knowing the events that were to come. Summer 2019 was the best summer of my life and I want to acknowledge Cory for his leadership and wisdom.
As we look ahead at a most unexpected set of circumstances for Camp Scatico’s 100th summer I see a challenge much like Cory faced 2 years ago. But instead of the distraction coming from the future, our challenge comes to us from the past. We must decide to craft a new legend, and to face the open canvas of a summer we know will be like no other. I see a great adventure ahead and I really cannot imagine a better set of people to go on this journey with.
I want to acknowledge the Fleischner family and their efforts to move the arc of history a bit more toward justice. I want to acknowledge the heroic effort this week and the week’s leading up to this moment by Nicki Fleischner. I hope you have a day off on the schedule. And lastly, if you are a first-year counselor let us all acknowledge that the first year is harder for you, and there is no way around that. But, I also want you to know that you are needed, wanted, and celebrated in our hearts every day.
Now, my partner from Arts and Crafts Laura will share our land acknowledgement.
Scatico March Madness 2021
We’re back with the second annual Scatico March Madness! Get the bracket, find out how to participate, and catch some analysis from the 18s…
We’re back with the second annual Scatico March Madness. This year we’ve got some old favorites (full camp activities) as well as three new regions: Locations, Meals, and Songs!!
HOW TO PARTICIPATE
Print out the below bracket and manually fill it out, or fill it out digitally! Don’t forget to add your name and year of your first summer!
Send your completed bracket to nicki@scatico.com or DM it to @campscatico_official.
Get ready to V-O-T-E! Voting will start over the weekend!
And now (not to sway your vote!!) we’ve got the 2018 Soopers and Upper Seniors with some key info, hot takes, and analysis!
SCATICONIAN BRACKETS
Alex Googel, 2015
Emily Holzer, 2012
Irwin Schwartz + Henry Max, 2015
Kylie Yurdin, 2018
Rachel Trichon, 2009
Scott Yurdin, 1984
Vivi Loigman, 2014
Lucy Chestler, 2006
Dylan Gottfried, 2014
Justin Zucker, 2011
David Fleischner, 1964
Tyler Winderman, 2013
Sammy Wolfin, 2000
Sophie Rosen, 2014
Ruby Harrison, 2019
Julia Metzendorf, 2015
Sam Meltzer, 2015
Leah Moscou, 2018
Jamie Segal, 2007
Bryce Holden, 2007
Matty Carroll, 2008
Nicki Fleischner, 1997
Joey Smilgiewicz, 2000
Noah Wagner, 2013
Diana Wallerstein, 1987
Kerri Winderman, 1981
Georgie Loigman, 2014
Kate Metzendorf, 2012
Karlie Saed, 2014
Gracie + Jordan Klein, 2016 + 2014
Olive Levine, 2017
Lolli Kahn, 1999
Cory Schwartz, 1988
Zach Wayne, 2009
Emma Bochner + Ally Zagin, 2006
Emma Miller, 2012
Marly Fass, 2011
Black Lives Matter At Summer Camp
“Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.” - Maya Angelou
(Click to enlarge)
(Click to enlarge)
Camp Scatico affirms that Black Lives Matter. We are dedicated to the ongoing process of creating a more equitable camp world, in Elizaville and beyond. We are ready to do the work.
As part of this ongoing process, Scatico is grateful to be working with Simone Gamble, a long time camp professional and the founder of OAAARS, an organization that helps businesses find consultants of color committed to work rooted in social justice, equity, and education. OAAARS will help guide us as we work to make Scatico look more like, as the Summer Camp Society puts it, “the world we want our kids to live in”: a place of radical inclusivity, tolerance and kindness; an actively anti-racist and de-colonized space where all children and staff can be the best version of themselves; not a bubble that exists outside the world, but a force — and a future generation— that can change the world for the better.
SOCIAL + RACIAL JUSTICE RESOURCES
PODCASTS + ARTICLES
FOR CAMPERS, PARENTS, ALUMNI + STAFF
THOUGHTS ON BEING BLACK AT CAMP- A blog post from a black, female former head counselor at a YMCA camp.
FOR CAMPERS + PARENTS
SO GET ME: The Alphabet Rockers podcast for families making change!
FOR PARENTS, ALUMNI + STAFF
CODE SWITCH: The fearless conversations about race that you’ve been waiting for!
SOCIAL JUSTICE + CAMP -- TALKING ABOUT IT- An article from 2016, about a camp in Ferguson, but with lessons for this moment.
WEBSITES + ACCOUNTS TO FOLLOW
S’More Melanin (@smoremelanin)
A destination for resources, historic context & connectivity for BIPOC in the camp world.
National Museum of African American History and Culture: Talking About Race Resource Page
EmbraceRace (@embracerace)- Multiracial community of parents, teachers, experts, who support each other to meet the challenges that race poses to our children, families, and communities.
The Conscious Kid- Education, research and policy organization dedicated to reducing bias and promoting positive identity development in youth.
Black Youth Project- A platform that highlights the voices and ideas of Black millennials. Through knowledge, voice, and action, they work to empower and uplift the lived experiences of young Black Americans today.
OAAARS (@oaaars)-A people of the global majority-led consultancy that provides social justice-centered training and education to create safer and inclusive work environments while cultivating change agents in the workplace and beyond.
BOOKS
In an effort to support local bookstores, all of the links lead to purchasing on Bookshop.org.
Separate Is Never Equal: Sylvia Mendez and Her Family's Fight for Desegregation
Resist: 35 Profiles of Ordinary People Who Rose Up Against Tyranny and Injustice
This Book Is Anti-Racist: 20 Lessons on How to Wake Up, Take Action, and Do the Work
Recommendations from other members of the Scatico Community
THOUGHTS, IDEAS, OR RECOMMENDATIONS?
This is a collaborative and community-driven process. Let us know your thoughts using the form below. If you have resource recommendations, we will work to update this page.