News

Briarwood Bugle 2025 – Week 3

Check out our latest Briarwood Bugle! You can read it below or see it in glorious color and with photos here.

Briarwood Bugle 2025
Week 3

From Mike and Matt
Sometimes we think camp can’t get any better . . . and then it does! We had another fantastic week. Our campers smiled and laughed as they played, swam, created and enjoyed themselves all over camp.

This week, Wednesday Themeday was Crazy Hat Day (maybe you saw the Lower Camp Crazy Hat Parade on Facebook), it was Tie Dye Week at Nature, our CITs and Super CITs went on some great trips, we played with parachutes and sponges (Drip, Drip, Drench!), we enjoyed intercamp sports – and all around camp, you could see and hear bunks practicing their bunk shows.

Also . . . we started what we think will be a new, fun tradition. You may know that Briarwood is celebrating our 40th summer (1986-2025!). You may also know that we built new pickleball courts for this summer and they are a hit. You may ALSO know that people LOVE the delicious pickles at Briarwood (we’ve got pickles on the brain!). And you may ALSO know that we LOVE to celebrate birthdays at Briarwood. And what are we doing to celebrate birthdays, Briarwood’s 40th summer and all things pickle? All summer birthdays—campers and staff—will get a lunchtime birthday serenade PLUS a plate of 40 delicious Briarwood pickles to share with their friends and bunkmates. It’s super fun! And don’t worry, we’ll be catching up on the summer birthdays we missed!

We have a ton going on in the next few weeks—Busy Bee Bunk Shows, Lower Camp Bunk Shows, Upper Camp Bunk Shows, Halloween in July, Goofy Day—plus all of our awesome, regularly scheduled program—art, sports, swimming, gymnastics, nature, rock wall and much, much more!

IMPORTANT DATES NEXT WEEK
BUNK SHOWS
LOWER CAMP
Tuesday July 15th 10:30am
UPPER CAMP
Wednesday July 16th 10:30am

HALLOWEEN IN JULY!
Friday July 18th!
Trick or treating! Come in costume!
It’s a boo-tiful time!

Counselors of the Week
Senior Staff – Ethan Derstine
Junior Staff – Katie Toner
Congratulations!

SENIOR CAMP HAPPENINGS By Dan Feldgus
Hello from Senior Camp! The CITs had a blast at Dorney Park last week. There were no lines, awesome food and even better company! You could find the CITs riding rollercoasters like Talon and Hydra, going on the log flume, or winning a bunch of arcade games. At camp, we have been playing a plethora of sports, practicing bunk shows, making new friends and helping out with all of the bunks around camp. This week, the Supers went to Belmar Beach, the 2nd years went to Hershey Park, and the 1st years went to Lucky Strike for bowling and laser tag! We are looking forward to more trips, laughs and life long memories.
– Dan, Ashley, Paul, Nate, Lexi and Lola

THE ROARING LIONS by Eli Frankel and Benjamin Pearlberg
Through three weeks, the Lions have had a phenomenal summer so far. All eleven campers, three CITs, and two counselors have had so much fun all around camp. Cooper and Tommy are two bucket masters at the basketball court! Lucas likes hitting homers in wiffleball. Gus, Ryan Wo. and Ryan Wa. are obsessed with 9 square! Sam and Brandon love indoor soccer periods! Brayden enjoys Gaga like no other! Zach and Ryan L. never want to miss a nature period. We look forward to a great second half of the summer. Go Lions! Roar!

PLEASE DO NOT SEND YOUR CHILD TO CAMP IF HE/SHE IS NOT FEELING WELL

MEET OUR WONDERFULLY AMAZING STAFF! PART II

We return with profiles of more senior staff members at Briarwood Day Camp!
ETHAN DERSTINE has been a part of the Briarwood family since 2017 and we welcome him back as a senior counselor for the Bears! During the offseason, Ethan attends Drexel University, majoring in architecture. His favorite part about Briarwood is the many friends you make each summer here. He loved the movie Ford vs. Ferrari and if he could be any animal he would be a bear (pun intended). Did you know? Ethan has family who lives right across the pond in England! Ed. note: we think Ethan is jolly good!
KAYLA ABELL is spending her 3rd summer here at Briarwood Day Camp and she loves all of the fun in the sun! Quack, Quack! She has pet ducks named Bohm and Tender. Her favorite show is Scooby Doo: Spooky Island and her favorite food is chicken. She loves playing pickleball, especially on the new courts! If she could go anywhere in the world, she would go to New Zealand.
LOGAN ROTTMAN is joining us for his first summer at Briarwood. He is an avid pickleball player and loves pizza. During the school year, he teaches middle school. Logan’s favorite movie is Avengers Infinity War (who doesn’t love Captain America?). Logan loved reading the book Wonder. If he could go anywhere in the world, it would be to Italy. Fun fact: Logan used to live in Peru!
EVAN BERNSTEIN marks his 15th year at Briarwood this summer! Evan began at Briarwood as a 7 year old Bear. His favorite part about working at Briarwood is that he gets to be outside ALL day long. During the off season, Evan teaches, DJ’s, and works in property management. His favorite Briarwood food is a “cup o’ croutons” and the last book he read was Tom Sawyer. If Evan were an animal he would be an axolotl or the elusive giant squid. Most people don’t know that Evan has a pet leopard gecko named Preston!
ALEXIS HARRIS is so excited to be at Briarwood for her 1st summer! She works in the office and has enjoyed being a part of the Briarwood community that focuses on kids having fun. In the off season, Alexis is a Special Education teacher at Council Rock North High School. Alexis’ favorite food is buffalo chicken and she likes watching Dr. Who. If she could go any where in the world she should go to Japan.

ANSWERS TO YOUR BUNK SHOW FAQs
• Yes, you can come watch—we start promptly at 10:30 am.
• No, you should wait to arrive until 10:00 am (PLEASE!) so we can get the kids situated and get our parking procedures organized.
• Yes, we’ll have time set aside afterwards for you to hug and high five your camper, meet counselors and take pictures if you’d like.
• Yes, we do professionally record the bunk shows every year so you don’t need to worry if you can’t make it and/or if you don’t want to take a bad video which includes the top of a bunch of peoples’ heads.

Important Dates

• Week of July 14-Tie Dye Week Part 2
• July 15th-Lower Camp Bunk Show at 10:30 am
• July 16th-Upper Camp Bunk Show at 10:30 am
• July 16th-Wednesday Themeday: Disney/Marvel Day
• July 17th-Staff Night
• July 18th-Halloween in July
• July 21st-Super CITs to Hershey Park
• July 22nd-2nd Year CITs to Mini Golf
• July 23rd-Wednesday Themeday: Hawaiian Shirt Day
• July 23rd-Super CITs to tubing down the Delaware
• July 24th-Make up Picture Day
• July 24th-1st Year CITs to Mini Golf
• July 25th-Goofy Day
• Week of July 28-S’mores Week at Nature
• July 28th-Super CITs to Citizens Bank Park
• July 29th-Busy Bee Show
• July 30th-Wednesday Themeday: Sports Jersey Day
• July 30th-CITs to Point Pleasant Beach
• July 30th-Gymnastics Show
• July 31st-Carnival
• August 4th-Staff Night Part Deux
• August 5th-Mystery Day
• August 6th-Wednesday Themeday: TBA
• August 11th-Briarwood Birthday Celebration
• August 12th-Tie Die Tuesday
• August 12th-Drama Show at 10:30 am
• August 13th-Wednesday Themeday-Briarwood Spirit Day
• August 13th-CIT Field Day
• August 13th-CIT Banquet (PM)
• August 14th-Briarwood Marathon
• August 15th-Last day of camp – early dismissal at 2:30

EARLY DISMISSAL: If your camper is leaving early, please send in a note in the morning with the time you will be picking up your camper.

Briarwood has a camp store! Go to the drop down menu on our current families page. Or click here! Cool stuff!