Briarwood Bugle 2021-Week 1

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

Briarwood Bugle 2021
Week 1

From Mike and Matt
Ooohhhhh, have we waited a long time for this! We are SO happy and grateful to be back at camp. Camp is already in full swing. It is wonderful to walk around camp and see so many kids playing and smiling and laughing and enjoying their friends and counselors. The Busy Bees are swarming all over camp and, if you listen closely, you can hear many of the older bunks beginning to practice their bunk shows. Fun stuff! Leagues started and we’ve had some fun contests as well. And Senior Camp kickball has been epic. Next week we’ve got lots more fun stuff planned. The First Annual Briarwood Mini Golf Semi-Invitational Tournament (actually, everyone’s invited!), Wednesday Themeday—School Spirit Day, CIT / Super CIT trip to Tyler State Park and more! We’ll send home bunk schedules, too. Have a great weekend. Let’s do it all again next week!

A BIG THANK YOU Hey, we realize that things are still a little strange out in the world. Week 1 exceeded our expectations in getting back to our Briarwood normalness and awesomeness. We wanted to say THANK YOU to our campers, our staff and our camp families for being so understanding about the steps we’re taking to make camp SAFE and FUN in light of the public health situation. Bottom line: we are outside, we are active, we are smiling and we are together. And we couldn’t be happier.

SOME FRIENDLY BRIARWOOD REMINDERS:
• If you want to reach your camper’s counselor during the camp day, call the office at 215-598-7143 and we will gladly relay your message. Please do not TEXT or CALL your child’s counselor directly during the camp day. Our counselors are busy watching children and we have asked them not to check their phones during the day.
• Early and Late Care is available from 7:30 am—6:00 pm sharp. Please call the office if you will need this service.
• While it never rains at Briarwood, in the event of a passing shower, please send your camper with the appropriate rain gear should the forecast call for rain.
• Apply sunscreen daily prior to coming to camp.
• Please label all clothing and personal items. That said — and because we know kids — our Lost and Found is located by the Sports Center on Upper Field.

READ WHAT OUR SUPERVISORS HAVE TO SAY ABOUT SUMMER 2021!

24 Years of Watching Kids Grow from Busy Bees to CITs by Anne Witkin: Associate Director and Busy Bee Director: Briarwood has always prided itself on doing what is good for kids. As we begin summer 2021, we are putting an extra special touch on getting kids reengaged to everyday normal life. Off the screens and back into fresh air is what it is all about. From our Busy Bees who always hold a special place in my heart, to our oldest campers (many of which were Busy Bees themselves) I look forward to eight weeks of cheering, splashing, competition, singing, forward rolls, and fudgsicles smiles at the end of the day. I have been in the fortunate position to see firsthand the incredible benefits camp offers children and how it contributes to their self-esteem, confidence, and social growth. My goal is that every Busy Bee becomes a future CIT, and there is no better place to have that happen than here at Briarwood!

Hooray for Lower Camp Girls! By Jeri Newman, Lower Camp Girls Supervisor: I am beyond thrilled to be back at camp this summer! It makes me so happy to see our lower girls’ bunks playing and laughing together, enjoying the teamwork of sports, and creativity of art, and just being kids! The counselors are smiling and laughing as well while playing right alongside the girls! While in lower camp the girls will be able to explore their different interests! Halloween in July is always a camper favorite as are the bunk shows! They have already been planning their bunk show dances! I know they cannot wait to make s’mores in nature and bounce on the jumper! I can feel the excitement from the campers and their counselors to be back outdoors and with their friends. This summer will be the fourth summer that my daughters and I have been able to call Briarwood our summer home away from home. As always it will be a summer to remember!

Lower Camp Boys Rule! By Dave Woods, Lower Camp Supervisor: We Love Briarwood! The Fun, The Sun, The Friends! Ready, Set, Go! Briarwood Day Camp is the place to be, and the Lower Boys groups are gearing-up for another stupendous summer. From ceramics and basketball to the rock wall, jumper, and softball, the activities are endless. With 30 acres of unplugged fun in the sun, the campers will be coming home rarin’ for more! For the 2021 summer, choice period offerings are an extraordinary way for campers to take advantage and enjoy a diverse selection of activities. All in all, this summer will elicit many memories and experiences with a true sense of camaraderie; not just lower camp boys, but for everyone! We Laugh, We Play, We Swim…And Then We Do It All Again!

Upper Camp Boys, By Spencer Glass: Oh, happy days! I am so glad to be able to be back at Briarwood this summer! I am the supervisor of the Upper Boys here at camp, more fondly referred to as The Hill. Here the Bulldogs, Cobras, Bobcats, and Jaguars prowl around for interesting and fun things to do. I know some things that were taken for granted will so be appreciated this summer, be it tennis or swimming or good ol’ gaga. I am looking forward to spending the summer with the boys helping them have the great time they so justly deserve. This is my 21st season at Briarwood and I know exactly how to do that. Stay tuned for more goings on up here on The Hill.

Upper Camp Girls Rock! By Melissa Berkowitz, Upper Camp Girls Supervisor: Briarwood Day Camp has been my happy place for myself and my own children for the past 6 summers. After missing out on this last summer, I am even more excited to begin another amazing camp season. Besides already knowing many of the girls that went through Lower Camp, I am very much looking forward to meeting all the girls who may be experiencing the Briarwood magic for the first time. Upper Camp has so much to offer our amazing 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th graders! All upper camp girls will share such an unforgettable experience. From bunk shows and senior leagues, to archery and ceramics, upper campers are always ready to try something new, like Choice! Choice Period is when each bunk can try different activities of their “choice”. They can attempt something new and exciting or continue with a choice that they are passionate about! Overall, memories and friendships will be made at Briarwood to last a lifetime! I am ready to make Summer 2021 the best!

WE ARE SO EXCITED TO BE BACK!! By Dan Feldgus: The time away from Briarwood was tough, and we hope all the campers are happy to be back loving life unplugged and with their friends at camp. However, I have often said that Senior Camp is without compare at Briarwood, and this year will be no different. This summer, like all summers, our campers will have the opportunity to work with younger bunks and enjoy the full complement of activities that Briarwood provides all campers, while also being able to exist as a co-ed and multi-age group of 70 campers!! Frankly, there is really no way to describe the activities that only Senior Camp campers get to enjoy every day without making other people jealous. Just look for pictures of us on Center Court playing “Human Hungry-Hungry Hippos”!! Our incomparable Senior Camp staff this year consists of Paul Richman, Sorelle Sax, Brendan Cohen, and Makenzie Kopew. This all adds up to the greatest part of being in Senior Camp, the smiles and laughs that we share. Briarwood’s Senior Camp is simply the place to be!

What Time is it? Game Time! By Ben Smith, Athletic Director: I run the sports program here at Briarwood. The sports staff are an amazing team that will bring lots of fun and excitement to each camper’s time at Briarwood this summer. We not only specialize in the traditional sports, but the campers will experience plenty of unique and innovative games they may not already be familiar with. Our group works with all campers throughout the summer, and we plan to provide a fun and enjoyable experience for each of them. Even though competition is a part of our camp sports program, we plan our activities where the fun is emphasized, and teamwork is the skill gained. We are excited for the summer and looking forward to seeing all of the campers for some summer fun.

Spectacular Specialists by Rachael Feldgus, Specialists Supervisor: I am beyond excited to be spending my 15th summer at Briarwood! There is truly no better place to spend your summer than at Briarwood Day Camp. Whether you are fishing at nature, testing out new skills at rock wall, practicing swim strokes, on the sports fields learning from the best sports staff around, or anywhere else in camp, you are sure to have the best time ever. Our specialists help to guide and teach our campers at activities every day. When I walk past any specialist area during the day, I see kids playing, having fun, and learning new skills. We are all so happy to be back and we can’t wait to see the smiles on campers faces all summer long.

NURSES’ NOTES
by Carmen Blum, R.N. and Amy Terlecki, R.N.
Hello! What a great first week at Briarwood! Let’s go over a few summer safety tips for our campers:
• DON’T FORGET SUNSCREEN! Apply in the morning and throughout the day.
• If it’s okay with Mom and Dad, apply some insect repellent on the lower legs and exposed arms.
• Let’s stay hydrated! Start drinking water before you get to camp.
• Wear sneakers or closed toe shoes around camp. Flip-flops are for the pool areas only.
• Did we mention, NO RUNNING in flip-flops?
• Parents—we need your camper’s health forms so we can best care for your child.
• Remember to send in extra masks with your camper
Any questions or concerns, call camp and ask to speak with us, Nurse Carmen and Nurse Amy at 215-598-7143.
Thanks!!

BRIARWOOD COUNSELORS OF THE WEEK:
Senior Staff:
The Fantastic and Wonderful Kitchen Staff

Junior Staff:
Shayna Feldgus
Congratulations!

What is Choice Period?
We’re doing some things a little bit differently this summer and we’re excited about what we’re doing this year with Choice. We’ll explain. Each Lower Camp, Upper Camp and Senior Camp bunk gets several elective periods per week. Together with their counselor, they choose a few activities which they’d like to enjoy a little more that week. So it could be that this week the bunk will get an extra soccer, boating and rock wall period. Then maybe next week they’ll select an extra tennis, archery and art period. Ultimately, a bunk’s Choice activities for the week depends on availability and what that bunk is most interested in doing. Choice is a fun way for kids get some extra time at their favorite activities and also still get the variety that we love to offer at Briarwood!

Camp will be CLOSED on Monday, July 5th! Enjoy your holiday!

Important Dates

• Week of June 28th-Briarwood Mini Golf Semi-invitational Tournament

• June 30th-Wednesday Themeday School Spirit Day

• July 1st to-CIT/Super CIT trip to Tyler State Park

• July 5th-Happy 4th of July! Camp Closed

• July 6th-8th-Briarwood Set a Record Week#1

• July 7th-Wednesday Themeday Red, White and Blue Day

• July 8th-CIT/Super CIT Movie Night

• July 13th-Lower Camp Bunk Show at 10:30 am

• July 14th-Upper Camp Bunk Show at 10:30 am

• July 14th-Wednesday Themeday Crazy Hat Day

• July 16th-Halloween in July

• July 19th-Second Half Begins

• July 19th-23rd-Briarwood Fishing Derby

• July 21st-Wednesday Themeday Hawaiian/Tropical Day

• July 22nd-Make up Picture Day

• July 23rd-Goofy Day

• July 26th-Gaga Tournament Week

• July 27h-Busy Bee Show and Breakfast

• July 28th-Busy Bee Show Rain Date, Wednesday Themeday-Sports Jersey Day

• July 29th-Carnival

• August 3rd-Mystery Day

• August 4th-Wednesday Themeday Wacky Socks Day

• August 9th-Briarwood Birthday Celebration

• August 10th Tie Dye Tuesday

• August 11th-Wednesday Themeday-Disney/Marvel Day

• August 12th-CIT/Super CIT Dance

• August 13th-Last Day of camp early dismissal at 2:30