Briarwood Bugle 2025 – Week 2

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 2

From Mike and Matt
We hold these truths to be self evident: that Briarwood is awesome . . . and that among this awesomeness are friends, laughter and the pursuit of gaga.
We had another great week! July 4th week barreled along and the kids had a great time swimming, playing, painting, Zoom Flooming, Nine Squaring, participating in the Gaga Tournament, Fishing Derby, and everything else!
Can you believe that two weeks have already passed? Of course, we prefer to look at things as we’ve got 75% of Briar-awesomess left. Next week: Tie Dye Week, Wednesday Themeday is Crazy Hat Day, CIT trips and so very much more!
And if we can editorialize for a moment, we are very lucky to live in the land of the free and the home of the brave. Have a great weekend!

Notes from the Lifeguard Chair by Rob Resnick, Briarwood Pool Director Greetings from the pool staff! Camp is off to a great start and our campers are improving rapidly. Water safety is a major part of what we do at Briarwood and our lifeguards here have more than 80 years experience lifeguarding here (yes, seriously). We get a lot of questions about deep water testing for kids as well as some other items so we thought we’d write a quick note here.

• Lower pool deep water testing requires treading water for one minute, front crawl 15 yards, back crawl 15 yards, jump in and swim under water 15 yards.

• At the upper pool, due to the depth of the water, you must be Level 3 or higher to swim in the deep water.

• No snorkel goggles at free swim.

• We know some campers complain about instructional swim. Parents, please encourage your camper to keep trying. It’s an important life skill and we’ve been teaching it well for years!

MEET OUR BRIARWOOD STAFF!

ELI SEGAL has been a part of Briarwood for the past 16 years! He started at the age of 3 in the Crickets. His favorite thing about camp is going to Nature with another member of our Briarwood family, his mom! He is currently going to school for automotive studies. Root root for the home team-his favorite place to go is Citizens Bank Park and he loves to eat cheesesteaks.

SARA TOMLINSON is a wonderful new addition to the Briarwood family! She is a counselor of the Cubs. She loves mac & cheese and the Real Housewives. Fun fact: she loves to bake and make crafts. We love her creativity! In the off-season, Sara is a teacher at Small Wonders. If Sara could be any animal, she’d be a sloth and if she could travel anywhere she would go to Australia!

MADDIE GARBER returns to Briarwood this summer for her 12th year! Maddie started at 8 years old in the Cheetahs and just graduated from Penn with her Masters in Social Work. Way to go! Her favorite thing about Briarwood is the energy-everyone always has a smile on their face. She loves to watch Law and Order. If she could travel anywhere it would be to Amsterdam and Australia.

The Kindness Award: Celebrating Character in Upper Girls By Melissa Berkowitz
At Briarwood Day Camp, fun, friendship, and adventure are around every corner, but for the Upper Girls division, there’s something even more meaningful that happens each week: the Kindness Award.
Each week, Upper Girls counselors take time to reflect on the moments that often go unnoticed like small gestures, thoughtful words, and helping hands that make the camp community stronger. From lending a hand during cleanup to including someone new at lunch or cheering on a friend during an activity, kindness is at the heart of everything we do.
To recognize these meaningful actions, each bunk’s counselor nominates one camper who consistently displayed kindness throughout the week. These nominations aren’t about being the loudest or most visible; they’re about campers who show genuine care and compassion to others in quiet, consistent ways.
From there, one overall division winner is honored with a special Kindness Award certificate. This camper stands out as a role model, not just for her bunk, but for the entire division. She reminds us all that character counts, and that the way we treat others matters deeply.
The Kindness Award has become a beloved tradition among Upper Girls. Campers look forward not just to the chance of receiving it, but to celebrating their peers who lead with empathy, positivity, and heart. In a world that moves fast, this award reminds us to slow down and recognize the simple power of being kind.
• Week 1 Winner – Kaitlin S (Doves)
• Week 2 Winner – Lucy J (Sparrows)

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.
• Camp is for sneakers! Crocs, sandals and flip flops should only be worn to the pool
• 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.
• Did you miss a Bugle? You can find all of this summer’s Bugles in the news section of our website.

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

Important Dates

• Week of July 7-Tie Dye Week
• July 8th-Super CIT trip to Belmar Beach
• July 8th-Upper Camp Intercamp games
• July 9th-Wednesday Themeday: Crazy Hat Day
• July 9th-2nd Year CIT trip to Hershey Park
• July 10th-1st Year CIT trip to bowling / laser tag
• 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 17th-Wednesday Themeday: Disney/Marvel Day
• 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 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 Late Stay Picnic
• August 14th-Briarwood Marathon
• August 15th-Last day of camp – early dismissal at 2:30

EARLY DISMISSAL NOTE: Early dismissals after 2:45 pm can be very difficult because the “regular” car line begins filling. If you’d like to be sure that you can “get out” before 3:00 pm, please try to arrive before 2:45 pm. Thanks!