Feb 2008 Tom-Tom
ADIRONDACK CAMP - TOM TOM
WINTER 2008
Winter 2008 Happy Valentines Day to all of our friends. We hope the start of the new year has been a good one for you and your families. Camp is cozy under a blanket of snow and the ice is closing in on Lake George. No ice fishermen yet, but soon. After a short vacation (longer for some of us) the office is humming again. We thank you for the many referrals we have received for the summer 2008 season. Our first session is almost completely filled but there is still room available in the second session so keep them coming. We are participating in several Camp Fairs again this year. Check in with the office to see if we will be in your area soon. We love visitors! Our Winter Reunion will be held on Saturday, February 16th, 2008 at the NYU University Hall Commons again. We will welcome visitors from noon to 3:00pm. The address is 110 East 14th Street and the room is downstairs in the building. For those who attended last year, be aware that the building has a new facade. We look forward to seeing you there~ bring a friend! Meanwhile, we are busy completing our summer staff recruitment and preparing the Parents Handbook for an early release. Stay in touch. Noonway.
Upcoming Events Winter Reunion- All are welcome at our annual Winter Reunion. Join us for fun, food, friends and frivolity to warm the Valentine’s heart! Saturday, February 16th, noon to 3pm, University Commons Hall, NYU Camp Fairs/Expos- look for us in your area. Join us to share the joy of Adirondack with the next generation of campers. Sat, 2/9, 12-3pm, Lincoln-Sudbury High, Sudbury, MA (Meg and Sam) Sat, 2/9, 10am-2pm, Hilton Hotel, Burlingon, VT (Jen and Gregg) Sat, 2/9, 12pm-3pm, YMCA Chinatown, Lower Manhattan, NY (Andrew) Sun, 2/10, 12pm-3pm, The Berkeley Carroll School, Brooklyn, NY (Andrew) Mon, 2/25, 5-8pm, Holiday Inn, Mid-Town, Montreal (Eve) Tue, 2/26, 5-8pm, Holiday Inn, Pt. Claire, Quebec (Eve) Memorial Day Work Party Weekend: Volunteers needed to help de-winterize Camp! A great time to meet some staff,catch up with campers and alumni while enjoying the relative quiet and intimacy of Camp pre-season. Friday, May 23rd to Sunday, May 26th 2008 All about the Sundays
Linda & Alex and Matt & Nina
Sun, June 29th- Opening Day Sun, July 13th- Visiting Day Sun, July 27th- Second Session Sun, August 10th-Visiting Day
PAGE 1
ADIRONDACK CAMP - TOM TOM
WINTER 2008
Enrolled Campers 2008: Who’s new, who’s who and where are you!? Madison & Schuyler Alig, Candice, Hugo & Roxane Altmayer, Kristina Anderson, Jordan & Nathanial Aron, Anna Avdeeva, Chloe Barron, Maria Basso, Annie Bauer-Levey, Margaux & Maximilian Baumann, Jake & Nicole Beckman, Sergey Belousov, David Benudis, Billy & Lu Lu Berner, Milo Bernfield-Millman, Corey Bernstein, Noah Berrie, Colin Biggs, Christian Bishop, Elizabeth, Victor & William Blier, Mathilde Bodier, Charlie Bomier, Can Bostan, Billy Brauer, Andrew & Jack Braun, David Breen, Sydney Brodie, The Adirondack Scholarship Fund Marieclaire Brossoit, Darco Brown, Paul Brown, would like to thank all of the generous donors who Cameron Buettner, Danny & Jimmy Campbell, Gus helped make this year’s campaign a huge success. Capatades, Erica Carey, Zan Carraher-Kang, Whitney Many campers who would otherwise not have the opportunity will get to share the magic of an Charbonneau, Emery Cloud, Manning Coe, Wake Adirondack summer. HOW! Coulter, Bridget, Katie and Grace Cunningham, Mitch Mitchell, Nancy Rad, Stevie Porterfield, Shawn Christopher & Danika Darrin, Gwen & Skyler Carraher and Will Warrick Davidson, Mauricio Davila, Nikolai Degenhardt, Brock & Sam Dehaven, Paul DeKonkoly Thege, Sarah Denn, Alice Donovan, Amelia Downes, Mary Drucker, Heather Duffy, Phoebe Dunn, Alli Ebersol, Rachael Edelson, Lauren Ellman, Julie Emra, llya Epifanov, Camila Fernandez, William Field, Theodore Fishel-Bock, Van Forsman, Greg Galvin, Emma Garrison, Lilly Geiger, Louis Gobin, Jonah Goldberg, Jake & Nate Goodman, Shai Goodman, Dori, Garret & Joel Gotthelf, Michael & Victoria Gray, Susan Greenberg, Justin Guest, William Gunn, Denis Hartnett, Lucille Henicz, Maria Henry, Robert & Stephen Herring, Adrian & Timothy Heys, Ellery Hickey, Kate Hicks, Kyle Hill, Jeannette & Pieter Hoets, Jesse Hoffman, Brielle Hutchison, Ashley Jalazo, Kalle Jane Jennings, Dasha, Ekaterina & Nataliya Kaftanova, Christian Kasilag, Lance Kaufmann, Molly Kaye, Alexander, Andrew& John Kelly, Clay Kerchof, KyungMo Koo, Sofia Kordeva, Eli & Jonah Kraftowitz, Sabrina Krebs, Simon & Thomas Laberge, Hana & Yared Lahart, Reed Lancaster, Kat Lapeikis, Cedrik & Noah Lendal, Jon Lewis, Robert Linton, Josephine Little, Maxwell & Sam Lopez, Elizabeth Lowe, Daniel & Joel Lubinitsky, Michael Lynch, Iain MacNaughton, Danny, Owen &Sarah Madden, Dan & Dom Macrini, Paul Maeder-York, Cara Mahoney, Bennett & Jackson Malbon, Kerry Mallinson, Ellis Mathieu, Kyrstie McGuire, Keenan & Veronica McMorrow, Rentaro Mereu, Catherine Miller, Samuel Miller, Sylvia Miller, Alice & Hugh Mitchell, Morgan Monahan, Fedya Motovilov, Liza Morell, Stephen Mostek, Laura Mumley, Gregg& Julia Nabhan, Christopher, Isabelle & Jonathan Nazha, John & Katherine Norfleet , Robert Nunziato, Kati O'Brien, Andie & Jon Oates, Dila Oehler, Raine Owens, Erik Paredes, Alessandro & Clemente Pasti, Sarah & Stephanie Pearson, Nathan Perry, Vittoria Petitbon, Elika Peyvan, Stephanie Philo, Kasey & Lauren Plotkin, Alex Popov, Justin Poser, Arian Rad, Kyle Reddish, Harry Rider, Jonathan Ring, Elena & Jill Robertson, Julia Roch, Igor Rogachev, Max Rosenberg, Gabrielle Rossi, Lazare Rossillon, Ean Ryan, Maile Sackler, Pablo & Pia Salazar, Simon Steve’s Schneider, Helen & Minhua Scully-Nisa, Natalie Seelig, Jacob Sheck, David Savy Shindell, Billy & Jacklyn Signorile, Arianna & Tekeyah Singh, Kandit Suggestion Siricharoen, Matthew Slater, Caledonia Slavin, Nikki Smith, Theodora “The 7 Ps” Smith-miller, Julia Spelman, Jenna Spitzer, Madison & Morgan, Stackman, Prior Proper Planning August & Sydney Stegman, Tara Stone, Leda Strong, Christophe Strunc, Prevents Pretty Poor Joshua Tinnerman, Gregory & Kevin Travers, Alaina Uhouse, Graydon Performance Vandeveer, Lucy & William Weiler, Craig Wheat, Henry Whipple , Jack Wilson, Antonio Yousoufian, Adam & Tyler Zschach
PAGE 2
ADIRONDACK CAMP - TOM TOM
Five Quests Revealed Up close with Quests Two and Three: You know about Quest 1-The Lake George Five, now here’s some insight into 2 and 3. These Quests require more will and ambition but also afford much higher rewards.
WINTER 2008 Snowy Mountain (it's actually taller than two of the 46ers in Quest 5). We offer both day trips and over-nights. Hikes range from a .6-mile stroll like Belfry or a 15-mile overnight like Wood Hull. It is possible to get as many as seven towers in a four-week session. Since beginning last year, we already have several campers approaching ten fire towers each! HOW!
Quest 2 is the Fire Tower Frenzy, which challenges Adirondackees to climb all 23 Quest 3 is Adirondack Wild Waters. Adimountains in Adirondack Park housing fire rondack Park is big and there are a lot of towers. Historically the towers were used people who want to explore it. Adironto spot forest fires within the preserve. dacks' waterways are often overused and They were rendered useless around 1990 misused by motorized craft, so there are thanks to fewer trains hauling lumber (the very few places one can go without the leading cause of fires) and more people ear, eye and nose offending engines of using the telephone to report fires. Today motorboats. This Quest takes campers to people have lobbied to have the towers the wildest back waters of restored. Most can still be climbed but the Adirondacks. Do you those on wilderness land will likely be love our photos? Campers experience dismantled. Fire Tower Frenzy is the an uncommon quiet They can be yours too- just follow Quest which offers the most variety. the directions on our website to order on an Adirondack If you climb all 23 fire towers you will them sent straight from our photo gallery to your house via Digibug! lake experienced have seen every acre of Adirondack We’ve got thousands of candid, by just a comparaportrait and group shots to Park. They are spread throughout the choose from! tive few. Trippers can begin as young as age 8 on our two overnight canoe trips and continue through age 16 on our three multi-night sections of the Northern Forest Canoe trail (NFCT). The NFCT is a 760-mile trail, beginning in Old Forge at the southeastern boundary of the Park and continues on through the Allegash River in Maine. All together there are 12 trips in the Quest and we offer about half of those each summer. From beginner to country’s largest Park, allowing complete expert, these trips offer an excellent exexploration of New York’s six-million acre perience and challenge to all choosing to gem. The mountains range in size from the explore Adirondacks' Wild Waters. under 1700-foot Belfry to the 3900-foot
PAGE 3
ADIRONDACK CAMP - TOM TOM
PERCH POINT READING Amphibians -- The World's Weirdest Creatures Just Got Weirder A gigantic, ancient relative of the newt, a drawing-pin sized frog, a limbless, tentacled amphibian and a blind see-through salamander have all made it onto a list of the world’s weirdest and most endangered creatures. The Zoological Society of London (ZSL) are highlighting some of the world’s most extraordinary creatures currently threatened with extinction. This year biological scientists have assessed all amphibian species according to how Evolutionarily Distinct and Globally Endangered (EDGE) they are. “The EDGE amphibians are amongst the most remarkable and unusual species on the planet and yet an alarming 85% of the top 100 are receiving little or no conservation attention and will become extinct if action is not taken now.” Helen Meredith, EDGE Amphibians coordinator, commented. “These animals may not be cute and cuddly, but hopefully their weird looks and bizarre behaviors will inspire people to support their conservation.” ZSL has identified and is starting work to protect ten of the most unusual and threatened EDGE amphibian species this year, including: • Chinese giant salamander (salamander that can grow up to 1.8m in length and evolved independently from all other amphibians over one hundred million years before Tyrannosaurus rex) Photo at right• Sagalla caecilian (limbless amphibian with sensory tentacles on the sides of its head) • Purple frog (purple-pigmented frog that was only discovered in 2003 because it spends most of the year buried up to 4m underground)
WINTER 2008 • Ghost frogs of South Africa (one species is found only in the traditional human burial grounds of Skeleton Gorge in Table Mountain, South Africa) • Olm (blind salamander with transparent skin that lives underground, hunts for its prey by smell and electro-sensitivity and can survive without food for 10 years) • Lungless salamanders of Mexico (highly endangered salamanders that do not have lungs but instead breathe through their skin and mouth lining) • Malagasy rainbow frog (highly-decorated frog that inflates itself when under threat and can climb vertical rock surfaces) • Chile Darwin’s frog (a frog where fathers protect the young in their mouths, this species has not been officially seen since around 1980 and may now be extinct) • Betic midwife toad (toads that evolved from all others over 150 million years ago – the males carry the fertilized eggs wrapped around their hind legs)
(Adapted from Science Daily, 1/25/08)
PAGE 4
ADIRONDACK CAMP - TOM TOM
WINTER 2008
CULINARY FUNSTERS By Carolina Macrini CHILI AND CHEESE APPETIZERS (MEXICAN) *1 DOZEN 6-INCH CORN TORTILLAS *OIL FOR FRYING *6 PICKLED JALAPENO PEPPERS *1 CUP REFRIED BEANS *½ CUP SHARP CHEDDAR CHEESE CUT EACH TORTILLA INTO QUARTERS (or hearts :) HEAT 1 INCH OF OIL IN A SMALL SKILLET FRY TORTILLAS UNTIL CRISP DRAIN ON PAPER TOWELS. CAREFULLY STEM AND SEED PEPPERS, CUT EACH INTO 6 THIN STRIPS (or hearts :) SPREAD EACH CHIP WITH 1 TEASPOON BEANS. TOP WITH ½ TEASPOON SHREDDED CHEESE, AND A THIN PEPPER STRIP. BROIL UNTIL CHEESE MELTS. SERVE IMMEDIATELY. MAKES 48 APPETIZERS.
Winter/Spring Birthdays: Happy Birthday To You- HOW! January: Jake Beckman, Owen Madden, Cara Mahoney, Samuel Miller, Maile Sackler, Danny Campbell, Christopher Darrin, Mary Drucker, Keyra Howery, Duncan Mahood, Jr., Roxane Altmayer, Noah Berrie, Adam Zschach, Jonah Kraftowitz, Madison Dentino, Phoebe Dunn, Jordan Muto, Stephanie Philo, Billy Berner, Marta De Churruca, Cameron Buettner, Alice de Chalendar, Jackson Malbon, Heather Duffy, Schuyler Alig, Robert Linton, Dominic Macrini, Sam Zakrzewski, Andrew Holzer, Corey Bernstein, Christophe Strunc, Paul Brown, Perrin Clark, Ben Goodman, Nate Goodman, Daniel Lubinitsky, Madison Stackman, Andrew Kelly, Arianna Singh, Rachael Edelson, Julie Emra, Darius Brown, Jeannette Hoets, Nikki Smith, Liza Morell, Phillip Spevok February:Andrew Krellenstein, Antonella Fidanza, Elizabeth Lowe, Billy Signorile, William Wissemann, Dylan Hart, Justin Guest, Victoria Gray, Christian Kasilag, Timothe Bouyer, William Blier, Adrian Heys, Jonathan Lee, Katherine Oberwager, Harry Rider, Nicholas Travers, William Vandeveer, Nicole Campbell, Sydney Brodie, Bridget Cunningham, Jonathan Ring, KyungMo Koo, Kristina Anderson, Ashley Jalazo, Caleb Warren, Antonio Yousoufian, Cecilia Spinella, Tim Swinarton March:Gregory Travers, Annie Bauer-Levey, Charlie Bomier, Sam Lopez, Camila Fernandez, Gwen Davidson, Andrew Braun, Kati O'Brien, Denis Hartnett, Albert Bateh, Greg Galvin, Lilly Geiger, Skyler Davidson, llya Epifanov, James Little, Michael Lynch, Tekeyah Singh, Alexander Kelly, Garret Gotthelf, Lauren Ellman, Julia Nabhan, Kristian Armour-Williams, Raine Owens, Sofia Schein, Josephine Little, Katie Cunningham, Margot Kessler
PAGE 5
ADIRONDACK CAMP - TOM TOM
WINTER 2008
A Short History of Scheduling at ADK: Abridged from The Mind of MacNaughton Here is a short history of the scheduling process at Adirondack Camp, dating back at least to the early nineties. One important note is that the schedule is not as steeped in tradition as one may think. The daily schedule actually borrows heavily upon that of Camp Corey, where camp picked up some stellar staff some time ago. Scramble! Scramble worked as such: every camper gets a blank schedule; every activity gets a table in the mess hall. At the yell of “Scramble!” campers sprint to the activity table of their choice to sign up. Campers could sign up for any activity as many times as they wished by returning to the end of the line at any table. This could be best described as mass chaos and good fun. EZ-Camp™ Affectionately known as “The Program Director’s Bane,” this archaic, command-prompt program served camp between the years of 1996 and 2003. Its origins are uncertain, but this author is fairly confident that it originated in the Jurassic period. References of the program are found on the cave walls at Lascaux and in the text of the Rosetta stone. The last known, working copy of EZ-Camp resides on my computer, where it takes up less disk space than The Camp Song. Amazingly, a new, completely redesigned version of EZ-Camp (appropriately named EZCamp2) just hit the market and looks pretty spiffy.
Figure 1-This is an actual output of EZ-Camp. An astrologer program (found in the “Diversions” directory) generated this report. Note that I was 5316 days old at the turn of the millennium. And I hope there is not too much truth in the omens of EZ-Camp; they seem a bit dire.
CampMinder© Since its introduction to camp in 2004, CampMinder has revolutionized the way Camp schedules and reschedules. One important advance over EZ-Camp is the mouse, which EZ-Camp did not support. CampMinder is a webapp, meaning we are dependent on the internet for its proper function. What happens in the case of prolonged internet downtime? An EZ-Camp resurrection? I hope not. By the numbers: 4962 18 18 5316 9515 18.25 8.97 2.79 3
Schedules made by CampMinder© in its four year tenure. Campers enrolled thus far for the summer of 2008 that were at camp in the EZ-Camp™ era. Horoscopes generated for Sam in the last day Days old that I was at the turn of the millennium. Days old that EZ-Camp was at the turn of the millennium. Average number of activities running simultaneously at camp (2007) Average number of campers in an activity roster (2007) Average staff members teaching an activity (2007) Camp Fair Groupies in attendance for the RCDS camp fair.
PAGE 6
ADIRONDACK CAMP - TOM TOM
WINTER 2008
How the counselor felt after being away from Adirondack JUMBLE- Un-jumble the five words below. The circled too long...
VALENTINES DAY FUN PAGE
letters in each of these answers become the jumbled letters to answer the cartoon on the right.
SFIGTTWESEV0LEDIRNEFEARTH-
___O_ OO__O _O__ ____O_ _O__O
I’m a wigwam! I’m a tee pee!
“_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _”
Shall I Compare Thee by William Shakespeare
Shall I compare thee to a Summer's day? Thou are more lovely and more temperate: Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May, And Summer's lease hath all too short a date: Sometime too hot the eye of heaven shines, And often is his gold complexion dimm'd; And every fair from fair sometime declines,
PAGE 7
ADIRONDACK CAMP - TOM TOM
WINTER 2008
CAMPER, STAFF, & ALUMNI TIDBITS: Alex, Linda, Kyrstie, Carolina, Zan, Arian and Shawn had a re-
markable holiday on Bonaire among the burros, iguana and pink flamingos. * Jeremiah (while teaching US History full time) is still managing to beat Gregg and Andrew in Fantasy Basketball * Noah Weissman is preparing for his semester abroad in Australia* Martin has switched the Tennis Courts of Camp for the (mock) Law Courts of Brighton!! * Kira has just returned from a winter semester in England * Merritt has finished her student teaching and masters degree- HOW!* Patty is teaching middle school science in CT * Lily Adler had a lovely time with her family in Israel over the holidays * Jen Powers is preparing for a semester abroad in Egypt *We heard from a couple alumni about how much they love the new website and are missing Camp; Amanda Holt wrote from NYC where she is working as an Art Director for Martha Stewart. Kevin Witt also wrote from VA where he still keeps in touch with other alum of 20 years ago including Scott Morton, Tim Lieberman, Adam and Noah Cermack * Krysta broke her ankle while changing age brackets and training for a half marathon * Domino is studying in Scotland * Deb will be in New Zealand studying abroad next semester * Borasi is sailing with an amateur team in San Francisco * Vas, Alex and Honza had a blast driving back and forth across the states after Camp * Carlo, Matt, Olexiy and Arni are all on board again in the kitchen *Balazs and his wife are expecting- HOW! * The Harrell family have moved into their new house * Darla, Mac, Ben and Zak had a remarkable family trip to Amsterdam, where they brought home another kid! (exchange student ) * Frank Shaw has successfully developed and completed his first semester teaching AP Bio * The Basinets had a fabulous 4-generation European Vacation in the Swiss Alps * When Tim, Steve and Karen aren’t busy plowing us out, they’ve been hard at work improving drainage on the girl’s line, putting new roofs on Deer and Fox, a new entry to Lynx, a new floor in the kitchen and putting fresh paint on every bunk! HOW! *Please send us your tidbits for the next Tom-Tom! :)
Adirondack Camp 302 Warrick Road Putnam Station, NY 12861
WINTER 2008
Winter 2008 Happy Valentines Day to all of our friends. We hope the start of the new year has been a good one for you and your families. Camp is cozy under a blanket of snow and the ice is closing in on Lake George. No ice fishermen yet, but soon. After a short vacation (longer for some of us) the office is humming again. We thank you for the many referrals we have received for the summer 2008 season. Our first session is almost completely filled but there is still room available in the second session so keep them coming. We are participating in several Camp Fairs again this year. Check in with the office to see if we will be in your area soon. We love visitors! Our Winter Reunion will be held on Saturday, February 16th, 2008 at the NYU University Hall Commons again. We will welcome visitors from noon to 3:00pm. The address is 110 East 14th Street and the room is downstairs in the building. For those who attended last year, be aware that the building has a new facade. We look forward to seeing you there~ bring a friend! Meanwhile, we are busy completing our summer staff recruitment and preparing the Parents Handbook for an early release. Stay in touch. Noonway.
Upcoming Events Winter Reunion- All are welcome at our annual Winter Reunion. Join us for fun, food, friends and frivolity to warm the Valentine’s heart! Saturday, February 16th, noon to 3pm, University Commons Hall, NYU Camp Fairs/Expos- look for us in your area. Join us to share the joy of Adirondack with the next generation of campers. Sat, 2/9, 12-3pm, Lincoln-Sudbury High, Sudbury, MA (Meg and Sam) Sat, 2/9, 10am-2pm, Hilton Hotel, Burlingon, VT (Jen and Gregg) Sat, 2/9, 12pm-3pm, YMCA Chinatown, Lower Manhattan, NY (Andrew) Sun, 2/10, 12pm-3pm, The Berkeley Carroll School, Brooklyn, NY (Andrew) Mon, 2/25, 5-8pm, Holiday Inn, Mid-Town, Montreal (Eve) Tue, 2/26, 5-8pm, Holiday Inn, Pt. Claire, Quebec (Eve) Memorial Day Work Party Weekend: Volunteers needed to help de-winterize Camp! A great time to meet some staff,catch up with campers and alumni while enjoying the relative quiet and intimacy of Camp pre-season. Friday, May 23rd to Sunday, May 26th 2008 All about the Sundays
Linda & Alex and Matt & Nina
Sun, June 29th- Opening Day Sun, July 13th- Visiting Day Sun, July 27th- Second Session Sun, August 10th-Visiting Day
PAGE 1
ADIRONDACK CAMP - TOM TOM
WINTER 2008
Enrolled Campers 2008: Who’s new, who’s who and where are you!? Madison & Schuyler Alig, Candice, Hugo & Roxane Altmayer, Kristina Anderson, Jordan & Nathanial Aron, Anna Avdeeva, Chloe Barron, Maria Basso, Annie Bauer-Levey, Margaux & Maximilian Baumann, Jake & Nicole Beckman, Sergey Belousov, David Benudis, Billy & Lu Lu Berner, Milo Bernfield-Millman, Corey Bernstein, Noah Berrie, Colin Biggs, Christian Bishop, Elizabeth, Victor & William Blier, Mathilde Bodier, Charlie Bomier, Can Bostan, Billy Brauer, Andrew & Jack Braun, David Breen, Sydney Brodie, The Adirondack Scholarship Fund Marieclaire Brossoit, Darco Brown, Paul Brown, would like to thank all of the generous donors who Cameron Buettner, Danny & Jimmy Campbell, Gus helped make this year’s campaign a huge success. Capatades, Erica Carey, Zan Carraher-Kang, Whitney Many campers who would otherwise not have the opportunity will get to share the magic of an Charbonneau, Emery Cloud, Manning Coe, Wake Adirondack summer. HOW! Coulter, Bridget, Katie and Grace Cunningham, Mitch Mitchell, Nancy Rad, Stevie Porterfield, Shawn Christopher & Danika Darrin, Gwen & Skyler Carraher and Will Warrick Davidson, Mauricio Davila, Nikolai Degenhardt, Brock & Sam Dehaven, Paul DeKonkoly Thege, Sarah Denn, Alice Donovan, Amelia Downes, Mary Drucker, Heather Duffy, Phoebe Dunn, Alli Ebersol, Rachael Edelson, Lauren Ellman, Julie Emra, llya Epifanov, Camila Fernandez, William Field, Theodore Fishel-Bock, Van Forsman, Greg Galvin, Emma Garrison, Lilly Geiger, Louis Gobin, Jonah Goldberg, Jake & Nate Goodman, Shai Goodman, Dori, Garret & Joel Gotthelf, Michael & Victoria Gray, Susan Greenberg, Justin Guest, William Gunn, Denis Hartnett, Lucille Henicz, Maria Henry, Robert & Stephen Herring, Adrian & Timothy Heys, Ellery Hickey, Kate Hicks, Kyle Hill, Jeannette & Pieter Hoets, Jesse Hoffman, Brielle Hutchison, Ashley Jalazo, Kalle Jane Jennings, Dasha, Ekaterina & Nataliya Kaftanova, Christian Kasilag, Lance Kaufmann, Molly Kaye, Alexander, Andrew& John Kelly, Clay Kerchof, KyungMo Koo, Sofia Kordeva, Eli & Jonah Kraftowitz, Sabrina Krebs, Simon & Thomas Laberge, Hana & Yared Lahart, Reed Lancaster, Kat Lapeikis, Cedrik & Noah Lendal, Jon Lewis, Robert Linton, Josephine Little, Maxwell & Sam Lopez, Elizabeth Lowe, Daniel & Joel Lubinitsky, Michael Lynch, Iain MacNaughton, Danny, Owen &Sarah Madden, Dan & Dom Macrini, Paul Maeder-York, Cara Mahoney, Bennett & Jackson Malbon, Kerry Mallinson, Ellis Mathieu, Kyrstie McGuire, Keenan & Veronica McMorrow, Rentaro Mereu, Catherine Miller, Samuel Miller, Sylvia Miller, Alice & Hugh Mitchell, Morgan Monahan, Fedya Motovilov, Liza Morell, Stephen Mostek, Laura Mumley, Gregg& Julia Nabhan, Christopher, Isabelle & Jonathan Nazha, John & Katherine Norfleet , Robert Nunziato, Kati O'Brien, Andie & Jon Oates, Dila Oehler, Raine Owens, Erik Paredes, Alessandro & Clemente Pasti, Sarah & Stephanie Pearson, Nathan Perry, Vittoria Petitbon, Elika Peyvan, Stephanie Philo, Kasey & Lauren Plotkin, Alex Popov, Justin Poser, Arian Rad, Kyle Reddish, Harry Rider, Jonathan Ring, Elena & Jill Robertson, Julia Roch, Igor Rogachev, Max Rosenberg, Gabrielle Rossi, Lazare Rossillon, Ean Ryan, Maile Sackler, Pablo & Pia Salazar, Simon Steve’s Schneider, Helen & Minhua Scully-Nisa, Natalie Seelig, Jacob Sheck, David Savy Shindell, Billy & Jacklyn Signorile, Arianna & Tekeyah Singh, Kandit Suggestion Siricharoen, Matthew Slater, Caledonia Slavin, Nikki Smith, Theodora “The 7 Ps” Smith-miller, Julia Spelman, Jenna Spitzer, Madison & Morgan, Stackman, Prior Proper Planning August & Sydney Stegman, Tara Stone, Leda Strong, Christophe Strunc, Prevents Pretty Poor Joshua Tinnerman, Gregory & Kevin Travers, Alaina Uhouse, Graydon Performance Vandeveer, Lucy & William Weiler, Craig Wheat, Henry Whipple , Jack Wilson, Antonio Yousoufian, Adam & Tyler Zschach
PAGE 2
ADIRONDACK CAMP - TOM TOM
Five Quests Revealed Up close with Quests Two and Three: You know about Quest 1-The Lake George Five, now here’s some insight into 2 and 3. These Quests require more will and ambition but also afford much higher rewards.
WINTER 2008 Snowy Mountain (it's actually taller than two of the 46ers in Quest 5). We offer both day trips and over-nights. Hikes range from a .6-mile stroll like Belfry or a 15-mile overnight like Wood Hull. It is possible to get as many as seven towers in a four-week session. Since beginning last year, we already have several campers approaching ten fire towers each! HOW!
Quest 2 is the Fire Tower Frenzy, which challenges Adirondackees to climb all 23 Quest 3 is Adirondack Wild Waters. Adimountains in Adirondack Park housing fire rondack Park is big and there are a lot of towers. Historically the towers were used people who want to explore it. Adironto spot forest fires within the preserve. dacks' waterways are often overused and They were rendered useless around 1990 misused by motorized craft, so there are thanks to fewer trains hauling lumber (the very few places one can go without the leading cause of fires) and more people ear, eye and nose offending engines of using the telephone to report fires. Today motorboats. This Quest takes campers to people have lobbied to have the towers the wildest back waters of restored. Most can still be climbed but the Adirondacks. Do you those on wilderness land will likely be love our photos? Campers experience dismantled. Fire Tower Frenzy is the an uncommon quiet They can be yours too- just follow Quest which offers the most variety. the directions on our website to order on an Adirondack If you climb all 23 fire towers you will them sent straight from our photo gallery to your house via Digibug! lake experienced have seen every acre of Adirondack We’ve got thousands of candid, by just a comparaportrait and group shots to Park. They are spread throughout the choose from! tive few. Trippers can begin as young as age 8 on our two overnight canoe trips and continue through age 16 on our three multi-night sections of the Northern Forest Canoe trail (NFCT). The NFCT is a 760-mile trail, beginning in Old Forge at the southeastern boundary of the Park and continues on through the Allegash River in Maine. All together there are 12 trips in the Quest and we offer about half of those each summer. From beginner to country’s largest Park, allowing complete expert, these trips offer an excellent exexploration of New York’s six-million acre perience and challenge to all choosing to gem. The mountains range in size from the explore Adirondacks' Wild Waters. under 1700-foot Belfry to the 3900-foot
PAGE 3
ADIRONDACK CAMP - TOM TOM
PERCH POINT READING Amphibians -- The World's Weirdest Creatures Just Got Weirder A gigantic, ancient relative of the newt, a drawing-pin sized frog, a limbless, tentacled amphibian and a blind see-through salamander have all made it onto a list of the world’s weirdest and most endangered creatures. The Zoological Society of London (ZSL) are highlighting some of the world’s most extraordinary creatures currently threatened with extinction. This year biological scientists have assessed all amphibian species according to how Evolutionarily Distinct and Globally Endangered (EDGE) they are. “The EDGE amphibians are amongst the most remarkable and unusual species on the planet and yet an alarming 85% of the top 100 are receiving little or no conservation attention and will become extinct if action is not taken now.” Helen Meredith, EDGE Amphibians coordinator, commented. “These animals may not be cute and cuddly, but hopefully their weird looks and bizarre behaviors will inspire people to support their conservation.” ZSL has identified and is starting work to protect ten of the most unusual and threatened EDGE amphibian species this year, including: • Chinese giant salamander (salamander that can grow up to 1.8m in length and evolved independently from all other amphibians over one hundred million years before Tyrannosaurus rex) Photo at right• Sagalla caecilian (limbless amphibian with sensory tentacles on the sides of its head) • Purple frog (purple-pigmented frog that was only discovered in 2003 because it spends most of the year buried up to 4m underground)
WINTER 2008 • Ghost frogs of South Africa (one species is found only in the traditional human burial grounds of Skeleton Gorge in Table Mountain, South Africa) • Olm (blind salamander with transparent skin that lives underground, hunts for its prey by smell and electro-sensitivity and can survive without food for 10 years) • Lungless salamanders of Mexico (highly endangered salamanders that do not have lungs but instead breathe through their skin and mouth lining) • Malagasy rainbow frog (highly-decorated frog that inflates itself when under threat and can climb vertical rock surfaces) • Chile Darwin’s frog (a frog where fathers protect the young in their mouths, this species has not been officially seen since around 1980 and may now be extinct) • Betic midwife toad (toads that evolved from all others over 150 million years ago – the males carry the fertilized eggs wrapped around their hind legs)
(Adapted from Science Daily, 1/25/08)
PAGE 4
ADIRONDACK CAMP - TOM TOM
WINTER 2008
CULINARY FUNSTERS By Carolina Macrini CHILI AND CHEESE APPETIZERS (MEXICAN) *1 DOZEN 6-INCH CORN TORTILLAS *OIL FOR FRYING *6 PICKLED JALAPENO PEPPERS *1 CUP REFRIED BEANS *½ CUP SHARP CHEDDAR CHEESE CUT EACH TORTILLA INTO QUARTERS (or hearts :) HEAT 1 INCH OF OIL IN A SMALL SKILLET FRY TORTILLAS UNTIL CRISP DRAIN ON PAPER TOWELS. CAREFULLY STEM AND SEED PEPPERS, CUT EACH INTO 6 THIN STRIPS (or hearts :) SPREAD EACH CHIP WITH 1 TEASPOON BEANS. TOP WITH ½ TEASPOON SHREDDED CHEESE, AND A THIN PEPPER STRIP. BROIL UNTIL CHEESE MELTS. SERVE IMMEDIATELY. MAKES 48 APPETIZERS.
Winter/Spring Birthdays: Happy Birthday To You- HOW! January: Jake Beckman, Owen Madden, Cara Mahoney, Samuel Miller, Maile Sackler, Danny Campbell, Christopher Darrin, Mary Drucker, Keyra Howery, Duncan Mahood, Jr., Roxane Altmayer, Noah Berrie, Adam Zschach, Jonah Kraftowitz, Madison Dentino, Phoebe Dunn, Jordan Muto, Stephanie Philo, Billy Berner, Marta De Churruca, Cameron Buettner, Alice de Chalendar, Jackson Malbon, Heather Duffy, Schuyler Alig, Robert Linton, Dominic Macrini, Sam Zakrzewski, Andrew Holzer, Corey Bernstein, Christophe Strunc, Paul Brown, Perrin Clark, Ben Goodman, Nate Goodman, Daniel Lubinitsky, Madison Stackman, Andrew Kelly, Arianna Singh, Rachael Edelson, Julie Emra, Darius Brown, Jeannette Hoets, Nikki Smith, Liza Morell, Phillip Spevok February:Andrew Krellenstein, Antonella Fidanza, Elizabeth Lowe, Billy Signorile, William Wissemann, Dylan Hart, Justin Guest, Victoria Gray, Christian Kasilag, Timothe Bouyer, William Blier, Adrian Heys, Jonathan Lee, Katherine Oberwager, Harry Rider, Nicholas Travers, William Vandeveer, Nicole Campbell, Sydney Brodie, Bridget Cunningham, Jonathan Ring, KyungMo Koo, Kristina Anderson, Ashley Jalazo, Caleb Warren, Antonio Yousoufian, Cecilia Spinella, Tim Swinarton March:Gregory Travers, Annie Bauer-Levey, Charlie Bomier, Sam Lopez, Camila Fernandez, Gwen Davidson, Andrew Braun, Kati O'Brien, Denis Hartnett, Albert Bateh, Greg Galvin, Lilly Geiger, Skyler Davidson, llya Epifanov, James Little, Michael Lynch, Tekeyah Singh, Alexander Kelly, Garret Gotthelf, Lauren Ellman, Julia Nabhan, Kristian Armour-Williams, Raine Owens, Sofia Schein, Josephine Little, Katie Cunningham, Margot Kessler
PAGE 5
ADIRONDACK CAMP - TOM TOM
WINTER 2008
A Short History of Scheduling at ADK: Abridged from The Mind of MacNaughton Here is a short history of the scheduling process at Adirondack Camp, dating back at least to the early nineties. One important note is that the schedule is not as steeped in tradition as one may think. The daily schedule actually borrows heavily upon that of Camp Corey, where camp picked up some stellar staff some time ago. Scramble! Scramble worked as such: every camper gets a blank schedule; every activity gets a table in the mess hall. At the yell of “Scramble!” campers sprint to the activity table of their choice to sign up. Campers could sign up for any activity as many times as they wished by returning to the end of the line at any table. This could be best described as mass chaos and good fun. EZ-Camp™ Affectionately known as “The Program Director’s Bane,” this archaic, command-prompt program served camp between the years of 1996 and 2003. Its origins are uncertain, but this author is fairly confident that it originated in the Jurassic period. References of the program are found on the cave walls at Lascaux and in the text of the Rosetta stone. The last known, working copy of EZ-Camp resides on my computer, where it takes up less disk space than The Camp Song. Amazingly, a new, completely redesigned version of EZ-Camp (appropriately named EZCamp2) just hit the market and looks pretty spiffy.
Figure 1-This is an actual output of EZ-Camp. An astrologer program (found in the “Diversions” directory) generated this report. Note that I was 5316 days old at the turn of the millennium. And I hope there is not too much truth in the omens of EZ-Camp; they seem a bit dire.
CampMinder© Since its introduction to camp in 2004, CampMinder has revolutionized the way Camp schedules and reschedules. One important advance over EZ-Camp is the mouse, which EZ-Camp did not support. CampMinder is a webapp, meaning we are dependent on the internet for its proper function. What happens in the case of prolonged internet downtime? An EZ-Camp resurrection? I hope not. By the numbers: 4962 18 18 5316 9515 18.25 8.97 2.79 3
Schedules made by CampMinder© in its four year tenure. Campers enrolled thus far for the summer of 2008 that were at camp in the EZ-Camp™ era. Horoscopes generated for Sam in the last day Days old that I was at the turn of the millennium. Days old that EZ-Camp was at the turn of the millennium. Average number of activities running simultaneously at camp (2007) Average number of campers in an activity roster (2007) Average staff members teaching an activity (2007) Camp Fair Groupies in attendance for the RCDS camp fair.
PAGE 6
ADIRONDACK CAMP - TOM TOM
WINTER 2008
How the counselor felt after being away from Adirondack JUMBLE- Un-jumble the five words below. The circled too long...
VALENTINES DAY FUN PAGE
letters in each of these answers become the jumbled letters to answer the cartoon on the right.
SFIGTTWESEV0LEDIRNEFEARTH-
___O_ OO__O _O__ ____O_ _O__O
I’m a wigwam! I’m a tee pee!
“_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _”
Shall I Compare Thee by William Shakespeare
Shall I compare thee to a Summer's day? Thou are more lovely and more temperate: Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May, And Summer's lease hath all too short a date: Sometime too hot the eye of heaven shines, And often is his gold complexion dimm'd; And every fair from fair sometime declines,
PAGE 7
ADIRONDACK CAMP - TOM TOM
WINTER 2008
CAMPER, STAFF, & ALUMNI TIDBITS: Alex, Linda, Kyrstie, Carolina, Zan, Arian and Shawn had a re-
markable holiday on Bonaire among the burros, iguana and pink flamingos. * Jeremiah (while teaching US History full time) is still managing to beat Gregg and Andrew in Fantasy Basketball * Noah Weissman is preparing for his semester abroad in Australia* Martin has switched the Tennis Courts of Camp for the (mock) Law Courts of Brighton!! * Kira has just returned from a winter semester in England * Merritt has finished her student teaching and masters degree- HOW!* Patty is teaching middle school science in CT * Lily Adler had a lovely time with her family in Israel over the holidays * Jen Powers is preparing for a semester abroad in Egypt *We heard from a couple alumni about how much they love the new website and are missing Camp; Amanda Holt wrote from NYC where she is working as an Art Director for Martha Stewart. Kevin Witt also wrote from VA where he still keeps in touch with other alum of 20 years ago including Scott Morton, Tim Lieberman, Adam and Noah Cermack * Krysta broke her ankle while changing age brackets and training for a half marathon * Domino is studying in Scotland * Deb will be in New Zealand studying abroad next semester * Borasi is sailing with an amateur team in San Francisco * Vas, Alex and Honza had a blast driving back and forth across the states after Camp * Carlo, Matt, Olexiy and Arni are all on board again in the kitchen *Balazs and his wife are expecting- HOW! * The Harrell family have moved into their new house * Darla, Mac, Ben and Zak had a remarkable family trip to Amsterdam, where they brought home another kid! (exchange student ) * Frank Shaw has successfully developed and completed his first semester teaching AP Bio * The Basinets had a fabulous 4-generation European Vacation in the Swiss Alps * When Tim, Steve and Karen aren’t busy plowing us out, they’ve been hard at work improving drainage on the girl’s line, putting new roofs on Deer and Fox, a new entry to Lynx, a new floor in the kitchen and putting fresh paint on every bunk! HOW! *Please send us your tidbits for the next Tom-Tom! :)
Adirondack Camp 302 Warrick Road Putnam Station, NY 12861
