News from Elizaville
“Congrats on the 100th anniversary.... I was a counselor back in 1997. Now I'm living in the Seattle area. Scatico has been in my heart always all these years, and I wish for another fabulous 100 years!”— Mickey Kim
One of the genuinely nice things about the approaching 100th anniversary is how we have heard from a broad range of Scaticonians—alumni from every decade since the 1920s (yes, someone who attended in 1929—91 years ago) to the present day; alumni who spent twenty- plus years at camp to those who spent a single summer in Elizaville (and, before 1934, in Wingdale).
Mickey Kim traveled from South Korea to the United States in 1997 to work in the theatre program as a piano accompanist. It was her only summer at Scatico and she spoke very little English when she arrived. I have very specific memories of Mickey, not only because she was an incredible accompanist (hum a tune and she was ready to go), but more importantly because of her kindness to all and because she was a counselor for my daughter Nicki during her first camper summer as a 7 -year-old Jinter. Even more importantly, Nicki remembers her fondly as well. (The stickers from South Korea were a big hit!)
This is the true magic of the camp experience (and childhood). The impact that a counselor can make on us when we are young (and we on them). And while what makes a counselor remembered so fondly will probably have something to do with the skills they bring to their activities and their ability to teach, it will definitely have a lot to do with the person they are in terms of kindness, fun, inclusiveness, caring, humility,....
At Scatico, we continually are blessed by the annual return of more than 75 percent of our counselors and program staff. This year, more than one-half of all of our counselors and program staff will have spent 10 or more summers at Scatico. Yet, it’s also the staff members at camp for a single summer, often traveling long distances in terms of time and culture, who will make the experience even more rewarding for their campers (and the overall community).
At Scatico, we strongly believe that once you enter camp for the very first time, whether as a 7-year-old camper or a college-aged counselor, you are an alumnus in perpetuity; as much a part of the community and culture as the alumnus who attended in 1929 or the head counselors at camp for more than 20 years (shameless shout-outs for Cory and Kerri). Or Mickey Kim, who traveled from South Korea for a single summer at camp in 1997.
What’s More Camp? From the oldest to the youngest.... Left—Graduating Soopers the moment that Color War breaks... Right—Juniors doing Mad Libs on their first overnight as campers.
It’s Officially the Year of the 100th—Don’t Forget to Register
We're already at over 650 people registered for the 100th celebration at camp on Saturday October 3, 2020-- make sure you're one of them! There will be activities, there will be swag, and, most im-portantly, there will be Scaticonians from across the generations sharing in this milestone. We have plenty of meaningful traditions and surprises up our sleeves, and we want as many current families as possible to partici-pate. Learn more and register at Scatico100.com.
Staying In Touch
Welcome to the second Staying In Touch column of the 2019-20 off-season. As always, we’ll start with Random Scatico Sightings....
Playing sports and an RSS—a great combination.... Brett Bockstein and Marissa Miller had their sighting on adjacent basketball courts.... Lovelle Washington was competing for his basketball team when he discovered his former counselor Mark Perlman among the fans. After skipping a summer, Mark returns to camp this year to coach soccer....
Marissa + Brett
Mark + Lovelle
Parker Caldara had a similar experience to Lovelle. On the ice with her travel hockey team, she spotted Sophie Rosen watching a game at the same facility. Sophie snapped a photo with Parker’s older sister, also at the game, Nealie. Parker also shared a photo with Carly Greer from a hockey tournament in Tampa at which they were teammates representing the New York region (thus, the Rangers’ jerseys)....
Sophie + Nealie
Carly + Parker
A brother-sister RSS: Carter and Sami Weiss spotted respective bunkmates Robert and Abby Orseck while skiing in Colorado....
Sami + Carter
Carter + Robert
In non-sports RSSes, Denali and Nile Cather ran into Allie and Ben Putzer at a Florida airport... We always seem to have an RSS in a NYC-area diner each issue. With Samara and Zach Chait traveling from Baltimore to family on Long Island for Thanksgiving they planned a lunch out with their bunkmates Lily and Max Pisnoy when they saw counselor Jamie Silverman (that wasn’t too complicated)....
Cathers + Putzers
Chaits, Pisnoys + Jamie Silverman
At a hibachi restaurant in Westchester, Carly and Emmie Hodes were thrilled to see Charlotte East at a nearby table.... Bunkmates Olivia Gourevitch and Maddie Klein had their RSS at a Harlem Globetrotters’ game in White Plains....
Carly, Emmie + Charlotte
Olivia + Maddie
And remaining the RSS champion (easily the most reported over the last few years), Spencer Hellman had two on consecutive weekends at the same store (shopping for formal wear), first with bunkmate Sam Ryan and then with Dylan Schmeidler. Sisters Isabelle Hellman and Kayla Schmeidler were present at the second, making for the first-ever twins-twins RSS in Scatico history (just in case you’re keeping score at home)....
Spencer + Sam
Spencer + Dylan
Kayla + Isabelle
In non-RSS news.... College freshman Andrew Kassin used part of his winter break to observe Scatico doctor Eric Strauss on his rounds and for surgery at NYU Langone in Manhattan. (Should we slot in a camp doctor spot for Andrew for circa 2040?)... When Courtney and Avery Lesser were in Florida over the holidays, they visited Scatico Chef James Wexler at his family’s bakery/café Two Fat Cookies in Delray Beach....
Eric + Andrew
Chef Jim with the Lessers
Bunkmates Ella Simons and Lexi Katz were opponents at a travel basketball game in New Jersey (but not an RSS).... When 2019 CIT (and current high school Junior) Jenna Miller began touring colleges this off-season, she embraced the opportunity to connect with Scaticonians at the various schools. At The Ohio State University, Jenna and her sister Marissa got together with Mackenzie Press and Sammi Salmirs (in from Penn State and visiting friends at OSU); at Oneonta University, Jenna and her cousin Danielle Liebman (a former camper, counselor, and division leader—and an Oneonta grad) met freshman Hayden Meisner (a former camper and Junior Counselor); and for an upcoming trip to Penn State she will be hosted by Rachel Trichon. The alumni support system starts early—even while you’re still at camp!....
Millers at OSU
Danielle, Hayden + Jenna
...Mason Florin attended a recent baseball clinic run by former Yankee legend Mariano Rivera. Mason’s dad Doug (who had chronic elbow pain from baseball and tennis as a former camper and counselor in the 1980s-90s) was happy to report that Mo told the kids not to throw breaking balls until they were 20 years old.... And speaking of Yankee pitchers and Scaticonians, Chase Madorsky sent in a photo from his undergraduate days at UCLA taken with Gerrit Cole (just signed for 9 years and more than $320 million). Cole, a graduate of the University, regularly attended basketball games and Chase (returning for his 18th consecutive summer to help run the boys 1-week Scatico-in-Training program) was (as you might imagine) not shy about asking for a photo op....
Mariano + Mason
Gerrit + Chase
When Moises Torres traveled to Europe to visit Katie Simova in the Czech Republic, they met up with Andrea Perez Buisan in Barcelona. A former university basketball player in Spain, Andrea will move from the waterfront to girls athletics in 2020. .... Nicki Fleischner was in Dublin in January to recruit new staff and connected with Nicki O’Brien, who will return for her second summer heading gymnastics. Nicki Fleischner was joined by her sister Audrey in London for a second job fair. During the trip, they hired staff to help run sailing, art, and outdoor adventure....
Mo, Katie + Andrea
Nicki + Nicki
Thanks to all who sent in news (and non-news). We’ll have one more Newsletter issue prior to the summer (scheduled for May) so email photos and news (and nonnews) to info@scatico.com.
Reunions: 1. Nineteen 2020 Subs helped Dylan and Kayla Schmeidler cel-ebrate their b’nai mitzvah. 2. The 2019 Sophs went bowling in December. Alex Harwood and Jacob Hirschl left before the photo was taken. 3. The 2019 Centers celebrated a joint birthday party for Gracie Klein and Denali Cather.
Left: The Suspects! When the Senior boys and girls had to solve a Murder Mystery they had to sort through the evidence as pre- sented by a very questionable set of staff suspects.
Right: The Subway Series -The Sub-Juniors (mostly 10-year-olds) challenged the Sub-Seniors (mostly 13- year-olds) to a day of competition. Events included knock-out, Quiz Bowl, relay races, and chess. From the photo above.... clearly the tension mounted at the chess boards on the HC Porch
Mark Your Calendar
Open House: Saturday, June 13
Opening Day: Saturday, June 27
Visiting Day: Saturday, July 18
Scatico-In-Training: Sunday, July 26, to Saturday, August 1
Closing Day: Saturday, August 15
Upcoming Parent Mailings
March—Summer Forms: Clothing List, Shipping and Luggage, Health Histories, Transportation, Camper Confidentials, Permissions,...
April—Parents’ Handbook: Information to get you ready for the summer of 2020, including details on Opening, Visiting, and Closing days.
The 2020 First-Time Camper Orientation (including 2019 1-weekers) will be held on Saturday, June 13, from 12:30PM to 3:30PM at camp. Details to follow....