News From Elizaville: Countdown to 100

Conceptually, the countdown to 100 began when founder Nat Holman signed papers in early 1921 with investors (all people he knew personally) to open a boys camp in Wingdale, NY. At the time, Nat was 25 years old, the head basketball coach at CCNY, playing for Germantown, PA, in the Eastern Basketball League (34 games—he won the scoring title and the team won the championship), and simultaneously just starting his first season with the Original Celtics (an independent, barnstorming team that played more than 100 games a season). Now that’s a busy schedule! Nat’s older brother Jack didn’t join him at Scatico until the 1930s, when together they bought out the original investors, opened a girls’ side, and moved the camp to Elizaville.

When summer 99 ended on August 16, the countdown began in earnest. While an alumni committee representing campers through the decades plans an event at camp on October 3, 2020 (details to follow and all current families are invited), we are also starting to envision how to celebrate with our campers this summer. As things work at Scatico, we often find the best ideas flow in both directions—up from our youngest campers and through the divisional ranks as well as down from division leaders and program heads. With that in mind, we included in this year’s end-of-summer camper survey an open-ended request for suggestions on how to celebrate the milestone. Though we can’t promise that we’ll put everything into action, we love the creativity and unbridled enthusiasm. A few of our favorites....

From a Jinter and a Senior— “bring back Snowy Peak as a 5th Tribes team.” Snowy Peak (as we learned at the Carnival last summer) is a mythical (or real) tribes team from the 1930s-40s (the mystery continues).... From a Center— “a contest of 100 things, like who can put 100 hats on their heads with the help of friends”.... From a Junior— “a 100th mural that everyone helps paint”.... From a Deb and a Soph— For an entire day, “pretend we’re at camp 100 years ago”.... From a Jinter— “a human 100” on the driving range for a photo.... From an Inter— “a full-camp Apache Relay race with 100 events”.... There were also suggestions for 100th-themed Minicamps, Carnivals, and BBQs; a full-camp hide and seek; and activities to go through the Scatico archives and to hear stories from alumni from the 1930s to 1960s. Finally, we may have to see just how large an ice cream cake Holy Cow is able to make.

We are psyched for the challenge to cram this summer with as much as we can about where we have been and where we want to go, about what makes our community and culture resonate through time. We also want to take a moment to remember how it must have felt for campers on that first day of camp in 1921, the excitement and nervousness that comes with something new, all of these emotions enhanced by the magic of living in the outdoors and with a camp family. We may not have the same full plate as Uncle Nat did at the beginning of 1921, but stand ready to embrace whatever the year throws our way, set to begin Scatico’s journey for the next 100.

2019 Nat Holman Basketball Tournaments: Chuck Rubin drives right…

Halle Press throws a bounce pass to Leah Zerwitz in the low post.

Mark Your Calendar

New Camper Orientation: Saturday, June 13
Opening Day: Saturday, June 27
Visiting Day: Saturday, July 18
1-Week Scatico-In-Training: Sunday, July 26 to Saturday, August 1
Closing Day: Saturday, August 15
100th Anniversary Celebration: Saturday, October 3- Visit Scatico100.com

Staying in touch

As always, we’ll start with Random Scatico Sightings (RSSes). This issues RSSes (all reported in the two months since the end of camp) ranged from Jackson Hole, Wyoming, to London, England (that’s 8 Time Zones if you’re keeping score at home).

In Wyoming, campers Noa Klein and Olivia Gourevitch spotted each other at an ice cream shop; In London, the Stiefels (Adam, Ben, and Noah) found themselves on the same Tower of London tour as the Tannenbaums (Eli and Alexa). What we loved most about this particular RSS is that the dads (Marc Stiefel and Andrew Tannenbaum) were divisionmates at camp from 1984 to 1990.

Another two-generation RSS occurred on Martha’s Vineyard in late August, when Roy and (dad) Randy Goldstein spotted Robert, Abby, and dad Gary Orseck (only Roy and Robert made the photo)....

When current high school senior Daphne Zuckerman toured Vanderbilt University this fall with her family, she ran into Vanderbilt freshman Ryan Ditkoff. Ryan was a counselor for Daphne’s younger brother Ellis (who joined the photo)....

Other RSSes: Jinters Maddy Klein and Simone Strauss at a soccer match in New Jersey; Siblings Nile and Denali Cather and siblings Spencer and Isabelle Hellman at the U.S. Tennis Open...

Freshman Cooper Voorhis and boys head counselor Cory Schwartz at Brooklyn Bowl; Bunkmates Michael Fischgrund and Henry Lilienfeld at a Yankee playoff game in the Bronx; “camp sisters” Kayla Schmeidler and Nealie Caldara in Rye, NY…

2020 Upper Senior Max Goodman and former counselor Sam Lippman at an Indiana University—University of Maryland football game; and sisters Megan and Tori Madison and sisters Jessica and Emma Hochberg at Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. (Okay, maybe this final RSS is a little “soft” as they discovered they’d be vacationing close to each other on the final day of camp, but an impressive first RSS total nonetheless.)

In non-RSS new.... Congratulations to Parker Caldara and Carlie Greer who were selected to play on an under-12 girls hockey team sponsored by The New York Rangers. They will practice once a week at a Rangers’ facility in Greenburgh, NY, and then will compete in a tournament in Florida in January against teams from all over the world.... When Counselor Drew Winiarski hiked Machu Picchu after the summer, he naturally brought along his Scatico backpack from his Upper Senior summer in 2017.

For an activity this past summer, the Sub boys wrote letters to favorite celebrities. Nick Mozga received an answer in August from Pittsburgh Penguins’ Captain Sydney Crosby (his favorite hockey player).... Counselors Emma Georger, Lauren Rosh, and Ben Putzer wore their 10-year Scatico fleeces to a campfire (with s’mores) at the University of Maryland.

And, under the heading of “living 10 for 2” —Eliza Tarlow and Austin Moscou each had their own ways to flash their Scatico colors. Eliza wanted a Scatico-themed cake for her postcamp birthday party in Los Angeles and Austin went with his heart when choosing a name for his jersey in a Colorado flag football league....

Thanks for staying in touch! Send news, non-news, and photos (and non-photos?) for the Winter issue of the Newsletter to info@scatico.com. As a reminder, we only include info on Scatico get-togethers if the entire cabin or division is invited.

For Parents

Thanks to all of our families who took advantage of the early enrollment discount period. Our camper return rate for 2020 already exceeds 90 percent (including 5 divisions with 100 percent returns). Parent Bulletins starting in November will walk you through the process of getting ready for the summer, but don’t hesitate to contact us directly with any questions along the way.

As you plan ahead.... The 100th reunion at camp on October 3, 2020, is for all current campers and their families as well as for alumni from way back when. We will be serving lunch, many activity areas will be open, and there will be a closing program. For more details, visit Scatico100.com.

Finally, if you are ever in the Elizaville area during the off-season and are thinking of stopping by Scatico, campers love seeing their second home during different seasons—fall foliage ringing the lake or along the tree-lined road; snow on the golf course for sledding...

In the Next Issue of the Newsletter

Survey Results: This is a last call for camper surveys... Favorite activities? Things you like best about Scatico? Suggestions for 2020? If you haven’t returned your survey yet, there’s still time.
News from Elizaville: We will bring you up-to-date on completed fall maintenance projects and capital plans for next season.
Staff Updates: We have already heard from all of our Leadership Team and many of our counselor and support staff about returning for the summer of 2020. As a reminder to 2019 counselors, please contact us no later than December 31 about your interest in returning to camp. After that date, we will have completed almost all of our hiring and may not have any available positions.

Soph's Hike in the Mohonk Preserve

Deb's blueberry picking

Home Sweet Home

When not spending summers in the 12523.... Our campers call “home” 17 states, 7 countries, and one District (that being the one with a lot of government buildings, museums, and memorials). These stats are from our 2019 campers. One trend clearly emerging is that with each passing year campers travel to Scatico from a wider range of places throughout the United States and the world.

Westchester County (NY) 26.4%
Other States (and D.C.)* 19.8%
New York City 16.5%
New Jersey 14.5%
Long Island (NY) 10.2%
Connecticut 6.6%
International** 6.0%

*Includes Florida, Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, District of Columbia, Montana, California, Texas, Colorado, Montana, Illinois, North Carolina, Georgia, Massachusetts, and Alabama.

**Includes Spain, Hong Kong, Canada, Hungary, France, Morocco, and the United Kingdom.

Last-night-of-camp blues?

You may not be able to re-create fully the banquet, awards ceremony, and campfire at home, but you can watch the closing-night Slideshow and Video Yearbook by visiting the Videos + Slideshows Section of the website. Dim the room lights and pretend you’re sitting under the stars at the Camphitheater.

Best new 2019 activity with potential to become an annual event? It just may prove to be Scatipalooza —a “Camp Sister” activity on Visiting Day night.

Two Fat Cookies

In Florida during the winter? You can visit Scatico Head Chef Jimmy Wexler at Two Fat Cookies (run by his wife Debbie and daughter Zoey) in Delray Beach. In addition to making cakes and cookies for special events you can now stop in for breakfast and snacks throughout the day.

Fall 2019, Edition 100, Issue #1